General

  • What is the deadline to submit my Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)?
  • The deadline to submit your SIR is May 15 for freshmen, and June 1 for transfer students. If you are admitted to multiple UC campuses, you need to choose one campus to attend by this deadline. You should notify UC Davis of your choice on MyAdmissions. 

    There is a $250 non-refundable deposit required at the time you submit your SIR. You can pay online via credit card or mail a paper SIR form with a check or money order — select your payment preference in MyAdmissions when submitting your SIR. Checks and money orders must be received by May 15 for freshmen, and June 1 for transfers. Students who received an application fee waiver will not need to submit a deposit. 

    When you submit your SIR, please remember to also submit a Statement of Legal Residence by your SIR deadline.

    After you submit your SIR, you will need to send official, final transcripts by July 1, and official test scores by July 15. Financial Aid also requires that freshmen submit any requested documentation by July 15 and transfer students by July 16.
  • Where do I find important dates and deadlines for enrollment?

  • Important dates and deadlines for incoming first-year freshmen and transfer students are publicly viewable online. You can also view this same information through your secure MyAdmissions portal, where you can track completion and receive guidance to complete required pre-enrollment tasks.

  • Is health insurance mandatory for students?
  • All UC Davis students must have health insurance and are automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). Students already covered by comparable health insurance can apply for a UC SHIP waiver.

    Remember! Insurance waivers must be submitted before the start of each academic year by posted deadlines.
  • How much does it cost to attend UC Davis?
  • The 2024-25 estimated cost of attendance for a student living in the residence halls who is a California resident is $44,796; for nonresidents, it is $78,996. While you’re a student here, your systemwide tuition will not increase for six years! A detailed expense breakdown is available on the Financial Aid website.

    Check your financial aid offer on MyAdmissions, using the MyAwards link, and indicate which awards or scholarships you are accepting when you submit your SIR. Financial aid advisors are available to meet with you as soon as you've been admitted to UC Davis! Please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships website or contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
  • What should I discuss with my family before I come to UC Davis?
  • Before coming to UC Davis, be sure to let your family know how to reach you, especially if you're traveling internationally. We encourage you to keep in regular contact with your family to let them know how you're doing. Supportive friends and family are key to academic success, so be sure to stay in touch! You may want to sit down with your family and review ways you can keep yourself physically and emotionally healthy.

    Privacy laws prevent campus staff and departments from discussing your confidential records with parents or guardians unless you provide written authorization.  Your parents or guardians can visit our Aggie Parents and Family page to find support and answers to their questions.
  • What is orientation? 

  • UC Davis Orientation is a mandatory, comprehensive process made up of three parts: Aggie 101, Aggie Advising, and Aggie Orientation. You are automatically registered for orientation once you submit your SIR.

    Your orientation experience begins online with Aggie 101, Aggie Advising, and course registration, and will culminate with Aggie Orientation, an in-person campus event in the fall, shortly before classes begin. We recommend you visit the orientation website to learn more about the entire orientation experience and find important dates, deadlines, and fees for orientation. Some students may receive an Orientation Grant as part of their financial aid award to help cover the cost of orientation.

    International students are also required to complete a free​ Extended Orientation online workshop a few weeks into the quarter. During the third week of classes, students will receive email instructions on how to access and complete the online workshop. International students are also invited to participate in a six-week UC Davis Summer Start program for a head start in UC Davis academics, language and orientation.

    Some students may also receive an invitation in MyAdmissions to participate in UC Davis’ Special Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP) is a free two-year program to help facilitate the transition for first-generation and low-income students. Participants must complete the application within MyAdmissions and should plan on attending the six-week summer STEP program.

Academics

  • How are the majors organized at UC Davis? What are the colleges?
  • College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    ​College of Biological Sciences
    ​College of Engineering
    ​College of Letters and Science
    ​
    Visit our majors page to learn more about your major and college, connect with your academic advisor and discover the unique opportunities related to your area of study. 
  • Are there tutoring and advising resources on campus?
  • Yes. The Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services​ offers a variety of free services to UC Davis students, including pre-graduate/professional, study skills and time-management workshops and tutoring in biology, chemistry, economics, mathematics, physics, statistics and writing. They also have a writing studio designed to help students improve their writing skills.

    Residence hall students can take advantage of peer tutoring and academic peer mentors in the Residential Academic Centers. Each student living in the residence halls and The Green will meet with an academic peer mentor during orientation or the first week of classes.
  • Are research opportunities available to undergraduates?
  • Yes. Our Undergraduate Research Center empowers students to find research opportunities and provides them with resources to become a successful researcher. Related research skills such as presenting at conferences, publishing and grant writing are all part of the undergraduate research experience.  
  • Can I change my major?
  • We love to see students thrive on campus as they find their life's passion. Sometimes, this self-discovery leads to a change in academic focus. At UC Davis, changing a major is easy with guidance from academic advisors, and freshman students who do so within the first two years can usually still meet their expected graduation date.
  • What kind of internships and jobs are available?
  • The UC Davis Internship and Career Center (ICC) facilitates more than 10,000 local, national and international internships annually, and it hosts campus career fairs each quarter. The ICC offers a variety of workshops on topics ranging from resume-writing and interviewing to networking and using LinkedIn. The center can also connect you with internships, volunteer opportunities and jobs, like undergraduate positions at our student-run clinics.

