Admissions
Admission to the Graduate Group in Microbiology (GMIC) is open for the Fall Quarter each year. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all application materials are submitted by the appropriate application deadline of December 1. Applications are completed electronically. The link to the application opens in September of each year and can be found HERE on the Graduate Studies page under "Apply for Graduate Admission to UC Davis."
The Graduate Group in Microbiology strongly emphasizes the PhD program. In general, we do not admit MS degree students unless special circumstances are involved such as: applicants with 2-year government sponsored fellowships, applicants with own funding or MS applicants who have a commitment of financial support from a faculty mentor. All costs associated with the M.S. program in Microbiology Graduate Program are the responsibility of the applicant. Students considering application to the Masters degree program should first contact the Program Coordinator. Under most circumstances, international student applications are deemed competitive only if the student has secured a fellowship to support their studies from their home government. We are committed to creating a diverse student body and welcome applications from underrepresented groups.
Graduate Studies has final responsibility for admissions. The Admissions Committee makes recommendations for admission on behalf of the graduate group to the Dean of Graduate Studies.
*We strongly advise international applicants to seek fellowship support from their home countries. Only exceptional international students without financial support may be considered for admission application review and accepted into the program.
Information and Tips for Prospective Students
Major Professor
A major professor is the faculty member you wish to conduct research with and is often called your mentor or the primary investigator (PI).
Applicants are encouraged to contact Microbiology faculty with whom they would like to study to determine if there is space available in the lab and to get to know the prospective mentor better. Doctoral student candidates will be given the opportunity to complete 4 laboratory rotations during fall and winter quarters of year one; students in the MS program are directly admitted to a lab. If your major professor is not an existing member of the Microbiology graduate group, the major professor would need to be approved for MGG membership before you register for research units with him/her; any qualified UC Davis faculty can apply to become a member of our group.
Undergraduate Preparation for Admission
Admission requires an undergraduate degree (B.S. or B.A.) in a biological science, which should include coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics. Upper division courses in biochemistry, cell biology, microbiology, microbial physiology, genetics or immunology are also encouraged. Applicants for admission to MGG are required to meet the University of California minimum 3.0 GPA requirement for admission.
Students must also demonstrate an aptitude and enthusiasm for research, which should include active participation in an independent research project supervised by a faculty member and/or post-baccalaureate research experience.