Current Graduate Student Resources

Resources for current students in the UC Davis Graduate Program in Statistics.

Jump to:

• Academics & Registration
• Current MS Students
• Current PhD Students
• International Students
• Funding & Financial Support
• Health & Wellness
• Get Involved
• Around Davis: Local Resources
• Graduate Students with Families

Aggie Compass Basic Needs Center

Financial Resources, Food Security, Housing Resources, and Mental Wellness Resources.

Academics & Registration

• Academic Information from Grad Studies at UCD
• Full-time students must register for 12 units per quarter including research, academic and seminar units. Courses that fulfill any of the program course requirements may not be taken S/U unless the course is normally graded 
  S/U.
  
  Information on how to register, late enrollment, etc.
  
  Academic Services from Grad Studies (registration, finishing your degree & filing deadlines, academic probation, policies and forms!)
• Using OASIS (Online Advising Student Information System)

• OASIS is a great online tool for students (and program coordinators). If you did your undergraduate degree at UC Davis, you are probably already familiar with OASIS. While OASIS is not used as much for graduate students, there are still some excellent tools in OASIS that we recommend to our students.
  
  Home: Quick links to advising and health resources and other student applications (Schedule Builder, MyBill, etc.).
  
  Academic Record: 
  •  View "Courses" to see a list of all your current and previously taken course information, including units, grades, and instructors (use the "Columns" drop down menu to select information to display).
  •  View "Holds" to check if you have any current holds preventing registration for courses. If you do have a hold, this page will include information about the hold and what action is needed to remove the hold.

  

  
  Degree Worksheets: View, edit, or create new degree worksheets. Degree worksheets are program planners that help you plan your courses and check your progress towards completing your degree. Andi and Amy use this tool often and find it extremely helpful!

  

  
  GPA Charts & Tools: This tab includes multiple tools to calculate or review details of your GPA. You may find the "What if GPA" tool particularly helpful, as it can help you understand how potential grades may impact your GPA. Remember, as long as your cumulative GPA is 3.0 or higher, you are eligible to graduate!

• PELP, In Absentia & Filing Fee

• Cheat sheet below.  More information found for PELP & Filing Fee and In Absentia on the Graduate Studies site.
   

  	In Absentia	PELP	Filing Fee
  	Indep Research or enrolled at another Univ outside of CA.	Planned Education Leave Program: Suspend academic work for personal reasons.	Dissertation is in final draft form. Must graduate at the end of the quarter.
  Benefit?	Reduced fees while out of CA doing research or finishing diss.	No fees while you take a break from the program for various personal reasons.	Reduced fees while finalizing diss & paperwork to graduate.
  Deadline to Apply	10th day of instruction	10th day of instruction	1st day of instruction
  Keep SHIP?	Yes	May purchase health cards that entitle you to full student health benefits for 1 quarter**.	Must enroll in voluntary coverage
  Duration allowed?	6 Qtrs for PhD, 3 Qtrs for Masters	3 (new grad students not eligible); Extension may be requested.	One quarter.
  Eligibility	PhDs must be AC; MS must be 2nd year.	All	Must be AC.
  Fees	15% of tuition, 15% of Stud Svcs Fee, Full SHIP, Full out-of-state fees.	No fees - not a registered status.	$192
  Summer, too?	No, only F/W/S	NA	No
  Eligible to receive fellowship?	Yes	No	No fellowships or financial aid.
  Academic Appt?	GSR: Yes; TA/AI/Reader/Tutor: No	No	No
  Misc	No in-person collab with UC faculty		If you go on FF in Spring, you could file in Sept. Must be a registered student in prior quarter (not PELP).
  FF at same time?	Yes	No
  Registered Student?	Yes	No (do not register)	No

  
  ** If students are out of the area, they may purchase an optional health insurance plan to provide coverage. If students intend to continue UC SHIP benefits, they must notify Student Health & Counseling Services before the first day of the quarter in which PELP status begins.

• Can I go Part-Time?

• The Statistics MS & PhD programs do not admit part-time students because the program of study is designed to be full time.  
   

  Eligibility: 
  PhD Students (not Advanced to Candidacy):
  You'll need to meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the Office of the Registrar (https://registrar.ucdavis.edu/registration/part-time) which include:

                     - Employment, Health Conditions, Accommodation for Disability or Primary Care Responsibility.

  Next, you must get approval from your faculty advisor.
  
  PhD students who are advanced to candidacy are not eligible for part time.

  MS Students:
  You'll need to meet the eligibility criteria outlined by the Office of the Registrar (https://registrar.ucdavis.edu/registration/part-time) which include:

                     - Employment, Health Conditions, Accommodation for Disability or Primary Care Responsibility.  
  Having one course left in your last quarter is not an eligible reason to go part-time.
   

  International students must apply for both Reduced Course Load (RCL) and Part Time status.

  International students must discuss this option with their SISS advisor and apply for Reduced Course Load through iGlobal before applying for part time status through the Registrar.  Tuition will only be reduced if part-time status is approved through the Registrar’s office (with approval through the department).  Health conditions/Medical Need is typically the only eligible reason for international students to go part-time.
       
  SISS Forms: https://siss.ucdavis.edu/student-forms 
  
  NOTES: 
  - Part-time status allows a maximum of 6 units per quarter for a graduate student, and most courses at UC Davis are 4 units each. This means a part time student is usually limited to one course per quarter (plus a seminar?). 
  - Part time students do not meet the eligibility for funding at UC Davis.
  - If you enroll in more than 6 units, your part time status approval is canceled, and you become a full time student.

• Registering for Classes
• Registration Calendar
  Registration is open for graduate students 6am-midnight on weekdays and 10am-6pm on weekends during Pass 1 and Pass 2.
  
  What is Pass 1 & Pass 2?  
  
  During Pass 1:
        a) There are no wait lists. So if a course is full, students cannot enroll without obtaining a Permission to Add number (PTA). You can e-mail the instructor for permission to add, and if granted, that program's Coordinator will generate a PTA number for you to enroll. 
        b) Many courses are restricted during Pass 1 (ie some STA or ECS courses). If you find, after looking the course up via the Class Search Tool, that the course has seats available, then this is what is blocking your enrollment.  Contact the instructor to obtain a PTA # (Permission to Add).
  
