phd education uc davis

2024-2025 General Catalog

Education, Doctor of Philosophy School of Education

Office & Contact Information

Francisco (Paco) Martorell, Ph.D., GGE Chair; term ends June 30, 2024

Graduate Study

The Graduate Group in Education offers programs of study and research leading to the Ph.D. degree. Students may concentrate in; language, literacy and culture; learning and mind sciences; mathematics education; school organization and educational policy; or science and agriculture education. Students may also combine these fields of study with designated emphasis areas such as Critical Theory; Second Language Acquisition, Women's Studies, and Writing, Rhetoric, and Composition Studies, Detailed information regarding graduate study may be obtained by writing the Graduate Coordinator or see Education Ph.D. Program .

Preparation

Students should have earned a Bachelor's or M.A. degree or the equivalent in a discipline relevant to their proposed emphasis program. For example, students applying for the mathematics education emphasis should have earned the B.A. or M.A. or M.A.T. degree in mathematics or mathematics education.

Graduate Advisors

Prof. Darnel Degand (Primary Advisor), Prof. Heidi Ballard, Prof. Cassie Hart, Prof. of Teaching Torry Winn

Graduate Coordinator

Briana Rodriguez

See Education (EDU) .

Financial Aid and Scholarships

Important Updates

• In observance of the Memorial Day holiday, Financial Aid and Scholarships will be closed on Monday, May 27, 2024 .
• The Department of Education has announced they will send information from the 2024-25 FAFSA to schools in mid-March. This may result in a delay in financial aid packaging and offers for the 2024-25 academic year. While awaiting your financial aid offer, we encourage you to utilize the UC Davis Financial Aid Estimator  to estimate your potential aid.

Ph.D. in Education

How to understand your cost of attendance.

Cost of Attendance is an estimated budget that the school uses to help students maximize financial aid opportunities. This budget is estimated using direct and indirect costs that a student will incur while enrolled in an academic program.

Direct Costs: Charges included in the cost of attendance that the student/family pays directly to the college. Actual charges may vary by student. For example, students may have different housing options or may enroll in a part-time program. These items include Tuition and Fees, Health Insurance, and Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (for California nonresidents).

Indirect Costs: Estimated expenses in the cost of attendance that are not paid directly to the institution. These items include Books and Supplies, Housing and Food, Personal Expenses, and Transportation.  

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Education

• Footnote (1)
• The tuition, fees, and charges posted here are estimates based on currently approved amounts. These figures may not be final; actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California or, as authorized, by the President of the University of California. Accordingly, final approved levels and charges may differ from the amounts shown.   For the most recent tuition and fee amounts, please visit the  U C Davis Tuition and Fees  website.  
• Footnote (2) 
• For estimates of off-campus housing costs near the UC Davis campus please review:  Housing Costs Near UC Campuses . For more information on actual off-campus rental costs please visit the  Student Housing  website.

Dissertations & Preprints

Search for dissertations completed at the University of California, Davis and other institutions.

Preprints refer to papers that have not yet undergone peer review.

• Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) This link opens in a new window The Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (NDLTD) is an international organization dedicated to promoting the adoption, creation, use, dissemination and preservation of electronic analogues to the traditional paper-based theses and dissertations. This website contains information about the initiative, how to set up Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) programmes, how to create and locate ETDs, and current research in digital libraries related to NDLTD and ETDs.
• Open Access Theses and Dissertations This link opens in a new window OATD.org aims to be the best possible resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1000 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes 2,311,795 theses and dissertations.
• EdArXiv This link opens in a new window A free, open source database developed by education researchers in collaboration with the Center for Open Science. Includes articles under review (preprints), working papers and unpublished work.
• Social Sciences Research Network / Economic Research Network (SSRN/ERN) This link opens in a new window See EduRN . The Education Research Network on SSRN is an open access preprint server. SSRN provides the opportunity to share different outputs of research such as preliminary or exploratory investigations, book chapters, PhD dissertations, course and teaching materials, presentations, and posters among others.
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Research Support

• Last Updated: Feb 1, 2024 1:25 PM
• URL: https://guides.library.ucdavis.edu/education

• Prospective Students
• Make a gift to the School of Education
• Attend a credential program info session
• Know if my courses meet the prerequisite requirements for the teaching credential
• Find course schedules
• Learn more about the MA part of the Credential/MA program
• Learn about applying to the teaching credential program
• Know if the School offers a part-time, night or summer teaching credential program
• Learn about the cost of the Credential/MA program
• Learn about the Doctorate in Educational Leadership (EdD)
• Learn about the PhD program

• Course Requirements
• PhD Timeline and Milestones
• PhD Advising
• GGE Research Seminars
• Financial Support
• Language, Literacy & Culture
• Learning & Mind Sciences
• Mathematics Education
• School Organization & Educational Policy
• Science & Agricultural Education
• Graduate Group Faculty

Frequently Asked Questions about the PhD Program

Find answers to questions about GRE codes, application fees, financial aid and more.

