Prospective Students: Application Process
- How do I submit an online application?
- The online application is available at the Graduate Studies website.
- What are the admission requirements for this program?
- The admission requirements and application process are outlined on the program’s website. If you have questions after reviewing the website, reach out to the Graduate Program Coordinator for further clarification.
- What is the application deadline?
General Deadline: January 15: To guarantee your application will be reviewed, it must be submitted by the general deadline. For financial support, all application materials (including online application, recommendation letters, transcripts, TOEFL scores) must be submitted by the general deadline. You are encouraged to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) or a California Dream Act Application to be considered for funding from the program.
Space Available: June 1: Permitting available space, applications submitted after the general deadline and before the space available deadline may be reviewed. It is not guaranteed applications in the space available pool will be reviewed.
- Is there a Spring admission application for study beginning Winter or Spring Quarter?
- No. Our program only accepts applications for Fall Quarter admission only due it being cohort based.
- How much does it cost to apply?
- $135 for domestic applicants; $155 for international applicants.
- Can I request an application fee waiver?
- There are two ways by which you may qualify to request an application fee waiver: participation in Graduate Preparation Programs, or by applying to the COE Pathways Program.
- I don’t have the application fee. Can I pay the fee after I have been admitted?
- No, we cannot process any application until we have received the application fee.
- How do I submit transcripts?
- UC Davis requires copies of academic records from each college-level institution applicants have attended even if you did not receive a degree from the institution. You will upload scanned copies of your transcripts after submitting the online application. DO NOT send transcripts or other material via mail unless specifically asked. Transcripts or academic records in a language other than English will need to submit both the original document and a translation from an acceptable source. View more details on how to submit transcripts.
- Can I send you my transcript, CV or personal statement in advance to see what my chances of being admitted are?
- Please do not send application materials in advance or outside of the application system. Materials sent to us outside of the application system will not be considered or used to evaluate the likelihood of admittance. The only exception is if you send in a transcript for help determining if the prerequisite courses have been fulfilled.
- What if my transcripts are missing my final grades?
- It is okay to submit an incomplete transcript if you are still completing a degree or coursework. If admitted, you will be required to submit a final official transcripts and proof of degree.
- What should I write about in my statement of purpose?
- The statement of purpose should define your background and the interests and experiences that qualify you for graduate study. It should state your areas of professional interest and detail how the specific program at UC Davis you are applying to will help you attain your educational and research goals. The statement should be well-written and free of technical errors. You can find general guidelines on writing the statement of purpose as well as the personal statement.
- What should I write about in my personal statement?
- The 2026-27 prompt information will be coming soon. This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the Statement of Purpose. You can find general guidelines on writing the statement of purpose as well as the personal statement.
- How do I submit letters of recommendation?
- Two letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically through the online application. Once the online application is submitted, it will automatically notify the referee and provide them with instructions on how to submit their letter. Hard copies of letters of recommendation will not be reviewed. When entering the contact information for your recommenders, you need to enter their email. You cannot use a third-party system like Interfolio.
- Do all letter writers need to be from academic sources?
- We recommend your letters of recommendation are from professors or professional references who are familiar with your potential for graduate academic success and/or professional experience.
- I have a B.S. degree in a major other than biomedical engineering. Can I still apply?
- Strong applicants with an undergraduate major in a related field (material science, mechanical engineering, etc.) can be admitted to our program. Applicants should review the prerequisites to determine if they have fulfilled them or to develop a plan for how to fulfill them.
- Do I need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores?
- Applicants whose native language is not English must take an English language exam, unless they have earned, or will be earning, a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university or a foreign college of university that provides instruction only in English. See the Graduate Studies website for more information.
- What if I turn in my application by the deadline, but my letters of recommendation or test scores arrive late?
- You must submit your application by January 15 to be considered for the general application pool. However, supplemental materials (transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation) will be accepted until January 31. If you miss those deadlines, your application may be reviewed as part of the space available applicant pool.
- When can I expect to hear back about my admission decision?
- Most admission decisions for the program are made by mid-February to early March.
- How will I be contacted to know the outcome of my application?
- Applications completed by the deadline will be sent an email from the Dean of Graduate Studies stating the admission decisions. Admitted applicants will receive a link to submit a statement of intent to register (SIR) at the bottom of this email.
New Students
- I’d like to visit campus before I decide if I want to attend UC Davis. How do I arrange a visit?
- We encourage all prospective students to visit UC Davis. Admitted students will be invited to an Admitted Student Day that will take place in late March or early April. At the event, you will be able to visit campus, meet faculty and staff, connect with admitted and current students, and learn more about the program. If you are not able to attend the Admitted Student Day, email the Graduate Program Coordinator to schedule a visit at another time.
- I have been offered admission into the program. When and how do I submit my Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)?
- We ask that you submit your SIR by April 15 so we can begin our planning for the year but latest you can SIR is August 2. At the bottom of the admission letter, there is a link that will allow you to let us know if you are accepting or declining our admission offer. If you plan on accepting, completing the SIR will allow you to see what other steps you must take to enroll as a graduate student at UC Davis. Even if you plan on declining your admission offer, we’d appreciate it if you complete the SIR to let us know.
