Master of Science in Health Care Informatics

Application Materials

Additional requirements for admission

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, from a nationally or regionally accredited university
• Basic computer and information management skills, including familiarity and experience with Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Excel)
• Basic understanding of medical terminology (Non-health care professionals will need to complete the online medical terminology course by the end of the first term. This course is not part of the degree curriculum.)
• One year of work experience (preferred but not required)

Are you an international applicant?

International students applying to our on-campus MS-HCI program will need to be accepted earlier than the published deadlines to allow time for visa processing.

The next available start term for International Students is Fall 2025 (classes start September 2025). Please note these deadlines:

• May 1, 2025 – Your application and all supporting documents (course-by-course transcript evaluation, letters of recommendation, English proficiency scores) must be complete and on file with the Office of Graduate Admissions, and an admission interview scheduled with the MS-HCI program director. The admission interview is a required step and cannot be scheduled until your application and all support documents are on file.
• May 20, 2025 – if accepted, all required immigration documentation must be uploaded to the University’s iTorero portal. Accepted students will need to confirm their acceptance and set up their student account prior to gaining access to iTorero.

Required Documentation for International Applicants

International students with private funding who are interested in applying for the on-campus MS-HCI program will be required to meet additional requirements for admission, including:

• English Language Exam Score. Acceptable exams include:
  • An official score report from the Test of English as a Foreign Langage (TOEFL) iBT exam. Acceptable options include:
    • the traditional computer-based test at a test center
    • the TOEFL iBT Home Edition
    • the TOEFL iBT Paper Edition (available in select countries only)
  • An official score report from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic exam:
    • the traditional computer-based or paper test at a test center
    • the IELTS Online
  • An official score report from the Duolingo English Test
• Transcript and Credential Evaluation – If you earned a degree from an institution outside the United States, you are required to submit an official international transcript evaluation (also called a foreign credential evaluation) as part of your application. Please note that the evaluation must be a course-by-course evaluation. You must order your official course-by-course evaluation from one of the following evaluation services:
  • World Education Services, Inc. (WES)
  • Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE)
  • International Education Research Foundation, Inc. (IERF)
  • Josef Silny & Associates, Inc. (JSA)
  • SpanTran: The Evaluation Company (SpanTran)
  • Foreign Academic Credential Service (FACS)
• Verify that your country allows access to essential software like VPN or DUO, which is vital for seamless online access during your studies.

Important Visa & Eligibility Information for International Students

• The University of San Diego Hahn School of Nursing & Health Sciences does not offer scholarships or graduate assistantships to international students. If you plan to study at the University of San Diego in F-1 or J-1 international student status, and are in need of the F-1 or J-1 Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) from the University, you will be required to submit documentation showing that you have the minimum amount of expenses estimated for your program available in cash assets. For students starting in Fall 2025, this amount is $93,832 USD.
• If you are currently in the U.S. on an F-1 or M-1 student visa, you are not eligible to pursue the online section of our program, per U.S. immigration regulations.
• International students who are currently in the United States on an F-1 student visa may be able to transfer the F-1 record to the University of San Diego. Please contact an enrollment advisor if you think this situation applies to you.
• Please review the immigration requirements for new admitted international students

I’ve Applied… What Happens Next?

Once your enrollment advisor has submitted your application materials to the admission review committee, you should expect to receive a determination within a week. Your official decision will be sent to you via email by the Office of Graduate Admissions.

If accepted, you will be provided a link and instructions for making your admission deposit and confirming your intent to enroll. The non-refundable deposit equal to 5% of your first term’s tuition will be applied to your first tuition payment when you enroll in the program.