History Department

Before Applying  

Before you apply to this or any doctoral program, familiarize yourself with the faculty to make certain that you can identify one or more professors who specialized in the fields that interest you. UC Davis Department of History faculty members have web pages that summarize their areas of expertise, research, publications, and the professional recognition they have earned. Consider sending an email message to faculty members to ask about their approach to graduate education or the topics on which they advise doctoral candidates. Also, consider asking current graduate students about the doctoral program.

Application Components 

Graduate Online Application

Each applicant must fill out the graduate admissions application located here: https://grad.ucdavis.edu/apply

The application fee is $135 for domestic applicants and $155 for international applicants. The fee must be paid before an application will be considered complete, and a separate fee must be paid for each application submitted. To apply for a limited department internal fee waiver please follow this link. You can also obtain information about graduate fee waivers at https://grad.ucdavis.edu/graduate-preparation-programs-eligible-fee-waivers

Internal Fellowships

The application for internal fellowships, which is required of all applicants, allows the Department of History to nominate potential graduate students for university and department fellowships. This application is a component of the online application process. Applications must be submitted by the January 5th deadline.

Areas of Research and Preferred Faculty Mentors 

Applicants should select the primary geographic area of interest from the drop down menu first, followed by subsequent areas of interest or research specializations. Applicants may further elaborate on their research interests in the statement of purpose. It is crucial that you list faculty members with whom you wish to work with in this program. The information you provide will be used to match your interests with faculty expertise but does not constitute a commitment by you or the faculty.

Statement of Purpose

Each applicant must compose a statement of purpose that clearly defines and delineates your research interests.

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.

More guidelines are available at https://history.sf.ucdavis.edu/admission-tips

Personal History and Diversity Statement 

Applicants should describe how their personal background informs their decision to pursue graduate school. The purpose of this essay is to get to know you as an individual and potential graduate student. Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. You may include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, community service, outreach activities, residency and citizenship, first-generation college status, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how your life experiences contribute to the social, intellectual, or cultural diversity within a campus community and your chosen field; or how you might serve educationally underrepresented and underserved segments of society with your graduate education.

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

Writing Sample

Applicants must submit writing samples in English of 15 to 30 pages with the online application. Your writing sample should demonstrate your ability to construct an argument and showcase your ability to engage with sources and conduct research. The writing sample will primarily be used to measure your ability to write at the graduate level. The online application includes a section through which to upload those materials. Please do not send a hard copy to the department. For further guidance on the writing sample, check out the A+ Application: Application Tips webinar.

Letters of Recommendation 

Three (3) letters must be submitted electronically through the online application. Please do not submit a hard copy. Submit all recommendations through the online program.

Transcripts

UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload electronic copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. You must upload your transcript(s) by January 15.  

Curriculum Vitae or Resume

Please upload a current version of your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé.

Test Scores

Beginning with applications for the Fall 2021 cohort, GRE scores are no longer an admission requirement for the History Ph.D. program.  Per the Office of Graduate Studies, all international graduate students whose native language or language of instruction is not English must take the TOEFL or iELTS, unless you 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/university which provides instruction only in English. 

The minimum scores required for admission are as follows:

There is also an additional subset of required scores in order to serve as a teaching assistant. Please visit the UC Davis International & Academic English website for more information on these requirements and graduate language support on campus.

For further information on expected level of study, TOEFL, IELTS, and visas for international graduate students, please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website here.