Admission Criteria

UC Davis views as a high priority the enrollment of men and women from different backgrounds and demographic groups.

Admission decisions are based on the quality of the applicant's academic degrees and record, the personal history statement, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation from professors or others familiar with the applicant's academic work, performance in aptitude and achievement tests, relevant work experience, preparation in the proposed field of study, and on the appropriateness of the applicant's goals to the graduate program and of the applicant's research interests to those of its faculty. Some graduate programs have additional admission criteria that applicants must meet; please see the individual listings under Programs of Study and contact individual programs for full details.

By the time they enroll, successful applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent that is comparable to a degree from the University of California both in distribution of academic subject matter and in scholarship achievement, from an institution of acceptable standing. At least a B average or its equivalent is normally required for admission. Satisfaction of minimal standards does not, however, guarantee admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. As a consequence, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.

If you are an international applicant, a non-U.S. citizen who did not receive your bachelor's degree in the United States, consult the information for international students for special requirements pertaining to your admission.

Applicants are encouraged to communicate with individual members of the faculty with whom they may want to study. Personal interviews are encouraged to learn more about particular programs before applying. For the benefit of those not acquainted with faculty members in their field or fields of interest, each graduate program has a graduate adviser to whom inquiries may be addressed.

Contact Your Graduate Program

Graduate programs may have early deadlines or may require submission of additional materials to assist them in selecting from among qualified applicants. Each program to which you apply must receive a complete application, including all materials and the application fee of $70 (U.S.) or $90 (international). A complete application consists of an online application, all official transcripts, (if required), application fee of $70 (U.S.) or $90 (international), and any supplement materials required by the program such as TOEFL or IELTS scores, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, portfolios, audition tapes, or examples of written work.

If you have not already done so, contact the office of your proposed graduate program for information. Graduate programs are listed in the Program Directory.

Test Score Requirements

Graduate Record Examination. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), CN 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000; (609) 921-9000. 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. You can contact the ETS directly via email at gre-info@ets.org. Both the GRE and ETS are available on the Internet.

CBEST Scores. California Teaching Credential applicants must submit their California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) scores directly to the UC Davis Division of Education.

Applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS.

TOEFL Scores. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is given by Educational Testing Service (ETS), P.O. Box 6151, Princeton NJ 08541-6151, (215) 750-8050. Official score reports must be sent from ETS electronically to UC Davis. In addition, applicants may send a paper version of the report directly to the graduate program. The minimum score required for admission to UC Davis is 550 for the paper exam, 213 for the computer-based exam, or 68 on the Internet-based exam. There is no conditional admission. The score report is required before application processing begins.

IELTS Scores. As an alternative, you may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) designed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and administered by the British Council worldwide. You are responsible for providing us with an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS. Remember to order the TRF when you register to take the test.

Tests taken before June 2003 will not be accepted by Graduate Admissions. Your most recent overall BAND score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

To register for the IELTS, consult the IELTS Web site or contact the IELTS Subject Officer, University of Cambridge, Local Examinations Syndicate, 1 Hills Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EU, United Kingdom.

Other Admissions Information

Double Major. Applicants for two graduate programs administered by Graduate Studies, or applicants for joint degree programs administered by Graduate Studies and a professional school (law, medicine, veterinary medicine, or management) are required to submit a double major petition and a proposed program of study in addition to the regular application forms for the program or school.

Duplicate Degrees. Students holding graduate degrees cannot be admitted to the same degree program in the same field. Admission for a second master's degree in a different field may be permitted. Students holding Ph.D. degrees must petition the Graduate Council for permission to enroll for a second Ph.D. in a different field. Students pursuing duplicate degrees are not eligible for financial aid.

Multiple Applications. You may apply to more than one graduate program at a time. Each program to which you apply must receive a complete application, including all materials and the application fee of $70 (U.S.) or $90 (international). A complete application consists of an online application, all official transcripts, application fee of $70 (U.S.) or $90 (international), and any supplement materials required by the program such as TOEFL or IELTS scores, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, portfolios, audition tapes, or examples of written work.

Non-degree Status. By exceptional arrangement, students who do not wish to pursue a degree but have educational objectives that require some graduate coursework may apply for "coursework only" in a specific graduate program. The program of study must demonstrate definite scholarly or professional purpose, and regular admission standards must be met. Ordinarily this status is limited to three quarters of enrollment. Students in non-degree status are not eligible for financial aid, fellowships or graduate scholarships. Students in this status are not eligible for student employment unless special permission has been requested by the program and granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Admission to "coursework only" status does not guarantee admission to regular degree status.

General Degree Requirements

Specific requirements for degrees vary with programs but there are general requirements which are uniform throughout the UC system and are supervised by Graduate Studies. Advanced degrees are conferred in recognition of a "command of a wide range of knowledge in an academic field." Residency requirements and specific program requirements are means the faculty uses to ensure that students will be adequately prepared when they are required to demonstrate proficiency in examinations and research projects.

Grade Requirements. Only upper division and graduate courses with grades of A, B, C or S may be counted in satisfaction of the unit requirements for the master's degree. The University requires that students maintain a 3.0 grade point average (A=4, B=3, C=2) each quarter in order to be in "good standing."

