Welcome Incoming Microbiology Graduate Students!

Planners and Academic Calendar

• PhD Checklist (PDF)
• Academic Calendar (PDF) – Fall quarter begins September 22, 2025!
• Registration Calendar

• Resource: Graduate Studies Site for Newly Admitted Students
• Graduate Studies is the office that oversees policy & administration for all UCD graduate programs. Their site has a wealth of information you will access throughout your time as a graduate student.
  Gradsphere
  Academic Dates and Deadlines, etc
  On their Newly Admitted Student page, you will find important information about how to submit your official transcripts (submit NOW to avoid a hold for Fall enrollment) and more.
• Registration
• Steps to registration:
  
  1. Contact your university and request that official transcripts be sent to gradadmit@ucdavis.edu (or if they need to be mailed, see the Graduate Studies page for more information)
  NOTE: If you are finishing your degree, request that your current transcript be sent to gradadmit@ucdavis.edu now and then request another one with your earned degree on it in the Fall (if your university will only mail transcripts, ask them to use the address on this page)
  
  2. Once your official transcripts have been processed, you can register! UC Davis students register using Schedule Builder. Here are the steps new students will take the first time they register – outlined in more detail in the new student checklists in the Admission Portal.
• Program Overview
• First year
       • Core courses
       • Lab rotations
       • Join a Lab and commence dissertation research
  Second year
       • Graduate elective courses
       • Participatory seminars
       • Qualifying examination
       • Advancement to Candidacy
       • Continue dissertation research
  Third to Fourth years
       • Continue dissertation research
       • Meet with dissertation committee
  Fifth years
       • Conclude dissertation research
       • Present Exit Seminar on dissertation research
       • Write and submit dissertation
       • File to Graduate and Finish Up
• Academic Plan
• Fall Quarter
       • MIB 200A – Microbiology Biology (3 units)
       • MIC 215 – Recombinant DNA (3 units) and MIB 298 (1 unit) OR BCB 211 Macromolecular Structure and Interactions
       • MIB 201L – Research rotations (5 units)
       • MIC 291 – MGG Work in Progress (1 unit) optional/can be retaken
       • MMI 291 – Emerging Challenges in Microbiology and Immunology Seminar (1 unit) optional/can be retaken
  *MMI 298 does not count towards participatory/non-participatory seminar unit(s).
  
  Winter Quarter
       • MMI 200D – Mechanisms for Microbial Interactions with Hosts (3 units)
       • MIC 200B – Microbial Diversity (3 units) plus MIB 298 Grant-writing
       • MIC 201L – Research Rotations (5 units)
       • Graduate Level Elective Course (3 units)
       • Participatory Seminar
       • Research (MIB 299 or home department 299)
  *MIB 298 does not count towards participatory/non-participatory seminar unit(s).
  
  All students are expected to have selected a lab to join by their end of third rotation in this quarter to make satisfactory progress in the program.
  
  Spring Quarter
       • Elective Course (3 units)
       • Participatory Seminar
       • Research (MIB 299 or home department 299)
  
  All students are expected to have joined a lab this quarter to make satisfactory progress in the program.
  
  FAQ: If you are registering for an upper division undergraduate course (100-level course), you may be asked to fill out a prerequisite waiver form in order to register for the class. Fill out the waiver with your relevant experience and then enroll in the course!
• Academic Advisor
• A student’s Graduate Advisor is an MGG faculty member appointed by the MGG Chair to the Student Welfare and Advising Committee. The Graduate Advisor acts as the student’s first source of academic information and provides assistance with the MGG degree. This guidance includes choosing a Major Professor, planning coursework (including adding any courses necessary to address gaps in their academic background), preparing for the Qualifying Exam and annually discussing progress toward degree (e.g., Progress reports). Graduate Advisors approve and sign petitions such as those for Planned Educational Leave and Filing Fee status as well as forms for Advancement to Candidacy. The Graduate Advisor may not be the student’s Major Professor. The Graduate Advisor can provide career advice or other programmatic advice related to the student’s graduate experience.
  