When is the annual application deadline for Fall admission?

The application deadline is Dec 15th

How much is the application fee

Please visit our Graduate Studies website for information on the cost of applicant fees and information.

Do you accept applications for admission in the winter or spring quarters?

The Graduate School of Education/Graduate Group in Education accepts applications only for the fall quarter.

How long does it take to complete the program?

Students in the Ph.D. program typically complete the program in 4 to 6 years. Students must take approximately 2 to 2 1/2 years of course work followed by preparing for and passing the qualifying examination, and researching and writing the dissertation.

What does the program cost?

For current full-time graduate student fees, please refer to the official UC Davis fee schedule.

What prerequisite courses are required for admission?

The Education M.A and Ph.D. program has no specific prerequisite majors. However, a prior program of study that provides a logical foundation for your chosen emphasis area is necessary. And, for Science Education or Math Education a background in the subject area is required.

Is the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) test required?

NO – we do not require the GRE Test.

What is the minimum GPA requirement?

The UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies requires students to have a minimum GPA of 3.0. If the School of Education/Graduate Group in Education wishes to admit an applicant with a lower GPA, we must ask for an exception to policy by the Dean of Graduate Studies.

Is a personal interview required?

What does the admissions committee look for in an applicant.

The Admissions Committee considers the following factors: GPA, appropriate foundation coursework, fit with the program relative to current faculty interests, perceived ability of the applicant to do scholarly research and writing as gleaned from the statement of purpose, writing samples and letters of recommendation. The goal of the M.A./Ph.D. programs is to produce scholars who will be able to do outstanding independent research and teaching.

Can I transfer units taken at another school to the School of Education/Graduate Group in Education to count toward my M.A. or Ph.D.?

Transferring units toward your UC Davis School of Education/Graduate Group in Education M.A. or Ph.D varies from case to case. The Education program advisor examines each case on an individual basis and will not consider the transferability of courses until after an applicant has been admitted into the program.

A maximum of 12 quarter units from a University of California campus or six quarter units from another university can be applied toward the fulfillment of degree requirements. Each course must be at a graduate school level. A course cannot have been used to satisfy a previous degree requirement. The final decision is made by the graduate program advisor

Can I take individual classes without being admitted to the full program?

Yes, you may take classes through University Extension’s concurrent enrollment program. Up to 12 units of this coursework taken prior to admission may be counted toward the M.A. or Ph.D. program, with the approval of the graduate advisor

Where are classes taught?

Most classes are taught in the School of Education classrooms in Academic Surge.

When are classes taught?

Graduate courses may be taught at any time during the week. Graduate classes are not taught during the summer.  Please visit our Course Schedules website for information on Education courses.

Can I work full-time and earn my M.A. or Ph.D. degree?

Many of our Education graduate students are employed outside the program. However, most find it difficult to work full-time throughout their program. It is important to provide yourself enough time for adequate scholarly inquiry and School of Education/Graduate Group in Education collegiality. Further, some flexibility in work schedule is necessary in order to participate in full-time course work required for the Ph.D. program.

Is financial support available?

Yes, financial aid is available in the form of internal and external fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, Federal workstudy, fee and tuition scholarships, and grants and loans. Learn more here .

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Graduate Education

With world-class faculty and advanced facilities, the college offers exceptional opportunities for collaboration and growth for students in its highly interdisciplinary graduate programs, which tailor each student's education to their to research interests. 

Graduate Groups

Application Fee Fellowship

Designated Emphasis

Teaching Assistantships

Graduate Advising

Training Grants

Awards and Fellowships

Application Requirements

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Phd program in per.

The UC Davis physics department is one of a few departments in the country that has a physics education research (PER) group. PER PhD students have the same basic requirements as all other physics PhD students including the same physics core classes, the same written preliminary exam, and a oral qualifying exam. For more information on the department's general requirements go here.

During the second year, PER students may take a varity of classes depending on their interests and needs. A typical student will take a number of courses in the Education Department and/or the statistics department depending on their interests and abilities. (Go here for the current UC Davis Education Department course list.)

