How to Apply to Mathematics at UC Davis: Five Degrees in the College of Letters and Science Including Mathematics, Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Analytics and Operations Research, Choosing the Major When You Apply and a Selective Major for Transfer, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics in the College of Letters & Science. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on the UC Davis catalog, the department’s website and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Computer science has its own dedicated guide on this site and is not covered here; statistics is a separate major in the college and is mentioned only in the transfer section.

1. Degrees

• Degrees in the department: the catalog lists Mathematics A.B., Mathematics B.S., Applied Mathematics B.S., Mathematical & Scientific Computation B.S. and Mathematical Analytics & Operations Research B.S., plus a mathematics minor and master’s and doctoral programs.
• Minimum units (catalog): Mathematics A.B., 78; Mathematics B.S., 82; Applied Mathematics B.S., 91; Mathematical & Scientific Computation B.S., 82; Mathematical Analytics & Operations Research B.S., 94. These are major requirements in addition to university and college degree requirements.
• Plans in mathematics: both mathematics degrees have Plan 1 (General Mathematics) and Plan 2 (Mathematics for Secondary Teaching). For the B.S. Plan 1 the core includes real analysis (MAT 127A, B, C), probability (MAT 135A), modern algebra (MAT 150A, B, C) and complex analysis (MAT 185A), plus four enrichment courses and a capstone course; Plan 2’s core includes the history of mathematics, number theory and Euclidean geometry. The detailed A.B. course lists were not read for this guide; see the catalog.
• Mathematical & Scientific Computation: the catalog lists Computational & Mathematical Biology and Computational & Mathematics emphases; details of the other degrees are in the catalog.
• How the catalog describes the program: after basic courses such as calculus and linear algebra, students plan an upper-division program with a faculty advisor, including real analysis, probability and modern algebra, which can lead to graduate study in pure or applied mathematics, teaching, or reflect an interest such as computational and applied mathematics, computer science or statistics, or be combined with another major.
• Honors: students who meet the College of Letters & Science GPA requirement for honors and complete a senior project in MAT 194 or MAT 199 may be recommended by the department for High Honors or Highest Honors, based on major achievement and project quality. How to enter a university-level honors program is not stated on the pages read.

2. Admission: you choose the major when you apply, with an alternate

• When you apply: freshmen apply through the UC Application. Admissions’ application tips say to apply to a major that interests you rather than the one you think gives the best chance, and to list an alternate major in case your first choice is not offered. Mathematics is in the College of Letters & Science; a separate admission line for mathematics is not published on the pages read.
• Entry after you arrive: the catalog and department pages read give no GPA or enrollment limit for moving into the math major later; this is not published there, so ask the department’s student services office (studentservices@math.ucdavis.edu).
• Advising: the department has two staff advisors with drop-in hours for first-year majors and prospective students; appointments are for declared majors only. New transfer students have mandatory advising in winter quarter, with a registration hold from March 15 until it is done.

3. Prerequisites

• High school courses (UC-wide): the A-G subjects: history or social science 2 years, English 4, mathematics 3 (4 recommended), laboratory science 2 (3 recommended), a language other than English 2 (3 recommended), visual and performing arts 1, and a college-preparatory elective 1. The GPA requirement is 3.00 for California residents and 3.40 for non-residents.
• Math Readiness Assessment (MRA): the department says everyone registering for MAT 12, 17A, 19A or 21A must take this online test, with no exemptions for SAT, AP or IB scores or math taken at another institution; after a C- or better in MAT 12 you do not need to retake it for 17A, 19A or 21A, and students whose AP or IB credit already covers those courses and who plan to enroll in a later course (for example MAT 21B) do not need it. For fall 2026 entry the first-year sessions were in June, by college; the schedule for fall 2027 is not published on the page read.
• Calculus series: the B.S. in Mathematics preparatory requirements and the transfer prerequisites for the four mathematics majors use the MAT 21 series (21A, B, C, D); the MAT 17 series is for biology and medicine and there is also a MAT 19 series. The preparatory courses of the other degrees were not read in detail; see the catalog.
• AP/IB credit: Admissions says AP scores of 3, 4 or 5 earn credit and may satisfy lower-division requirements; an IB diploma with 30 or more earns 4 semester (6 quarter) units, individual Higher Level exams with 5, 6 or 7 earn 8 quarter units, and Standard Level exams earn none. Which AP or IB mathematics exam stands in for which MAT 21 course is not listed on the pages read; Admissions advises seeing an advisor in the major department before registering.
• Math competitions: the admissions pages read do not say how competitions are viewed. The department organises student participation in the Putnam competition and others (section 8).

