Our students come from diverse professional, academic and personal backgrounds. To be considered for admission into the online MBA program at UC Davis, you must hold a bachelor’s degree from a US regionally-accredited institution or the equivalent. No particular area of undergraduate study is required. There are no requirement of prerequisite courses, but we suggest previous coursework in accounting, calculus, microeconomics and statistics. Two or more years of professional work experience are recommended. Please note that per UC Davis academic policy, applicants who have already completed an MBA degree are not eligible for admission to the UC Davis MBA program. This University-wide academic policy was designed to prevent students from completing work that is a duplication of a previous degree. Please contact your admissions counselors if you have questions regarding academic policies.
We accept applications on a rolling basis. The program offers four cohort start dates per year, in January, April, June and September.
| Deadline | Date |
|---|---|
Pre-Priority Application Deadline | September 3, 2025 |
Priority Application Deadline | October 1, 2025 |
Final Application Deadline | October 29, 2025 |
Classes Start | January 2026 |
You must submit the following materials to apply.
To apply for admission to MBA@UCDavis, you will need to complete the online application. If you’re ready, begin your application now. We encourage applicants to review the Statement of Application Integrity prior to submission to ensure a comprehensive and accurate application.
Remember:
A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required to be considered for admission.
Scores from either the GRE or GMAT exams are not required as part of your application. However, applicants who believe their test GMAT score might add value to their overall application are encouraged to include their score with the application.
If you take the GMAT and would like to submit your official score report, please enter “Davis” into the search bar, and select “University of California- Davis (MBA, Online)”. The institutional code for the GMAT is B1S-VF-18.
If you take the GRE, please use the code below.
GRE code: 7887
Unofficial copies of transcripts from all academic institutions you attended are required for admissions review, even if you did not earn a degree there or if transfer credits are listed on another school’s transcript. (This includes all University of California campuses.)
If you are extended an offer of admission, you will need to submit official transcripts before the registration of first quarter courses for your acceptance to be finalized. As a reminder, a bachelor’s degree from a regionally-accredited institution is required to be considered for admission.
Transcripts may be sent electronically to appsvcs@onlinemba.ucdavis.edu.
If your schools prefer to send by mail, official transcripts should be sent to the MBA@UCDavis Admissions Office:
University of California, Davis University
Application Processing Center
1551 Emancipation Hwy, Unit 1317
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
International transcripts or transcripts being mailed by Fedex, UPS or DHL mailing address (no P.O. Box):
University of California, Davis University
Application Processing Center
1551 Emancipation Hwy, Unit 1302
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
Remember:
You will need to submit a resume or CV to show your employment history. Two or more years of professional work experience are recommended.
Remember:
Essay 1: Professional Goals (required)
Pursuing an MBA is a catalyst for personal and professional growth. What are your post MBA goals highlighting your short and long term career objectives? In addition, how will your background and experience contribute to your career goals and the UC Davis Graduate School of Management? (350 word maximum)
Essay 2: Conditional Essay (required if applicable)
If your undergraduate GPA is <3.0 (on a 4.0 scale or its equivalent if not on a 4.0 scale), if you have experienced a hardship, if you have employment gaps, or if you have ever been subject to academic discipline, placed on probation, suspended, dismissed, or otherwise required to withdraw from any college or university for any reason, please provide details in this statement. Please explain what you have done to improve your academic aptitude and/or overall candidacy (200 word maximum).
Remember:
Two letters of recommendation from professional sources are required. These should be individuals who can comment objectively about your professional qualifications and are familiar with your work and achievements. Current or recent managers are preferred, but previous managers are acceptable. You will submit their contact information through the online application, and the recommenders will upload their recommendations in the application.
Remember:
The application fee is $125 and nonrefundable. Applicants who submit their application before the priority application deadline are eligible for an application fee waiver.
After you have submitted your application, we will contact you to set up a personal interview. The interview does not guarantee admission. The interview is your opportunity to talk to our team about your work experience, achievements, and career goals, and to address any concerns you may have with your application. Interviews are conducted in English via video conference using a webcam.
Remember:
The online MBA program from UC Davis welcomes international applicants who hold the equivalent of a University of California bachelor’s degree based on the characteristics of the national system of education, the type of institution and level of studies completed that are accepted by the Graduate Council. This is often represented by 16 total years of education. To determine if your degree program meets our requirements, please review the expected level of study for international students.