After a student has passed the written preliminary examination, they will start preparing for their oral qualifying examination. Each student's qualifying exam is a talk organized by the student on their own particular research. The qualifying exam is usually taken in their third year of study.

UC Davis PER Graduate students are currently studying: graduate instructor training, graduate instructor-student classroom dynamics, undergraduate physics epistemologies, reformed graduate student education, reformed physics curiculum for undergraduate pysics majors, gender difference in undergraduate physics, and reformed "block curriculum" (math, chemistry, biology and physics) for freshman undergraduates. Research is not limited to these areas.

Please contact David Webb If you are interested in joining the PER group at UC Davis.

Education (Credential/M.A.)

School of Education

• Master of Arts
• Teaching Credential

The School of Education offers a combined program to earn a teaching credential and a Master of Arts degree. The program prepares elementary and secondary teachers and is designed to immerse students in the total environment of the classroom, provide a theoretical-practical approach to the teaching-learning process, and encourage close interaction between faculty and students. The elementary education program prepares students in all subjects commonly taught in an elementary classroom. The secondary education program prepares teachers for the grades 7-12 classroom in the following areas: Agriculture, English, Physical and Life Sciences, Math, and Social Sciences. All programs offer the option of additional preparation for bilingual (Spanish & Mandarin) classrooms.

Graduate Program Requirements

Contact information.

UVM's Clare Nelson Explores Equitable Transportation Policies in Her Research

• by Alyssa McDonald
• May 22, 2024

Meet Clare Nelson, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Master's Student at University of Vermont!

Meet Clare Nelson, a master’s student studying Civil and Environmental Engineering at University of Vermont (UVM)! In 2022, Clare received her B.S. in Civil Engineering and a degree from the Honors College at UVM. She credits the collaborative environment, ample research opportunities, and connections created with faculty and fellow students as key factors influencing her to stay at UVM and pursue a master’s degree. 

Clare’s passion for transportation engineering stems from her involvement in clubs, work experiences, and research opportunities sought on campus during her undergraduate education. Besides holding positions as both the Secretary and President in the UVM student American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Chapter, Clare conducted public outreach and ran educational campaigns to engage with community groups and the student body as a Sustainable Transportation Intern for Transportation and Parking Services within the UVM Office of Sustainability. In this position, Clare provided bus use education, gauged where people felt unsafe traveling on campus and around town, and envisioned ways of making multimodal transportation more accessible and equitable. As Clare explains: 

“That’s when I started falling in love with transportation, through boots on the ground chatting with people – sometimes at a bus stop, sometimes at a table.” 

Currently, Clare continues to work under the Office of Sustainability as a Data Analyst and Graduate Fellow for the Sustainable Solutions Lab. In these positions, she manages and verifies data collected by the university. Specifically, she is meaningfully involved in tracking emissions reductions goals, including measuring tailpipe emissions from commuters and the campus fleet. 

Building from her love for community education and engagement, Clare grew fascinated with the human-centric components of civil engineering, especially economics and sociology. This interest transcended into transportation policy when Clare selected her undergraduate honor’s thesis titled, “An Analysis of the Sustainability and Equity of a Mileage-Based User Fee Versus the Gas Tax in Vermont.” 

Clare’s interest in mileage fees continues to further develop through her current research as a Graduate Research Assistant at the UVM Transportation Research Center (TRC). Clare also conducted an NCST project titled, “ Evaluating Support for Mileage Based User Fees in Diverse Communities and the Value of Providing Contextual Information ” with her advisor, Dr. Gregory Rowangould. Through this research, Clare addressed the issue of lacking information or misinformation amongst the public when using public opinion polls by directly educating respondents to assess the extent to which policy opinions change with the provision of unbiased information. A key finding: education can fill information gaps and influence ways the public understands mileage fees as an alternative to the gas tax. 

Intersecting with her interest in mileage fees, Clare is passionate about transportation funding and land use. In her words: 

“I think people talk about a lot of these solutions… and they need money… so where that money comes from, I think, is a very important part of making sure our transportation systems are equitable, safe, and accessible. I really like economics and untangling the puzzle of how we actually integrate and internalize the externalities of our transportation system.” 

As urban and transportation planners advocate for more sustainable development, such as complete streets and smart growth, Clare is curious about the unique ways these strategies apply to small towns and rural communities. Additionally, Clare is passionate about science communication and education involved with getting people excited about transportation, which is pertinent in her work and research by creating educational videos and public-facing dashboards. 

