The six medical schools of the University of California combine academic rigor with hands-on clinical experiences. They prepare graduates to succeed in fields that are continually advancing.
Our schools of medicine train students to become the next generation of doctors at a time when health care providers are in high demand. But they do much more than that. Our educational curriculum and field experiences address some of the most pressing questions in health care and our society.
UC schools ask you to tackle inequity, disease prevention and the health effects of a changing climate or a life in poverty. They ask—and expect—you to change the seemingly impossible into possibilities for all Californians and beyond.
Becoming a Doctor
Graduates earning an M.D. typically complete four years of medical school and three or more subsequent years in a residency program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
The residency match rate was 98 percent for UC school of medicine graduates in 2026. And, nearly three-quarters of graduates are continuing on to residency programs in our state, which is a higher percentage than California's nation-leading statewide retention rate.
Leading California — and the Nation
Our medical schools are among the best in the U.S., according to U.S. News & World Report. Get the facts about UC schools of medicine.
UC Davis
Tier 1 Medical School – Primary Care
Tier 2 Medical School – Research
UC Irvine
Tier 2 Medical School – Research
Tier 3 Medical School – Primary Care
UCLA
Tier 1 Medical School – Research
Tier 2 Medical School – Primary Care
UC Riverside
Tier 3 Medical School – Primary Care
Tier 3 Medical School – Research
UC San Diego
Tier 1 Medical School – Primary Care
Tier 1 Medical School – Research
UCSF
Tier 1 Medical School – Primary Care
Tier 1 Medical School – Research
Our Schools of Medicine
UC schools of medicine offer opportunities to meet the challenges of our state’s most vulnerable communities. Our UC PRIME (Programs in Medical Education) programs supplement standard medical student training and are open to all applicants. The programs offer additional curriculum to prepare you to serve people who have not had regular access to quality medical care.
UC Davis School of Medicine
UC Davis School of Medicine is a national leader in primary care training and research, offering clinical education at UC Davis Medical Center, Shriners Children’s Northern California, VA Northern California, and clinics across Northern California. Its Community Health Scholars programs prepare future physicians to meet the needs of California’s rural, urban and under-resourced communities. Its physician-scientist education programs are strengthened by public-private partnerships and the school’s key role in the Aggie Square innovation district on the UC Davis Sacramento Campus.
UC Irvine School of Medicine
UC Irvine School of Medicine advances medical education, biomedical discovery and compassionate patient care through innovative teaching, pioneering translational research and exceptional clinical training. Students gain valuable hands-on experience through UCI Health and affiliated clinical partners as they prepare to improve health in California and beyond.
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
The clinical departments at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA are an integral piece of clinical care, research and education. Our close proximity to the UCLA medical centers in Los Angeles and Santa Monica, neuropsychiatric hospital at UCLA and UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital offers students and trainees a unique educational experience. Our researchers are pioneering work in an astounding range of disciplines and bringing the latest discoveries to virtually every field of medicine – from cancer treatment and organ transplantation to cardiac surgery and neurosurgery.
UC Riverside School of Medicine
UC Riverside focuses on training for medical specialties with significant shortages, including family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, pediatrics, general surgery, and internal medicine. Students and residents are immersed in community-based health organizations, many of which serve populations living in extreme poverty.
UC San Diego School of Medicine
UC San Diego School of Medicine, the region’s only medical school, fosters a dynamic environment where students, faculty and health care professionals work together to advance the future of medicine. From the classroom, laboratory, clinic and beyond, UC San Diego’s medical education curriculum integrates scientific principles, clinical training and compassion, producing confident, forward-thinking clinicians who champion health for all. UC San Diego offers a MD program with optional concentrations, including dual degree PRIME tracks and a Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD); physician assistant studies; more than 100 ACGME-accredited residency and fellowships and graduate-level biomedical research-intensive masters and PhD programs.
UCSF School of Medicine
UCSF School of Medicine has 28 academic departments, eight organized research units and six interdisciplinary research centers. UCSF SOM is ranked first among U.S. medical schools in National Institutes of Health dollars awarded. Our outstanding faculty include five Nobel laureates, 100+ National Academy of Medicine members and 17 Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigators.
How UC medical school admissions work
What does it take to get into a UC medical school? Is it just about grades and MCAT scores? This brief explainer walks through an overview of the medical school admissions process. It explains how admissions committees consider academic achievement alongside experiences, personal attributes, and life context to identify applicants with the greatest potential to succeed.
Starting a Health Career at UC
University of California Health is the state’s fourth largest health care delivery system and integral to the state’s health care safety net. Our academic health centers are ranked among the best in the state and nation. As the nation’s largest academic health system, our medical students have many opportunities to advance their career within the UC family.
Using Research to Inform Patient Care
Using research to improve patient care feeds our passions and our excellence: UC performs nearly 10 percent of all academic research funded by U.S. federal agencies each year. We are typically awarded one in seven National Institutes of Health grants. Medical students at UC schools have the opportunity to participate in ongoing research projects as well as start their own.