English Language Requirements for Admission
Applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS or Duolingo* examination scores unless they have earned or will be earning a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from either:
There are three standardized tests you may take: the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) assessment or the Duolingo English test.
Unless you are exempt from the standardized English language proficiency test requirement per above, you must take the TOEFL or IELTS assessment or Duolingo English test.
Students who do not satisfy the English Language requirement for admissions, must satisfy the First Year English Course requirement for Degree completion.
*All applicants who submit Duolingo English Test scores as their sole English language test will be required to take the UC Davis Test of Oral English Proficiency (TOEP) if they are admitted to a UC Davis graduate program.
TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
The UC Davis Graduate School of Management accepts the TOEFL iBT exam (in-person or at-home).
The minimum score required for admissions is 105. The institution code is 4834, and the department code is 02. For more information on TOEFL, please contact: Educational Testing Service (ETS) at 609-771-7100. We accept TOEFL scores from tests administered by the Educational Testing Service and sent to us directly by the TOEFL office.
Note: UC Davis Graduate School of Management does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores, TOEFL ITP Plus, or TOEFL Essentials examinations at this time.
IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
The UC Davis Graduate School of Management also accepts the IELTS Academic (in-person) and IELTS indicator (online) exams. Candidates may also submit updated section scores via the IELTS One Skills retake exam. You can submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) administered by the British Council worldwide.
The minimum band score requirement for admissions is 7.5. UC Davis Graduate School of Management Online MBA Program is registered to receive IELTS Academic and IELTS Indicator scores using the IELTS Results Service E-Delivery, so please send your score report to: University of California Davis Graduate School of Management Online.
TOEFL and IELTS exam scores are valid for two years from the date the test was taken. Scores that expire before the start of classes for the current admissions year may be used in your application only if the official score report is received in our office prior to its expiration. It is your duty to confirm with the admissions office receipt of your official test score prior to its expiration.
Duolingo English Test
The UC Davis Graduate School of Management also accepts the Duolingo English Test. The minimum score requirement for admissions is 130. All applicants who submit Duolingo English Test scores as their sole English language test will be required to take the UC Davis Test of Oral English Proficiency (TOEP) if they are admitted to a UC Davis graduate program.
The UC Davis Graduate School of Management Online MBA and MM Programs are registered to receive Duolingo scores. This can be done through your Duolingo test account, when sharing your scores please ensure to search for: University of California Davis Graduate School of Management Online MBA and MM Programs.
TOEFL and IELTS and Duolingo exam scores are valid for two years from the date the test was taken. Scores that expire before the start of classes for the current admissions year may be used in your application only if the official score report is received in our office prior to its expiration. It is your duty to confirm with the admissions office receipt of your official test score prior to its expiration.
Student Visas
Please be aware that the online MBA program is not eligible for a student visa to study in the United States since most work is completed virtually. We will work with you to secure the appropriate visa for the in-person residentials.
International Transcripts
If you are ordering international transcripts or your transcripts cannot be sent to a P.O Box, please contact admissions@onlinemba.ucdavis.edu or your Admissions Counselor for an alternative mailing address.
Please read instructions in the Transcripts section above.
If your transcripts or academic records are in a language other than English, BOTH the original language documents and English translations must be submitted. Any of the following translation resources are acceptable: 1) the college or university which has issued the documents, 2) a WES, IERF, or ECE evaluation, or 3) a government-certified translator.
If the degree conferral information is not on the transcript, please include proof of the earned degree (for example, a copy of your diploma and/or degree certificate). If your university includes a grading scale on your academic record explaining their grading system, you must include that as well.
*The Duolingo English Test will be accepted starting with applications for the 2025–2026 academic year. Because the Duolingo English Test is not specifically designed to test English ability in an academic setting, UC Davis strongly recommends that applicants take the TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic examination, or IELTS Indicator examination if it is possible for them to do so. Applicants should only submit Duolingo English Test scores if none of the other examinations are available to them.
If you are ready to join an energetic community of hard-working professionals, begin your application for the online MBA program today. If you are interested in our on-campus programs apply here. We only allow applicants to have one active program application.