  During Pass 2:
        Wait lists are made available, and most program-based Pass 1 restrictions lift. This means you should be able to enroll without permission in that out-of-Stats graduate course you were considering, but if the class is full, you should still contact the instructor. Grad courses can be small enough that wait lists aren't very effective, and it encourages building relationships with faculty when you contact them as well.
  
  - When asked to fill out a prerequisite petition in Schedule Builder and you have satisfied the prerequisites from another institution, include:
             - The name and number of the course that satisfies the prereq (ECS 42)
             - Final grade
             - Name of college/university where you took the class
             - When you took the class (Winter 2017)
             - Additional information or any supporting documentation (syllabus &/or copy of transcript)
             NOTE: Once you submit the petition, you cannot edit it. If you need to edit, contact the instructor directly.  Don't forget to click REGISTER after creating the petition!
  
  MORE INFO on the Graduate Studies site: How to register, late enrollment, adding & dropping, etc.
• PTAs and PTDs
• PTA (Permission to Add) Numbers
  PTAs are issued by the department that offers the course (e.g., the Statistics department can issue PTAs for STA and BST courses). If you are seeking a PTA for another department's course, please contact the staff in that department.
  
  To request a PTA for a STA/BST course, please consult our PTA Policy.
  
  PTD (Permission to Drop) Numbers
  PTDs are issued by Graduate Studies. Late drops are only permitted in exceptional and unforeseen circumstances and with documentation. Academic difficulties and missed deadlines are not accepted reasons for a late drop.
  
  For more information about requesting a PTD from Graduate Studies, please email stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu. (If you are a graduate student outside of Statistics and Biostatistics, please contact your Graduate Program Coordinator.)

Current MS Students

MS Degree Planner (pdf)

Degree requirements (updated May 2023)

• Program of Study
• The program of study will be developed and approved for each student by the Graduate Advisor in consultation with the student. This is a M.S. Plan II program (no thesis). A minimum of 44 units is required (of which at least 18 must be at the graduate level, according to university regulations). A comprehensive final examination in the major subject is required of each candidate. 
  
  See typical timelines on the MS Program in Statistics page.
  
  Full-time students must enroll in 12 units per quarter including research, academic and seminar units. Courses that fulfill any of the program course requirements may not be taken S/U unless the course is normally graded 
  S/U. Once course requirements are completed, students can take additional classes as needed, including a research class (299), seminars, or additional electives, approved by your faculty Graduate Advisor.
  
  Per UC regulations, students should not ordinarily enroll in more than 12 units of graduate level courses (200) or more than 16 units of combined undergraduates and graduate level (100, 200, 300) courses per quarter.
   
   
• Registering for Computer Science (ECS) classes

• Statistics students can start registering for most Computer Science courses during Pass 2
  
  List of Computer Science courses
  List of Math courses
  
  Approved ECS Courses for MS in Statistics, Data Science track:
  **STA 220 and 221 can also be used to fulfill the computing requirement.**
   

  Approved ECS Course                                             Prerequisites
  *ECS 120 Theory of computation                               ECS 020 or MAT 108; ECS 32B or ECS 36C Recommended
  *ECS 122A  Algorithm Design and Analysis               ECS 020 AND one of: ECS 060 or ECS 032B or ECS 036C
  *ECS 122B Algorithm Design and Analysis                ECS 122A AND one of: ECS 060 or ECS 034 or ECS 036C
  *ECS 130 Scientific computing                                  (ECS 030 or ENG 006 or ECS 032A or ECS 010 or ECS 036A); (MAT 022A or MAT 067)
  *ECS 140A Programming languages                          ECS 050; (ECS 060 or ECS 032B or ECS 036C); ECS 020; ECS 150
  *ECS 165A Database Systems                                     ECS 060 or ECS 032B or ECS 036C
  *ECS 165 B Database Systems                                    ECS 165A; (ECS 060 or ECS 034 or ECS 036C)
  **ECS 240 Programming languages                           ECS 140A; ECS 142
  **ECS 271 Machine Learning & Discovery                  ECS 170
  **ECS 289G  Special topics in AI                                 Consent of Instructor
  
                 * Open to Statistics students (non-Computer Science students) during Pass 2
                 ** Open to graduate students in Computer Science - contact instructor
  
  ​When asked to fill out a prerequisite petition in Schedule Builder and you have satisfied the prerequisites from another institution, include:
             - The name and number of the course that satisfies the prereq (ie ECS 42)
             - Final grade
             - Name of college/university where you took the class
             - When you took the class (ie Winter 2017)
             - Additional information or any supporting documentation (syllabus &/or copy of transcript)
             NOTE: Once you submit the petition, you cannot edit it. If you need to edit, contact the instructor directly.  Don't forget to click REGISTER after creating the petition!
   

  
   

• STA 299
• STA 299 is a variable unit course which students can take (with faculty approval) for a variety of purposes. STA 299 is graded as S/U. There are 4 options for our MS students to take STA 299:
  
  1. Internship in Fall, Winter, or Spring (up to 4 units)
  2. Project with Faculty (1 - 4 units)
  3. Internship & CPT (1 unit, international students only)
  4. STA 299 in your final quarter (up to 4 units)
  
  
  Option 1: Internship in Fall, Winter, or Spring (up to 4 units)
  
  MS students who have an internship during Fall, Winter, or Spring can take STA 299 to receive course credit for the internship. To receive 4 units of STA 299, the internship must be for at least 12 hours per week and cover most of the quarter (e.g., October through early December). The faculty sponsor for STA 299 has the option to mandate reporting (weekly/monthly) or a final report.
  
