Application Deadlines

It is your responsibility to ensure your admission and/or fellowship application(s) meets the published deadline. Published deadlines are available on the online application or from the Graduate Programs of Study directory.

Applicants who wish to be considered for fellowship(s) must submit all application materials by the published fellowship deadline, unless your graduate program to which you are applying has a published Priority deadline, which takes precedence.

Check the Application Deadlines carefully to determine the admission and fellowship deadlines for the graduate program to which you are applying. All deadlines are firm – no exceptions will be made.

The Online Application

Apply to UC Davis Graduate Studies using the convenient online admissions application system. The application system is for applicants interested in academic graduate degree and credential programs offered by Graduate Studies at UC Davis.

Letters of recommendation, the statement of purpose, writing sample, and CV or résumé (if required by your program) must be submitted via the online application process. No paper copies will be accepted.

Be certain to fill out your online application as carefully and completely as possible. Take the time to check the application before you submit it to make certain you have filled out all fields correctly. Once you submit your online application, no changes or additions will be made.

You may apply to multiple graduate programs during a single admissions period. You must file a complete application for each program, including a new online application and application fee.

Individuals who have enrolled at UC Davis as graduate students and are applying for readmission into the SAME program for the SAME degree may apply for readmission using the Readmission Application instead of the online application.

Test Score Requirements

Graduate Record Examination. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Most graduate programs require the general test and many also require the subject test. Applicants should arrange to have GRE scores sent electronically to the individual graduate program office. Fellowship applicants must take the GRE by the December test date to insure the scores arrive in time for the fellowship competition. The UC Davis campus code for GRE scores is 4834.

CBEST/CSET Scores. California Teaching Credential applicants must submit their California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or California Subject Examinations for Teachers (CSET) scores directly to the UC Davis Division of Education. Information about these examinations can be found online at http://www.ctcexams.nesinc.com/.

TOEFL/IELTS Scores. English language testing is required, not just for international students, but for all applicants whose native language or primary language of instruction is not English.  UC Davis accepts both the TOEFL and IELTS examinations.  For more information about these tests, please go to the TOEFL/IELTS Requirement section.

Application Fee

A graduate application fee of $80 (U.S. applicants) or $100 (international applicants) is required from all applicants. Please note that the application fee is not refundable, nor will an application be processed until the fee is received. The application fee may be paid by credit card at the end of the online application or by sending a check made out to “UC Davis” to Graduate Studies. To avoid delays in your application processing, we strongly recommend that applicants submit their payment online.

Applicants with demonstrated financial need may apply for a waiver of the application fee. Funds for waivers are extremely limited and are available only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents.

Transcripts

An official transcript is required from each college-level institution you attended including summer sessions, lower division, and graduate work. UC Davis undergraduates must also order transcripts; we do not have access to your records. If your transcripts shows a name different from your current legal name, please be certain to enter the name on your transcript in the “Other Name” section of the online application.

Do not mail your transcripts to Graduate Studies. You must send your transcripts by mail to the graduate program/group to which you are applying. We recommend taking the following steps to ensure that your application is completed as quickly as possible:

1. Contact your prior colleges and universities to order official copies of your transcripts and have them sent directly to you.
2. Do NOT open the envelopes of the individual transcripts. Instead, put one copy of each official transcript (still sealed in its own envelope) into a single large envelope.
3. Mail the single large envelope containing all of your transcripts directly to the graduate program. Go to Graduate Programs of Study to find the contact information for the program.

All transcripts become the property of UC Davis and cannot be borrowed, returned to applicants, or sent to another institution or campus. New students should have a complete set of transcripts in their possession when meeting with their graduate advisers prior to enrollment.

Ensuring Your Application is Complete

After you have submitted your online application and other application materials, you can check the status of your application by logging back in to the online application system and seeing which materials have been received. Please understand that graduate programs receive a large volume of mail during the application season. Consequently, it may take some time for your documents to be entered into the system as having been received. Please allow the graduate program some time to process your materials before contacting them to inquire about the status of your application.

Notification of Decision

Your completed application and supplemental materials will be evaluated by your graduate program. The Graduate Admissions Advisory Committee in the graduate program will submit its recommendations to the dean; final admission decisions rest with the dean of Graduate Studies. This approval procedure applies to all applicants including those applying to UC Davis from another UC campus.

Official notification of an admission decision will be sent to you by Graduate Studies via e-mail once the graduate program has notified our office of their decision. Please be certain to check your e-mail account (including your Junk Mail or Spam folder) frequently for updates regarding your application status.