Admissions

The Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology is a cooperative interdepartmental organization of 73 faculty from 17 departments in three colleges (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences , Letters and Science, and Biological Sciences) and two professional schools (Medicine and Veterinary Medicine).

The great diversity of research interests represented by the faculty members offers students a wide variety of research disciplines. Areas of strength within the program include, but are not limited to:

Doctoral students in Nutritional Biology can choose to be admitted into the Designated Emphasis in International Nutrition or the Designated Emphasis in Biotechnology.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

Domestic Students:
Requesting financial aid: January 15, 2008
No financial aid: April 1, 2008

International (students residing outside the US):
Requesting financial aid: January 15, 2008
No financial aid: March 1, 2008

 

ADMISSIONS

The primary requirements for admission into this program are:

1. Evidence of intellectual achievement and potential for successful graduate study.
2. Minimum GPA of 3.0 and combined math and verbal GRE scores of 1000.
3. Acceptance into the graduate group by a faculty mentor - a list of GGNB faculty research interests is available online: http://nutritionalbiology.ucdavis.edu/faculty.html
4. A bachelor's degree (or equivalent degree) with prior course work comparable to the GGNB prerequisites listed below.

GGNB PREREQUISITES

• Descriptions of these courses are in the UC Davis Online General Catalog.
  http://registrar.ucdavis.edu/UCDWebCatalog/
• A limited number of deficiencies in these areas can be made up after admission to the graduate program. However, these make-up courses do not count towards graduate degree unit requirements.

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS for US CITIZENS

1. Apply online: http://apply.embark.com/grad/ucdavis (including $60 non-refundable application fee).
2. Three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online application. Instructions will be provided to you when you apply.
3. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Send transcripts to:
   
   Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology
   3135 Meyer Hall
   University of California
   Davis, CA 95616-8669
4. GRE General Test Score – ETS Institution Code #4834, Department Code #0214

REQUIRED APPLICATION MATERIALS for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

1. Apply online: http://apply.embark.com/grad/ucdavis (including $80 non-refundable application fee)
2. Three letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online application. Instructions will be provided to you when you apply.
3. Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. Send transcripts to:
   
   Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology
   3135 Meyer Hall
   University of California
   Davis, CA 95616-8669
4. GRE General Test Score – ETS Institution Code #4834, Department
5. TOEFL or IELTS scores - required for international students (minimum scores required are 550 on the paper-based or 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or an overall 7 band score on the IELTS)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

• Admission to the graduate program is generally open for the Fall Quarter only.
• It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that all application materials reach the Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology's administrative office by the deadline.
• Applicants are encouraged to contact individual faculty members whose research interests are most compatible with the student’s objectives and discuss the possibilities of initiating graduate study with that faculty member. This is an important part of the admission process as it is the practice of the Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology to admit a student ONLY when a faculty member has agreed to serve as the student’s major professor.
• Prospective graduate students may apply for admission to either the M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Students with a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for the Ph.D. program if that is their ultimate goal. Generally, there are more funding sources available for Ph.D. students than for M.S. students.

• The Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology's Admissions Committee will evaluate the applications, along with the other required materials.
• The Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology's Admissions Committee will evaluate the applications, along with the other required materials.
• Applications of those considered admissible by the committee will be available for review by the faculty, including those you have specified.
• Once a faculty member has accepted you into his/her laboratory group, the Office of Graduate Studies will notify you.

FUNDING AND FINANCIAL AID

• Fellowships, scholarships, and assistantships are awarded on an annual cycle beginning in the Fall Quarter.
• Research assistantships and teaching assistantships are also available throughout the various departments. Applications for departmental assistantships can be obtained from the department office.
• Other financial aid is available through loans, grants, and work-study. The Financial Aid office can provide students with information and applications.
• Graduate applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents or immigrants are required to file a "Free Application for Federal Student Aid " (FAFSA) as early as possible, but no later than March 1. This form, submitted directly to the Federal Student Aid Program Office, Iowa City, Iowa, is used to determine financial need only. Financial need is a component of the eligibility criteria for many fellowships, and for all forms of financial aid. The FAFSA may be obtained from any US institution of higher education or online at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov

Financial Aid office can provide students with information and applications. You are encouraged to apply for all forms of financial support for which you meet the qualifications. The Graduate Studies web site includes information about funding.

CAMPUS VISITS

Selected candidates will be invited to attend a three-day Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology Recruitment Fair on March 10-12, 2008. Activities will include:

• Campus and GGNB tour
• Social lunch with graduate students and faculty
• Social dinner with GGNB’s graduate students
• Open lab visits to meet with GGNB’s faculty

ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

UC Davis General Catalog
Office of Graduate Studies
Department of Nutrition

INFORMATION FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Services for International Students and Scholars
(530) 752-0864
siss@ucdavis.edu
http://siss.ucdavis.edu
100 University House
University of California
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616

In conformance with applicable law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate in any of its policies, procedures, or practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, handicap, age, veterans status, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry or marital status; nor does the University discriminate on the basis of citizenship, within the limits imposed by law or University policy. The University of California is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Inquiries regarding the University's affirmative action/equal opportunity policies may be directed to Eleanor Fontes-Fulton, Director, Office for Campus Diversity and AA/EEO, 533 Mrak Hall, (530) 752-2071. Speech or hearing impaired persons may dial (530) 752-7320 (TDD).

Graduate Group in Nutritional Biology
3135 Meyer Hall
University of California, Davis
Davis, CA 95616-5270
Phone: (530) 754-7684 Fax: (530) 752-8966
Please send questions to: ggnb@ucdavis.edu