The PhD program application for the 2025-26 admissions cycle is now available at the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies website. The deadline to apply is January 5, 2025. Note that we offer fall admission only. Supporting documents such as letters of recommendation, transcripts, English language test scores (for international students) must be uploaded within the application by one week after the deadline. International applicants should review information about visas and other matters listed here https://grad.ucdavis.edu/international-applicants
Virtual Admissions Info Workshops
Prospective students can register for a Zoom virtual workshop to find out information on admissions requirements/procedures, funding options, and an overview of the PhD program from the graduate program coordinator.
Workshops took place in October and November.
Email historygradadmit@ucdavis.edu to register. Link will be sent upon registration.
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. Here is a list of their research interests. 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 listed here https://grad.ucdavis.edu/international-applicants
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. You can 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. A list of fellowships is here https://gradstudies.sf.ucdavis.edu/internal-fellowships-prospective-students
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.
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. 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.
Curriculum Vitae 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.