The Fall 2025 application is open!
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Join us! Why choose UC Davis?
APPLICATION DEADLINES:
PhD PROGRAM: Dec 1, 2024
MS PROGRAM: Jan 15, 2025
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions! Other application or program questions may be directed to our Graduate Program Coordinators at stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu.
We value diversity. The Graduate Program in Statistics is committed to increasing diversity and equity among our graduate student population. Women, members of underrepresented minority groups, LGBTQIA+ folks, and individuals who are neurodiverse or have disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.
Admissions Requirements & Prerequisites
An undergraduate major in mathematics or statistics is typical for Statistics graduate students, but is not required. However, because of the mathematical nature of some of the graduate coursework, students should be able to demonstrate good mathematical ability. Students without sufficient coursework in mathematics may be admitted with the expectation that sufficient mathematical background will be acquired during the first year of study.
The program does not accept part-time students.
Our Statistics and Biostatistics Master's and PhD programs are STEM designated degree programs.
- Master's Program - Minimum Requirements
- The minimum requirements for the MS program are as follows:
- Bachelor’s degree with overall GPA of 3.0 or above
- One year of calculus
- One course of linear algebra
- Facility with a programming language
- Upper division undergraduate coursework in mathematics and/or statistics
- GRE score of 295 or greater (Quantitative and Verbal combined). Scores must not be more than five years old prior to quarter of admission.
- See English Language Testing requirements info below
Please keep in mind that meeting the minimum requirements may not be enough to be accepted. The admissions committee reviews all applications fully, and takes into account a number of factors to assess if applicants have the background to be successful in the program, including exposure to and performance in coursework in mathematics and statistics, personal statements by the applicants to gain insight into their interest, motivation, and fit for the program and the recommendations of other faculty. - PhD Program - Minimum Requirements
- The minimum requirements for the PhD program are as follows:
- Bachelor’s degree with overall GPA of 3.0 or above
- one semester or two quarters of advanced calculus at a level equivalent to Mathematics 25 and Mathematics 125A
- one quarter of linear algebra at a level equivalent to Mathematics 67
- GRE score of 295 or greater (Quantitative and Verbal combined). Scores must not be more than five years old prior to quarter of admission.
Please keep in mind that meeting the minimum requirements may not be enough to be accepted. The process is very competitive, and applicants need a strong background in mathematics and statistics to be accepted. The admissions committee reviews all applications fully, and takes into account a number of factors to assess if applicants have the background to be successful in the program, including exposure to and performance in coursework in mathematics and statistics, personal statements by the applicants to gain insight into their interest, motivation, and fit for the program and the recommendations of other faculty. - English Language Testing requirements for Admission
More detailed information can be found on the Graduate Studies admissions pages here
This requirement is automatically waived in the application if the applicant has earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:
- A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction
OR
- Foreign colleges and universities which list English as the sole language of instruction in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed (or if no language is listed at all), or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, the waiver will not be approved. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) will be reviewed or accepted.
Applicants who do not meet the above requirements must submit English language test scores no more than two years old:
- TOEFL iBT Scores (in-person or online exams): minimum of 80
Note: iBT scores below 104 will require additional coursework or testing to work as a Teaching Assistant (TA).
Note: TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. You may submit multiple exam scores to UC Davis, each exam score will be reviewed separately.
- IELTS (in-person or online exams): 7.0 or above on a 9 point scale
- Duolingo English Test Scores (online exam): 115 or above
Note: All graduate students are required to enroll in an English language course (UWP225 or UWP226 or equivalent) during their first academic year, unless:
- Undergrad or grad degree is from approved English-medium institution OR TOEFL = 105+ or IELTS 7.5+ OR TOEFL Writing=24+ and Speaking=23+- International Students: English Language Requirements as a UCD Student
UC Davis has three English Language requirements for international students. If you do not plan to apply for a Teaching Assistant position, you do not need to fulfill the third requirement.
First-Year English Course requirement (more info here):
All graduate students are required to enroll in an English language course (UWP225 or UWP226 or equivalent) during their first academic year, unless they meet any of the conditions listed above.
Notes: you cannot mix & match TOEFL scores from different tests. TOEFL Home Edition is allowable.
Students are required to only take one of the available courses that fulfill the requirement, but they may choose to take more if they would like more language or writing instruction. Besides UWP 225 and UWP 226, another way to satisfy the first-year requirement is by taking courses that are considered equivalents by the Graduate Council. These equivalents are all undergraduate courses. See below for more detail.
