Applied Mathematics: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and are expected to have completed coursework equivalent to the following UC Davis undergraduate classes:

• Calculus, including vector calculus (MAT 21ABCD)
• Linear Algebra (MAT 22A or MAT 67)
• Ordinary Differential Equations (MAT 22B)

Additional preparation is highly beneficial and includes:

• Advanced Calculus / Real Analysis (MAT 127A) – strongly recommended
• Probability (MAT 135A)
• Partial Differential Equations (MAT 118AB)
• Numerical Analysis (MAT 128ABC)

Applicants should also demonstrate proficiency in a high-level programming language (e.g., C, Fortran, MATLAB, Python, R). Students admitted with deficiencies must complete the required coursework during their first year, earning a minimum grade of B in each course, subject to approval by their academic advisor.

Mathematics: Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and should have completed:

• Real Analysis (MAT 127ABC)
• Modern Linear Algebra (MAT 67)
• Modern Algebra (MAT 150ABC)

Courses in Topology, such as UC Davis’s MAT 147, are strongly recommended. Students admitted with academic deficiencies must address them within the first academic year.

• The application fee is $135 for domestic applicants and $155 for international applicants.
• Fees must be paid by credit card at the time of submission.
• If applying to multiple graduate programs, you must pay a separate fee for each application.

International applicants from institutions where English is not the sole language of instruction must submit official scores from one of the following English proficiency tests:

• TOEFL iBT
• IELTS
• Duolingo English Test

Photocopies or unofficial reports will not be accepted. Scores must be no more than two years old—no exceptions.

For details on eligibility for TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo exemptions, please see: Exemption Eligibility.

TOEFL Requirements

• Paper-based test: Minimum score of 550
• Internet-based test (iBT): Minimum score of 80
  • Note: While 80 is the minimum for admission, students scoring below 104 or intending to serve as teaching or research assistants may be required to complete additional English coursework or testing.

IELTS Requirements

• Overall band score of at least 7 on a 9-point scale

Duolingo English Test

• A minimum score of 115 (Applicants should only submit Duolingo English Test scores if none of the other examinations are available to them.)

Score Submission Codes

• UC Davis Institution Code: 4834
• Program Code:
  • Applied Mathematics – 54
  • Mathematics – 72
  • For electronic submission instructions, visit the ETS homepage.

Teaching Assistantships and TOEFL Speaking Score

To be eligible for teaching assistantship funding, students must have a TOEFL speaking score of at least 26. Applicants with lower scores are strongly encouraged to enroll in a spoken English course and retake the TOEFL to improve eligibility.​​​ 

Currently, financial support is available only to Ph.D. applicants. Most incoming Ph.D. students receive a five-year funding package, which may include:

• Fellowships
• Teaching Assistantships (TA)
• Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions

TA and GSR appointments qualify for tuition and fee remission. Additionally, fellowships are available to assist with non-resident tuition costs.

Application Deadline for Financial Consideration: Students who apply to the Ph.D. program by January 5 are automatically considered for departmental financial support.

UC Davis Internal Fellowships: Graduate Studies also offers Internal Fellowships. If applying before January 5, you may submit an online fellowship application at the time of your graduate application. Instructions will be provided in the application portal.

Important: A separate TA application is not required. All applicants are automatically considered for departmental funding—including fellowships and TAships—based on their admissions application.

To learn more about graduate school fees at UC Davis, please visit: Cost of Graduate School.

Applied Mathematics (Ph.D./M.S.): Neither the General GRE nor the Mathematics Subject GRE are required, and scores from either exam will not be reviewed.

Mathematics (Ph.D./M.A.): The General GRE is not required and will not be considered during the application review process.

The Mathematics Subject GRE is optional. If you choose to take the exam, we recommend submitting your official scores via ETS:

• UC Davis Institution Code: 4834
• Mathematics Program Code: 0703

Subject GRE scores may strengthen your application by providing additional evidence of academic potential. However, if scores are not submitted, your application will receive equal consideration based on the rest of your materials.

Important: Unofficial score reports or photocopies will not be accepted. To ensure timely delivery, please use the correct institution and department codes when arranging for electronic submission.

For detailed information on GRE test dates, score submission, or exam logistics, visit the ETS homepage.

Please highlight your academic preparation and motivation; interests, specializations and career goals; and fit for pursuing graduate study at UC Davis.

• preparation and motivation may include your academic and research experiences that prepare you for this graduate program (for example: coursework, employment, exhibitions, fieldwork, foreign language proficiency, independent study, internships, laboratory activities, presentations, publications, studio projects, teaching, and travel or study abroad) and motivation or passion for graduate study.
• interests, specializations, and career goals may include your research 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. Please identify specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how their interests match your own.

This essay offers an opportunity for the admissions committee to learn more about you as an individual and as a potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background has shaped your decision to pursue a graduate degree.

You may address factors such as:

• Educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences and challenges
• Community service, outreach activities, residency status, or citizenship
• First-generation college status or other opportunities that have influenced your academic journey
• Contributions you may bring to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity of the campus and your field
• Your potential to serve underrepresented or underserved communities through graduate education

This essay should complement—but not duplicate—the content included in your Statement of Purpose.

Our programs require three letters of recommendation. The graduate application only accepts letters received electronically through our online application portal. Neither the graduate program nor Graduate Studies will accept letters of recommendation which have been sent by mail or by e-mail. 

Your letters should be from math-related faculty or employers who can comment on your research and academic abilities. Letters from soccer coaches or family members, for example, are not valuable and have little merit.

Common questions about letters of recommendation are addressed HERE.

Transcripts are required from all college-level institutions. You may use unofficial transcripts uploaded as .pdfs for your UC Davis application. Official transcripts are only required if you are an admitted student. You must list every college-level institution you have attended in the online application, including all community colleges, study abroad coursework, etc. If your college or institution does not use the 4.0 scale, do not attempt to convert your GPA. On the application, enter your GPA just as it is on your transcript.

Please do not submit an updated transcript after receiving final grades or research credit. Once your application has been submitted, we are unable to incorporate new transcript information. We encourage you to plan your submission date accordingly. Many applicants are in a similar situation—so if your final grades aren't yet available, don’t worry. Your application will still receive full consideration based on the materials submitted.