Table of contents
Pre-Arrival Checklist
We're so excited to see you this Fall! But, there's lots to do before you get here. Below is a helpful checklist to keep you on track. You can find more information about many of the items below in your application portal.
Beyond this checklist, keep a close eye on your UC Davis email! Your graduate group will email you group-specific information like orientation dates, course registration information, and more.
- Establish a computing account
- Complete New Student Orientation - Aggie 201
- Complete the Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination and Prevention (SHAPE) Training
- Complete the Laboratory Safety Fundamentals Training*
- Get your AggieCard
- Submit official transcripts
- Submit proof of earned bachelor's degree
- Submit Statement of Legal Residence
*You may not have access to the Laboratory Safety Fundamentals training until August due to system access. Please complete the training once you have access.
Registering for Classes
Before registering for courses, you must first submit your official transcripts to Graduate Studies.
Each graduate group has different first-quarter courses:
Please consult with your graduate program coordinator and faculty academic advisor to determine the best Fall schedule for you.
Students register for courses in Schedule Builder. Fall registration typically opens in Mid-April. Graduate courses (200+) typically do not fill, so there is no rush to register for those.
If you are registering for undergraduate courses (100-199), then you should try to register as soon as possible. Undergraduate courses often fill to capacity. Some undergraduate courses may require a pre-requisite petition.
Pre-Requisite Petition
In order to complete a prerequisite petition, start by adding the course you’d like to register for in Schedule Builder. If Schedule Builder does not recognize the prerequisite course(s) as being completed, there will be a red box of text that appears informing you. At the bottom of the text, there is a button that says ‘Click here’ in order to create a prerequisite petition. Clicking the button will open the actual petition field.
Once in the petition itself, you will see instructions on what to include in the petition as well as the prerequisites required for the course. There is a text box available to describe which course(s) you took that you believe meet the requirements for the course. In additional to the text field, you should upload a copy of your unofficial transcript. A general template you may use is below:
"I am an incoming [graduate group] graduate student. I completed the equivalent pre-requisite [course info] at [your undergraduate institution]."
After filling out your petition and uploading any documentation, make sure to hit the ‘Create’ button. Once your petition has been created, you will be able to register for the course.
Filling out the petition alone does not guarantee being able to stay in the course. Petitions are reviewed by instructors and/or departments closer to the start of Fall Quarter. It is up to the instructor or department to evaluate the petitions and decide whether or not the coursework taken meets the requirements for the course. If your petition is not approved, you will be dropped from the course. If your petition is approved, your status in the course is unchanged.
Housing and Transportation
Housing
The Housing page on the UC Davis Front Door website offers a very excellent guide to finding housing options. The housing market in Davis is a bit tight with many units renting out as early as February for Fall lease starts. Be wary of unscrupulous landlords; if possible, it's helpful to see a property in person and/or read reviews online before signing a lease.
It's possible to give up the convenience of biking to your classes but save money (or get more space for the same money) in surrounding communities like Woodland, Dixon, and West Sacramento. For a more metropolitan experience, downtown Sacramento also offers several transit links to Davis.
Transportation
Davis is well-connected to surrounding communities through a variety of public transportation options. Intercity bus services are available from YoloBus and SacRT, while within Davis one can rely on the unusually-good Unitrans bus network. A dedicated route, the Causeway Connection, offers a direct link between the main UC Davis campus and the UC Davis Health campus in Sacramento. For train travel, both Amtrak and SacRT provide rail services (including links to Bay Area Rapid Transit, or BART). These transit networks also offer ground transportation options to the two major nearby international airports, Sacramento International (SMF) and San Francisco International (SFO).
A Note on Bicycles
As you may know, Davis is very "bikey"! The city features a robust network of bike paths, many of which are completely separate from main roads. This is a very neighborhood-dependent statement, but it is possible to bike from an apartment in West or South Davis to the UC Davis campus without sharing a road with a car. A full map, produced by the city, can be found here.
Davis has quite a few places to get bikes, from those which sell fancy new bikes (like Ken's) to the Bike Auction run by campus's Transportation Services department (at which one can bid on bikes abandoned on campus). Two notable options:
- The Bike Garage sells used bikes and offers free bicycle repair, but also holds classes so that you can learn to maintain your bike and be a happier rider.
- The Bike Barn is located in the middle of campus, and is run by the student government on campus (ASUCD). They offer new and used bikes, bike rentals, and repairs – and have a little tool stand outside their building where you can quickly fill up your tires or tighten your handlebars.
Remember to wear a helmet, and use front and rear lights while riding at night! You can get both a helmet and lights for free on campus.
First Quarter Finances
The information in this section will primarily apply to students receiving fellowships their first quarter. Fellowships include rotational fellowships from your graduate group, Graduate Studies fellowships (ex: Cota-Robles, Schwall), and some external fellowships (ex: IMSD). If you are hired as a GSR or TA for the first quarter, please check your offer letter and hiring unit for more information.
Disbursement
UC Davis disburses fellowship payments in arrears. That means if your fellowship is meant to cover you for Winter Quarter (January-March), you receive your first payment on February 1. For Fall Quarter only, fellowship payments are disbursed over four months, beginning on October 1. This early disbursement is meant to assist you in the transition to graduate school but does not change your overall Fall Quarter stipend. Please budget accordingly.
Before disbursement, there are a few steps to take:
- Register for 12 units! Fellowships cannot be entered until you're a full-time student.
- Sign up for direct deposit. This is the fastest way to receive payments.
- (International students only) Complete your GLACIER record. You will not receive any payments until your GLACIER record is approved.
Fees
You may receive scary emails from Student Accounting in September saying your fees are due. This is only true for undergraduates!
If you believe your fees should be paid for through employment or fellowship but still see a balance by week 4 of the quarter, let your graduate program coordinator know. They can help determine if there are any errors on your account.
Establishing Residency
US citizens and permanent residents may qualify for California residency after residing 366 days in the state. Establishing residency is highly recommended for all qualified students. UC Office of the President provides information about how to establish residency. Please contact the UC Davis Residence Deputy with any questions you may have about establishing residency.
Taxes and Social Security Numbers
For most fellowship stipends, taxes are not* withheld by Student Accounting. But, lack of withholding does not indicate lack of owing. In fact, many graduate students owe taxes on their stipend when they file with the IRS. Graduate program staff and faculty cannot provide tax guidance, but we encourage students to explore IRS calculators and the California Franchise Tax Board calculator to determine how much they may owe.
Fellowship income is reported on a 1098-T rather than a W-2.
*International students typically do have taxes withheld, based on information from the GLACIER record.
Social Security Numbers
Many international students are anxious to receive a Social Security Number (SSN). If you are only receiving a fellowship or are self-supporting, you will most likely not qualify for a Social Security Number. Instead, you should apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN). Please note the graduate program cannot assist with obtaining either the SSN or ITIN. SISS or the Social Security Office can be of more assistance.