Application Process - FAQs

Our mission is to recruit, support and develop a diverse group of socially responsible physician leaders who will advance the equitable care of individual patients and communities through clinical care, education, advocacy, policy, or research. Though our program is large, our residents share a common identity as UCSF Internal Medicine Residents and are united by their Core Values.

All materials must be submitted to ERAS by October 1st.

Selected dates in November-December 2024.

Yes, we consider your application to each track separately.

Our Molecular Medicine Physician-Scientist Track is ideal for MD/PhD candidates who are interested in pursuing the ABIM research pathway (“short-tracking”). We also consider applicants who are firmly committed to physician-scientist careers but do not hold a PhD. Such individual must have a substantive bench-science track record , for example via funded research years such as the Howard Hughes, Burroughs-Wellcome Fund or Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Fellowships.

No, unless a few Molecular Medicine Physician-Scientist Track classmates opt not to short-track.

The UCSF Medicine Residency is a highly competitive program. We receive approximately 3000 applications for our 64 PGY-1 positions in our categorical, physician-scientist and primary care programs. We are unable to determine a candidate's "chances" of getting in the program. Only completed applications with required supporting documents will be reviewed and evaluated by the selection committee.

There are no minimum USMLE score requirements for application to the program. Candidates must have passed the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 on the first attempt.

UCSF now requires applicants to have passed the Clinical Knowledge Step 2 by February 15 in order to be ranked by our program.

Yes, we are participating in the ERAS Geographic and Program Signaling. Priority for application review and interviews will be given to applicants who signal our program.

As not everyone has the opportunity to travel to San Francisco in person, to ensure equitable access, we will not be hosting any in-person tours or meet and greets. However, we would love to connect you with current residents and any faculty members to answer any questions about the program, experience or what it is like working at UCSF.

We enthusiastically accept applications from DACA recipients.

Yes, however our Molecular Medicine Physician-Scientist Training track Pathway requires US residency because of T32 Funding.

The internal residency program does not filter out applications based on year of graduation. However, the majority of our interns start residency right after medical school graduation. The program would be very interested in knowing what you have done since your graduation. Please address this in your application.

U.S. clinical experience is not required. However, applicants who graduated from medical school more than 2 years ago, must have patient-related clinical experience within the last 2 years from the date of application. Please note observational rotations do not qualify as clinical experience.

Starting on January 1, 2020, the California Letter or PTAL (Post Graduate Training Authorization Letter), will no longer be required for applying to programs starting after this date.  If you are applying to begin residency in 2020, no PTAL is needed.

We do sponsor H-1B visas, on a limited basis. If you were to match in our program, we would need you to have an EAD (Employment Authorization Document) or an OPT (Optional Practical Training) document in order to begin residency. During your intern year, we would apply for an H-1B visa to carry you through the end of residency.

Feel free to peruse our ISSO (International Student and Scholars Office) website for more information.