University Writing Program (UWP) course options:
UWP 225 (offered Fall/Winter/Spring) - Multi-skills Academic English for International Graduate Students
UWP 226 (offered Winter/Spring) - Writing for International Graduate Students
UWP 102 series - Writing in the Disciplines
UWP 104 series - Writing in the Professions
TA/AI (Teaching Assistant/Associate Instructor) Language Proficiency requirement:
Find more information about eligibility and the TOEP (Test of Oral English Proficiency) exam here.- Funding
- Please note: funding is currently only offered to PhD applicants.
Funding is available to PhD applicants in the form of employment within the department as a Teaching Assistant. Teaching Assistants are eligible for fee remissions; details can be found on our 'Funding' page. We also offer fellowships that cover non-resident tuition (for international or non-California residents) for up to the first two years of doctoral study, (non-resident tuition is reduced to $0 after advancing to PhD Candidacy for three years), contingent on academic progress. PhD applicants who apply on or before December 1st will automatically be considered for financial support within the department; there is no need to submit a TA application.
Additionally, all applicants are eligible to apply for internal fellowships offered by the office of Graduate Studies and are encouraged to do so at the time of the online application.
MS students are welcome to apply for TA & Reader positions across campus. Any TA, Reader or GSR position 25% or more (most are 50%/20 hours per week) will automatically refund your tuition & fees and give you a salary (about $3,200/mo with a 50% TA position). These positions change quarterly, of course, so you'd need to apply every quarter depending on availability.
UC Davis Tuition & Fees - 2024 Master's & PhD Info Session
We host info sessions in November for all interested Master's and PhD applicants. This year's info session was held on Nov. 12, 2024. We have linked the slides below for your review.
Application Materials:
Statement of Purpose
Personal History & Diversity Statement
Three letters of recommendation
TOEFL or IELTS scores, if applicable
Copies of transcripts
Application Fee
GRE: required for admission
- Statement of Purpose
- Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specialization and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis. (4,000 character limit, including spaces).
- Preparation and motivation may include your academic and research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example: coursework, employment, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study.
- Interests, specializations, and career goals may include your 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. You may identify specific faculty within the program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own (PhD only; not required for admission). - Personal History & Diversity Statement
- The University of California Davis, a public institution, is committed to supporting the diversity of the graduate student body and promoting equal opportunity in higher education. This commitment furthers the educational mission to serve the increasingly diverse population and educational needs of California and the nation. Both the Vice Provost of Graduate Education/Dean of Graduate Studies and the University of California affirm that diversity is critical to promoting lively intellectual exchange and the variety of ideas and perspectives essential to advancing higher education and research. Our graduate students contribute to the global pool of future scholars and academic leaders, thus high value is placed on achieving a diverse graduate student body to support the University of California’s academic excellence. We invite you to include in this statement how you may contribute to the diversification of graduate education and the UC Davis community.
The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background has informed 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. (4,000 character limit, including spaces).
This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose. - Recommendation Letters
- Three letters of recommendation must be uploaded directly from your recommenders to your online application.
More information can be found here.
- English Language Testing requirements
- This requirement is automatically WAIVED if the applicant has earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:
- A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, OR
- A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English.
Applicants who do not meet the above requirements must submit English language test scores no more than two years old:
- TOEFL: minimum of 80. Institution code: 4834. No department code.
- IELTS: 7 or above on a 9 point scale
More detailed information can be found here
If you believe you are eligible for a waiver and the English proficiency examination requirement currently appears in your application, please contact our office (stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu). - Copies of Transcripts
- UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. More information can be found here.
- Application Fees
- A graduate application fee is required from all applicants. Unfortunately, we cannot offer fee waivers.
Applicants who choose to apply to more than one graduate program must pay an application fee for each program. The application fee is not refundable and must be paid before the application can be reviewed. Instructions for payment will appear when you submit your online application. Current fees can be found here. - GRE Scores - required with the application for admission
- We require a GRE score of 295 or greater (Quantitative and Verbal combined). Scores must not be more than five years old prior to quarter of admission. If your GRE scores are more than five years old, you will be required to take the test again before you can be admitted.
GRE scores must be sent to UC Davis electronically from ETS. You do not need to list a department code.
GRE Campus Code: 4834.
No department code required.
Your GRE scores will be transmitted to UC Davis electronically and matched to your applicant record using the information you provided in your application. If you apply to more than one graduate program, you only need to send one GRE score to UC Davis
Check out our Frequently Asked Questions!
Please note that we only accept entry in the Fall, and we do not admit part-time students. We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you for considering applying to our graduate program.
Any application or program questions may be directed to our Graduate Program Coordinators:
stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu, for all MS & PhD program inquiries