How to Apply

Application Overview

UC San Diego selects its residents through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and National Resident Matching Program.

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

We anticipate extending interviews to our residency program on 10/14/2024. We plan to interview on most Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 10/21/2024-12/12/2024.

Application Requirements

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). For DO applicants, we 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).
• Non-US citizens must be eligible for J-1 visa sponsorship.
• UC San Diego Internal Medicine Residency Program is participating in signaling.
  • For Internal Medicine 3 gold and 12 silver program signals are allowed.
  • You can signal our program by institution (rather than by our program tracks Categorical, PSTP, Primary Care). 
  • For 2024 the AAIM recommends students should signal their home institution and away rotations.
  • While we preferentially review applications from those who signal our program, we also consider applicants who do not signal our program.
  • A program signal does NOT guarantee an interview to any applicant.
• The supplemental ERAS application includes:
  • geographic preferences (by region and by urban or rural setting)
  • information about most meaningful work, volunteer, or research experiences and other impactful life events, if applicable
• Learn more about the 2024 AAMC supplemental ERAS application.

Applying to Other Tracks

 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 1 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, 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.

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. See our joint Statement of Match Integrity (PDF) for further details.

Terms & Conditions

For samples of our contract, terms and conditions, and intern appointment and acceptance letter, see 2025-2026 Terms & Conditions. 

Note to Prospective Applicants About USCD’s COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate:

UC and UC San Diego Health policies mandate that all members of the University Community provide proof they are up to date on COVID-19 vaccination or properly decline COVID-19 vaccination subject to UC’s Policy on Vaccination Programs. A copy of the policy can be found here: https://policy.ucop.edu/doc/5000695/VaccinationProgramsPolicy.  In addition, UCSD’s major affiliates may have similar expectations.  Those health care workers who are out of compliance may not participate in direct patient care. 

USCD’s Selective Service Requirement: 
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 here.