  Students meet with their Graduate Advisors within the first month of Fall Quarter the first year, quarterly for academic or other programmatic advice during the first year, as necessary to obtain signatures on forms, and at least once a year to review degree progress and complete reports to Graduate Studies.
• MGG Handbook
• Handbook 2024-2025
• Housing Resources
• Housing Resources:
  Most leases in Davis will be for the full academic year, so be sure to do your research before signing a lease.
  
  UC Davis-affiliated:
  Student Housing Office (Official UC Davis information)
  On Campus Housing Eligibility
  
  On campus housing for graduate students (Primero Grove, Orchard Park, 8th & Wake, The Atriums, Sol): University apartments
  
  Community Housing Listing, operated by Associated Students of UCD. This site is especially helpful if you are interested in renting a room in a larger house
  
  Housing Info on the Graduate Studies site
  
  Housing info from Services for International Students & Scholars (SISS)
  
  Not affiliated with UC Davis:
  - Davis Wiki Includes great resources about rental housing in Davis and Apartments
               Great list of apartments in Davis: Davis Wiki apartments page here
  - Craigslist.org  Some apartments, and room leases will be listed here
  - Uloop.com Like craigslist, has individual postings
  - Yelp.com  Includes reviews of apartments near Davis
  
  Helpful Facebook pages:
       - UC Davis Student Housing
       - UC Davis Grad Students
       - UCDAVIS Housing, Rooms, Apartments, Sublets
       - UC Davis Housing - Grad/Professional Students - private
       - UC Davis Off-Campus Housing
       - UC Davis Last Minute Housing Search
  
  Note: Always be cautious of scams or misleading information when searching for housing online.
• Health Insurance (SHIP), Immunizations, SHIP Waiver Information
• All registered UC Davis Students are automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) in order to meet the UC Regents mandate that all UC students have health insurance coverage as a non-academic condition of enrollment.
  
  Student Health & Counseling Services: Information for new students
       Includes: Immunization requirements, COVID-19 vaccine requirement & information, and health insurance (SHIP) information.
  For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, the policy requires, with few exceptions, that all students, faculty and staff be vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus before they will be allowed on campus or in a facility or office.
  
  However, if you are already covered by a health insurance plan, and do not wish to be enrolled in UC SHIP, you can waive enrollment by submitting a waiver application prior to the start of each new academic year. Waiver applications need to be submitted each academic year so that we have the most up to date information regarding your insurance coverage..
  
  Submit the waiver online.
  
  The deadline to submit the waiver for online is September 1.
• Domestic Students: Establishing Residency
• READ Info in these two links:
  
  https://grad.ucdavis.edu/admissions/newly-admitted-students/ca-residence-tuition-fees
  https://www.ucop.edu/residency/residency-requirements.html
  
  In other words, take care of all of the things you need to by the end of your first Fall quarter!!
  
  For tuition purposes, physical presence and intent must be demonstrated for more than one year. Intent includes, but is not limited to:
      - having a California driver’s license or ID card (even if you don't own a vehicle)
      - registering your vehicle with CA DMV (vehicles must be registered in California within 20 days of arrival)
      - registering to vote and voting
      - using a California permanent address on all records
      - paying state income tax as a resident
  
  Start your petition during the quarter preceding the one for which you seek reclassification (so, Spring before your 2nd year). Return the completed petition at least two weeks before the start of the quarter (Fall of your second year).
  
  Email the Residence Deputy at residencedeputy@ucdavis.edu with any questions or confirmations.
  
  TIP: Go to the DMV and get a CA ID asap (even if you don't drive here!) and change everything you can think of to your CA address.
• International Students: VISA/Travel/Resources
• Services for International Students & Scholars (SISS) is your best resource for all visa and immigrations documents, issues and questions as well as welcoming place with events and community connection.
  
  International Student Pre-Arrival Checklist
  
  If you are applying for a new student visa, check the status of visa services at your nearest embassy or consulate.
• International Students: English Language Requirements

• UC Davis has three English Language requirements for international students.As an admitted student, you have already fulfilled the first admissions requirement! 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.

