Graduate Admissions
The Department offers graduate study leading to both Ph.D. and M.S. degrees, although a strong preference is given to applicants for our Ph.D. programs.
The department offers two distinct degree programs, in chemical engineering, and materials science and engineering, with a wide choice of research projects. Joint research within the department and with faculty in other departments on the Davis campus is encouraged.
Learn more about our faculty's Research interests.
Graduate Application Process
Applicants MUST apply online. The application deadline for both Domestic and International graduate admission and fellowships is January 15th. Early application is strongly advised.
If you don't find the answers you're looking for here, try our "Frequently Asked Questions".
Application Process
- Application
- Application Fee
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal History Statement
- Graduate Record Examination scores
- TOEFL or IELTS scores
- Letters of Recommendation
- Graduate Student Internal Fellowship Application
- Transcripts
- Finance
- Admission Committee Decision
Preparation
Admission to the graduate program requires a bachelor's degree from a recognized academic institution and a proven record of good performance on the part of the applicant. Most of our graduate students have bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering or materials science, metallurgical or ceramic engineering. Applicants of great promise with degrees in other areas can be accepted; however, depending on your background, you may be required to complete a series of upper division undergraduate courses before you begin your formal graduate studies.
| No. | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ECH51 | Materials Balances | 4 |
| ECH140 | Mathematical Methods in Biochemical and Chemical Engineering | 4 |
| ECH141 | Fluid Mechanics for Biochemical and Chemical Engineers | 4 |
| ECH142 | Heat Transfer for Biochemical and Chemical Engineers | 4 |
| ECH143 | Mass Transfer for Biochemical and Chemical Engineers | 4 |
| ECH146 | Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering | 5 |
| ECH152A, 152B | Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics | 7 |
| ECH157 | Process Dynamics and Controls | 4 |
| ECH110A, 110B | Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics; Physical Chemistry: Kinetics | 8 |
| No. | Course Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| EMS160 | Thermodynamics of Materials Processes and Phase Stability | 4 |
| EMS162 | Structure and Characterization of Engineering Materials | 4 |
| EMS164 | Rate Processes in Materials Science | 4 |
| EMS174 | Mechanical Behavior of Materials | 4 |
If required, these courses must be taken for credit and for a letter grade, not on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Credit for these courses will only be counted toward graduate degree requirements to the extent that they fall within the limit on undergraduate units. They are considered preparation for your graduate courses.
1. Application
Your Application to Graduate Studies must be completed online; go to the Graduate Admissions page for instructions for applying online and more information.
2. Application Fee
The application fee is US$70.00 for domestic applicants, or US$90.00 for international applicants. We do not review any application until the application fee has been received. The application fee can be paid by credit card or e-check at the time the online application is submitted. The fee is non-refundable.
If you are applying to our PhD program, the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science will pay the application fee of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.5/4.00 or higher from their final degree granting institution. To request a "Fee Waiver," please contact chmsgradasst@engr.ucdavis.edu. DO NOT PAY THE ONLINE APPLICATION FEE! We cannot reimburse an application fee already paid. When we receive your official transcript and can verify your average GPA we will contact you and confirm that we have paid your application fee. Please allow sufficient time for approval to be given before our deadline of January 15th.
3. Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose plays a critical role in the review of an application. It should be well written and free from technical errors and second language interference. It should define your background, and the interests and experiences that qualify you for graduate study. It must explicitly state your areas of interest for graduate study and detail how the program at UC Davis will help you attain your educational and research goals. The statement should reflect that you understand the on-going research in Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at UC Davis and explain why you are qualified to contribute to that research.
4. Personal History Statement
The Personal History Statement provides an opportunity for applicants to tell the Admissions Committee something about their unique backgrounds and personal histories. It may include information about other pursuits and interests of the applicant. It may give some details about any disadvantages the applicant had to overcome. It should be well written and free from second language interference.
5. Graduate Record Examination scores
The GRE is composed of three sections:
- Verbal Reasoning
- Quantitative Reasoning
- Analytical Writing
We are looking for GRE scores of 500/700/4.5 respectively or higher. Scores must not be more than five (5) years old. GRE Scores must be reported electronically to UC Davis. Be sure to indicate the UC Davis Institution Code (4834) when ordering scores from ETS.
The Department Code for Chemical Engineering is 1001; the Department Code for Materials Science is 1403.
We strongly recommend that you plan to take your GRE examination no later than October to ensure ETS has time to report your scores before our deadline of January 15th.