Since Clare’s research topic is currently discussed in Vermont’s state legislature, she received the opportunity of presenting to the Senate Committee on Transportation, presenting at the Transportation Research Board’s (TRB) 102nd and 103rd Annual Meetings, and developing connections with the Vermont Agency of Transportation. As she details: 

“Not only am I doing this research, but I’m seeing the applications in real time. I always wondered, when somebody in a position of power reads your paper, what happens? I’ve been able to watch this process from the start.” 

In 2023, Clare was awarded the University of Vermont’s NCST Outstanding Student of the Year for her stellar research. Among her accomplishments, some awards Clare received include the UVM Presidential Scholarship, as well as the UVM College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Scholarship in 2018-2022, the UVM D. P. Fay Award in 2022, and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Scholarship in 2023. After receiving her M.S. this August, Clare will stay at the TRC as a researcher to work on new research and finish ongoing projects. 

Congratulations on your achievements, Clare!

Primary Category

How to Apply

Ph.d. admissions requirements  , application deadline is december 1st each year for the following fall only (no winter or spring admissions), note: we are no longer accepting applications for fall 2024. we do not have spring admissions. the application for fall 2025 will open in september.  .

***GRE SCORES ARE NOT REQUIRED***

Note: We DO NOT offer a stand-alone Master's program or a Clinical/Counseling Psychology program. Applications are only accepted for the Ph.D., but it is possible to earn a Master's along the way.

FALL 2024 APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE:

Overview: New graduate students are admitted directly into faculty laboratories, so it is essential for prospective students to contact faculty directly about openings and research interests (see below for advice). After the December 1 st deadline, applications are reviewed by individual faculty, who then nominate prospective students to the admissions committee for interviews, which occurs in January. The majority of students selected for interviews have at least some email contact with potential faculty mentors before applications are submitted.  

Application Process

• December 1, 2023 Submit your Application for Admission!
• December 5, 2023  All materials due (TOEFL/IELTS test scores, transcripts, recommendation letters)
• January 8, 2024  Interview invitations will be emailed to interview candidates (interviews are required for admission)
• February 2, 2024  In-person Interviews (international applicants may interview via Zoom)
• February 29, 2024  Admissions offer letters sent via email
• March 15, 2024  Final admissions decisions sent to unsuccessful applicants.
• April 15, 2024  Decision deadline – let us know if you accept our offer of Admission!

IMPORTANT NOTICE:

The Psychology graduate office will be closed December 22, 2023 through January 2, 2024.  During this time you may not be able to reach the Psychology Graduate Program or the Office of Graduate Studies for information regarding your application status. Please be patient, we will do our best to promptly respond to your inquiries once the office has reopened on January 3rd.

• Application Requirements

The GRE is no longer required.  Applicants with GSR scores will not be able to upload them.

We do not have any course pre-requisites. An MA is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program. Students must have a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in the Ph.D. and the University requires a 3.0 GPA. In exceptional cases where the applicant has additional skills this requirement can be waived.

International Students  – May need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam and request results to be sent to UC Davis. See below for information on whether you need to take one of these exams.

Please see additional University application requirements here:  https://grad.ucdavis.edu/admissions/admission-requirements

• Area of Research and Preferred Faculty Mentor(s) 

The Psychology Ph.D. is a mentorship program, in which students perform research with a faculty mentor. You can list up to 6 faculty as possible mentors. It is beneficial for you to have email contact with one or more potential faculty mentors before the application deadline. This helps you to learn more about their research and gives them a more interactive way to get to know you. To see a list of our faculty, please click the "People" link on the top blue banner. To see our research areas and the corresponding faculty, please visit our Research Areas Pages . "Affiliated Faculty" are also members of the Psychology Graduate Program and can accept Psychology Ph.D. students as well.

After you have identified faculty whose research closely matches your own interests, it’s a good idea to contact them by email to express your interest in joining the lab. A common approach is to write 1-2 paragraphs describing your research interests and why you think you would be a good fit to work with the faculty member. Including a resume or curriculum vitae is a great way to let faculty review your training and experience. See this  webpage  for tips on how to write a curriculum vitae. We suggest you begin this process in September or October.

