Application Information

Application Information

We encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply, including individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups in graduate education, such as African American, Black, Chicanx/Latinx, and Native American students.

Applications must be submitted by February 29, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST. 

Successful candidates should meet the following requirements: 

  • Be a rising senior in their third or fourth year at any California State University (CSU)
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM), Social Sciences majors recommended; Arts and Humanities eligible*
    • Most UC Davis faculty in the Humanities and Arts and some Social Sciences are on 9-month appointments and therefore are unavailable during the summer program dates
  • Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. AB 540 or DACA students are eligible
  • Demonstrate academic aptitude and achievement
  • Have a potential for leadership that empowers underrepresented groups in graduate education to participate fully in their higher education pursuits
  • Be interested in conducting research in a master’s or Ph.D. program
  • GPA requirement 3.0 cumulative

The following application components are required for the UCDGAP program:

  • Letter of recommendation -  One required, two accepted. See below for more information. 
  • Online application
  • Unofficial transcripts 
  • Personal Statement - See prompt below.

Letter of Recommendation

One letter of recommendation is required from a professor, faculty advisor or course instructor. The recommender should be able to describe the following: how long they have known you and in what capacity, observations of your motivation for graduate study and/or commitment to the academic and professional goals of attaining a Ph.D., candid appraisal of your intellectual ability, aptitude in research, potential for doctoral study, and the quality of previous work.

Personal Statement

The Personal Statement is required of all applicants. As we prepare students for graduate school, we seek to instill in them leadership qualities that serve as a basis for their educational and professional careers. In 1-2 pages, please describe the strengths and challenges of your preparation for graduate study, your reasons for undertaking graduate study at the doctoral level and your career objectives. Provide your personal insights as to why you should be selected for participation in this program and what you expect to gain from this experience. Include details of how you are committed to empowering yourself and others, specifically underrepresented minorities or members of your community. Use the personal statement to describe any undergraduate research experience you may have and/or your current research interests. In addition, please identify the contributions that you wish to make to your chosen field of study as well as to your community. Lastly, please list up to five faculty from UC Davis whose research interests you.

Ready to get started? Apply now!

Apply to UCDGAP