  To take STA 299 in conjunction with an internship:
  
  1. Identify a Statistics faculty member willing to serve as the faculty sponsor and Instructor of Record for STA 299 (this is typically your faculty advisor).
  2. Complete the Variable Unit Course Contract together with the faculty sponsor.
  3. Send Amy the completed contract with either your internship offer letter or an email from your supervisor confirming your internship.
  4. Complete the Internship Experience Survey—the more details you share, the more knowledge we have to help students find internships.
  5. After we receive your contract and documentation, we will send you the CRN for STA 299 with your faculty sponsor. Be sure to register for the number of units approved by the faculty sponsor.
  6. Optional: If you would like to use STA 299 as a degree-fulfilling elective, please obtain your faculty advisor’s written approval via email and cc Amy.
  
  
  Option 2: Project with Faculty (1 - 4 units)
  
  Students can do an independent research project with the help of a faculty member. To take STA 299 for a research project:
  
  1. Identify a Statistics faculty member willing to serve as the faculty sponsor and Instructor of Record for STA 299.
  2. Complete the Variable Unit Course Contract together with the faculty sponsor and send it to Amy.
  3. After we receive your contract, we will send you the CRN for STA 299 with your faculty sponsor. Be sure to register for the number of units approved by the faculty sponsor.
  
  
  Option 3: Internship & CPT (1 - 4 units, international students only)
  
  International students who are doing CPT must register for at least 1 unit of STA 299 (as CPT is not a degree requirement). Typically, your faculty advisor serves as the Instructor of Record for STA 299 for CPT. During Fall, Winter, and Spring, international students may take up to 4 units of STA 299 with CPT with their faculty advisor's approval (see Option 1 above). During Summer, you should take only 1 unit of STA 299 with CPT, as more than 1 unit is unnecessary and summer tuition is charged per unit.
  
  To take STA 299 with CPT:
  
  1. If Fall, Winter, or Spring, discuss with your faculty advisor whether to take 1 unit or 4 units of STA 299 (please cc Amy). If Summer, you should only take 1 unit of STA 299.
  2. Send Amy a copy of your offer letter or other written documentation confirming your internship.
  3. Apply for CPT in iGlobal.
  4. After your CPT is approved by SISS, we will send you the CRN for STA 299. Register* for the units agreed upon by you and your faculty advisor. 
  5. Complete the Internship Experience Survey—the more details you share, the more knowledge we have to help students find internships.
  
  *For Summer CPT, you'll need to register for 1 unit of STA 299 in Summer Special Session. Graduate students are not automatically “activated” for Summer Special Session, so if you receive a “you are not active” error when you try to register through Schedule Builder, you’ll need to contact the registrar. If needed, please email the Office of the University Registrar at ourenrollment@ucdavis.edu (and cc Amy) to ask them to activate you for Summer Special Session.
  
  
  Option 4: STA 299 in your final quarter (up to 4 units)
  
  MS students who are in their last quarter and only need 4 - 8 more units to fulfill all degree requirements can request up to 4 units of STA 299 from their faculty advisor to give them time to search for a job. This applies to domestic and international students, but international students are required to take 12 units and can only apply for part-time status in the case of a health condition.
  
  To request STA 299 in your final quarter:
  
  1. Email your faculty advisor (and cc Amy) to request up to 4 units of STA 299. Please provide your reasoning for requesting STA 299.
  2. After receiving your faculty advisor's approval in writing, we will send you the CRN for STA 299 with your advisor. Be sure to register for the number of units approved.
   
• Comprehensive Exam
• Every M.S. Plan II student needs to pass a comprehensive exam, to continue in the program. The M.S. Comprehensive Examination is a written examination taken at the end of the Winter quarter (during Spring Break) upon completion of STA 200A, STA 200B, STA 206 and STA 207 with a grade of C- or higher. The examination may include the use of statistical software and may be offered in a computer lab. If a student does not attempt the examination upon completion of those courses it will be counted as not passing the comprehensive exam.
  
  Should a student not pass the written comprehensive exam, the student will be offered a second comprehensive examination in the Spring quarter following the first attempt. If a student does not attempt the second comprehensive exam, it will be counted as a failure.
  
  Failure to pass the comprehensive exam at the second attempt will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for disqualification of the student from the graduate program.
  
  For students who entered the graduate program as Ph.D. students but subsequently change their degree objective to the M.S. program, passing the STA 232AB part of the program’s pre-qualifying Ph.D. written exam is considered as passing the comprehensive exam.
   
• Advancing to Candidacy (MS)

• Advancing to candidacy is the first step in the graduation process and confirms to Graduate Studies that you have made significant progress towards finishing your degree. While the candidacy application requires you to provide your course plan and estimated graduation term, many students change their course plan and/or graduation term after advancing to candidacy. Advancing to candidacy does not lock you into a specific course plan or graduation term.
  
  Plan II M.S. Candidates (that's you!) apply to advance to candidacy after completing approximately one-half of their course requirements (or once your degree plan is set) and at least one quarter before completing all their degree requirements. You are eligible to apply to candidacy when you have:
  1. Passed at least half (36 units) of the required coursework according to the program degree requirements.
  2. Earned a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  

  
  How to apply for candidacy in GradSphere:
  1. Pay the $55 candidacy fee and save a pdf of your receipt. You will need to upload your receipt in GradSphere as part of your candidacy application.
  2. Login to GradSphere using your CAS login. Under “Graduate Forms,” click the dark blue button labeled “Advancement to Candidacy.”
  3. Complete the “Student Information” and “Candidacy Information” sections. Be sure to upload your candidacy receipt.
  4. Coursework Required for Your Degree:
      a. You should only list courses required for completion of your degree. We prepare a degree worksheet in OASIS that lists these courses—please let Amy know if you have any questions or if the worksheet needs to be updated.
      b. You can view more information about your courses (including grade and instructor) in OASIS > Academic Record > Courses. View instructors by using the “Columns” drop down menu.
      c. Transfer coursework: In general, our students do not use transfer coursework for their degree. You will most likely answer “No” to the question about transfer coursework. (Transfer coursework includes classes you took at another university or through UC Davis Extension / Open Campus that has been approved by your Graduate Advisor to use towards your degree.)
  5. Review and submit your candidacy application or save and close to return to the application later.
  
