1. Graduate Studies Application for Admission:
   • Complete an on-line application available at the Graduate Studies web site. The application fee for domestic applicants is $60.00. The fee for international applicants is $80. The fee may be 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.

     Our Application Deadline is: January 2, 2008
     

2. Fellowship Application (REQUIRED):
   To be eligible for fellowships and other forms of program support, you must complete both the "UC Davis Internal Fellowship Application for New Students" and the "Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA)".
   
   
   • You will be prompted to complete the "UC Davis Internal Fellowship Application for New Students" as you progress through the online admission application.
   • • Note: Transcripts and letters of recommendation submitted with your graduate application will be used in support of your Fellowship application.

   • AND

   • U.S. citizens, permanent residents or immigrants must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) NO LATER THAN MARCH 2, 2008. (Earlier is better.) International students do not have to complete a FAFSA as international students are not eligible for federal financial aid.

3. Teaching Assistantship (TA) Application (REVISED INSTRUCTIONS: 12/05/2007):
   The College of Biological Sciences TA Application: As you progress through the online admission application, you will be prompted to complete the TA application online. The TA application module is not part of the Embark admission application as originally expected. Therefore, we will not require a TA application; it is optional. If you choose to complete the TA application, both Word and PDF versions are available on our Evolution and Ecology webiste: http://www.eve.ucdavis.edu/eve/pbg/ta.htm.

   Note: transcripts and GRE scores submitted with your graduate application will be used in support of your TA application.

   Teaching Assistantships are covered by a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Please refer to the following CBA website for further information: http://atyourservice.ucop.edu/employees/policies/systemwide_contracts/uaw/index.html.

4. Application Fee (REQUIRED):
   The application fee for domestic applicants is $60.00. The fee for international applicants is $80. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered as "complete". IMPORTANT: Fees must be paid for EACH application submitted. You have the choice of paying by credit card or e-check.

   Note: Your credit card statement or canceled check is your receipt. Please note that the fee is not refundable under any circumstances, nor will the application be processed until the fee is received. Please see the Graduate Studies web site for further information.

5. Letters of Recommendation (REQUIRED):
   As part of the new online admission application, letters of recommendation will now be submitted online. The online service will be available mid to late August 2007 along with detailed instructions for referees. Three letters of recommendation from college instructors are required. Refer to the FAQ's below for additional instruction.

6. Graduate Record Exam (GRE) (REQUIRED):
   GRE exams are administered through Educational Testing Services (ETS) . The ETS website will provide exam date and location information for both the online version of the exam and instructions for those who may need to take the paper version of the exam.

   
   NOTE: The Population Biology Graduate Group requires the general aptitude test and STRONGLY recommends the advanced subject test in biology. The majority of applicants have completed the biology subject exam at the time of application review. Your application for graduate study will not be reviewed until your general scores from the GRE are received; therefore, it is important to take the examination as soon as possible. GRE scores are only valid for 5 years from the date of exam.

   
   GRE Distribution Codes : There is no Population Biology Department code, please use the Zoology code.
   GRE scores should be sent to Institution Code 4834, Department Code 0220 (Zoology).

    

7. Transcripts (REQUIRED):
A set of official transcripts from all prior colleges and universities you have attended is required.

We ask that you wait to submit your transcripts until you have marked your application as complete (submitted online). This will allow for more efficient and effective matching of transcripts to applicants.

Send official transcripts directly to the graduate program you are applying to. NOTE: In cases where you are applyinig to multiple UCD graduate programs, please send only one set of transcripts to your "first choice" program. Your transcripts will be entered into the database for the other programs to review. You may send your transcripts to:

The Chair of Graduate Admissions
Population Biology Graduate Group
2320 Storer Hall
One Shields Avenue
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 
95616-8554

We cannot review your application until your transcripts arrive. Avoid delay - request your transcripts as soon as possible to coordinate with the timing of your online application.

Applications, letters of recommendation, application fee, GRE scores, and transcripts must be received by January 2, 2008.

Questions concerning the application procedure should be directed to:
Graduate Coordinator
Phone: 530-752-1274
Fax: 530-752-1449

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a graduate group?

  At UC-Davis, some graduate degrees are offered by interdepartmental "graduate groups," which unite faculty from across the campus with common research interests. The Population Biology Graduate Group was formed in 1992 by faculty committed to population biology as the broad discipline that blends ecology, evolution, population genetics, and systematics into a unified field.

• What are the minimum GPA and GRE requirements for entrance into the graduate program?

