University of California, Davis (UC Davis) Admissions 2026: Application Deadline, Eligibility & Fees

University of California, Davis Application Deadlines for Fall 2027

UC Davis runs one primary intake each year: Fall 2027. Undergraduate applicants file through the UC Application, and graduate applicants apply directly on the UC Davis Graduate Studies portal or the Graduate School of Management (GSM) portal for MBA and MSBA. Dates below are per the UC Davis undergraduate apply page and the GSM full-time MBA admissions page.

UC Davis’s primary intake for Indian students is Fall (September start) — the vast majority of PG, UG, MBA, and PhD programs open here.

Insider note: Indian applicants targeting the Full-Time MBA should file in Round 2 (January) or Round 3 International Priority (March) — Round 3 is timed specifically for international-visa candidates.

University of California, Davis Eligibility for Indian Students

UC Davis sets its academic and English floors at the campus level, with programs free to raise them. Indian applicants should benchmark against both the systemwide UC minimums and the Graduate Studies minimums before shortlisting programs.

UC Davis Undergraduate Eligibility

• Academic: Class XII completion (CBSE, ICSE, or State Board) with a strong percentage in academic subjects.
• Subjects: The UC "a-g" pattern expects English, Mathematics, Science, Social Science, and a foreign language across secondary years.
• Standardised tests: SAT and ACT scores are not required under the current UC test-blind policy.

UC Davis Graduate Eligibility

• Bachelor’s degree: A four-year Indian bachelor’s or three-year bachelor’s plus a postgraduate diploma or master’s.
• Minimum GPA: 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (roughly 65 to 70 percent aggregate in the Indian scale).
• GRE and GMAT: Optional at MS CS, MBA, and most engineering MS programs; MSBA requires GRE or GMAT (with waivers available).

English Requirements at University of California, Davis

All graduate and international undergraduate applicants need to demonstrate English proficiency unless waived. UC Davis Graduate Studies accepts three tests, per its English Language Examinations page.

University of California, Davis IELTS Waiver for Indian Students

UC Davis Graduate Studies waives the English test if the applicant holds a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from an institution where English is the sole language of instruction, as listed in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). Many Indian universities are listed with English as the medium of instruction — check the WHED entry for your institution before ordering an IELTS or TOEFL slot. If English is not listed as the sole language on WHED, the waiver is not approved.

University of California, Davis PG Programs and English Requirements

UC Davis offers over 100 graduate programs across the College of Engineering, College of Letters and Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, and the Graduate School of Management. The table below lists the programs Indian applicants apply to most, with the eligibility and English floors from UC Davis Graduate Studies. Base tuition for international PG students varies by program and includes the systemwide UC tuition plus a nonresident supplemental — see the course-wise programs and fees breakdown for the current schedule.

Planning note: MSBA sets a higher English bar (IELTS 7.5 / TOEFL 105) than the campus-wide floor. Indian applicants targeting MSBA should sit the test early and budget for one retake.

Note: Program-specific entry requirements, fees, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official University of California, Davis Graduate Studies international applicants page for your chosen program before applying.

University of California, Davis UG Programs and Requirements

Undergraduate international applicants apply as first-year (right after Class XII) or transfer (after some college coursework). All majors share the same UC Application, but individual colleges within UC Davis publish major-specific coursework preferences. Base tuition for the Fall 2027 UG intake is USD 57,300 per year at the UC systemwide nonresident schedule (INR 54.68 Lakhs), covering systemwide tuition, nonresident supplemental tuition, and student services fees.

UC Davis is test-blind for undergraduate admission — SAT and ACT scores are not considered even if submitted. Applicants build the profile through academic transcripts, four personal insight questions, and the UC-defined "a-g" subject pattern.

University of California, Davis Full-Time MBA Rounds

The UC Davis Graduate School of Management (GSM) runs a two-year Full-Time MBA on the Davis campus with four admission rounds for Fall 2027, per the GSM MBA admissions page.

University of California, Davis MBA Testing and Interviews

GMAT and GRE are optional — GSM states that not submitting a standardised test score will not adversely affect the application. Shortlisted candidates receive an invitation to a virtual Zoom interview after initial application review; interview invitations are a positive signal but do not guarantee admission. Application fee is USD 125 (INR 11,928), with waivers available for MBA event attendees and consultation participants.

