1.  What is required to apply to UC Merced?

• Application Fee: The current graduate application fee is $70 for domestic applicants and $90 for international applicants.

  The application fee must be submitted when you apply.  No application will be processed until the application fee has been received.  The application fee is not refundable under any circumstances. You may pay using a credit card when applying online (service surcharge applies).  Alternatively, a check or money order made payable to UC Regents, accompanied by the Graduate Application Fee Form for Admission, can be mailed to:

  University of California, Merced
  Attn: Graduate Division Application
  5200 N. Lake Road, Ste. KL 227
  Merced, CA 95343 

• Transcripts: Submit one official transcript for all college-level academic work including community college, summer session, and study abroad.
• Graduate Record Examination Scores: The general test of the GRE is required for admission to graduate study at UC Merced. Applicants should arrange to have GRE scores sent to the UC Merced Graduate Division Office.
• TOEFL or IELTS Scores: All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, must show evidence of having recently taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or TOEFL-Internet Based Test or the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) examination. Note: some programs require higher scores, please check the website for details. 
• Three Letters of Recommendation. Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation.  In addition, recommenders needs to fill out a Letter of Recommendation Form to accompany your letter of recommendation.  All letters of recommendation and quantatative evaluation forms should be submitted directly to the Graduate Division.  We do NOT accept electronic letters of recommendation.  Your recommenders are asked to give their personal impressions of your intellectual ability, your aptitude in research or professional skills, your character, and the quality of your previous work and potential for future productive scholarship. Applicants may waive the right to inspect their letters of recommendation on a voluntary basis. To waive access to your letters, complete the waiver section of the Letter of Recommendation Form. We reserve the right to verify the authenticity of any and all letters of recommendation.
• Statement of Purpose: A statement of purpose is required to help determine whether your academic objectives can reasonably be satisfied in the graduate program to which you seek admission.
• Individual Program Submissions: Although not a requirement, you may submit examples of prior academic work, writing samples, or statements about research experience.

• Foreign Study Requirements: Students applying from foreign countries should refer to the requirements and regulations for international students.
  

2.  When is the graduate application deadline?

The graduate application deadline is January 15. If you wish to submit an application after the program deadline date, contact the Graduate Division Office at 209-228-4723.

3.  How do I apply to graduate school at UC Merced?

An applicant can be considered for only one program area during a term.  The electronic application can be accessed through our On-Line Application System.

4.  I'm having trouble copying my Statement of Purpose to the online application.

Before you cut and paste your document, try saving it as plain text type to eliminate characters and formatting that may not be recognized by our system.

5.  How can I check the status of my application?

You can check the status of your application by logging in to the On-Line Application System using the ID and PIN you created when you first filled out the application.

Please note that UC Merced's Graduate Division will release information on the status of your application only to you. The Graduate Division's policy, based on federal and state guidelines, is to hold in confidence all information you provide in your application materials except your name and the department to which you apply, which are considered public information. If you do not want your information released, please include a written request to withhold that information from public disclosure.

6.  Which GRE test is required?

Applicants are required to take the GRE general test.  The GRE institution code for UC Merced is 4129.

7.  How do I decide which graduate program is best for me?

Every graduate program has a graduate coordinator who can answer academic or procedural questions about that particular graduate program. You can browse our Faculty Directory to familiarize yourself with our faculty research interests and expertise.

8.  How can I receive a UC Merced catalog?

The campus catalog is available online for free.

9.  If I want to re-apply, do I need to fill out a new application?

Yes.  Previous applicants must submit a new application, including all supporting documents, and pay the application fee.

10.  What are the Graduate Division's privacy policy and legal statments?

Information regarding our privacy policy and legal statements can be viewed online.

11.  Who do I contact if I have further questions?

For questions regarding graduate educaiton at UC Merced, contact the Graduate Division at (209) 228-4723 or email us at graddiv@ucmerced.edu.