Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Plant Biology Graduate Group must present evidence of high intellectual achievement and possess the potential for successful graduate study. The Graduate Division requires that an applicant possess a Bachelor's degree comparable to one granted by the University of California. An applicant must have at least a B average in upper-division course work or other evidence of high intellectual achievement to be considered for admission.

Students in the Plant Biology Graduate Program work closely with a particular faculty member on a significant research project. Students may enter the program uncommitted to a major professor and do laboratory rotations during their first year. Alternatively, students can be admitted under the sponsorship of a major professor. International students may be required to identify a major professor prior to admission into the program. Applicants are encouraged to correspond directly with faculty members whose research interest correspond with their own.

Applications are accepted for Fall Quarter admission only. No later than December 15.

In order to be considered as a prospective student in our graduate program, the following items must be completed and submitted to:

Plant Biology Graduate Group Office (1002 Life Sciences Addition, One Shields Avenue, University of California, Davis, CA 95616-8537).

* The University application fee is $70 for the domestic application and $90 for the International application (nonrefundable).  The fee may be paid either by credit card or e- check. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered as complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted.

* Submit only one Official University/College/Junior College Transcript for each school you have attended. That transcript will be made available to faculty in each graduate program to which the applicant has applied, as well as for the review of the fellowship application. Sent transcripts directly to the graduate program you have selected to apply to; in the case of multiple applications, applicants should send only one transcript to their first choice of graduate programs or to the first completed graduate program application.

* Three Letters of Recommendation must be submitted eletronically through the online application. Do not have recommenders send letters in hard copy as they will not be reviewed.

* Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores (no minimum score requirement; taken within last 5 years).  Subject test is suggested, but not required.  The ETS Codes are:  Institution Code-4834, Department Code-0205 (Botany).  You must use the correct GRE codes in order for you score to be sent to this department.  If the wrong code is used the department will be unable to track them.

* Graduate Studies requires the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) if your native language is not English or your instruction has not been in English.  The mimimum score required for admission to graduate study at UC Davis is 550 paper or 217 for computer based test.  The TOEFL Codes are:  Institution Code-4834, Department Code-37 (Botany).  You must use the correct TOEFL codes in order for your score to be sent to this department.  If the wrong code is used the department will be unable to track them.

* The Plant Biology Graduate Group also requires that applicants have completed courses in plant biology as well as other sciences as a part of their undergraduate study.  Limited deficiencies may be remediated after admission during one's first year of graduate study.