University of California, Davis MBA Eligibility Basics

Applicants need a four-year bachelor’s or international equivalent (three-year Indian degree plus a postgraduate credential works). Work experience is not strictly required for the Full-Time MBA, though most admits carry two to five years of professional experience. Full-Time MBA tuition is billed at the professional-degree rate — see the fees redirect above for the current schedule.

University of California, Davis PhD Route

UC Davis PhD applications file on the same UC Davis Graduate Studies portal as MS programs, with a USD 155 application fee (INR 14,790). Most doctoral programs deadline in early December for Fall 2027 start.

University of California, Davis PhD Funding

PhD admits at UC Davis are typically offered a multi-year funding package that includes a stipend, tuition remission, and nonresident supplemental tuition coverage for the first year. International PhD students also receive a waiver of nonresident supplemental tuition for three years after advancing to candidacy (the qualifying exam milestone). Stipend amounts vary by program and range from around USD 1,000 to USD 70,000 per academic year — check the department funding page for your program.

University of California, Davis PhD Application Focus

PhD admission at UC Davis is faculty-driven — applicants should identify two to three faculty whose research aligns and mention them in the Statement of Purpose. Letters from research supervisors carry heavier weight than course-teaching LORs.

Insider note: UC Davis ranks in the ARWU global top 5 for Ecology, Veterinary Sciences, and Water Resources — Indian PhD candidates in these areas often find better funded placements at UC Davis than at higher-ranked general research universities.

PhD program funding and stipend amounts change each academic year — always confirm with the department graduate coordinator before signing an offer letter.

University of California, Davis Application Process

UC Davis uses three distinct portals depending on the level and program applied to. Undergraduate applicants use the systemwide UC Application; MS and PhD applicants use the UC Davis Graduate Studies portal; MBA and MSBA applicants use the GSM portal.

1. Choose the correct portal: UC Application (opened 1 August 2026 for prep; filing 1 October to 30 November 2026) for undergraduate. UC Davis Graduate Studies portal for MS and PhD. GSM portal for MBA and MSBA.
2. Prepare academic records: Upload unofficial transcripts and evaluated GPA; official transcripts follow after admission.
3. Draft the Statement of Purpose and personal insight essays: UG applicants answer four personal insight questions on the UC Application; PG applicants write one program-specific SOP.
4. Secure recommendations: Two to three LORs for PG; UG applicants do not submit LORs on the UC Application unless requested by a specific major.
5. Submit English test scores: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or Duolingo — or claim the WHED waiver if eligible.
6. Pay the application fee: USD 95 per campus for UG (INR 9,065) on the UC Application portal; USD 155 for MS and PhD (INR 14,790); USD 125 for MBA and MSBA (INR 11,928).
7. Await decision: UG decisions release March 2027; PG programs notify on rolling timelines between February and April 2027; MBA rounds carry approximately 6 to 8 weeks of decision turnaround per round.
8. Confirm enrolment and request I-20: Admitted international students submit financial documentation and receive the Form I-20 from UC Davis International Student Services to begin the F-1 visa process.

University of California, Davis Documents Required for Admission

The document checklist below covers all paperwork UC Davis expects from Indian applicants. Academic and English thresholds are covered in the Eligibility section above and are not repeated here.

• Valid passport: Bio-data page scan, with passport valid for at least six months beyond intended arrival.
• Academic transcripts: Official mark sheets and degree certificates from all secondary and post-secondary institutions attended.
• Degree certificate: Provisional or final degree certificate for PG applicants; Class XII certificate for UG applicants.
• Statement of Purpose: One program-specific SOP for PG applicants; four personal insight responses for UG applicants on the UC Application.
• Letters of Recommendation: Two to three academic or professional LORs for PG programs; not required for UC Application UG.
• Resume or CV: Two-page maximum for MBA and MSBA; one to two pages for other PG programs.
• English proficiency score report: Official IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or Duolingo score report sent to UC Davis by the test provider.
• Financial documentation: Bank statement, sponsor affidavit, or scholarship letter showing funds equivalent to one year of the estimated cost of attendance — required for the I-20 after admission.
• GMAT or GRE score report: Required for MSBA; optional for MBA and most MS programs.
• Passport-style photograph: Recent colour photo for visa and I-20 processing.

