University of California, San Francisco Courses and Fees 2026

University of California, San Francisco fees for Indian students are route-specific for postgraduate (PG) health degrees. PG tuition and mandatory UCSF fees range from $34,233 (INR 32.73 Lakhs) to $89,034 (INR 85.13 Lakhs). Undergraduate (UG) tuition is not applicable because UCSF does not run bachelors admissions. The Doctor of Medicine (MD) first-year nonresident bill is $68,204 (INR 65.21 Lakhs).

San Francisco living expenses shape the cost of studying more than many course differences. UCSF estimates off-campus shared living at $3,228 (INR 3.09 Lakhs) per month. University-owned housing is slightly lower at $3,012 (INR 2.88 Lakhs) per month, when a unit is available.

• Clinical and Epidemiological Research Master of Science (MS) has a first-year bill of $34,233 (INR 32.73 Lakhs).
• Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) Level 1 has a summer-start bill of $80,058 (INR 76.54 Lakhs).
• Graduate academic doctoral routes list $42,631 (INR 40.76 Lakhs) before department support or fee remission.

The MD first-year budget is INR 94.52 Lakhs with university-owned housing and INR 96.58 Lakhs with off-campus shared housing. The 2026/27 fees remain the usable fee structure until UCSF releases the next approved schedule. Exchange rate used: 1 USD = INR 95.61, dated 14 September 2026.

Next step: Review the University of California, San Francisco admissions profile before matching fee deadlines to course deadlines.

University of California, San Francisco Tuition Fees by Programme

UCSF publishes 2026/27 fees by school, level, and quarter. The table uses first-year billed tuition and mandatory UCSF fees for nonresident students.

UCSF Postgraduate Fees: Summer/Fall 2027

Ten high-interest UCSF professional and masters routes show a first-year fee spread of $34,233 (INR 32.73 Lakhs) to $89,034 (INR 85.13 Lakhs). Summer-start programmes can collect the first payment before Fall registration.

Tuition is billed by quarter for these programmes. Summer terms are included where UCSF lists them for the programme level.

The full-course column uses UCSF 2026/27 billed fee patterns at unchanged current rates. It is not a future-fee forecast.

• DDS and IDP budgets need separate dental kit planning. UCSF lists kit costs outside ordinary tuition rows.
• PharmD starts in summer, so the first billed year arrives earlier than Fall-only masters routes.
• Graduate academic doctoral students list nonresident supplemental tuition of $15,102 (INR 14.44 Lakhs).
• UCSF reduces that doctoral nonresident charge after candidacy, subject to its three-year limit.

UCSF Undergraduate Fees: No Bachelors Entry

UCSF has 0 undergraduate degree rows because the campus is graduate and health-sciences focused. Fee planning should move to pre-health bachelors study elsewhere before UCSF entry.

• Indian school-leavers need a recognised bachelors pathway before most UCSF professional applications.
• MBBS searches should be corrected to MD, DDS, PharmD, or DPT routes.
• UCSF fee structure is therefore a graduate cost decision, not a UG comparison.

Next step: Compare UCSF programme fit with the study in USA guide before committing to a health-profession route.

Source: UCSF Registrar student fee schedules; UCSF Graduate Education programme pages.

University of California, San Francisco Fee Trend by Year

MD nonresident annual fees rose from $59,825 (INR 57.20 Lakhs) in 2023/24 to $68,204 (INR 65.21 Lakhs) in 2026/27. This trend changes loan sizing for Fall 2027 applications.

Source: UCSF Registrar archived School of Medicine fee schedules.

Summer 2027 programmes have less time to absorb a fee revision. DPT closes on October 2, 2026, so the financial file should be ready before that date.

Cost of Living in San Francisco for Indian Students

UCSF estimates off-campus shared living at $3,228 (INR 3.09 Lakhs) per month. University-owned housing lowers the monthly allowance to $3,012 (INR 2.88 Lakhs).

• UCSF assumes shared off-campus housing, not a private studio.
• University-owned housing uses $1,713 (INR 1.64 Lakhs) rent and $86 (INR 8,222) utilities monthly.
• Living with relatives is budgeted at $1,260 (INR 1.20 Lakhs) monthly, but it needs family housing access.
• MD Year 1 uses a 10-month living budget of $32,280 (INR 30.86 Lakhs).

That small monthly difference makes availability more important than rent alone. A longer commute can erase the rent saving through transport and missed lab time.

Next step: Compare San Francisco living assumptions with the USA cost of living guide before finalising loan margins.

Source: UCSF Student Financial Services cost of attendance.

Total Cost of Studying at University of California, San Francisco

The MD first-year budget ranges from $81,339 (INR 77.77 Lakhs) to $101,019 (INR 96.58 Lakhs). Housing choice creates most of the spread.

• The visa line combines the F-1 student visa fee of $185 (INR 17,688) and SEVIS fee of $350 (INR 33,464).
• The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee is paid before the visa interview.
• Tuition rows include UCSF mandatory fees and student health insurance where UCSF lists them.
• Airfare, test fees, private deposits, and family costs are excluded.