- What actions do I need to do after accepting my admission offer?
- Log back into to view your admission letter and click the "What are the next steps" link at the bottom of the page. The "Next Steps" page displays your new student checklist which includes things like submitting official transcripts, setting up your campus computing account, submitting immunization records, and completing the online Aggie 201 Orientation. Additional details can be found on our New Student Checklist and Graduate Studies’ Admitted Student page.
- Is there funding available for non-resident supplemental tuition (NRST)?
- Students are not charged NRST for this program.
- How do I start the process of obtaining my IS-20/D-2019?
- If you have decided to attend, you should first submit your SIR and then follow the instructions on our Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) website. SISS handles all immigration and immigration status-related issues, problems and questions that may arise during your time at UC Davis.
- I need to submit my official transcripts and proof of my undergraduate degree. Should I wait to send in my official transcripts until I have actually earned my degree in the spring/summer?
- We recommend that you send in your official transcripts as soon as possible since you need to submit those before registering for Fall classes. Follow up with an additional official transcript showing that your undergraduate degree has been earned once that degree has posted. Proof of degree is needed to register for Winter classes. It may still take your university weeks or even months to post the degree to your official record. It may take UC Davis several weeks to process your official transcripts and proof of degree once they receive them.
- I need to defer my admission to a later term. What steps should I take?
- Email your Graduate Program Coordinator to see if the program will approve a deferral of admission. If they support your request, they will need to submit the official request to defer to Graduate Studies. Once approved, you will receive confirmation of the new start term as well as instructions on how to get ready for your first term at UC Davis. Deferral requests must be made BEFORE the first day of instruction and BEFORE you register for classes. Students may defer admission for one year.
- What type of funding is available to students?
- The Financial Aid Office will package funding for students in early August. To be considered for funding from the program, students must submit FAFSA or CADAA. To be considered for federal subsidized loans, students must submit FAFSA. U.S. citizens, permanent residents or immigrants can submit FAFSA. All students (including undocumented and international students) can submit CADAA. We estimate eligible students will receive 5% of the tuition and fees in funding from the program.
- What is the cost of the program?
- UC Davis Finance & Business publishes tuition and fees for a given academic year on their website.
- Where should I live?
- Coursework for the program will be in Aggie Square on the UC Davis Sacramento campus. ANOVA is an apartment community at Aggie Square that students can live in. Students interested living in Sacramento or other surrounding cities can use resources from UC Davis Student Housing and Dining Services or Graduate Studies to find other housing options. The Causeway Connection makes it easy for students to get from Davis to Sacramento with a stop right outside of Aggie Square.
Current Students
- How do I register for classes?
- Use Schedule Builder to register for classes. If you need help using Schedule Builder, look at the "Help" tab within Schedule Builder.
- When can I register for classes?
- Please refer to the registration calendar on the Registrar's website for pass dates, if applicable. You can start registering at the start of the first pass time as long as there is not a hold on your record.
- Can I register for part-time status?
- Due to the cohort structure of the program, part-time status is not approved.
- How do I get a Course Registration Number (CRN) number?
- CRNs for most courses can be found on Schedule Builder or the Class Search Tool. The Graduate Program Coordinator will distribute CRNs as needed for MDD courses.
- I have a hold on my registration. What do I do?
- There are various reasons you could have a hold on your registration. Please email the Graduate Program Coordinators at for assistance.
- What is the deadline to pay tuition?
- The final fee deadline for graduate students is posted on the Graduate Studies' website. It is typically in the 8th week of the quarter. The Registrar distributes an automated message to all students indicating the payment deadline is much earlier. This is the deadline for undergraduate students and DOES NOT apply to graduate students.
- I'm an international student. Where can I get help with my visa?
- Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) provides support for all international students, including visas, international travel and so on.
- Will I need to take additional English language courses once I arrive in Davis?
- All graduate students must take an English language course during their first academic year, unless:
- The student has an undergraduate or graduate degree from an approved English-medium institution, as confirmed with the UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies; or
The student has a TOEFL (iBT) score of 105 or higher or IELTS score of 7.5 or higher; or
The student scored 24 or higher on the TOEFL (iBT) writing and 23 or higher on the TOEFL (iBT) speaking.
Additional information is available from Global Affairs.
- I need access to Aggie Square, Blaisdell Medical Library, or other spaces on the Sacramento campus. Who do I talk to?
- If you need access to a building or space, email the Graduate Program Coordinator to explain what you need access to and why. If approved, you will be sent directions on how to get the appropriate ID card or badge.
- What do I need to get my degree?
- A student must complete all 12 classes (MDD 401, MDD 402, MDD 403, MDD 411, MDD 412, MDD 413, MDD 421, MDD 422, MDD 423, MDD 431, MDD 432, MDD 433) and maintain GPA of 3.0 or higher to be awarded their M.Eng. See the degree requirements for full details.
- Who will I be working with for my capstone project?
- Students will be working on teams in teams of 3-4 to complete their capstone project. They will have an engineering mentor and a clinical mentor in addition to the capstone course lecturer to help guide them through the process. UC Davis Biomedical Engineering has relationships with a variety of departments across UC Davis Health for students to do clinical observations with when conducting their needs assessment at the start of the project.