  The Office of Graduate Studies has a minimum requirement of a B grade average (3.00) in prior coursework. The Graduate Group in Population Biology has not set any additional GPA or GRE entrance requirements.

• What is the required preparatory coursework for admission?

  The following courses are required for admission:
  

  • a one-year course in introductory biology for biology majors
  • a one-year course in calculus
  • a course in statistics
  • an upper-division course in genetics

  Some of these may be completed during the first year of the graduate program.

• Must I complete all preparatory coursework prior to admission?

  Some requirements may be completed during the first year of the graduate program.

• How do I apply for admission to the program?

  For step-by-step instructions on applying to the Population Biology Graduate Program, please follow the steps outlined at the top of this page.

• How and where should I send my letters of recommendation?

  Do not mail letters of recommendation as referees will now submit recommendations electronically. Your referees will receive detailed instructions. You will be prompted to provide contact information for your referees as part of the online admission application.

  Three letters of recommendation from college instructors are required. Note: We will accept letters of reference from employers where your service is directly related to your academic pursuits. The remaining letters of reference should come from your major professor(s)/college instructors who can speak directly to your scholarship and graduate potential.

• What if my GRE scores, transcripts, or letters of reference don't get to your office by the application deadline?

  Applications will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee until all required materials are received. The key is to plan early. Learn how long it takes for your academic institutions to provide certified transcripts. ETS has specific dates for the GRE exam. Be sure to take the exam as soon as possible to insure timely distribution of your scores to the graduate programs you are applying to. Provide early notice to your referees that you will be asking for letters of reference. Inform them of how each institution may require a different method of letter submittal. Fall can be a busy time for your referees and advance notice is always appreciated. We will send a courtesy e-mail to all applicants identifying materials received or missing shortly after our January 2, 2008 deadline. Please make every effort to submit the required materials on time.

• What if I didn't take the GRE subject exam in biology?

  The subject test in biology is strongly recommended. The Admissions Committee will review your application without the subject test score, but it is important to note that the majority of applicants have completed this exam at the time of application review.

• What is the deadline for graduate applications?

  The deadline for our program is: January 2, 2008. Be sure to check the websites of each UCD graduate program you are applying to as they may have different deadlines than Population Biology. Again, the deadline for our program is: January 2, 2008.

• Can I apply to more than one graduate program at UC Davis?

  Yes. The new online admission application will allow you to identify the various programs you wish to apply to. Follow the instructions accordingly. Remember that you will be required to pay an application fee for each program selected. Example: If you are applying to our program and Genetics Graduate Group, you will be required to pay an application fee for each application for a total of $120 domestic or $160 if you are an international student.

• How/Why do I apply for fellowship?

To be eligible for fellowship and program support, you must complete both applications listed below (note separate deadlines). But what if I don't qualify or I don't want to apply for the internal fellowships outlined in the UC Davis Internal Fellowship for New Students? There are several internal fellowships that are not listed in the application that we may wish to nominate you for. For us to nominate you, we will need your fellowship application on file.

1. You will be prompted to complete the "UC Davis Internal Fellowship Application for New Students" as you progress through the online admission application.

2. U.S. citizens, permanent residents or immigrants must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online NO LATER THAN MARCH 2, 2008. (Earlier is better.) International students do not have to complete a FAFSA as international students are not eligible for federal financial aid.
   



• What happens to my application after the deadline?

  Complete applications will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and relevant faculty.  From the applicant pool, a short-list will be created.  The students on the short-list will be invited to UC Davis for a recruitment weekend with the program.
  
  

• What/When is recruitment weekend?
  
  Recruitment weekend will be held February 15 and 16, 2008.  Candidates will have one full day to interview with multiple faculty and current graduate students.  During the visit, candidates will lodge with Pop Bio students and visit one of the nearby nature reserves.
  

  How/When will I know if I have been accepted into the program?
  
  Shortly after the recruitment visit, the Admission Committee will reconvene and make its recommendations for admission to be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies.  The Office of Graduate Studies will review our recommendations and notify applicants.  For those who are not recommended for admission, letters of regret will be mailed out as early as the fourth week of January.  Those students receiving invitations of admission will be notified by February 22 (the week following recruitment weekend).
  
  What is the normal time to completion of the Ph.D. program?

  Four to six years.

• Is there a masters program?

  Our graduate group normally offers only the doctoral degree. Exceptions may be made for mid-career applicants in agencies or education who seek a M.S. degree to strengthen their backgrounds in population biology. Such applicants will be expected to meet the same admission standards as Ph.D. candidates.