  After you submit your candidacy application it will be forwarded to your faculty Graduate Advisor for their review and approval. They may return it to you for revision. After they approve it, your application will be forwarded to Graduate Studies for review and processing. Once your application is complete, you should receive an email from Graduate Studies confirming your advancement to candidacy.
  
  How do I know if I've already advanced to candidacy?
  When Graduate Studies advances you to candidacy, they send you an email confirming your advancement. If you can't find that email, you can also look in OASIS. At the top of all OASIS pages is a yellow banner with your name, photo, and other information. If you have advanced to candidacy, at the right of this banner you will see the words "Advanced to Candidacy."

  

  Note: If you are a double-major (either two MS programs or a PhD + MS), OASIS will not specify which program you have advanced to candidacy in. If you have any questions about which program your candidacy applies to, please email Amy.

   

• Filing to Graduate (MS)
• 

  Overview
  At least one quarter before you graduate:
  1. Apply to advance to candidacy (see above section)
      a. Master's Plan II Report: After you advance to candidacy and pass the comprehensive exam, the program submits your Master's Plan II Report on your behalf to confirm you have passed the comprehensive exam.
  
  In your final quarter:
  2. Submit the Filing Process form
  3. Complete our department's Graduation Exit Survey
  4. Submit a diploma mailing address to the Office of the University Registrar
  5. Prepare to separate your technology, data, and email from UC Davis
  
  Filing Process
  To file to graduate, you will need to submit the Filing Process form in GradSphere. The deadline to submit the Filing Process form is the last day of instruction of the term for which you want to file.
  
  Submitting the Filing Process form files you to graduate. Filing for graduation cannot be undone, so be sure that you specify the correct graduation term in the form and submit only when you are ready to file.
  
  When Graduate Studies files you to graduate, they will email you a PDF of your Degree Conferral Letter. This letter confirms you have completed all graduation requirements and will be awarded your master's degree on the date of conferral. Many employers, organizations, and government departments who require verification of degree will be satisfied with this letter in the time before your transcript is updated and your diploma is mailed.
  
  Graduation Exit Survey
  When you graduate, please complete our department's Graduation Exit Survey. When you complete the survey, you provide us with the following information:
  •  Your post-graduate career and/or education plans
  •  Your feedback about our program, faculty, and your work/research experience
  •  Your non-UCD email address so we can keep you informed of job postings and department news/events (optional)

  This information is confidential and used only within the department. Any feedback you share will be kept anonymous.

  Your answers help us improve our program and help future students in their studies and careers. We greatly appreciate your time in taking this survey!
  
  Diplomas
  Diplomas are ordered from an off-campus printer and mailed by the Office of the University Registrar (OUR), not Graduate Studies or the department of Statistics. You must submit a diploma mailing address using OUR's webform or PDF form before OUR will mail your diploma. When you provide your address, be sure to use a mailing address that you will have access to for several months to a year after graduation (international students may want to provide an address in their home country). For more information about ordering diplomas (including shipping and tracking options), please visit:
       Graduate Studies Diplomas, Transcripts and Verification
       Office of the University Registrar Diplomas
  
  Tech Transition & Separation
  Review the following IET resources to transfer your data and change any logins from your UCD email to your personal email:
  •  Essential Tech Transition Tips for Post-Grads
  •  Email Service Transition FAQ
  •  Graduate Student Email Transition
  •  Knowledge Base: Technology Separation Checklist for Students

• I Graduated, Now What?!

• Congratulations!  All of that hard work paid off!  Here are some FAQs to hopefully answer, "Now what?"
  
  Q: Will I be notified about my graduation?  What happens with all of that candidacy & graduation paperwork I turned in?
  A: Your graduation paperwork will be processed by the Graduate Studies office and you'll receive an email with confirmation of your degree and a conferral letter approximately a month after the quarter ends. 
  
  Q: When will I get my diploma?
  https://registrar.ucdavis.edu/calendar/academic-calendar
  A: Diplomas are mailed about 4 months after the quarter ends.  In the degree confirmation email Graduate Studies sends out, there will be instructions about the diploma.  But, if you want to get a head start, please see the information on the Registrar's site.  Fill out the diploma mailing address change form at the end of the quarter (at least one month before the diploma will be distributed (see distribution dates here). 
  
  Q: Can I keep my UC Davis email address?
  A: Graduate students graduating or separating from the university will have the option to convert their @ucdavis.edu email to a @formerstudents.ucdavis.edu email address or allow their account to close. Once transitioned, former graduate students will have access to a @formerstudents.ucdavis.edu email account for two years after graduation or separation. Graduate students may ​opt-in for a third year. Accounts will have a 20GB storage limit.
  
  Consult the student email transition chart for a deeper look at the difference between @ucdavis.edu and @formerstudents.ucdavis.edu accounts.
  
  More information from IET about transitioning your UCD email address.

  Step 1: Switch to an alternative email account
  If you use DavisMail (@ucdavis.edu email) as your primary email account, open a new account or switch to another email. 

  Step 2: Transfer your email and files
  Back up your account and move important emails from your DavisMail account to your new email account.

Current PhD Students

PhD Degree Planner (pdf)

Degree requirements (updated May 2023)

• Need a CRN to Register for STA 299?
• If a faculty member has agreed to supervise you with STA 299 unit(s), fill out this Variable Unit Course Contract with the faculty member and return the form to Andi who will issue the CRN.  If you have advanced to candidacy (passed your QE), you don't need the form.  Just request the CRN from Andi.
• Program of Study
• This degree is offered under Plan A which specifies a five member (minimum) dissertation/final examination committee and a final oral examination (defense of the dissertation). 
  
  A Ph.D. student will select an area of specialization and will choose a major dissertation advisor from Graduate Program in Statistics (GPS) faculty working in that area, usually in the second or third year of study. The student's program of study will be developed by the student jointly with the Graduate Advisor. 
• Qualifying Exam Committee & Dissertation Committee
• The qualifying exam committee will be appointed in accordance with the policies of the Graduate Council and Office of Graduate Studies at the recommendation of the Graduate Advisor who consults with the student prior to making the recommendation. The major professor is not eligible to serve as chair of the examining committee.
  
