Applied Math: A minimum cumulative/overall GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 is required. Applicants are expected to have completed the equivalent of UC Davis undergraduate courses in calculus (including vector calculus) (MAT 21ABCD), linear algebra (MAT 22A or MAT 67), and ordinary differential equations (MAT 22B). Advanced calculus (introduction to real analysis) (MAT 127A) is strongly recommended. Additional background in probability (MAT 135A), partial differential equations (MAT 118AB), and/or numerical analysis (MAT 128ABC), is a plus. The ability to program in a high-level computer programming language (e.g., C, Fortran, MATLAB, Python, R, etc.), is assumed. Students admitted with deficiencies must make up the coursework within the first academic year, and must achieve a grade of at least a B in each course, as approved by the initial adviser responsible for their Study Lists.

Mathematics: A minimum cumulative/overall GPA (grade point average) of 3.0 is required. For admission to the graduate program, applicants should have completed Real Analysis, Modern Linear Algebra, and Modern Algebra. On our campus, these courses would be Real Analysis (MAT 127ABC), Modern Linear Algebra (MAT 67), and Modern Algebra (MAT 150ABC).
*Courses in Topology (the equivalent of MAT 147) are strongly recommended*
Students admitted with deficiencies must make up the coursework within the first academic year.

For the Fall 2025 application period, the current application fee is $135 for the domestic application and $155 for the international application. The application fee can only be paid by credit card.  If you apply to multiple graduate programs, you must pay the application fee for each application submitted.

Fee Waiver: Application fee fellowships provided through this program are available for Ph.D. applicants only. We regret that waivers for MS applicants will not be provided.  If you have already participated in one of the Graduate Preparation Programs listed here you may not apply.
Applicants selected for participation are eligible for a single application fee fellowship (valued at $135) for Fall 2025 admission. Fee fellowship applications must be submitted by December 20, 2024: APPLICATION LINK.

TOEFL or IELTS Scores:

• International students are required to submit scores on the TOEFL iBT or IELTS or Duolingo English Test (taking only one of these tests is sufficient).
  • Photocopies or unofficial scores will not be accepted.
  • Scores that are older than two years will not be accepted. No exceptions.
  • DUO and TOEFL/IELTS Exemption Eligibility Information: HERE.
  • TOEFL: The minimum score required for admission to graduate study at UC Davis is a score of 550 for the paper test and a score of 80 on the Internet-based test. Although an 80 iBT score is the minimum required for admission additional English language coursework or testing may be required for admitted students who have iBT scores below 104 or who plan to work as a TA/RA.
  • IELTS: The most recent overall BAND score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.
• Institution and Department Codes:
  • The institution code for UC Davis is 4834.
    •  Program code for Mathematics is 72.
    •  Program code for Applied Mathematics is 54.
    • For more information about sending your scores electronically, go to the ETS homepage. 
• Teaching Assistantships related to scores:
  • Our programs are only able to provide financial support in the form of teaching assistantships for students who have a TOEFL speaking score of at least 26.
  •  Students with a lower score are strongly encouraged to take an English language course focused on speaking and to retake the TOEFL exam. 

Please note - funding is currently only offered to Ph.D. applicants.  Ph.D. students are typically offered a 5-year financial aid package (4 if coming with a Master's) in the form of fellowships, employment as a Teaching Assistant, or as a Graduate Student Researcher. Teaching Assistants and Graduate Student Researchers are eligible for tuition remissions. There are also a limited number of fellowships available to help pay for non-resident tuition. Students who apply for the Ph.D. program before January 5  will be automatically considered for financial support.  Additionally, Internal Fellowships are offered by Graduate Studies; you can submit an online application for Internal Fellowships at the time of application, if applying before January 5 Instructions will be given in the online application system.

Note: It is NOT necessary to submit a separate Teaching Assistant (TA) application. The information provided in your graduate admissions application is entirely sufficient. All of our applicants are automatically considered for all sources of departmental funding, including fellowships and TAships.

Please visit HERE to learn more about graduate school fees at UC Davis.

Mathematics
The General GRE is not required and will not be considered in evaluating applicants.

The Math Subject GRE is optional for the Math PhD/MA program. If you take the exam it is recommended you send your official scores via ETS (the institution code for UC Davis is 4834. The program code for Mathematics is 0703). Math Subject GRE scores can provide the admissions committee with additional evidence of the applicant's potential for success. If an applicant does not submit Math Subject GRE scores, their application will be equally considered and their abilities will be evaluated based on the other application materials.

Applied Mathematics

The General and Math Subject GRE are not required and will not be considered for admission.

***Please note that photocopies or unofficial scores will not be accepted. When arranging to have your scores sent electronically, be sure that you include the correct institution and department codes. For more information about sending your scores electronically or to receive information on taking the GRE exams, including test dates, go to the ETS homepage.

The purpose of this essay is to get to 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.

The online application requires three letters of recommendation, they MUST BE SUBMITTED electronically through the online application system. Hard copy letters ARE NOT ACCEPTED under any circumstance.

You may add and edit recommenders yourself as long as your three initial recommenders have not submitted their letters.  Once all three letters have been received from your initial recommenders you will not be able to change this information.

UC Davis requires that applicants to all graduate programs submit both a Statement of Purpose and a Personal History and Diversity Statement. Each essay can be no longer than 4,000 characters (including spaces). To allow prospective applicants the opportunity to prepare these essays before starting the application, the prompts for each essay are listed below. More details...HERE.

UC Davis requires academic records from ALL college-level institutions you have listed on your application (this includes transfer courses that show up on your transcripts).  You will be instructed to upload copies of your transcripts during your application process after you have submitted your online application.  For more details visit the grad studies Transcript Page.

Please - do not provide an updated transcript once you receive final grades or receive research credit.  We are not able to update this information once your application has been submitted. Plan your submission date accordingly.  Many students are in the same position, do not fret if your final grades are in yet.