The Global Ambassadors Program (GAP) is a summer-long peer-mentorship program designed to assist incoming undergraduate international students in acclimating to a new environment and making a smooth transition into university life at UC San Diego.

As a new international undergraduate student, you will be assigned one GAP mentor. GAP is a free program that is provided to you by the International Students & Programs Office (ISPO) and I-House at UC San Diego. Once you confirm your enrollment at UC San Diego, your mentors will be given your contact information and will reach out to you over summer so that you can communicate before you arrive on campus at UC San Diego. As a mentee, we expect that you take full advantage of the resources available to you, ask your mentors questions, and participate in GAP activities/events to make your transition to campus a success!  

All incoming undergraduate international undergraduate students are able to apply! Please note, mentee spots are limited. We encourage you to apply early to secure a spot in the program.

Deadline to Apply: Friday, June 16, 2023 11:59PM PST

Available Starting June 1

To help guide you through the adventure ahead, we have created an online training that will map out your journey as an international student here at UC San Diego. There are 7 modules which cover various topics. We have arranged these modules in the order you may encounter them during your program. 

Newly admitted international students are REQUIRED to complete the iTriton Online Training before their first quarter at UC San Diego. All new Fall 2023 students will have until September 11, 2023 to complete this required training.  

ACCESS: 

• A link to Canvas will be emailed to your UCSD email address on June 1. For more information, please visit iTriton.ucsd.edu.
• Log into Canvas using Single Sign-On to activate your Canvas account.



Email iPrograms@ucsd.edu if you did not receive an email from Canvas or if you are having trouble accessing the course.

International students requiring a non-immigrant F-1 or J-1 visa to study in the USA must request and receive a Form I-20 (F-1) or Form DS-2019 (J-1) through ISPO's iPortal system to begin their program of study at UC San Diego. These forms from UC San Diego are required for all prospective F-1 or J-1 students, even if you are transferring from another U.S. school! 

To apply for your Form I-20 or DS-2019, follow these instructions carefully: 

• Set up all required UC San Diego student accounts 
• Verify funding requirements for I-20/DS-2019 issuance 
• Gather funding documentation and passport information and begin iPortal request 

• July 10: Meet COVID-19 vaccine, UC immunization, and TB screening requirements.
• July 28: Deadline to register for your college's orientation at COR.ucsd.edu. UC EAP and Global Exchange students should NOT register for their college orientation as you only have to attend New International Student Orientation hosted by ISPO.
• August 1: Deadline to apply for your I-20 or DS-2019 visa documents (this includes transfer students!). Visit iNewStudent.ucsd.edu for instructions on requesting your immigration documents from ISPO.
• September 11: Complete iTriton Online Training at iTriton.ucsd.edu (Access will be granted on June 1)

Visit the iNewStudent Website!

This comprehensive site is designed just for new international students to help you understand the different steps you need to follow before you arrive! Go to iNewStudent.ucsd.edu now and click on Graduate Students.   

Want to learn more about visa application, student health, housing, student life or more? Check out the Pre-Arrival Webinar Recordings at iNewStudentWebinars.ucsd.edu.

Students with Dependents Resources

UC San Diego welcomes our students and their families to our community! If you are embarking on your journey with a spouse and/or children, check out these resources: 

• Visa information for F-2 dependents and J-2 dependents
• Student-parent resources

NOTE: You may include a request for your dependents' visa documents within your original iPortal request! No separate request is needed. 

Our friendly and knowledgeable ISPO Staff are here and ready to help you!  



• Email: iNewStudent@ucsd.edu  
• Contact Form: iContact.ucsd.edu 
• Zoom Virtual Advising: iContact.ucsd.edu