Before you apply: Get transcripts evaluated by a US-recognised agency (WES, IERF, or ECE) only if the specific program requests it — UC Davis Graduate Studies accepts institution-issued English transcripts directly for the initial application.

University of California, Davis Acceptance Rate

UC Davis does not publish a single institutional acceptance-rate figure for international applicants. Public data across recent freshman cohorts places the overall rate at an estimated 37 to 49 percent, which puts UC Davis in the moderately selective band among UC campuses — noticeably more accessible than UCLA or UC Berkeley but more competitive than UC Santa Cruz or UC Riverside.

University of California, Davis Selectivity by Program

Selectivity varies sharply within UC Davis. The MS Computer Science program receives over 2,000 applications and admits roughly the top 10 percent, with the Fall 2022 admit cohort holding a median undergraduate GPA of 3.736. Programs in Agricultural Sciences, Veterinary Medicine, and Environmental Sciences — UC Davis’s traditional strongholds — admit at rates well above the campus average.

University of California, Davis Ranking Snapshot

UC Davis sits in the QS World top 140 ranking band for 2027, is ranked 64 globally by Times Higher Education 2026, and holds a US News Best Global rank of 96. QS ranks UC Davis 2nd worldwide for Veterinary Science and among the global top 5 for Agriculture and Forestry — a rare pairing for Indian applicants targeting these fields.

Reality check: An admit at UC Davis MS CS is not easier than at higher-ranked US universities. Aim for a 3.7+ GPA equivalent and strong prerequisite coverage before applying.

USA Student Visa Process for University of California, Davis

Indian students admitted to UC Davis apply for the F-1 student visa, the standard US visa for degree-seeking international students. The process starts only after UC Davis issues the Form I-20, which arrives after admission and financial verification.

The visa steps run in a fixed order. First, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee of USD 350 (INR 33,397) and print the receipt. Second, complete the DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application online and pay the visa application fee of USD 185 (INR 17,653). Third, schedule the F-1 interview at a US Embassy or Consulate in India — Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, or Hyderabad. Fourth, attend the interview with the I-20, admission letter, SEVIS receipt, financial documents, and academic records.

Financial proof must cover one academic year of tuition plus living expenses on paper, typically shown through a family bank statement, education loan sanction letter, or scholarship award letter. After the visa is stamped, applicants can enter the US up to 30 days before the program start date printed on the I-20.

2026 update: Visa appointment slots at Indian consulates fill quickly during May-July for Fall intake — book an interview slot the same week the F-1 visa fee is paid.

University of California, Davis Admissions Tips and Checklist

The following tips and steps are drawn from Indian-applicant patterns at UC Davis and the fixed nature of the UC Application filing window. Feedback from Indian student reviews at UC Davis repeatedly flags timing and documentation as the top-two decision drivers.

• Register for IELTS or TOEFL 10 to 12 weeks before the deadline: Score reports take 5 to 10 business days to reach UC Davis after test day.
• Check the WHED database before booking an English test: If your Indian university lists English as sole medium, you qualify for the Graduate Studies waiver.
• File Round 2 or Round 3 for the MBA: Round 1 (September) closes before most Indian applicants finalise GMAT scores and visa plans.
• Draft the SOP around one research question or professional problem: UC Davis PG readers favour focused SOPs over generalist career narratives.
• Apply to two to three UC campuses in one UC Application submission: The USD 95 fee applies per campus, but the application content is shared — no duplicated writing.
• Request academic transcripts 6 to 8 weeks before the earliest deadline: Indian university registrar offices commonly take 3 to 5 weeks to process official transcripts.
• Secure LOR commitments by early October 2026: Recommenders need 4 to 6 weeks to draft strong letters for PG applications.
• Get financial documents notarised in September or October 2026: The I-20 request after admission needs bank-stamped statements dated within 6 months.

Indian applicants at UC Davis consistently receive strong outcomes in Computer Science, Business Analytics, Agricultural Sciences, and the Full-Time MBA. Applying to the primary Fall 2027 intake, meeting the 3.0 GPA and IELTS 7.0 minimums, and filing early in the round give the best chance of admission and F-1 visa clearance before the September start.