Academic and Application Requirements

Graduate Admissions at UC Merced

Admission decisions are based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work experience. We also consider the appropriateness of your goals to the degree program in which you are interested and to the research interests of the program's faculty. In addition, consideration may be given to how your background and life experience would contribute significantly to an educationally beneficial blend of students.

Please check the information provided by each graduate program for any additional admission requirements applicants must meet.

Applicant Admissions Criteria:

1. Hold a baccalaureate degree or its equivalent from an accredited institution with a major appropriate to the proposed graduate program. This degree must represent the completion of a program equivalent both in the distribution of academic subject matter and scholarship achievement comparable to that offered at the University of California.
2. Have a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) is required.
3. Provide TOEFL or IELTS test scores (international students only). Please visit our International Application Information page.
4. Individual Program Requirements: Please review below any additional requirements imposed by the graduate program you are applying to (GRE test scores, Writing Samples).

General Application Requirements:

The following is a list of materials required to complete the UC Merced Graduate application for M.A./M.M./M.S. and Ph.D. programs:

• Application Fee: The application fee of $130 for domestic applicants and $150 for international applicants, must be submitted when you apply. Applications will be NOT be processed or reviewed until an application fee has been received. The application fee is not refundable under any circumstances. You may pay using a credit card when applying online
• Fee Waiver: Graduate application fee waivers are available to eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents based on financial need or eligible program participation.
  • 1.       Demonstrated Financial Need   
    • Please contact grad@ucmerced.edu for an application 

  • 2.      Program Participation   

    • If you have participated in any of these eligible programs you may qualify for an application fee waiver. 

    • Please review the instructions on page 2 to claim your fee waiver and submit your application.

    • Be prepared to upload proof of participation.

For more information about fee waviers please contact: grad@ucmerced.edu

• Transcripts: For the initial review process, upload a scanned copy of all college level academic work including community college, summer session, and study abroad, onto your application. If recommended for admissions, official transcripts of all academic work must be submitted in a sealed envelope issued by the originating institution. Transcripts can be mailed to: 

University of California, Merced
Attn: Graduate Division, SSB 230
5200 N Lake Road
Merced, CA 95343

Official transcripts from domestic universities may be sent electronically, if the originating institution provides that option. Please have them delivered to grad@ucmerced.edu. All academic records submitted to our office become the property of the University, and cannot be returned.

• TOEFL or IELTS Scores: Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to demonstrate proficiency in English for admission consideration. Any applicant who spent the majority of their primary and secondary education in a nation/territory where English is not the primary language must take an approved English proficiency examination prior to admission. Proficiency in English may be demonstrated by passing one of two standardized, internationally administered tests: TOEFL (the Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). The applicant should take one of these tests at the earliest available date to ensure that the scores are reported in time to meet application deadlines. Applicants will not be admitted if they lack an acceptable proficiency score. All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, must show evidence of having taken the TOEFL or TOEFL-Internet Based Test or the IELTS examination within the past two years.

Per a decision made by UC Merced Graduate Council in October 2021:

• TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition scores will be accepted for the 2023-24 application cycle.
• IELTS Indicator scores will be accepted for the 2023-24 application cycle. 

Verification of test scores will need to be provided to the Graduate Division

• TOEFL: Request scores through ETS using code 4129
• IELTS: Request scores to be officially mailed to the Graduate Division:

University of California, Merced
Attn: Graduate Division, SSB 230
5200 N Lake Road
Merced, CA 95343

Please refer to our International Applicants page for test score requirements. Note some programs require higher test scores, please also review program standards.

• Three Letters of Recommendation: Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation. On the admissions application you will be asked to enter the email addresses of three recommenders. 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. 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.
• Personal History and Achievement/Contributions: The Personal History and Achievements/Contributions statement is required and provides admission committees insight into an applicant’s background, accomplishments, achievements or contributions that are important in evaluating the applicant for graduate study. Relevant information includes educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities pertinent to the applicant’s academic journey.

Individual Program Requirements:

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Scores: Please review below which graduate programs required the GRE for the FALL 2023 admissions cycle. If required, applicants should arrange to have their GRE scores sent to the UC Merced Graduate Division Office. The GRE institution code for UC Merced is 4129. GRE scores are valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested. You may self-report scores but official test scores are required if advised by your graduate program.

Writing Samples:

• The Interdisciplinary Humanities program requires a writing sample of all applicants.
• Sociology requires an academic writing sample for admissions. 
• Please Note: Although not a requirement for most programs, all applicants may submit examples of prior academic work, writing samples, or statements about research experience if they wish.

International Students:

Students applying from foreign countries should also refer to the requirements and regulations for international students for additional information.