Frequently Asked Questions

Please note: This FAQ is for applicants to the Graduate Program in Statistics. If you are applying to a different graduate program, please visit their program website for information about admissions.

General Applicant & Admissions Questions

  • Do you offer info sessions for applicants?
  • Yes. Around November we present the Master's & PhD Info Session for all interested applicants. This year our Info Session will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 3 - 4pm on Zoom. Please register here for the session.

    We invite you to review the slides from our 2023 presentation for information on the UC Davis Statistics Master's and PhD programs, admissions, graduate school, and life at UC Davis.
  • What are the deadlines for application? Do you have priority or general deadlines?
  • Our program does not have priority or general deadlines, and has only one application deadline each for PhD and MS. Application deadlines are as listed on our Admissions page. You may have seen priority/general deadlines for our programs listed on another website--please disregard that information and refer to our program website. Please note that if you are applying to another graduate program on campus, they may have a different deadline.
  • What are my chances of admission to the UC Davis graduate program in Statistics?
  • The admissions committee reviews all applications holistically. This means that all aspects of the application, including personal statements, GPA, transcripts, letters of recommendation, and GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores, are reviewed together. Application materials are not evaluated prior to committee review and we are not able to review application materials sent via email.
  • Is this a STEM designated degree program?
  • Yes, our Statistics and Biostatistics Master's and PhD programs are STEM designated degree.
  • Do the courses I've taken satisfy admissions requirements?
  • The admissions committee will review your application holistically once it has been submitted (after the application deadline). Application materials are not evaluated prior to committee review and, unfortunately, we cannot provide feedback on specific application materials. Please take a look at the Minimum Requirements needed for the program you are interested in on our Admissions page.
  • Do you accept courses taken at Coursera, edX, Open U or similar to fulfill the "Minimum Requirements" listed for the MS program?
  • The prerequisite courses listed on the Admissions page need to be taken at a regionally accredited university or community college.  We do not accept Coursera, edX, the online Open University, etc.  We do accept UC Davis Open Campus courses or other similar programs from regionally accredited universities. 
  • What is the average GPA/GRE score for admitted applicants?
  • Because our admissions committee reviews each application holistically, successful applicants’ GPAs (and/or other scores) vary widely, but the common denominator is that the admissions committee believes they have the background and demonstrated ability in math and statistics courses to be successful in the program. The committee reviews all applications fully and also takes into account the personal statements to gain insight into their interest, motivation, and fit for the program as well as the recommendations of others who can speak to the applicant’s potential of success in graduate school.
  • Do you offer Winter or Spring quarter admission?
  • No, we only offer Fall quarter admission to our graduate program.
  • Do you accept part-time students? Do you have an online option?
  • No, our program accepts full-time students only. We do not offer online courses.
  • Can I submit materials after the deadline?
  • While we strongly encourage you to have all application materials complete by the deadline, you may submit materials after the deadline. However, we cannot guarantee that materials you submit late will be reviewed by the committee.
  • Can I submit a CV/resume with my application?
  • No, we do not accept CVs or resumes as part of the application.
  • My university does not use a 4.0 GPA scale. How do I report my GPA in my application?
  • Please report your GPA as your university would, and make sure to add what scale that your university uses.
  • I am missing one of the minimum requirements (example: Linear Algebra course, Calculus, etc.). Can I still be considered for admission?
  • We strongly encourage that all applicants have completed all minimum requirements before applying (courses currently in progress will be accepted as well). While in rare circumstances a requirement may be waived, you will be reviewed with many other applicants who do have all of the minimum requirements. You may take courses that you are missing either at a community college or university extension program, such as UC Davis Open Campus.
  • My bachelor's degree was not in mathematics or statistics. Can I still apply?
  • Yes. While a bachelor’s degree in Math or Statistics is common for applicants to our program, it is not required. As long as you meet the minimum course requirements as listed on our admissions page, you can still apply.
  • Do you offer application fee waivers?
  • We cannot offer application fee waivers.

International Students

  • Do I have to submit a TOEFL/IELTS score?

  • Applicants who received an undergraduate degree, or prior graduate degree from an institution which provides instruction solely in English do not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. UC Davis Graduate Studies will only approve waivers for the English Language Requirement for foreign colleges and institutions which list English as the sole language of instruction in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If this does not apply to you, you will need to submit one. The university minimum score on the internet-based TOEFL is 80, or 7 for IELTS. 

    Please send your scores electronically directly from ETS using institutional code 4834, and list the department as Statistics. We cannot accept scores via email.

    PhD: Doctoral applicants who have received an undergraduate degree for an English-only institution do not need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score. If this does not apply to you, you will need to submit one. While the minimum score for TOEFL is 80 and IELTS is 7, in order to be supported as a Teaching Assistant you will need to meet the requirements as described here. For more information, see the Graduate Studies Admissions page for test score requirements.

  • I've already applied and submitted a TOEFL score, but I took the test again and got a better score. Can I submit my new score?
  • Yes, you may submit multiple scores for your application. The admissions committee will be able to see all scores submitted. We will not remove any submitted scores.
  • I sent my TOEFL score through ETS, but my application says it is still missing. What should I do?
  • TOEFL scores take time to be sent to our institution and matched to your application. Check to make sure you sent it to the correct institution code (4834), your name and date of birth is correct, and wait a few days before checking your application.