6. TOEFL or IELTS scores
Applicants whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the TOEFL or IELTS.
The minimum score required for admission to the Department is 600 on the paper test, 250 on the computer-based test, and a minimum total score of 100 based on the reading, listening, writing, and speaking categories on the internet-based test for TOEFL (iBT). We require at least 7 on a 9-point scale for IELTS. Scores must not be more than 2 years old. There is no conditional admission.
We strongly recommend that you schedule your TOEFL or IELTS examinations no later than October so that the Testing Agency can report your scores to us by our deadline of January 15th.
- Codes
- The Institution Code for UC Davis is 4834
- The TOEFL Code for Chemical Engineering Department is 64
- The TOEFL Code for Materials Science Department is 73
7. Letters of Recommendation
We require three letters that must be submitted to us online by your recommenders. Please remind your recommenders that we do not accept hard-copy letters and that they must be submitted electronically through the online application process. You should consider indicating on the online application form that you are waiving your right to access these letters of recommendation.
The faculty members who write the letters of recommendation should give their personal impressions of your intellectual ability, your aptitude in research or professional skills, your character, and the quality of your previous work and potential for future productive scholarship. Nonacademic letters are useful when they relate directly to the intended area of study, such as work experience, internships, and teaching.
Providing background information to the recommenders can assist them in writing a strong letter, such as copies of papers written, copies of the statement of purpose, a resume, or a list of courses and grades received from the professor. Inform recommenders of future goals and how to attain them.
8. Graduate Student Internal Fellowship Application
The fellowship application has been incorporated into the new Embark online application process. Paper applications are no longer accepted and will not be considered.
9. Transcripts
We require official, sealed, original (no photocopies) transcripts from all undergraduate/graduate institutions attended be sent directly to the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science.
Submit only one transcript for each university or college you have attended. In the case of multiple applications, send only one transcript to your first choice of graduate program.
The minimum graduate admissions requirements are:
- a bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution
- enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field
- a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum of 3.2 (out of 4.0)
The departmental requirements may be eased under special circumstances such as a rapidly improving scholastic standing.
Official Transcripts are the only application material that should be sent to us by mail. All other sections should be completed online.
- Please send transcripts to:
- Student Affairs Officer
- Department of Chemical Engineering - Materials Science
- University of California, Davis
- 3094 Bainer Hall
- One Shields Avenue
- Davis, CA 95616, USA
Finance
All domestic applicants MUST file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This application is essential in order to quality for many types of financial assistance including any departmental or campus fellowships. The application can be filled out online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov. This application is necessary to qualify for many types of financial assistance including most departmental awards.
Information about student loans and Cal Grants can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office at http://faoman.ucdavis.edu/.
We encourage all applicants to complete an application for fellowships, which is part of the Embark online application process.
There is also guaranteed Department funding available to Ph.D students. The Department does not guarantee financial support for M.S. students. If you are admitted into the Ph.D. program you will receive financial support for up to four years, so long as you are making satisfactory progress towards the Ph.D.
The annual stipend (which is paid either as a Graduate Student Researcher, Teaching Assistant, Work-Study or Fellowship) for first year students is approx. $22,171 and all fees and tuition (if applicable) are paid. After a student passes the Ph.D. Qualifying Exam (taken in the second year) the annual stipend is around $23,832 and all fees and tuition (if applicable) are paid.
Admission Committee Decision
Once a completed online application and all supporting online materials (GRE scores, letters of recommendation, TOEFL (when required), and application fee, have been received, and we have received the mailed official transcript, the application will be submitted to the Chemical Engineering & Materials Science Graduate Admissions Committee (CHMS GAC). Based on a review of the entire application, a recommendation is made to accept or decline an applicant’s request for admission. That recommendation is forwarded to the Dean of Graduate Studies for verification of admission requirements.
The applicant will be notified by electronic mail by the Office of Graduate Studies that a decision has been made and instructed to return to the online application web site to see the decision. This will come in the form of an “electronic letter”.
The CHMS Graduate Admissions Committee does not begin reviewing applications until Mid December. Generally, most applicants will be notified by the end of March of the Office of Graduate Studies’ decision.
You will be informed by email by the Dean of Graduate Studies whether your application for graduate study was approved or denied or if you have been “Wait Listed”. The CHMS Graduate Admissions Committee must inform the Office of Graduate Studies no later then May lst of their final decision on wait-listed candidates.
Applicants have the ability to check the status of their applications online.