FAQ
For questions about your visa documents, contact UC Merced International Affairs office at international@ucmerced.edu or visit their website.
Admissions decisions are based on a rolling basis and vary among programs. In general, you can expect an admissions decision to be sent between March-June. Once an admissions decision is made you will receive an email directing you to login onto your "Application Status Page."
If a decision is not reflected on your "Application Status Page" then your application is still under faculty review.
Please visit our general Application Requirements page, for a further breakdown of the requirements.
- Application Fee: The graduate application fee is $120 for domestic applicants and $140 for international applicants. Fee Waivers are available for eligible U.S. citizens or permanent residents based on program participation or demonstrated financial need.
- Transcripts: For the initial review process, upload a scanned copy of all college level academic work.
- Graduate Record Examination Scores: The general test of the GRE is required for admissions to graduate study at UC Merced (except for our MM program).
- TOEFL or IELTS Scores (international students only). For more information please visit our International Applicants page.
- Three Letters of Recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal History and Achievement/Contributions
All graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship, whose preparatory education was principally in a language other than English, must show evidence of having taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or TOEFL-Internet Based Test or the International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) examination within the past 2 years. Note: some programs require higher scores, please check the program for details.
For admission purpose only, the TOEFL may be waived for an applicant who has received an advanced degree from a U.S. institution or from a country where English is the language of instruction (proof may be required). This DOES NOT exempt the applicant from the English-proficiency examination for Teaching Assistant or Teaching Associate appointment. For more information regarding the English-proficiency examination, please visit our International Application Information page.
For questions regarding graduate education at UC Merced, contact the Graduate Division at 209-228-4723 or email gradadmissions@ucmerced.edu.
Every graduate group has a graduate coordinator who can answer academic or procedural questions about that particular graduate program. You can browse our Academic Studies to familiarize yourself with our programs, faculty research interests and expertise.
An applicant can be considered for only one program area during a term. The electronic application can be accessed through our Online Application System.
The application fee is $120 for domestic applicants, and $140 for international applicants.
Applicants are required to take the GRE general test. GRE scores are valid for five years after the testing year in which you tested. You may report self-reported scores on the application, however, official scores are required to complete your application. The GRE institution code for UC Merced is 4129.
Yes. Previous applicants must submit a new application, including all supporting documents, and pay the application fee.
Click here to view the deadlines of all our graduate programs.
Yes, test scores must be verified by the testing company. If you took the GRE/TOEFL through ETS, use the code 4129 for UC Merced, a department is not required. If you are submitting a GMAT test score use code Z9H-CF. IELTS test scores must be submitted by mail to:
University of California, Merced
Attn: Graduate Division, SSB 310
5200 N Lake Road
Merced, CA 95343
No, UCM Graduate Studies limits only one graduate application per admissions cycle.
Please visit our Application Deadlines page, some graduate programs may continue to accept applications after the general January 15th deadline. Financial support may not be available to late applicants.
Though GRE scores are required as part of the application process, there is not a specific score requirement. UC Merced values a holistic admissions approach where each piece of the application is considered valuable to assessing a prospective student’s potential for success. GRE scores are one component that is factored into the overall consideration. Please contact your program for program specific requirements.
UC Merced Graduate Studies only offers admissions for the fall semester. However, an exception may be made by individual programs to offer spring semester admissions. Please contact the program of interest for their spring admission policy.
Please ensure that you have submitted your verified test scores through ETS using code 4129. The test scores take approximately 10-15 days to be received by the institution. If your GRE test was taken by paper form, the test scores can take up to 5 weeks. If after 5 weeks your test scores have not been received, please contact contact ETS directly.
When submitting your application you will be requested to input emails of references. Those references will receive a link to a survey and will be instructed to provide UCM Graduate Studies with a letter of recommendation. Graduate Admissions will not accept letter of recommendations that come directly from the applicant.
Currently, only Physics prospective students are required to take a GRE subject test. As this is subject to change, Graduate Admissions encourages applicants to visit and review the webpage of the program you wish to apply. For a list of application requirements, please visit our General Application Requirements page.
If you recommender has not received a link to attach a letter of recommendation this may indicate that the email address was inputted incorrectly. You may log back onto your application and update your reference's information, then click on "resend link."
If this is not the case, please contact gradadmissions@ucmerced.edu.
Do not miss the application deadline waiting on test scores, transcripts or letter of recommendations. Be sure to note your test date and registration number on your application, and remember to send a reminder to your recommender. Transcripts may be submitted with pending course work.
Yes, you may update your list of recommenders. Please log back onto your application and select the "Recommendations" tab. Select the recommender you wish to remove my clicking "edit." Once the edits have been completed, click on "Send to Recommender" for your new recommender to receive the link to attach your letter of recommendation.
Official transcripts are NOT required until an applicant has been admitted. While submitting your application please upload scanned copies of your transcripts for all college-level academic work including community college, summer session, and study abroad. Scanned copies of your transcripts are required for the initial review process.
Your application and all required documents should be submitted by January 15th. Each piece of an application is considered valuable in assesing a prospective student's potential for success, including letters of recommendation. Letters of recommendation provide information on an applicant's potential for success, and should be submitted as soon as possible to provide a complete application for faculty to review.
Currently, UC Merced only offers income-based fee waivers for domestic applicants.