The Department of Political Science accepts applications for our Ph.D. program and the M.A./J.D. joint program, conducted in association with the School of Law. We do not offer a stand-alone M.A. program. If you are considering applying, we encourage you to visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page.
The Application Process
The admission application (required) and fellowship application (strongly encouraged, but not required) must be completed through the online application system. The admission application and fellowship application, along with instructions, are available through the Office of Graduate Studies website beginning in early September. Applications are accepted for fall quarter only.
For full consideration and review your application must be completed by December 15, and any transcripts must be postmarked by December 15.
For the combined M.A./J.D. program, applicants who are not already law students must also apply directly to the UC Davis School of Law. Separate applications must be submitted to each department because the evaluation and decision processes are performed independently. If admitted to both programs, the applicant must enroll at the School of Law for the first year.
The following information is required and must be submitted online as part of your online admission application:
- Initial application (online)
- Application fee, paid by credit card or e-check — The fee must be paid before the application will be considered as complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted. Consult the Graduate Studies website for fee information.
- Three Letters of Recommendation — Your letter writers must upload their statements through the online application system; no paper letters will be accepted. Your recommenders will receive instructions for submitting their recommendations online.
- GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores — GRE scores are required, and the Graduate Admissions Committee will not be able to view an applicant’s file if the GRE scores are missing. Note that while the Admissions Committee takes GRE scores seriously, the GRE is only one part of our holistic review process that takes into account many factors, including letters of recommendation, the applicant’s statement of purpose and writing sample, and evidence of skill in research.
- The UC Davis Graduate Studies Office requires a Statement of Purpose as well as a Personal Statement from all applicants. To learn more about those statements, please see information here.
- TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System) scores - if you have not studied at an institution and received a degree where the language of instruction is English. These scores must be current (taken with the past two years). For more information about scores and how to submit them, please see the Graduate Studies page on English Language Examination Requirements.
- Writing sample — A document that demonstrates your ability to conduct political science research. No more than 10,000 words. Must be submitted electronically as part of the online application.
- Transcripts — All applicants must upload PDF versions of their transcripts or academic records directly to our system. Paper transcripts are not acceptable. Consult the Graduate Studies website for instructions about uploading transcripts.
Department Fee Waiver
The Department of Political Science at UC Davis offers a very limited number of application fee waivers for students who wish to apply for the Department’s Ph.D. program and who meet certain eligibility criteria, described in detail below. The UC Davis Graduate Studies office also offers a separate fee waiver program; please click here for more information. Any applicant may apply for both fee waiver programs, but an applicant may only receive one fee waiver.
Both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens may apply for a Department fee waiver if they meet the eligibility criteria. If you meet the eligibility requirements for a Department fee waiver, please follow the application instructions listed below. Applications must be received by 11:45pm Pacific time on December 9th in order to receive consideration. The Department has a limited number of fee waivers and will prioritize financial need if it receives more applications than available fee waivers. If there are any remaining fee waivers after considering applicants' financial need, the Department will allocate them to eligible applicants by a random lottery. The department will notify applicants of their fee waiver status on or before December 10th.
ELIGIBILITY
In order to be eligible to receive a fee waiver from our Department, you must demonstrate either: (1) that you have participated in one of the pre-approved programs listed below, (2) US Military Service, or (3) financial need.
Criterion #1: Participation in a Pre-Approved Program
If you have participated in one of the pre-approved programs on this list, you can apply for a Department fee waiver.
If you have participated in a graduate prep program that is not on the UC Davis Graduate Studies list of approved programs nor on the Department list of approved programs, please email Sarah Preciado ([email protected]). The Department may grant fee waivers on a discretionary basis to students who have participated in relevant graduate prep programs that are not on the Department’s list of pre-approved programs.
Criterion #2: Service in the U.S. Military
If you have served in the U.S. military, you can apply for a Department fee waiver.
Criterion #3: Financial Need