  Dissertation Committee: the student, in consultation with their major professor, nominates five qualified faculty members to serve on the Dissertation Committee. These nominations are submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies for formal appointment in accordance with Graduate Council Policy (DDB 80. Graduate Council B.1.). The major professor serves as Chair of the committee.
• Advising Structure & Mentoring
• The major professor is the faculty member who supervises the research and dissertation; this person serves as the Chair of the Dissertation Committee.
  The Master Graduate Advisor is identified by the chair of the program from among the appointed Graduate Advisors, assists graduate students in developing a study plan, and has signatory authority for the Master’s and Ph.D. programs.  Statistics Mentoring Guidelines can be found here.
• PhD Pre-Qualifying Written Examination
• The Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination will be given at the beginning of each Spring & Fall quarter. Students in the Ph.D. program must attempt the exam in the Spring quarter immediately after they complete both the STA 231AB and STA 232AB core course series. If a student does not attempt the examination at this time, it will be recorded as a ‘no pass’. Every Ph.D. student needs to pass the examination in a maximum of two attempts. In case of not pass at the first attempt, the second attempt must take place at the next time the examination is offered, and if a student does not attempt the exam at that time, it will be counted as a failure. Two ‘not passes’ of the examination will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for discontinuation of the student in the Ph.D. program.
  
  The Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination is a written exam with two separate parts: a theoretical part and an applied part. The duration of each part is about 3-4 hours. The applied part may be offered in a computer lab and may include the use of statistical software. If at the first attempt one part is passed but the other is not, only the part which was not passed must be repeated at the next attempt.
  
  The Chair of the Graduate Program in Statistics (GPS) will appoint an examination committee that will be responsible for preparing, administering and grading the examination. This committee will forward its recommendation to the GPS, which will make the final decision on each student.
• Ph.D. Qualifying Examination
• The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (QE) is an oral exam whose purpose is to determine if the student is capable of independent research. The QE will be composed of a forty-five minute presentation given by the student and is followed by a question period which covers a special research topic as well as coursework in general. A student who passes the QE is eligible for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The QE is expected to be attempted within one year from the quarter in which the student passes the Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination, but no later than the end of the student’s third year of the Ph.D. program. In consultation with the Dissertation Adviser, the student will submit to the Graduate Advising Committee (GAC) a date for the exam and a dissertation proposal.
  
  1.    The dissertation proposal should be between three and five pages in length and should contain an outline of the general context of the thesis research, a description of the special problem(s) to be addressed, and an indication of the methods and techniques to be used.
  2.    A draft version of the proposal must be submitted to the GAC for the purpose of determination of the composition of the QE committee at least 6 weeks before the proposed date of the exam. The student must submit a final version of the proposal to the QE committee a week before the exam date.
  3.    Based on the proposal, the GAC will recommend the appointment of a committee of four examiners to Graduate Studies (in consultation with the student and the student’s Dissertation Adviser). Normally the exam committee with be composed of three members from the Department of Statistics. Per Graduate Council guidelines, at least one member must be external to the Graduate Program in Statistics. The student’s intended Dissertation Adviser (and/or co-adviser) is not eligible to serve on the Qualifying Examination committee.
  
  PAPERWORK before the QE: The qualifying exam committee will be appointed in accordance with the policies of the Graduate Council and Graduate Studies at the recommendation of the Graduate Advising Committee.  When you are preparing for your Qualifying Exam please fill out the QE Request Form and the Graduate Advising Committee will assign your committee.  Your intended major professor is not eligible to serve as the chair of your committee.
  
  The student is eligible for advancement to Candidacy for the Ph.D. degree upon completion of all course requirements and after passing the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination, normally in the fifth quarter. 
  
  PAPERWORK after the QE: Once you've passed your QE, fill out the Plan A candidacy form.  Pay the $90 fee online.  Send the form and receipt to Andi Carr (abcarr@ucdavis.edu) in the Grad Office.
• Dissertation & Final Examination (Dissertation Defense)
• The doctoral dissertation is an essential part of the Ph.D. program. A topic will be selected by the student, under the advice and guidance of a major professor (thesis adviser) and the dissertation committee chaired by the major professor. Students are encouraged to begin some research activity as early as possible during the second year of their graduate studies. The dissertation must contain an original contribution of publishable quality to the knowledge of statistics that may expand the theory or methodology of statistics, or expand or modify statistical methods to solve a critical problem in applied disciplines. Acceptance of the dissertation by three designated members of the dissertation committee follows Graduate Studies guidelines (Plan A with defense). The dissertation must be completed and submitted to the dissertation committee prior to taking the final examination. Students should be guided on matters of style by the chair and members of the thesis/dissertation committee. Graduate Studies is not concerned with the form of the bibliography, appendix, footnotes, etc. as long as they are done in some acceptable, consistent and recognized manner approved by your committee. 
  For more information about the filing process, refer to the Graduate Studies site. 
  
  Defense of the dissertation before the dissertation committee will constitute the final examination for the Ph.D. degree. The final examination must be passed within four years after promotion to Candidacy, unless a special exception is granted. Pass or no pass is determined by a vote of the dissertation committee. The title and abstract of the Ph.D. Defense presentation must be submitted to the graduate program coordinator one week ahead of the defense. This will be distributed to all faculty and students of the Graduate Program in Statistics, who are invited to attend the presentation portion of the examination. The subsequent question period is a closed session between the student and the committee.
• Getting Your MS Degree Along the Way
• NOTE: If you are an international student, please consult with SISS before applying for your MS.  There may be implications for OPT and it may be best to wait and get your MS at the same time as your PhD.
  
  OVERVIEW - 3 STEPS to obtain your MS
  1. Add the MS degree objective to your student record
  2. Apply to advance to MS candidacy
      a. Master's Plan II Report: After you advance to candidacy and pass the preliminary exam at the Master's level, the program submits your Master's Plan II Report on your behalf to confirm you have passed the preliminary exam.
  3. Submit the Filing Process form
  
  
  STEP 1 - ADD THE MS DEGREE OBJECTIVE
  1. In GradSphere, download the pdf form from for the "Petition to Change/Add Major(s) or Degree Objective(s)."
  2. Complete the top half of the form.
      a. Select "Multiple Degree Objectives"
      b. The major code for Statistics is "GSTA"
  3. Email the pdf to Amy (acmcfarland@ucdavis.edu). Amy will complete the Graduate Program Section and obtain the necessary signatures.
  4. Amy submits the completed and signed form in GradSphere.
  
