Admissions Process Overview

Submit Your Application Online

The UC Davis graduate admissions application is fully online. All aspects of the application, including letters of recommendations and transcript uploads, are handled electronically through our online application portal. All required application components must be submitted via the online application. UC Davis does not accept email attachments or paper copies.

Save Your Application Progress and Return Any Time

As you work your way through the application, you can save your application progress and return to it at any time before submitting your final application. 

Ensure Your Application is Complete Before You Submit

Take time to review your application before you submit it. Make certain you have filled out all fields completely and correctly. Once you submit your online application, it is final. No changes can be made.

Applying to Multiple Graduate Programs

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

Seeking Readmission?

Individuals who were once enrolled at UC Davis as graduate students and are seeking for readmission into the same program must apply for readmission using the readmission application form instead of the online application.

Testing Requirements

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 School of Education. Visit the Teaching Credential Program Admissions page for more information.

GRE and English Language Requirements

Visit our Test Scores Requirements page to learn more about the GRE and English Language examination requirements at UC Davis. 

View Test Score Requirements

Application Fee

A graduate application fee is required from all applicants.

  • U.S. Applicants - $135
  • International Applicants - $155

Applicants who choose to apply to more than one graduate program must pay an application fee for each program. The application fee is not refundable and must be paid before the application can be reviewed. Instructions for payment will appear when you submit your online application.

Application Fee Waivers

Application fees are only waived for applicants who have participated in or are affiliated with one or more eligible graduate preparation programs. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer application fee waivers on any other basis (financial circumstances, participation in programs not listed below, etc.). View the list of eligible graduate preparation programs to see if you are eligible. 

View Eligible Graduate Prep Programs 

Application Fee Fellowships 

Limited application fee fellowships may be offered by graduate programs. You may contact the Graduate Program Coordinator to find out more. To find their contact information, visit the program page and look in the "Program Contact Information" section.  

Transcripts

UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You may upload digital copies of your unofficial transcripts in the Academic History section of the application or after submitting your application using your Application Status Page.

View Instructions for Uploading Transcripts

Application Deadlines

It is your responsibility to ensure your application is submitted by the deadline. Applications close after 11:59 p.m. (Pacific Time) on the day of the deadline. UC Davis does not extend or waive application deadlines for any reason, including technical issues experienced by individual applicants, so applicants are encouraged to apply well before the deadline.

View Application Deadlines

Confirming 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 in to our online application portal using the instructions provided via email. Here you can see which materials have been received. Please allow the graduate program some time to receive and review your materials before you contact them to inquire about the status of your application.

Checking the Status of Your Application

After you have submitted your application, you may check the status of your application by logging into your application. This link can be found in your email. You will be taken to the Applicant Status Page, which will show the status of your application. Because the application review is primarily conducted by the graduate program and not by Graduate Studies, it isn’t possible for our office to provide you with more specific information regarding where your application is in the review process.

Notification of Decision

Your completed application and supplemental materials will be evaluated by your graduate program. Each graduate program conducts their admissions review process independently of Graduate Studies. There isn’t a specific day when a graduate program makes admissions decisions. During this time, Graduate Studies cannot tell you exact dates or times when decision notifications will be made.

Once your application is reviewed, the program's Graduate Admissions Advisory Committee will submit its recommendations to the dean. The 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.

Once the program has reviewed their applications and has notified the Graduate Studies office of their decision, you will be notified by e-mail. Graduate Admissions no longer sends paper admissions letters. Please check your email frequently (including your junk or spam folder) for updates regarding your application status, including the decision notification. 

Additional Questions About the Application

  • Can I submit separate applications to the M.S./M.A. and the Ph.D. for a specific graduate program?
  • No. Although you’re welcome to apply to multiple graduate programs, you cannot submit an application for multiple degrees in a single program. Master's degree programs are very different from Ph.D. programs. You should review the requirements and program content thoroughly before deciding which degree you would like to pursue. The only exceptions are for applicants applying to graduate programs in Education or Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership where each degree is listed as a different program.
  • I made a mistake on my application. I entered something incorrectly or forgot to add something. Can Graduate Studies or the graduate program fix it for me?
  • No changes can be made to the content of an application once it has been submitted. For that reason, applicants are reminded to check their application carefully before they submit it. Notices reminding applicants that they will not be able to change or add any content in their application are displayed prior to submission. Do not try to correct your application by submitting a new application to the same graduate program. Your second application will not be considered.
  • How do I know if the graduate program requires specific prerequisite courses?
  • We recommend that you visit the graduate program webpage and review their application requirements. If the program has specific prerequisites you will find information about them on their website.
  • The application system says that my email address/password are not valid.  How can I fix this?
  • If you changed your Primary Email Address on the Basic Information page, that is now the email address that the system expects you to use to log in. However, for some applicants, the autofill function on their web browser has automatically updated their email address without them being aware of the change (which has also prevented them from logging back in). If the system is telling you that your email address is no longer valid, we would recommend that you try using any alternate email address you may have to log in to the system. If you are still not able to log in, please contact Graduate Admissions at gradadmit@ucdavis.edu.
  • The Primary Email Address field lists an email address that I no longer want to use, but the application system won't let me change it. How can I update my email address?
  • If you need to update your email address, please contact Graduate Admissions at gradadmit@ucdavis.edu.
  • The application asks if I am a California resident. How do I know if I might be considered a California resident?
  • International applicants are not eligible for California residency, and domestic applicants must meet specific California residency criteria. We recommend you review the UC Davis Office of the University Registrar (OUR) webpage regarding California Residence for Purposes of Tuition. Once you have reviewed the information on the website you can make your selection in the application. Please note that you are only being asked to answer this question to the best of your knowledge. If you are admitted, OUR will request additional information to make a final determination regarding your residency.