4. Deadlines and materials (freshmen)

• Timeline (the pages show no year, so check that it applies to fall 2027 entry): the UC Application can be started from August 1 and submitted October 1 to November 30; create a MyAdmissions account in December; submit financial aid and the Cal Grant GPA verification by March 2; admission status is available from mid-March; the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and Statement of Legal Residence are due online by May 1, and you may submit an SIR to only one UC campus.
• Application fee: $80 per UC campus for domestic applicants and $95 for international applicants; US citizens, permanent residents and AB540-eligible students who qualify can request fee waivers for up to four campuses in the UC Application.
• Testing: UC Davis does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship decisions; you may self-report them after submitting, for meeting minimum requirements or course placement.
• Essays: the Personal Insight Questions in the UC Application.
• Recommendations: Admissions says not to include letters of recommendation, awards, transcripts or work samples; they will not be reviewed or returned. So no mathematics teacher’s letter is part of the process.
• How applications are reviewed: a comprehensive review using the 13 factors all UC campuses use, including GPA in A-G courses with extra points for honors courses, the number and performance of courses beyond the minimum, honors, AP, IB Higher Level and college courses, being in the top 9 percent of your high school class (ELC), senior-year program quality, performance relative to the opportunities at your school, outstanding performance in a subject area, special projects, recent marked improvement, special talents and achievements, life circumstances, and the location of your school and residence.
• Honors programs: the pages read do not describe how to apply to a university-level honors program.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs: Admissions’ cost page estimates 2026-27 costs for new students living in a residence hall: systemwide tuition and fees $15,588, campus-based fees $2,490, books and supplies $1,205, room and board $22,252, personal $2,656, transportation $672, health insurance $3,996 and a document fee of $150, for a total of $49,009 for California residents. Non-residents add $39,270 of supplemental tuition, for $88,279. UC Davis notes that systemwide tuition and fees stay flat for up to six years after first enrollment while campus fees, housing and insurance can change. These are estimates; the figures for fall 2027 entry are not published on the page read.
• Residents’ admission paths: the first-year requirements page says UC offers high-achieving California residents two paths to admission, a statewide guarantee and a local guarantee; the eligibility page was not read for this guide, so see UC Davis Admissions.
• Aid and scholarships: the cost page links to financial aid and scholarships and the Blue and Gold Opportunity Program, which were not read; apply for aid each year between October 1 and March 2 with the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (UC Davis code 001313).
• Testing: SAT/ACT not considered; see section 4.

6. International applicants

• Process: international students meet the same admission requirements and enter the same selection process as US students; the campus has more than 4,500 international undergraduates. Apply as a first-year if you completed secondary school without enrolling in a college or university; apply as a transfer if you took college courses after secondary school, and report that college record.
• Records: you need to complete secondary school and earn a certificate of completion that grants university admission in your country. Report coursework exactly as it appears on your records; do not convert grades to US grades or use a credential evaluation service. If admitted you verify the application with official records from every institution since ninth grade, sent by the original institution or examination authority; records opened or sent by students are generally not official.
• 13-year systems: if pre-university education in your country is 13 years, you must finish all 13 years; admission is not offered before the 13th year is complete.
• English: required if you studied in the US for fewer than three years and had instruction in another language. UC lists these ways: TOEFL iBT 80 (exams before January 2026) or 4.5 (January 2026 onward); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 115; ACT English Language Arts 24; SAT Writing and Language 31 (the digital SAT Reading and Writing score is not approved); AP English Language or Literature 3 or above; IB English (Language A) SL 6 or 7 or HL 5, 6 or 7; or a C or better in a UC-transferable college English composition course. Finish one by December of your final year of secondary school. UC adds that a campus may require a higher score and some may interview, and UC Davis may strongly recommend or require extra English testing for admitted applicants.
• Visa: you need a passport and an F-1 or J-1 visa; Services for International Students and Scholars (SISS) helps.
• Proof of funds and international aid: not stated on the pages read; ask SISS and the financial aid office.