The MD four-year tuition and mandatory fee comparison is $282,124 (INR 2.70 Crore). A loan of INR 2.70 Crore needs about INR 3.65 Lakhs per month over 10 years at 10.5%.

Source: UCSF Registrar fees, UCSF Student Financial Services budgets, U.S. Department of State, and DHS SEVIS fee pages.

University of California, San Francisco Scholarships for Indian Students

UCSF does not publish a guaranteed India-only scholarship for Summer/Fall 2027 entry. School-managed awards are strongest after admission or enrolment.

UCSF Pharmacy states that nearly 97% of PharmD students receive campus scholarships, school scholarships, or need-based support. It also lists 25 school scholarship funds and 10 donor-funded funds.

• Professional routes need earlier liquidity because awards may follow admission.
• PhD candidates should read the funding terms inside the admitted department offer.
• Masters applicants should treat scholarship money as uncertain until an award letter names it.

Source: UCSF School of Pharmacy financial aid page and UCSF Graduate Education application timelines.

University of California, San Francisco Tuition Deposit and Payment Options

UCSF publishes quarterly fee payment dates, not one standard university-wide deposit. The student portal shows the balance due for each enrolled route.

Payment methods include e-check, credit card, check, money order, and 529 savings plan check. Credit card convenience fees are disclosed before submission.

• E-check carries no UCSF fee, but it needs a U.S. checking or savings account.
• Credit cards post immediately, but processor fees can exceed forex-card savings.
• Education-loan disbursement should reach UCSF before the listed programme deadline.
• A raw international wire can lose 2-3% through bank spreads and intermediary fees.

Steps to Pay the Tuition Fee for International Students

1. Accept the UCSF offer and clear any admission holds.
2. Receive the Form I-20 needed for the F-1 student visa.
3. Pay SEVIS and visa fees before the interview.
4. Pay the quarterly UCSF balance by the portal deadline.
5. Keep receipts for the visa file and loan disbursement record.

Next step: Match payment timing with the USA F-1 visa guide before arranging a bank transfer.

Source: UCSF Registrar paying fees and Fall 2026 deadlines pages.

Hidden Costs of Studying at University of California, San Francisco

UCSF hidden costs start before arrival with $535 (INR 51,151) in visa-linked government fees. Professional routes add books, kits, commute, or exam costs.

• DPT closes on October 2, 2026, so test-score and document retake costs need early buffer.
• The F-1 student visa fee is $185 (INR 17,688).
• The SEVIS I-901 fee for F and M students is $350 (INR 33,464).
• Graduate Education charges a $140 (INR 13,385) application fee for international applicants.
• MD Year 1 includes books of $600 (INR 57,366) and commute costs of $795 (INR 75,990).
• DDS Year 1 dental kit costs are $14,096 (INR 13.48 Lakhs), separate from living costs.

Cash Needed Before Arrival

The minimum verified pre-arrival cash set is $3,903 (INR 3.73 Lakhs). It includes the graduate application fee, visa fee, SEVIS fee, and one off-campus living month.

Budget approximately INR 3.73 Lakhs for verified pre-arrival hidden costs. Add dental kits only for DDS or IDP routes.

Source: UCSF Student Financial Services budgets, UCSF Registrar fees, and U.S. visa fee sources.

Fee Saving Strategies for Indian Students

The fastest UCSF saving for Summer/Fall 2027 is housing control, worth about $2,160 (INR 2.07 Lakhs) over 10 months. Course choice creates larger differences.

• Rank university-owned housing early because its monthly allowance is $216 (INR 20,652) below off-campus shared living.
• Choose fee basis carefully because Clinical Research MS costs $68,466 (INR 65.46 Lakhs) over two years.
• Avoid credit card payment unless the disclosed processor fee beats bank transfer costs.
• Use Section 80E of the Income Tax Act for education-loan interest deductions where eligible.
• Use Optional Practical Training (OPT) planning carefully. The U.S. route allows 12 months, or 36 months total for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

Health-profession licensure controls earnings after UCSF. OPT does not replace medical residency, dental licensure, or pharmacy licensure requirements.

Source: UCSF fee schedules, UCSF cost of attendance, and cached U.S. post-study work facts.

Is University of California, San Francisco Worth the Cost for Indian Students

UCSF is worth the cost when the chosen route leads to licensed U.S. health practice or funded research training. The MD fee-only comparison is INR 2.70 Crore.

The PharmD page states that nearly 70% of graduates enter advanced training. It also says the PharmD ranks among the top three U.S. programmes and No. 1 in the West.

A full MD loan near INR 2.70 Crore would need about INR 3.65 Lakhs per month over 10 years at 10.5%. That EMI needs residency, licensing, or family funding support.

• MD and DDS are high-return only with U.S. licensing clarity.
• PhD routes can be financially stronger when the department covers fees.
• Short masters routes reduce time cost but need a clear employer-facing skill.

Next step: Use the USA universities comparison to compare UCSF against other health-science campuses.

Source: UCSF PharmD programme page, UCSF fee schedules, and UCSF cost of attendance.