Frequently Asked Questions

• Which term can I defer to?

  At this time, students can defer to the Winter 2021 quarter. Possibility of deferring to a later quarter will be evaluated at a later date.

• What is the process of deferring my admission?

  Please complete the Deferment Request Form to request a deferral.

• What is the deadline to submit a deferral request?

  Deferral request forms must be submitted no later than August 13th.

• Do I need to accept my admission offer to Fall 2020 prior to submitting a deferral request?

  Yes, you need to accept your admission offer prior to submitting a deferral form.

• If I have already received an I-20 for Fall 2020 and I defer, will I receive an updated I-20?

  Yes, if you choose to defer admission, your current Fall 2020 I-20 will become invalid. You will receive an updated I-20 as soon as available, once the deferral process has been completed.

• Can Winter 2021 I-20’s be revised to include hybrid courses?

  We’re not able to issue hybrid remarks for winter yet, since the university’s instruction plan has not been announced, and then we would need to find out which departments will be offering hybrid courses again. Also, SEVP stated that this hybrid guidance is valid for Fall, so we don’t know if it will continue for Winter/Spring and we are waiting for an update from them. We’ve been advising students to try and schedule visa appointments later in the year to allow time for the university’s announcement and SEVP’s.

• When do I need to submit my official documents?

  Deadlines for required documents will depend on the term in which you defer your admission to. Fall 2020 incoming students needing to submit official documents will now have until the end of October to submit required official documents for Fall 2020. Given campus closures and travel restrictions, the preferred choice of submitting official transcripts or proof of degrees is electronic, if available.

• Will I be able to take UCR courses remotely without a visa?

  A visa is not required to enroll in courses remotely.

• If I chose to attend the first quarter online while staying in my country, will I be eligible to apply for CPT in summer 2021?

  Unfortunately, you would not be eligible for CPT based on current government guidance.

• I am requesting to defer my application and I am planning to take graduate-level coursework while in my country. Will the CS department allow me to transfer these credits towards my degree?

  Yes, a maximum of 8 quarter units from institutions outside the University of California may be counted toward your degree at UCR.

• What is the policy on course transfer?
  • Courses need to be equivalent to courses offered in our CS department. Submission of syllabus and transcript are required to determine course equivalency
  • Minimum grade of B or above
  • Units cannot be transferred from a program from which the student received a degree
  • Only unit credit is posted on the UCR transcript (Grades are not transferred)
• Is UCR on a quarter or semester system?

  UCR is on a quarter system. Fall: Sep.-Dec; Winter: Jan.-Mar.; Spring: April-June; Summer: July-Aug.

• Will I still need an updated visa, even if I choose to not defer admission, but rather take courses remotely?

  All international students who cannot attend in person for Fall 2020 will need a new I-20 with the updated Winter start dates prior to entering the US. If you do not need an I-20 for Fall, then you can wait until early September to apply for the I-20 for Winter 2021 (visas cannot be issued more than 120 days before the program start date).

• Do I need to submit new documents to receive an updated I-20?

  No. New documents are not required to provide students with an updated I-20 if they choose to defer.

• How long does the MS program take?

  MS students need 48 units (each course is 4 units) to complete the program. Typically students complete the program in 4 quarters.

• If I received a fellowship, will it cover my tuition costs remotely?

  Yes, your fellowship will cover your tuition if you choose to take UCR courses remotely.

• What are the quarterly fees for UCR students?

  Quarterly fees can be found in the following link: https://registrar.ucr.edu/tuition-fees/quarterly-fees#graduate_students.

• How many courses do students take to be considered full-time?

  A full-time coursework load consists of 3 courses or 12 units.

• Can international students receive coverage through the Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan if they stay in their home countries?

  Yes, students can have coverage while in their home countries. However, they have to coordinate all of their care first by getting a referral from the Student Health Services and then working with Global Core on finding providers and working on guarantee of payment.

• Can international students waive insurance coverage if they are covered by their home countries?

  Yes, international students can waive the Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan if they are remaining in their home countries. They still have to complete the waiver on Academic Health Plans (AHP). AHP will deny the waiver as not meeting our criteria, but students can contact the Student Health Services and appeal indicating they are remaining in their home country. Students must show proof they have coverage in their home country and UCR must confirm they have an international address for this student. The appeal will be approved for waiving.

• Is the recording of the Zoom meeting available for viewing?

  Yes, the video is available in this link.

• Can I cancel my deferral request?

  No, students will not be able to cancel submitted deferral requests.