UC Davis is a public research university in Northern California and one of the ten University of California campuses. It is best known for agriculture, veterinary medicine, environmental science and engineering, backed by one of the largest research budgets in the UC system. Choose it for a UC degree in a bike-friendly college town near Sacramento.
Davis, United States
Official website: ucdavis.edu
#130
No. 1 in the US (U.S. News)
Top 3 in the world (QS by Subject)
Top 10 (U.S. News)
$30,000 – $52,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$18,000 – $24,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ucdavis.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical & Computer Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
MBA (Graduate School of Management)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Business Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Biomedical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
No. 1 veterinary school in the US — and top 3 worldwide for agriculture.
Part of the University of California — the world's leading public university system.
Research spending above USD 1 billion a year, much of it in life and environmental sciences.
Most bike-friendly campus in the US — over 20,000 bikes on campus each day.
Graduates join Intel, Apple, Genentech, Tesla and Sacramento's state agencies and agritech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering and CS bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 80,000-95,000.
Many students intern in the Bay Area, an hour away, and convert placements into offers.
Undergrad
30 Nov 2026
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus is one of the largest in the UC system by area, with an arboretum, working farms and a dense academic core linked by bike paths rather than roads.
Davis is a small, safe college town of about 70,000 people with a farmers' market and flat streets built for cycling. Sacramento is 20 minutes away and San Francisco about 90 minutes.
Form I-20 issued by UC Davis
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduates apply through the University of California application, which opens 1 October and closes 30 November 2026 for fall 2027 entry; there is no early round. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and science master's closing between 1 December and 15 January.
UC Davis admits undergraduates for the fall quarter (late September) only. Nearly all graduate programmes are also fall entry, though a few accept applications for winter or spring quarters. Check your programme's page, as off-cycle admission is rare.
You need an F-1 student visa. Services for International Students and Scholars issues your Form I-20 once you accept the offer and submit financial documents. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical and computer engineering, biomedical engineering, business analytics and the MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80-100 or IELTS 7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 40%.
UC Davis offers no need-based aid to international undergraduates, so plan to fund the full non-resident cost. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships and fellowships, which often cover tuition and pay a stipend. Ask your department about funding when you apply.