• FAQs
• When does school start?
  While the 2025-26 academic year officially starts on Monday, September 22, 2025, fall quarter classes begin on Wednesday, September 24th. The last day of the 2025-26 academic year is June 11, 2026. Master academic calendar (PDF).
  
  When does registration start?
  Registration starts on May 15. Send your official transcripts today! You will be able to register once you send your official transcripts to the Graduate Studies office. Until the transcripts are processed, you will have a hold on your registration. Transcript instructions.
  
  Who do I contact to start my I-20?
  The UC Davis SISS (Services for International Students & Scholars) can help with all I-20 & visa-related issues. This pre-arrival checklist is very helpful. If you have questions, contact your SISS advisor.
  
  Which courses should I register for?
  See Microbiology webpage on core courses. You will be assigned a faculty advisor the summer prior the beginning of your first quarter at UC Davis (Fall quarter). If you have course questions, contact Karryn Doyle at kddoyle@ucdavis.edu
  
  Is there a way to connect with other admitted Microbiology students?
  You can join the Facebook group for all incoming UCD graduate students.
  Contact Karryn Doyle (program coordinator) at kddoyle@ucdavis.edu for information on connecting with current students.

New Student Orientations

• Graduate Students Resource Fair
• Graduate Students Resource Fair »
  Date: Monday, September 18
  Time: 12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
  Location: North Lawn of the Graduate Center at Walker Hall, 300 Shields Avenue Davis, CA 95616
  
  Graduate Studies is the administrative office overseeing all of UCD’s 100+ graduate programs. They set policy, approve and process paperwork relating to your milestones such as candidacy, comprehensive exams and filing for graduation. They have fantastic resources relating to mentoring (and being a mentee), employment, professional development, mental health, disability and more. Their resource fair will have a lot of information directly related to your experience as a graduate student! Graduate Studies is located in a newly renovated building, Walker Hall, that has space for graduate students to study and meet (with or without children in tow) so you will get to see this newly renovated space as well.
• TA Orientation
• TA Orientation – September 24, 2024 (Registration will close September 13 @ 5 p.m.)
  
  All TAs who have not yet attended the UC Davis TA Orientation are required to do so by the University of California Office of the President and UC Davis Graduate Studies, even if they have taught previously. This orientation is different and in addition to your department orientation. The goal of this requirement is to help graduate students develop as instructors and effectively teach our undergraduates.
  
  All TA positions are posted on the UCD Handshake site (Tip: use the search term ‘STDT’). Once you set up your account, it takes a couple of weeks to be approved and then you will have access.
• Microbiology Graduate Program Orientation and Welcome Reception
• Orientation date is Monday, September 16, 2024.
  Orientation and the Welcome Reception is where you will learn more about your academic program, faculty and research with the faculty directors as well as students.
• Graduate Studies Orientation – Aggie 201
• Aggie 201: Graduate Student Orientation – Sponsored by Graduate Studies, Aggie 201 is an online orientation platform that provides a resource and services overview for new graduate students. Consisting of modules and videos, Aggie 201 helps new students prepare for some of the expected and unexpected aspects of graduate school. We encourage all incoming graduate students to use orientation as an opportunity to become familiar with the various university processes and services.
• International Student Orientation
• International Graduate Student Orientation – New international students will be required to watch a series of short videos about a variety of topics in iGlobal and then answer questions regarding these videos in order to complete their SISS orientation requirement. SISS will be emailing students with more details and instructions on how to complete this requirement.
• Mandatory Sexual Assault Prevention (SAP) Training
• To complete the SAP requirement, students will receive an email invite in which they will need to access and complete the online Sexual Assault Prevention module via Everfi. After six weeks from the date assigned, a registration hold will be placed on the accounts of students who did not complete the SAP requirement. The hold will prevent student from registering for Winter Quarter classes.
  
  More information can be found here.
  
  The university’s policy on sexual harassment and sexual violence.