7. Applicants from China

• Curriculum requirements: UC’s country page says that, for the Chinese national curriculum, you list all courses and marks from grade 9 (year 3 of lower middle school) through grade 12 (years 1 to 3 of upper middle school) exactly as they appear on your official records, and, if accepted, submit the upper middle school Graduation Certificate and official lower and upper middle school records for grades 9 to 12. If you follow the IGCSE/GCSE/GCE curriculum, complete at least 5 IGCSE/GCSE/O-Level exams and at least 3 academic A-Level exams; for IB see UC’s IB instructions.
• Gaokao: the admission pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published there, so contact the Office of Admissions.
• Huikao and similar records: not published on the pages read; contact the international admissions specialists.
• International curricula: for IB and A-Level students, see sections 3 and 6 for credit and English.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department scholarships: the department lists the Evelyn M. Silvia Scholarship for Future Mathematics Teachers (juniors and seniors majoring in mathematics, applied mathematics or statistics; applications each April), the Eric C. Ruliffson Scholarship in Mathematics (financially needy junior and senior math majors), the McCurdy Family Scholarship (College of Letters & Science juniors and seniors, minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 at the time of the pledge, with a preference for women) and the Jim Diederich Scholarship for Mathematics Majors. Stipends are paid through Financial Aid and may affect your overall need.
• Contests: the department supports participation in the Putnam Competition (registration typically in October, exam in early December) and the spring Robert Lewis Wasser Memorial Mathematics Contest. The department also has an undergraduate research page, which was not read.
• Outcomes: the catalog says a mathematics degree provides entry to many industry careers, for example operations research, data analysis, systems analysis, computing, actuarial work, insurance and financial services, and is a basis for graduate work in law, engineering and economics. The pages read print no employment data.

9. Transfer students

• General requirements: by the end of the spring term before enrollment, complete at least 60 semester or 90 quarter UC-transferable units and a seven-course pattern with C or better: two English composition, one mathematical or quantitative reasoning, and four from at least two of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences. The UC minimum GPA is 2.40 (2.80 for California non-residents); UC Davis requires at least 2.80 for admission, and selective majors require higher overall, series and group GPAs. Pass/No Pass is capped at 14 semester (21 quarter) units. Very few lower-division transfers are admitted, and the College of Letters & Science considers only junior-level transfers.
• Mathematics is a selective major: the college’s selective majors include applied mathematics, mathematics, mathematical analytics and operations research, and mathematical and scientific computation, along with statistics, economics, physics and others. The four mathematics majors share one set of prerequisites: MAT 21A, B, C and D; MAT 22A or 27A or 67; and MAT 22B or 27B, with a 3.00 GPA across the whole group. Take courses for a letter grade with no grade below C and finish them by the end of the spring term before fall enrollment; summer coursework does not count toward admission requirements.
• Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG): for California community college students; the College of Letters & Science requires at least 3.20 for all majors, and every selective major except business, computer science and data science is open to TAG, including the mathematics majors. TAG applications are due September 1 to 30 and decisions are released in mid-November.
• Dates (the pages show no year, so check): the UC Application is October 1 to November 30; January 31 is the priority deadline for the Transfer Academic Update, and later updates may not be considered; March 2 for the Cal Grant GPA verification; June 1 for the SIR and residency statement.
• Course equivalency: use ASSIST for California community college courses together with the department agreements. The department publishes a sample two-year plan for incoming transfers (for example MAT 108 in the first fall, then MAT 127 and MAT 135A, then the MAT 150 series); new transfer students have mandatory advising in winter quarter.
• English and international transfers: transfer applicants can show English proficiency with the two UC-transferable English composition courses (at UC Davis a C or better), so they need not submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo; UC does not accept English composition from international universities where English is not the language of instruction. International transfer applicants report all college coursework, even if it is not transferable, and final transfer credit decisions come only after enrollment.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Submit the UC Application between October 1 and November 30 with the $80 fee, listing a mathematics major and an alternate; no SAT/ACT is needed and no letters should be attached
• A-G GPA of 3.00 or higher (3.40 for non-residents); file the FAFSA or Dream Act Application by March 2

International applicants (including China):

• $95 fee; report grades exactly as on your records; prepare TOEFL 80 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115
• After admission, official records sent by the original school or exam authority; ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

After entry:

• Pass the Math Readiness Assessment before MAT 21A, then follow the MAT 21 series, linear algebra and differential equations before real analysis, probability and algebra

Transfer students:

• Complete MAT 21A-D, linear algebra and differential equations with a 3.00 group GPA and no grade below C, and an overall 2.80 or higher; TAG in September, UC Application in October to November

Sources: University of California, Davis, Catalog: Mathematics; Mathematics, A.B.; Mathematics, B.S.; Applied Mathematics, B.S.; Mathematical & Scientific Computation, B.S.; Mathematical Analytics & Operations Research, B.S.; Department: mathematics major; Department: Math Readiness Assessment; Department: advising; Department: contests and scholarships; First-year timeline; First-year requirements; Application review criteria; Application fees; First-year application tips; International admission; International exams and visas; International records; Transfer requirements; Transfer timeline; Transfer selective majors; Transfer major requirements: Letters and Science; Cost; UC: English proficiency; UC: requirements by country. The timeline pages print no year; this guide reads them as fall 2027 entry, so please check. Costs are estimates for students first enrolling in 2026-27. See UC Davis for the latest.