  After Graduate Studies processes this form and adds the MS Plan II degree pathway to your student record, you can then apply for MS candidacy.
  
  
  STEP 2 - ADVANCE TO CANDIDACY FOR THE MS
  1. Pay the $55 candidacy fee and save a pdf of your receipt. You will need to upload your receipt in GradSphere as part of your candidacy application.
  2. In GradSphere under “Graduate Forms,” click the dark blue button labeled “Advancement to Candidacy.”
  3. Complete the “Student Information” and “Candidacy Information” sections. 
      a. Select GSTA MS Plan II as the Degree Pathway.
      b. Be sure to upload your candidacy receipt.
  4. Coursework Required for Your Degree:
      a. You should only list courses required for completion of your degree. We prepare a degree worksheet in OASIS that lists these courses—please let Andi or Amy know if you have any questions or if the worksheet needs to be updated.
      b. You can view more information about your courses (including grade and instructor) in OASIS > Academic Record > Courses. View instructors by using the “Columns” drop down menu.
      c. Transfer coursework: In general, our students do not use transfer coursework for their degree. You will most likely answer “No” to the question about transfer coursework. (Transfer coursework includes classes you took at another university or through UC Davis Extension / Open Campus that has been approved by your Graduate Advisor to use towards your degree.)
  5. Review and submit your candidacy application or save and close to return to the application later.
  
  After you submit your candidacy application it will be forwarded to your faculty Graduate Advisor for their review and approval. They may return it to you for revision. After they approve it, your application will be forwarded to Graduate Studies for review and processing. Once your application is complete, you should receive an email from Graduate Studies confirming your advancement to candidacy.
  
  After you advance to candidacy and pass the preliminary exam at the Master's level, the program submits your Master's Plan II Report on your behalf to confirm you have passed the preliminary exam. GradSphere restricts us from submitting the Master’s Report until you have advanced to candidacy.
  
  
  STEP 3 - FILING PROCESS
  To obtain your MS degree, you will need to submit the Filing Process form in GradSphere. The deadline to submit the Filing Process form is the last day of instruction of the term for which you want to file.
  
  1. Select "GSTA MS Plan II" as your degree pathway. You do not want to accidentally file to graduate for your PhD!
  2. If applicable, in "Notes and Comments," state that you are continuing as a PhD student in Statistics at UC Davis.
  
  Submitting the Filing Process form files you to graduate with your MS (only). Filing for graduation cannot be undone, so be sure that you specify the correct graduation term in the form and submit only when you are ready to file.
  
  When Graduate Studies files you to graduate, they will email you a PDF of your Degree Conferral Letter. This letter confirms you have completed all graduation requirements and will be awarded your master's degree on the date of conferral. Many employers, organizations, and government departments who require verification of degree will be satisfied with this letter in the time before your transcript is updated and your diploma is mailed.
• Filing to Graduate
• Graduate Studies has a comprehensive guide to filing your dissertation here.  
  
  Fill out this Department exit survey.  We'd love your input and want to keep in touch!
• I Graduated, Now What?!

• Congratulations!  All of that hard work paid off!  Here are some FAQs to hopefully answer, "Now what?"
  
  Q: Will I be notified about my graduation?  What happens with all of that candidacy & graduation paperwork I turned in?
  A: Your graduation paperwork will be processed by the Graduate Studies office and you'll receive an email with confirmation of your degree and a conferral letter approximately a month after the quarter ends. 
  
  Q: When will I get my diploma?
  A: Graduate students are required to specify an address for diploma distribution at least one month before the corresponding diploma distribution listed below.   To update or change your mailing address use the Diploma Mailing Address Change Form.  Diplomas are not mailed until the Office of the University Registrar receives a diploma mailing address. 
  
  More information on the Registrar's site.
  
  Q: Can I keep my UC Davis email address?
  A: Graduate students graduating or separating from the university will have the option to convert their @ucdavis.edu email to a @formerstudents.ucdavis.edu email address or allow their account to close. Once transitioned, former graduate students will have access to a @formerstudents.ucdavis.edu email account for two years after graduation or separation. Graduate students may ​opt-in for a third year. Accounts will have a 20GB storage limit.
  
  Consult the student email transition chart for a deeper look at the difference between @ucdavis.edu and @formerstudents.ucdavis.edu accounts.
  
  - More information from IET about transitioning your UCD email address.
  - Student Separation Checklist
  - Email and Email Forwarding Transition Chart for Students

  Step 1: Switch to an alternative email account
  If you use DavisMail (@ucdavis.edu email) as your primary email account, open a new account or switch to another email. 

  Step 2: Transfer your email and files
  Back up your account and move important emails from your DavisMail account to your new email account.

International Students

• SISS (Services for International Students and Scholars)
• SISS are the on-campus experts for international student needs. They are the best resource for your questions about your visa, employment, CPT/OPT, and many other topics. 
  
  SISS has International Student Advisors available to consult with you by appointment. Please visit the SISS website for information on who you should meet with and how to make an appointment.
• Internships & CPT
• SISS (Services for International Students & Scholars) is your best resource for CPT information & questions. But here is how we (the Statistics department) can help with the CPT process:
  
  International students who are doing CPT must register for at least 1 unit of STA 299 (as CPT is not a degree requirement). Typically, your faculty advisor serves as the Instructor of Record for STA 299 for CPT. During Fall, Winter, and Spring, international students may take up to 4 units of STA 299 with CPT with their faculty advisor's approval. During Summer, you should take only 1 unit of STA 299 with CPT, as more than 1 unit is unnecessary and summer tuition is charged per unit.
  