    If after a week or so the score is still not showing up in your application, please contact the program coordinators for assistance at stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu. Please provide your TOEFL Appointment Number to help us verify your score.
  • I sent my IELTS score through ETS, but my application says it is still missing. What should I do?
  • IELTS scores take time to be sent to our institution and matched to your application. If after a week or so the score is still not showing up in your application, please contact the program coordinators for assistance at stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu. Please provide your IELTS Indicator Score ID (for the online test) or Test Report Form Number (in-person test) to help us verify your score.
  • Are the Statistics MS and PhD programs STEM designated programs (and therefore students would be eligible for a 24-month OPT (Optional Practical Training) extension)?
  • Yes, our programs are STEM designated degree programs.

GRE Questions

  • Do you require the General GRE and/or Subject tests?
  • GRE scores are required to apply.  We require the General GRE test with a minimum score of 295. The test must be taken within the last 5 years. We do not require any GRE Subject tests.
  • Do you accept the at-home GRE?
  • Yes, we accept both the in-person and at-home GRE.
  • When should I take the GRE?
  • Applicants should take the GRE at least one month before their desired deadline to allow adequate time for processing.

Incomplete Applications & Missing Materials

  • Can I submit materials after the deadline?
  • While we strongly encourage you to have all application materials complete by the deadline, you are able to submit materials after the deadline. However, we cannot guarantee that the admissions committee will review materials submitted late, or that the committee will review incomplete applications.
  • I am waiting for one (or more) of my recommenders to send a recommendation letter. What should I do?
  • Contact your recommender to check in about the status of your recommendation letter. If the letter is uploaded a week or so after the deadline, your application may still be reviewed by the admissions committee but a final admission decision cannot be made until the application is complete.
  • I sent my GRE score through ETS, but my application says it's still missing. What should I do?
  • GRE scores take time to be sent to our institution and matched to your application. Check to make sure you sent it to the correct institution code (4834), your name and date of birth is correct, and wait a few days before checking your application.

    If after a week or so the score is still not showing up in your application, please contact the program coordinators for assistance at stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu. Please provide your GRE Registration Number to help us verify your score.
  • I sent my TOEFL score through ETS, but my application says it's still missing. What should I do?
  • TOEFL scores take time to be sent to our institution and matched to your application. Check to make sure you sent it to the correct institution code (4834), your name and date of birth is correct, and wait a few days before checking your application.

    If after a week or so the score is still not showing up in your application, please contact the program coordinators for assistance at stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu. Please provide your TOEFL Appointment Number to help us verify your score.
  • I sent my IELTS score through ETS, but my application says it's still missing. What should I do?
  • IELTS scores take time to be sent to our institution and matched to your application. If after a week or so the score is still not showing up in your application, please contact the program coordinators for assistance at stat-grad-staff@ucdavis.edu. Please provide your IELTS Indicator Score ID (for the online test) or Test Report Form Number (in-person test) to help us verify your score.

Tuition & Funding

  • How much does the MS program cost?
  • The Finance & Business office provides estimated annual fees on their website.  Please keep in mind that these are annual fees, and our master’s program generally takes about 4 – 6 quarters.
  • How are PhD students funded?
  • PhD students are typically fully financially supported for the duration of their program by a combination of Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Student Researcher positions and Fellowship.  If you are admitted, specific financial support will be detailed in a financial support offer letter from the department.
  • I am applying for the master's program. Will I be able to get funding?

  • Unfortunately, we are not able to provide funding for Master’s students. Funding usually comes in the form of a Teaching Assistant (TA) position, or occasionally a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) position (any TA, Reader or GSR appointment of 25% or more - most positions are offered at 50% or 20 hours per week - come with automatic tuition reimbursement).

    Our TA positions are primarily reserved for PhD students. Occasionally, we will have more TA positions than we have PhD students to fill them, and the PhD Program Coordinator will send an announcement to the MS students to apply. However, these vary by quarter and are not guaranteed. Additionally, you may be able to find TA positions in other departments that you are qualified to TA for. These are posted on Handshake, or we sometimes receive announcements from other departments and forward them to our students as appropriate.

    GSR positions may be obtained by reaching out directly to faculty members that you are interested in working with. These positions are dependent on grant funding, which faculty members may or may not have.

    We encourage you to apply for internal and external fellowships that you are eligible for. You can find a list on the Grad Studies website here: Internal fellowships and external fellowships.

Admission Outcomes

  • If my application is unsuccessful, what should I do?

  • If you are not admitted to the program this year, you are still welcome to apply for the following year. However, you will be required to submit a new set of application materials. Please note, the admissions committee reserves the right not to comment on why an application has been denied. Often even strong applicants are not admitted, sometimes due to not enough spaces in the program, or a greater degree of competition in that particular year.

    Applicants denied admission to the PhD program will be offered the opportunity to be considered for admission to the MS program in the same admissions cycle without having to reapply separately.