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How to Apply


UC San Diego selects its residents through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and National Resident Matching P
rogram.
​Categories 
​NRMP CODE
​Categorical Internal Medicine
​1049140C0
​Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP)
​1049140C1
​Categorical Combined Medicine/Pediatrics
​1049700C0
​Internal Medicine/Primary Care Track
​1049140M0



Thank you to all our applicants! 

Please remember to check out our blog for even more up to date news from our program!

https://ucsdim.com/prospective-residents/

Application Requirements

We generally receive approximately 3,500 completed applications per year and interview approximately 600 applicants. Our residency recruitment committee reviews all applications, evaluating multiple factors including:

  • General academic performance
  • Clinical performance (particularly in internal medicine and related rotations)
  • Personal qualities and achievements
  • Letters of recommendation

In order to complete your Categorical Internal Medicine application, we require:

  • Your Dean's letter
  • Your medical school transcript
  • Your USMLE/National Board scores, Step I and II (if available, not mandatory for review). We do not accept COMLEX in lieu of USMLE.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Per AAIM guidelines, categorical applicants will need one letter of recommendation from an internal medicine faculty member in addition to the Department Chair in Medicine (or designee) letter. We will accept additional letters via ERAS if you have them available. Recommendation letters should be addressed according to ERAS instructions.
  • Evidence of registration in the Selective Service program, or evidence of exempt status issued by the Veterans Affairs’ Office of Academic Affiliations through a Status of Information letter. For more information, see Selective Service Registration.pdf.
  • For the 2023 ERAS® cycle, our program will be participating to receive information from the supplemental ERAS application offered through the AAMC’s ERAS program. Applicants will be required to complete the MyERAS application, and participation in the supplemental ERAS application is optional. In its second year of use, the supplemental ERAS application is designed to help students share more information about themselves and assist our program in finding applicants that fit our programs’ setting and mission. There is no cost to applicants and participation is optional.
    • The supplemental ERAS application includes:  
      • geographic preferences (by region and by urban or rural setting)
      • information about most meaningful experiences and other impactful life events, if applicable
      • program signals
    • Initial invitations to access the supplemental ERAS application will be delivered on August 1st. The supplemental ERAS application must be completed between August 1st and September 16th at 5:00pm ET.
    • Learn more about the AAMC supplemental ERAS application.

Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP)

Candidates interested in the Physician-Scientist Training Program (PSTP) should indicate their interest on the ERAS application form. Please provide a short essay outlining prior research experience, publications, and areas of research interest.  Also, please indicate the subspecialty, research, and faculty laboratories that suit your interests.

In addition to the ERAS application, please provide a minimum of one and preferably three letters of support from prior research mentors and senior colleagues. A letter of reference from the thesis advisor of the MD, PhD, candidates is required.

Candidates applying for the PSTP are encouraged to plan a two-day interview at UC San Diego. The first day will consist of visiting the residency program, and the second day, the research program, faculty, and laboratories. PSTP interviews will be scheduled in conjunction with the traditional interviewing sessions. Individuals enter the PSTP upon application to the residency training program with concurrent acceptance into the research fellowship program.

Combined Medicine & Pediatrics Program

Candidates interested in the Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Program should provide four letters of recommendation, two from medicine and two from pediatrics, including from the Chair, Program Director, or Clerkship Director of each specialty. 

If you receive interview invitations from both Medicine and the Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Program, please contact us. You only need to complete one interview to be considered for both.

Primary Care Track

Candidates interested in the Primary Care Track should indicate their interest on the ERAS application form. The application materials are the same as those required by the Categorical Program.

You are encouraged to submit applications for both the Categorical and Primary Care Programs. Candidates interviewing with the Primary Care Program will participate in the regular interview day and have at least one faculty interviewer from the Division of General Internal Medicine. Primary Care Pathway information sessions will be scheduled throughout the interview season and you may schedule to attend one on your interview day or another day. If you receive interview invitations from both Categorical Medicine and the Primary Care Program, please contact us. You only need to complete one interview to be considered for both.

Advanced Positions

Physicians interested in advanced-level positions should contact imtrain@health.ucsd.edu by the first week in December.Availability of these positions varies from year to year.


International Medical Graduates

Requirements for international medical graduates who wish to pursue postgraduate training in medicine are:

  • Possess a current ECFMG certificate. Your questions regarding certification and examination should be addressed with ECFMG.
  • Secure a J-1 Visa through ECFMG with issuance of IAP-66. The Department does not support the H-1B Visa for residency training.
  • Pass USMLE Steps 1 and 2. Applicants with failures on USMLE will not be considered for training in our program.
  • You must have a medical school graduation date within 5 years of start of internship.

Our program participates in ERAS and does not send information via US Mail, nor will we accept a paper application. The ECFMG office will serve as the designated Dean's office and can provide detailed information. We do not offer observerships in the Department of Medicine.

Post-interview communication policy

In an effort to maintain the integrity of the match process, UC San Diego strictly adheres to the principles and rules outlined by the NRMP, APDIM, and AAIM regarding post-interview communication. Please see our joint Statement of Match Integrity for further details 

Terms and Conditions

For samples of our contract, terms and conditions, and intern appointment and acceptance letter, please see 2023-2024 Terms and Conditions.pdf