Application Process

The Plant Biology Graduate Group is composed of 3 PBGG faculty members, and 2 PBGG student representatives. Completed applications submitted by December 1st (11:59pm PST) are reviewed by the committee on a holistic basis. Our program values the diverse experiences, academic milestones, research backgrounds, employment expertise, and overall life journey’s that our candidates bring forth with their application submissions. Candidates are reviewed based on a carefully curated rubric metric which minimizes bias.

Application Documents

The committee bases admission recommendations on the following documents that collectively should address the below listed criteria.

• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History Statement
• Diversity Statement
• Coursework History (Transcripts)
• 3 Letters of Recommendation

Creating a Competitive Application

The admission committee evaluates applications based on several criteria. These criteria should be addressed in your application package and include (but are not limited to):

• Academic preparedness and prior research experiences related to graduate studies in the field of Plant Biology that illustrates a breadth and depth of knowledge
• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, consistent commitment and motivation, and personal resilience for graduate level work  
• Dedication/Motivation contribute to enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within your academic and greater community
• A commitment to enhancing the field of Plant Biology through a collaborative mindset, personal initiative, and/or service to the community

The Admission Committee also highly recommends that applicants reach out to PBGG faculty directly prior to submitting their application. This allows applicants to better identify laboratories that are currently accepting new students, and to determine if current research offerings of the program align with the candidate’s research interests. 

The minimum graduate admissions requirements (as mandated by UC Davis Graduate Studies) are: 

1. 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.
2. By the time they enroll, successful applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent that is comparable to a degree from the University of California both in distribution of academic subject matter and in scholarship achievement. Regional accreditation for U.S. institutions and authorization by a national higher education authority for international institutions (at the time the degree was earned) are used as the eligibility standard.
3. Applicants must submit TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo scores unless they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either a regionally accredited or foreign college/university which provides instruction solely in English. See the English Language Requirement section for details. 
4. A non-refundable application fee ($135 for domestic applicants, $155 for international applicants, or possible fee waiver for participants in approved Graduate Preparatory Programs).

What’s Next

• Review the PBGG Degree Requirements and Prerequisite Coursework
• Visit the Graduate Studies Website on How to Apply
• Contact PBGG faculty to learn about current research offerings ongoing research projects

Program Prerequisites 

Should you have any questions or concerns about the graduate application or graduate admission process, please contact the Graduate Studies Admission Office at gradadmit@ucdavis.edu. For program specific questions, please reach out to our Graduate Program Coordinator at ahturner@ucdavis.edu.