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 specialize in the fields that interest you. Faculty 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. International applicants should review information about visas and other matters before applying. 

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.  You can obtain information about graduate fee waivers at 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. A list of fellowships is here Fellowships

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). Faculty interests.pdf

Statement of Purpose

 Essay is limited to 4,000 characters, including spaces. 

Describe your academic preparation, relevant experience, motivation for applying, research interests/intended focus of your studies, and professional goals as they relate to the graduate program and major field. 

• Academic preparation refers to educational background, practical learning, extracurricular activities, self-directed research, and academic accomplishments/qualifications that demonstrate your potential for success as a master’s or doctoral student in the graduate program

  • Examples: related coursework, academic research and writing, fieldwork, internships, laboratory activities, scholarships/awards, independent study, presentations, publications, teaching, faculty or peer mentorship, studio projects, organizational membership, and study abroad.

• Interests, specializations, and career goals may include your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.

• Alignment may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match, specific faculty or resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please include specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how your interests align with the identified faculty member/s.

Personal Statement 

 Essay is limited to 4,000 characters, including spaces. This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose.

While the Statement of Purpose is primarily focused on academic preparation, research interests/concept, and alignment with the graduate program, the Personal Statement is an opportunity to share the unique background, experiences, perspectives, and abilities that you will bring to a graduate program. 

Please describe how your background and life experiences shaped your academic and/or professional path and influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This may include formative experiences, environment, values, motivations, interactions, decisions, etc.

We encourage you to consider these potential scenarios when developing your Personal Statement:

• Commitment to overcoming significant obstacles despite economic disadvantage, challenging social environment, or other specific experiences of hardship.

• Unique talents, abilities or skills relevant to personal growth.

• Employment experiences, extracurricular activities, or community participation that inspired further education.

• Evidence of growth, maturity and commitment to graduate study and/or a major field.

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. Don’t just submit a paper you wrote previously without editing it, even if you got an A grade.  See if you can strengthen your argument or make the structure more clear. The online application includes a section through which to upload these materials. 

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. Unofficial copies are accepted. You will be instructed to upload electronic copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. You must upload your transcript(s) at most one week after the deadline.  Follow the instructions listed here https://grad.ucdavis.edu/submitting-your-transcripts

International students: indicate the GPA based on the scale used by your undergraduate/bachelor's institution.  For example, if you are studying under the 10.0 point scale and your GPA is 7.9 out of 10, you would indicate that on the application.  Our program converts your GPA to the UC GPA 4.0 scale.

CV or Resume

Please upload a current version of your curriculum vitae (CV) or résumé. Tips on CVs can be found at the Career Center's website 

English Language Requirement

Applicants are exempt from the English language examination requirement if 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 where English is the sole language of instruction, or
• A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. UC Davis Graduate Studies will only approve waivers for foreign colleges and universities which list English as the sole language of instruction in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed OR if no language is listed at all, the waiver does not apply. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) will be reviewed or accepted.

Applicants who do not meet one of the criteria above are required to submit English language test scores. UC Davis accepts the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic and Indicator exam, and the Duolingo English Test. Visit our English Language Testing Requirements page to learn more. Applicants should only submit Duolingo English Test scores if none of the other examinations are available to them.

The minimum scores required for admission are as follows: TOEFL iBT score of 80, IELTS score of 7.0 (on a 9-point scale), or Duolingo score of 115.

Please also review the application information listed on the Graduate Studies website 

We look forward to your application.  Email historygradadmit@ucdavis.edu if you have questions.