• Transcripts
• We do not require official paper transcripts, however we will need to see unofficial transcripts from all academic institutions you have attended and listed on your application. You can upload the unofficial transcripts directly into your application. Please follow the instructions in the application or in the confirmation email that will be sent to you after you submit your application. More information can be found on the Office of Graduate Studies here .
• Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation are required. It’s best if you can request letters from people who know you well and can give specific examples of qualities that you have that make you a good candidate for our program. Your recommenders will be contacted directly by the University to upload their letters. Unfortunately, we do not currently support document agencies such as Interfolio. The recommender must upload the letter directly via the link provided to them.

It is suggested that you contact recommenders at least one month in advance of the due date. At least one recommendation should be from someone with an academic title (professor, lecturer, research professional). Providing your letter writers with a copy of your CV and statement of purpose/personal history statement can make it easier for them to prepare your letters.

• Statement of Purpose
• Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specializations, and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis. (Maximum 4000 characters - including spaces) -  preparation and motivation may include your academic and research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example: coursework, employment, exhibitions, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, studio projects, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study. -  interests, specializations, and career goals may include your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives. -  fit may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match the specific resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own.
• Personal History and Diversity Statement
• The purpose of this essay is to get know you as an individual and potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education. This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose.  (Maximum 4000 characters - including spaces)
• Application Fee

$135 for U.S. applicants and $155 for international applicants. 

UC Davis offers application fee waivers to applicants who have participated in specific graduate preparation programs (see  Graduate Preparation Program Fee Waiver  page for a list of qualifying programs). Applicants who are affiliated with these programs must indicate their participation AND must provide the name and contact information for their program coordinator in the relevant section of the online application system to receive a fee waiver.

• International Applicants
• English language testing is required, not just for international students, but for all applicants whose native language or primary language of instruction is not English.  UC Davis accepts both the TOEFL and IELTS examinations.  For more information about these tests, please go to the  TOEFL/IELTS Requirement section .

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Education (credential/m.a.), about the program, learn more about the program.

The School of Education offers a combined program to earn a teaching credential and a Master of Arts degree. The program prepares elementary and secondary teachers and is designed to immerse students in the total environment of the classroom, provide a theoretical-practical approach to the teaching-learning process, and encourage close interaction between faculty and students. The elementary education program prepares students in all subjects commonly taught in an elementary classroom. The secondary education program prepares teachers for the grades 7-12 classroom in the following areas: Agriculture, English, Physical and Life Sciences, Math, and Social Sciences. All programs offer the option of additional preparation for bilingual (Spanish & Mandarin) classrooms.

School of Education

Admissions and Fellowship Information

UC Davis General Admission Requirements Program Admissions Requirements

Admissions Actions

Program contact information, primary program contacts.

Program Coordinator Janelle Barnes [email protected]

Prospective students and Admissions Tracy Falk (530) 752-2367 | [email protected]

Program Coordinator Briana Rodriguez [email protected]

Graduate Program Chair Alexis Patterson (530) 752-8675 | [email protected]

Additional Contacts

Advisor: Primary Contact Cynthia Passmore Education (Credential/M.A.) (530) 752-7883 | [email protected]

Advisor: Admissions and General Matt Wallace Education (Credential/M.A.) 530-752-6083 | [email protected]

Internal Fellowship Analyst Heidi West (530) 754-9473 | [email protected]

Senior Academic Advisor Brittney Dinelli [email protected]

External Fellowship Analyst Yvette Garcia [email protected]

Departments Recognize Faculty and Students for Excellence in Teaching, Learning

• by College of Engineering Communications
• May 21, 2024

The University of California, Davis College of Engineering celebrates faculty members, graduate students and undergraduate students selected by the college's eight academic departments to receive Excellence in Teaching Awards, the Outstanding Senior Award and undergraduate student department citations.

Excellence in Teaching Awards are presented to one faculty member and one graduate student teaching assistant in each department for strong commitment to the educational mission and vision of the college and for consistently performing above and beyond expectations in teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers and leaders.

The Outstanding Senior Awards recognize one graduating senior per major who has made significant contributions to the learning environment through active academic engagement at UC Davis. This prestigious award is given to seniors across campus and is distinct from the departmental citations, which recognize exemplary achievements or service among graduating seniors.