  To take STA 299 with CPT:
  1. If Fall, Winter, or Spring, discuss with your faculty advisor whether to take 1 unit or 4 units of STA 299 (please cc Amy for MS and Andi for PhD). If Summer, you should only take 1 unit of STA 299.
  2. Send a copy of your offer letter or other written documentation confirming your internship to Amy (MS) or Andi (PhD).
  3. Apply for CPT in iGlobal.
  4. After your CPT is approved by SISS, we will send you the CRN for STA 299. Register* for the units agreed upon by you and your faculty advisor. 
  5. Complete the Internship Experience Survey—the more details you share, the more knowledge we have to help students find internships.
  
  *For Summer CPT, you'll need to register for 1 unit of STA 299 in Summer Special Session. Graduate students are not automatically “activated” for Summer Special Session, so if you receive a “you are not active” error when you try to register through Schedule Builder, you’ll need to contact the registrar. If needed, please email the Office of the University Registrar at ourenrollment@ucdavis.edu (and cc Amy or Andi) to ask them to activate you for Summer Special Session.
• Student Employees & PhD Students: Apply for GLACIER
• GLACIER is a secure online Nonresident Alien (NRA) tax compliance system that foreign visitors use to provide their immigrant and tax data to UC Davis. GLACIER helps determine tax residency, withholding rates, and income tax treaty eligibility. GLACIER also manages NRA paperwork, maintains NRA data, and prepares tax forms and required statements.
  
  International graduate students must have a complete Glacier record in order to receive any funding (fellowships & employment funding), and incomplete Glacier records are the number one reason International students receive their payments late. Glacier is the University’s nonresident alien tax compliance system. In order to expedite International students accessing and completing their Glacier records, please request an account asap (PhD students: choose "fellowship" & "employment" funding).  Once that occurs, students will receive information to login.  The student must complete the process, including providing copies of their immigration documents through the secure file upload tool.  Once this process is complete, they are eligible for payment. After the student has initiated their Glacier account, they will be included in our weekly status review of pending fellowship payments and will receive emails advising of obstacles for payments. Please note that Glacier uses two-factor authentication.
   
• Applying for a Social Security Number (SSN)
• There is a lot of information on the Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) website. When you apply for a Social Security number, read about which kind of identification they need for your situation. Request a more detailed offer letter from Andi (the default offer letter doesn't include all of the information needed for your SSN). 
  
  Here is the link for the Social Security Administration in case you would rather start there.
  
  Once you receive your SSN, it needs to be added to UCPath (the payroll system).  You can either add it yourself by following the directions on this pdf: Enter SSN into UCPath (PDF) or you can call Ricci Gay (the Stats payroll specialist) at 530-754-0449.
• Know Your Rights
• You have constitutional rights in the United States even if you are not a U.S. citizen. The University of California has prepared an information card to help you Know Your Rights if approached by immigration enforcement agents.

Funding & Financial Support

• 10 Financial Support Tips for Graduate Students
• While these tips are, technically, for new student employees (those with TA or GSR positions), there are a lot of good tips/reminders for not-so-new student employees as well.
  
  10 Financial Support Tips for Graduate Students
• Sign up for Direct Deposit

• All students who will be employed at UCD or who receive funding through MyBill will need to enroll in the new (as of Fall 2022) Direct Deposit system.
  
  To sign up for Direct Deposit, please go to MyBill and click on the “Refunds” tab.  Here's a step-by-step reference guide to walk you through the enrollment process.

  Questions? Please contact Student Accounting at 530-752-3646 or myaccount@ucdavis.edu. Please include your student ID when emailing Student Accounting.
   

  Why Enroll in Direct Deposit?

  Any payment or refund made to students through MyBill are eligible for direct deposit. We strongly encourage you to enroll for direct deposit as it expedites these payments by transferring funds electronically into a bank account of your choice. It’s the fastest, most secure way to receive refunds at UCD. Direct Deposit also greatly minimizes the chances of problems since there are no checks to be misplaced, lost or stolen, and there is no delay in receipt of funds, even if you are out of town.

  What Happens if I Don’t Enroll in Direct Deposit?

  Any payment or refund made to you will be issued as a paper check and you will have to pick it up in-person at the Student Accounting office during regular business hours. This will likely cause a delay in receiving your funds.

• Statistics Department Travel Awards for PhD Students

• Statistics Graduate Travel Awards
  
  To apply: Please fill out the Travel Award form
  
  Eligibility: Current UC Davis Statistics PhD students.

  Eligible timeline: conferences attended from April 1 - March 31.  One award per student per year.
  
  Oral presentation: up to $1250
  Poster presentation: up to $1000
  Attendance only: up to $750
        * Funding based on availability. Priority given to presentations.
        * Please note that expenses submitted more than 60 days after event are taxable
        * If you are presenting at multiple events, please fill out one form for each conference/event.

  Reimbursement will be for actual expenses only.  If funded, you'll need to submit all receipts, including: 
       - Conference registration receipt
       - Conference invitation (for poster & oral presentations)
       - Transportation, lodging and meal receipts

• Financial Assistance at UC Davis
• Sign up for Direct Deposit for reimbursements and refunds
  Financial Aid office (Dutton Hall, 1st floor): campus grants, loans, scholarships & work study 
  Student Accounting:  Dutton Hall, 2nd Floor. 
  Complete your FAFSA!  (must be U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen)  Opens October, priority deadline of March but fill it out at any time.  You may be eligible for a $600 campus grant just by filling out your FAFSA.
  UCD Financial Systems info: Answers: Which accounting system? Is it visible on MyBill? Is tax withheld? 
  Emergency, Short-term and Assistant Loans
• Fellowships and Awards at UC Davis
• Grad Studies internal fellowships: Review each one and apply for ones in which you’re eligible. Annual deadline of January 15th
  Grad Studies Travel Awards – for travel to present a research paper at professional meetings.  Due annually on March 15th and October 15th   
  GSA (Grad Students Assoc) funding opportunities 
• Tax Resources
• Student employees: Your W2 and 1095 (health coverage statement, if you need it) should be in UCPath (log in with your kerberos ID and password) but your 1098-T (Tuition/Fellowship/Reimbursement/Stipend Statement) should come via email from UCD Student Accounting. 
  