Registration Policies. Upon matriculation in a particular program, students are expected to register continuously until completion of the degree. However, leaves may be granted for causes such as illness, family problems, and uncertainty regarding educational goals under the Planned Educational Leave Plan (PELP) program. Students who do not register and fail to have a leave approved are not guaranteed readmission at a later date.

Enrollment Policies. Students are expected to enroll each quarter for an academically appropriate number of units. The minimum is 12 units of upper division or graduate courses per quarter.

Part-time Study. Many graduate programs are available on a part-time basis to qualified graduate students who, for reasons of occupation, family responsibility, or health are not able to attend full-time. At present, resident part-time students pay the full registration fee and one-half the educational fee. Nonresident students pay these fees plus one-half of the nonresident tuition. Applicants desiring part-time enrollment in an approved program should file a petition with the Office of the University Registrar immediately after admission. The form can be obtained through the graduate program coordinator.

Master's Degree Requirements

Master's degree candidates must be in residence at least three quarters at UC Davis. Most master's degrees are awarded under either Plan I or Plan II. Under Plan I, a minimum of 30 units of upper division and graduate courses and a thesis are required. At least 12 of the 30 units must be in graduate courses in the major field. Plan II requires a minimum of 36 units of upper division and graduate coursework and a comprehensive final examination. At least 18 of the 36 units must be earned in graduate courses in the major field; no more than nine of these 18 may be in research courses.

Transfer credit. Ordinarily all work for the master's degree is done in residence on the Davis campus. However, with the consent of the graduate adviser and the dean of Graduate Studies, some work taken elsewhere may be credited toward the degree. The limit for such transfer credit is six units from another institution or up to one-half of the unit requirement if earned from another campus of the University of California, provided the units were not used in satisfaction of the requirements for another degree. Students may transfer up to 12 units of work from the Concurrent Courses program offered by University Extension.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Ph.D. candidates must be in residence for at least six quarters, meet the coursework requirements for their specific program, pass a qualifying examination, and present a dissertation containing an original contribution to knowledge. Additional requirements (e.g., foreign language, preliminary examination) vary from program to program. In a few programs, after the presentation of the dissertation, the student takes a final oral examination, sometimes called a "defense of the thesis."

Fees and Expenses

Current California Resident and Nonresident Fees are available courtesy of the Office of Resource Management and Planning.

General living expenses include books and supplies, housing, food, personal expenses, and transportation. Although living expenses vary considerably with individual preferences, the following 2007-2008 minimum budget figures may be used to estimate costs for three quarters of full-time study at UC Davis. Budgets are subject to change:

California Resident Student Tuition and Fees: $9,651.48

Nonresident Student Tuition and Fees: $24,639.48

Financial Requirements for International Students:
Tuition and Fees: $25,600
Living Expenses: $18,400
Per child: $2,500
Spouse: $5,000

Housing

The Atriums at LaRue Park is unique student housing conveniently located on the UC Davis campus. It is a privately managed apartment complex with 16 studio and 48 two-bedroom unfurnished units for single graduate students. (Singles)

The Colleges at La Rue is a privately managed apartment complex, located on the UC Davis campus. The Colleges embodies a unique vision of Tandem Properties and UC Davis: a campus-sponsored living-learning community where residents participate in enriched learning experiences. (Singles)

Primero Grove is the privately owned and operated. This 181-unit complex offers affordable unfurnished apartments on campus for continuing undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. (Married)

Orchard Park and Solano Park are University family housing complexes located on campus, providing 476 apartments to married students or single parents with minor children. Vacancies are filled throughout the year from a chronological list based on the date of application for housing. For a fall assignment, the waiting period is at least five months. An application may be submitted before you are admitted and before you are married, but you must show documentation of your admission as a student and your marital or parental status before occupancy. The cost of utilities is not included. In Orchard and Solano Parks parent associations sponsor low-cost cooperative playgroups for children ages two to five years. (Families)

Russell Park offers additional on-campus accommodations and child care facilities for student families. The privately owned and managed apartments feature one-, two-, and three-bedroom unfurnished units at rates comparable or lower than similar units in the community. (Families)

Community Housing Listing maintains listings to assist in locating off-campus rental housing including rooms, apartments, houses, duplexes, mobile homes, and condominiums.

Campus Services

Childcare and Family Services. UC Davis is committed to quality childcare through information and referral services, support of University operated, cooperative and privately managed facilities on campus, and collaboration with the City of Davis and the Davis Joint Unified School District. Parents can choose from daycare centers, cooperative care arrangements, playgroups, family daycare homes, or in-home providers.

The Graduate Student Association. This representative assembly, linking students of diverse graduate programs, is the officially recognized constituent organization of graduate students on the Davis campus. All regularly enrolled graduate students are automatically GSA members and are assessed membership fees as part of registration. GSA is run by graduate students who volunteer time and expertise to provide services to graduate students and to protect and promote their interests at all levels of University administration.

The Student Health Center provides medical care to registered students. Graduate students new to the Davis campus need to meet the medical entrance requirements consisting of a medical history form and proof of immunity to rubella and rubeola. Dependents can be treated on a fee-for-service basis and are eligible to purchase dependent insurance coverage.

The Student Disability Center offers advising, assistance and resources to students with physical, visual, communication, or learning disabilities. Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the DRC as early as possible in their planning for graduate academic work.

UC Davis General Catalog. The General Catalog can be downloaded in sections or purchased in its entirety through the UC Davis Bookstore.

More campus services.