Scholastic Requirements

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  on a 4.0 (or equivalent) from the institution where you have earned or will earn your bachelor’s degree.

• 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.
• Applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores, unless they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or a foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. See the English Language Requirement section on the Graduate Studies website for details.
  • Applicants who have not studied at an institution where English was the sole language of instruction must obtain the minimum overall TOEFL score required for admission to graduate study at UC Davis, 80 on the TOEFL internet-based test (iBT). As an alternative to the TOEFL, students may submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For IELTS, the minimum overall band score required for admission to graduate study at UC Davis is 7.0 on a 9-point scale. Please note these scores are the minimum necessary for submitting an application; admitted students often have a higher score. For information on being admitted as a graduate student, see Graduate Admission Information for International Students.