How to Apply

How to Apply

Instructions for Applying to the Graduate Group in Computer Science.

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All applications must be submitted online and all transcripts must be received by December 15th (UPDATED for Fall 2024). Applications received after December 15 will not be considered and the application fee will not be refunded. We do not mail paper applications. We also do not accept paper applications or paper transcripts. There is no Spring admission or application period.

UC Davis Graduate Studies requires that each applicant has the equivalent of a 3.0 minimum GPA, on the 4.0 scale used within the United States. Applications that do not meet this minimum will not be considered for admission. 

All applications must include the following materials in order to be considered complete. An application will not be reviewed until it is complete.

  • Application
  • Completed application form including statement of purpose and personal history and diversity statement. The online application will become available to applicants every September for admission for the following academic year; the link to the application, when available, is posted on Graduate Studies’ Application page. All applications must be submitted online and all application materials received by December 15th (UPDATED for Fall 2024). Applications received after December 15th are not considered. There is no Spring admission.
  • Application Fee

  • The application fee is required for all applicants. For more information about the application fee, see UC Davis Graduate Studies' Admissions Process Overview website. We do not process any application materials until the application fee has been paid. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered as complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted. 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.

  • Areas of Interest

  • In your online application, please explicitly state your area(s) of interest, as we will use this information to distribute your application to faculty in these areas for review. Applicants may select up to four research areas of interest, but must select at least one area, at minimum. 

  • Letters of Recommendation

  • Three letters of recommendation are required. The recommender must submit all letters of recommendation electronically. The online application will automatically notify the recommender and provide instructions on how to submit their letter. Please do not send hard copies of letters. Only letters submitted online will be accepted. For more details, please see UC Davis Graduate Studies’ Letters of Recommendation website. 

  • Statement of Purpose

  • The Statement of Purpose plays a critical role in the review of an application. It should be well written and free from technical errors and second language interference. It should define your background, and the interests and experiences that qualify you for graduate study. It must explicitly state your areas of interest for graduate study, and detail how the program at UC Davis will help you attain your educational and research goals. It would be helpful to describe how your plans fit into the ongoing research in Computer Science at UC Davis. For more details, please see Graduate Studies' Statement of Purpose and Personal History and Diversity Statement website. 

  • Personal History and Diversity Statement

  • The purpose of the Personal History and Diversity Statement is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student. It should describe your personal background and how your experiences inform your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This essay should complement but not duplicate the Statement of Purpose. For more details, please see Graduate Studies' Statement of Purpose and Personal History and Diversity Statement website. 

  • TOEFL or IELTS Score (If Required)

  • The UC Davis Graduate Studies policy regarding the English Language Exam requirement is that if a student receives a degree from a university whose sole language of instruction is English, then submitting the TOEFL or IELTS score is not required. For all other applicants, a TOEFL or IELTS score is required. For more details, please see the Graduate Studies’ English Language Examination Requirements webpage.

    All official test scores should be sent electronically directly to the institution from ETS or by using the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery. Please make sure the name listed on the application for admission exactly matches the name listed on the TOEFL or IELTS.  If the names do not match exactly, the processing time of the application will be delayed.  

  • CV (Curriculum Vitae) or Resume

  • Your CV or resume must be submitted electronically through the online application. CVs will not be accepted by mail or email. Resources, tips, and guidelines for formatting your CV are available from the UC Davis Internship and Career Center webpage.
  • Transcripts

  • UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. If your transcripts are not in English, Graduate Studies requires official translations of all transcripts. Do not send high school transcripts or certificates of training courses. For more details, see Graduate Studies’ transcript webpage.