  Students in VITA (the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) is a student organization that gives free tax advice.
  
  Tax info on UC Davis sites: W2 information & Tax information from Student Accounting
• DCP Safe Harbor if you work at UCD over Summer
• Retirement Benefits over the Summer. Over the summer, students are not enrolled in units so an automatic and mandatory payroll process is triggered regarding their retirement benefits. 7.5% of a student’s paycheck each month is taken out (pre-tax) and put into a personal retirement account called University of California Defined Contribution Plan (DCP) Safe Harbor. When they are finished working for UC Davis, they can take this money out of that account (with a small penalty) or transfer it to another account like an IRA. This will affect the August 1st, September 1st, and October 1st paychecks. For more information, please see the Voluntary UC Retirement Savings Program.
  
  For more information on taking your money out of the account after leaving UCD, see “Distributions: Former Employees,” on page 11.
  
  If you have additional questions, you may contact Campus Benefits at benefits@ucdavis.edu.

Health & Wellness

• Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP)
• Find SHIP Info here
  What does SHIP cover?  Medical & Mental Health benefits
  SHIP Waivers - already have health insurance?  Fill out a form every year to waive your SHIP
• Food & Nutrition

• Aggie Compass: student community space where you can find fresh fruits and vegetables during Fruit & Veggie Up!, get CalFresh enrollment assistance and find resources to help you find stable housing and financial assistance.  Memorial Union, M-F, 9a-5p  

  The Pantry: Mon-Fri: 10am-5pm, Sat-Sun: 10am - 1pm, Memorial Union 154.  New online order system!

  Student Health cooking class: offered quarterly. 

  Student Farm weekly produce box: approx. $235/quarter  

  Davis Farmer’s Market: Central Park - Saturdays 8-1, and Wednesdays 3-6
  
  UCD Farmer’s Market: North Quad - Wednesdays 11-1:30 (fall and spring quarters)

  CalFresh: state benefits for food  

  Other Food Resources in the community

  Healthy Aggies: nutrition/wellness peer counseling and support. MU Aggie Compass desk. M-F various hours. 

  Fruit and Veggie Up: Eat more fruits & veggies!

• Health & Mental Health

• UCD Student Health and Counseling Services (SHCS): offers crisis and ongoing counseling; individual and groups; suicide prevention; sexual health, etc.  Counseling referrals from SHCS can be made to a Sacramento location.  

  Counseling Services for graduate students (in the Graduate Studies office in Walker Hall) 

  UCD Office of the Ombuds: a confidential, independent, impartial, and informal problem-solving and conflict management resource for all members of the UC Davis community.  The Ombuds can assist by listening to concerns, clarifying issues, identifying policies and resources, and providing coaching and communication strategies.     

  Activities & Rec Center (The ARC): Free for students during academic year (there is a summer cost for grad students).   

  Campus Recreation: Aquatics, Craft Center, ARC classes, sports clubs, etc.    

  Yolo County Communicare: offers off-campus health and mental health services on a sliding scale and through other insurance. Located in Woodland  

  Sutter Davis Hospital: Emergency room & after hours emergency care

Get Involved

• Volunteer for Department Events
• We need you! Statistics has several events throughout the year that need your ideas, enthusiasm and expertise. Please fill out our online form to express your interest. We appreciate your help!
• Graduate Student Association (GSA)
• The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the primary governing body for graduate students at UC Davis. If you are interested in learning more about their resources and events or in becoming a graduate student representative of the department, please visit the GSA website. 

Around Davis: Local Resources

• Travel In & Around Davis

• Unitrans (buses): grad students do not qualify for free rides but you can purchase discounted 10 Ride Tickets & Monthly passes.  

  UCD-UCD Medical Center, Sacramento shuttle

  UCD- UC Berkeley Shuttle for UCD/UCB faculty, staff and registered students: 

  UC Davis Transportation and Parking Services

  UC Davis Bike Barn: Although there are several bike shops in Davis, the Bike Barn is run by the UC Davis student government (ASUCD – who also run Unitrans) and benefits from a central-campus location for easy bike sales and maintenance. If you're comfortable doing your own work, they run a self-service Bike Garage with tools and parts. Used bikes are also sold at the UCD TAPS Bicycle Auction.

• Davis Wiki

• Davis Wiki:  Good resource for Davis & UC Davis.  Explore, discuss, compile.

           Wiki: Getting the most out of your student fees

           Wiki: Spots & Places

• Entertainment - Free & Low Cost

• Xfinity: Free access on Campus.

  Mondavi Center: First ticket free.

  Manetti Shrem Museum of Art: Free to all.

  UC Davis Arboretum Events

  UC Davis Athletic Events: Free admittance to many UCD sporting events with ID card.

  UCD Outdoor Adventures: Varying costs to experience the outdoors. 

Graduate Students with Families

• Grad Students with Families

• FAST FACTS
  $1100+/quarter to all grad students with children for childcare, regardless of financial need through the UC Davis Student Parent Child Care Funding Program which includes TWO grants: Graduate Student Child Care Grant and the Community Based Care Grant.
  
  Medical expenses (prenatal care, lactation support, and inpatient care) are covered by the UC DAVIS Student Healthcare Insurance Program (SHIP)
  
  Additional medical support may be obtained through the state Access for Infants and Mothers (AIM) program.
  
  4 weeks of paid leave for childbirth or related medical conditions for the period prior to, during, and after childbirth or 2 weeks to care for and bond with an ASE’s newborn or newly adopted child (Academic Student Employees Unit)
  
  3 days of paid short-term family-related leave per semester which can be used for illness, disability, or family emergency (Academic Student Employees Unit)
  
  Supportive Programs such as the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) can help families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods

  Useful Links
  
  UC Davis Student Parent Child Care Funding Program
  
  UC Davis SHIP Dependent Coverage
  
  UC Davis Breastfeeding Support Program
  
  Childcare local options, summer programs
  
  Women's Resources & Research Center (WRRC) Parenting & Child Care Resources