Biological and Agricultural Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Ali Moghimi
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Brenna Gracely
• Outstanding Senior Award: Morgan Johnson (Biological Systems Engineering)
• Emily Michaela Makeev

Biomedical Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Anthony Passerini
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Ben Mattison
• Outstanding Senior Award: Sonia Bhaskaran
• Department Citations: To be announced

Chemical Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Coleman Kronawitter
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Fizza Usmani
• Vincent Martin (Biochemical Engineering)
• Skye Frank (Chemical Engineering)
• Andrew Nguyen
• Eric Del Aguila
• Hudson Brown
• Megan Dunkin
• Michael Leong

Civil and Environmental Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Fabian Bombardelli
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Lei Zhou
• Freesia Finn (Civil Engineering)
• Genevieve Burye (Environmental Engineering)
• Amber Dekker
• Angel Verdejo
• Carlos Trejo Vera
• Genevieve Imboden
• Hannah Best
• Ibrahim Alghadeer
• Jessica Lee 
• Riana Mansing
• Sharod Nandi
• Sydney Sandoval

Computer Science

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Jason Lowe-Power
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Jia-wei Liang
• Ashley Bilbrey (Computer Science)
• Adityaa Ravi (Computer Science and Engineering)
•  Angela Hawkins
•  Shyam Agarwal 

Electrical and Computer Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: William Putnam
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Kartik Patwari
• Jackson Vaughn (Computer Engineering)
• Noah Wagner (Electrical Engineering)
• Charles Tweedy
• Darren Taira
• Isabel Munos
• Kimberly Tong
• Thomas Liang

Materials Science and Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Susan Gentry
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Hudson Shih
• Outstanding Senior Award: Jared Ura
• Hannah Darr
• Zachary White

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

• Excellence in Teaching Award: Francis Assadian
• Teaching Assistant Excellence Award: Jiahe Chai
• Lovleen Kaur (Aerospace Science and Engineering)
• Angel Rodas (Mechanical Engineering)
• Department Citation: Tristan Pham

Primary Category

Secondary categories.

UC Davis Graduate Studies

Funding your graduate education.

There are many resources available to help defray the costs of your graduate education. 90% of UC Davis graduate students receive some form of financial support. Many of our graduate students fund their graduate education through a combination of the funding sources below. 

To help you feel more prepared in funding your graduate education, we suggest exploring the different types of funding sources available to graduate students and understanding their requirements.

Explore the University of California's What's Next UC Graduate Studies brochure for more helpful information on funding your graduate education and financial assistance resources. 

Types of Funding

Graduate students at UC Davis are supported by four main types of funding: financial aid, fellowships, academic employment, and student loans. Keep reading to learn more about each type.

• Academic Employment

An academic appointment is student employment at UC Davis. Many graduate students receive academic employment at UC Davis. The most common academic appointments are Teaching Assistant (TA) positions or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions, though there are various other appointments as well.

Academic appointments pay a salary, not a stipend, and there are minimum qualifications to be employed at UC Davis, such as staying enrolled full-time and remaining in good academic standing . Learn more about academic employment at UC Davis .

• Fellowships

Fellowships are free monetary awards given to graduate students, similar to scholarships given to undergraduates. There are two types of fellowships: Internal Fellowships (UC Davis Fellowships) Internal fellowships are administered through Graduate Studies. They can provide financial support in the form of a stipend or "living allowance,” tuition and fees, Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST), research, travel or any combination of these. Graduate Studies administers approximately $6.6 million dollars in internal fellowships annually.

Graduate Studies offers an extremely limited number of external scholarships to international students. Most international students do not receive internal fellowships.  Learn more about Internal Fellowships at UC Davis . External Fellowships  External fellowships are funds from organizations outside UC Davis. You may have heard of some of the sponsors already—the National Science Foundation, Fulbright, and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation are all examples of sponsors who give external fellowships to graduate students, but there are hundreds of sponsors out there with funding. The External Fellowships advisors in Graduate Studies can help graduate students through the process of applying for these fellowships.  

Final Notes About Fellowships Sometimes fellowships have research or reporting requirements attached to them. Fellowships typically pay a stipend and not a salary. To be eligible for fellowships, you have to be sure to fulfill obligations such as maintaining full time enrollment and a minimum GPA.

When it comes to applying for fellowships, pay particular attention to deadlines: - At UC Davis, the internal fellowship deadline is your program's priority deadline. - Most external fellowship applications are due before university applications.

• Financial Aid and Student Loans

Student Educational Loans Student loans are funds borrowed from an external source with the expectation that they will be paid back. UC Davis Financial Aid administers federal and state loans for graduate and professional students, and also administers various short-term loan programs for graduate students with unexpected need. Only 2% of graduate students at UC Davis rely on loans to fully fund their education. You must complete a FAFSA application each year (ideally in March) to calculate your Financial Need to determine your eligibility for educational loans.