UCD Admissions Requirements

General UCD Application Components

1. Online Application and Fee

A graduate application fee is required from all applicants.

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

Graduate Studies application fees are only waived for applicants who have participated in or are affiliated with one or more eligible graduate preparation programs.

2. Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

Required for all applicants. The Statement of Purpose describes your academic preparation, relevant experience, motivation for applying, research interests/intended focus of your studies, and professional goals as they relate to the graduate program and major field. The Personal Statement primarily focused on academic preparation, research interests/concept, and alignment with the graduate program. 

See Admission Essays for essay prompts

3. Three Letters of Recommendation

All letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically by the referee. The online application will automatically notify the referee and provide instructions on how to submit their letters.

Instructions for Submitting Letters of Recommendation, including answers to the most frequently asked questions about recommendation letters.

Check your student portal frequently and send your recommender(s) a friendly reminder about the December 1 deadline.

4. Transcripts

UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. 

To be eligible for graduate studies at UC Davis, applicants must have:

• A minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) from the institution where you have earned or will earn your bachelor's degree.

Instructions for Submitting Unofficial Transcripts

5. English Language Examination Requirements for International Applicants

Applicants are exempt from the English language examination requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

• A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, or
• A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. UC Davis Graduate Studies will only approve waivers for foreign colleges and universities which list English as the sole language of instruction in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED).

UC Davis accepts the below English Language tests and requires the following minimum scores.  

• TOEFL iBT

• Minimum Score: 80

  Institution Code: 4834

  No department code.

• IELTS

• Minimum Score: 7.0 on a 9-point scale

  Send scores to: University of California, Davis Graduate Studies

• Duolingo English Test
• Minimum Score: 115*

Please be aware these scores are the minimum required by the university for admission.  More information about language testing requirements can be found here:  https://grad.ucdavis.edu/english-language-examinations

GRE scores are no longer required for admission consideration.