Student Life

  • What are my housing options?
  • UC Davis guarantees on-campus housing to all incoming first-year freshmen for their first year, and two years of housing to the first 1,000 transfer students who sign a housing contract.  Please visit the Student Housing and Dining Services website to learn more about our campus housing guarantee.

    First-year students are housed in residence halls that include meals in our campus dining commons, while transfer students live in our new apartment community, The Green at West Village that offers optional meal plans. UC Davis offers a variety of housing options for students, including room configurations that are designated as male, female and gender inclusive. Students with families can live in one of two privately managed apartment complexes on campus. Visit the Student Housing website to decide which housing option is best for you.

    To accept your housing offer, select the Housing Application Request in MyAdmissions after submitting your SIR. The deadline to submit your application and reservation fee is May 4 for freshmen, and June 4 for transfers.
  • Are there opportunities to study abroad?
  • Yes. UC Davis Study Abroad offers international education opportunities for a summer, quarter or full-year term in more than 40 countries. Many scholarships and awards are available for study abroad, and our Study Abroad office offers workshops on how to write a successful scholarship application.
  • Are there student clubs?
  • Yes, there are more than 800 registered student clubs and organizations on campus. Find one related to your interests on the Center for Student Involvement website. 
  • What is there to do for fun?
  • Davis is a student-focused college town with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere and an inviting downtown featuring many popular shops and restaurants. For on-campus events, visit the Student Life Calendar. 

    UC Davis also has an entire department dedicated to keeping you active and healthy. Campus Recreation offers a variety of activities to explore and enjoy, including intramural sports and competitive club sports, arts, equestrian classes, adventure trips and a wide range of exercise opportunities through the Activities and Recreation Center. 

    UC Davis also supports 63 sorority and fraternity chapters in 6 governing councils. Visit the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life to learn more.
  • Does UC Davis participate in NCAA sports?
  • Yes! UC Davis has 25 men's and women's NCAA Division I athletic teams. On the men’s side, football, basketball, tennis and water polo are our most competitive teams.

    Baseball competes in the toughest non-Power Five conference in the country and annually fields competitive teams. Women’s teams include basketball, golf, gymnastics, swimming and diving and track and field. Our newest varsity sports are women's equestrian and women's beach volleyball, making UC Davis the 7th school to compete in beach volleyball within the Big West Conference.

    Visit the official Intercollegiate Athletics website for a full list of our teams and to contact a coach about competing at the NCAA level.
  • Where can I find my community at UC Davis?
  • A great first step toward creating a supportive circle of friends, mentors and allies within the larger campus community is to visit the community resource and retention centers and culturally based academic success centers. The centers are welcoming, identity-affirming, safe spaces where you can get academic support, find out about student organizations, be social and relax.

    Also, be sure to check out the Center for Student Involvement to learn more about our 800+ student-run organizations. 
  • Are there leadership opportunities?
  • Yes. The Center for Leadership Learning (CLL) offers a variety of programs to help undergraduate students develop their leadership and professional skills. CLL programs and services are open to all UC Davis undergraduate students and are free of charge. Students can also find leadership opportunities through Associated Students, University of California, Davis (ASUCD) or the more than 800 registered student-run organizations on campus. 
  • How will UC Davis help me stay safe?
  • In addition to a friendly, welcoming and supportive community, you'll have access to a wealth of campus services dedicated to keeping you safe. These services include nighttime safety escorts through the UC Davis Police Department Safe Rides program that offers students a free, secure ride home (in a clearly marked security vehicle) within campus from 5-10 PM, and between campus and the city of Davis from 10 PM-6 AM. Learn more about campus safety and security.

    UC Davis also offers services to help ensure students are able to meet their basic needs, such as food and housing, including an on-campus food pantry. Learn more at aggiecompass.ucdavis.edu.
  • What types of services are available to international students?
  • Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS), a unit of Global Affairs, is a key resource for all international students. SISS helps build campus community for students and scholars from over 100 countries and six continents. SISS staff welcome students to campus and develop programs to support the health and welfare of international students. SISS provides the I-20 form that students need to apply for a US student visa. The SISS Global Ambassador Program, a fall introductory course titled, "Foundations for University Success for International Students" and quarterly International Café meet-ups are a few ways that international students can make friends and learn about life at UC Davis.

Events

  • What is Aggie Day?
  • Want to know what being part of the Aggie family is all about? Don't miss Aggie Day, our largest in-person event for admitted students and their families. You’ll get the latest on campus communities, financial aid, housing and dining, student life, academics and much more.
  • What is Picnic Day?
  • Picnic Day is our campus open house, held every spring. Join us for this signature student-run event, which showcases the richness and diversity of our campus community.