Hands shaping clay on a pottery wheel in a sunlit studio

How to Apply

Deadline for M.F.A. Applications is January 5

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Admission Requirements

  • To apply, you need to hold a degree from an accredited four-year university with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; it need not be in art studio. 
  • You need to provide evidence of your ability and commitment to the art process. 
  • GRE scores are not required for admission to the M.F.A. program or for fellowship consideration. 
  • Applicants must apply by the posted deadline date to be considered for admission and fellowships.

Application Requirements

The official application process takes place on the UC Davis Graduate Studies application portal. The Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio M.F.A. Program will specifically look for the following within the official Graduate Studies application:

  • Artist Statement
  • Your artist statement should be submitted under the “Essay Describing Your Research or Professional Interest” located within the section of the application titled, “Plans for Graduate Study”. The artist statement should be no more than 2,000 characters and provide insights of your vision and processes as an artist.
  • Transcripts
  • UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. For more details visit Graduate Studies information page on submitting transcripts.
  • Statement of Purpose (max 4,000 characters)

  • Describe your academic preparation, relevant experience, motivation for applying, research interests/intended focus of your studies, and professional goals as they relate to the graduate program and major field. This essay should complement but not duplicate the content in the “Essay Describing Your Research or Professional Interests.”

    Academic preparation refers to educational background, practical learning, extracurricular activities, self-directed research, and academic accomplishments/qualifications that demonstrate your potential for success as a master’s or doctoral student in the graduate program

    Examples: related coursework, academic research and writing, fieldwork, internships, laboratory activities, scholarships/awards, independent study, presentations, publications, teaching, faculty or peer mentorship, studio projects, organizational membership, and study abroad.

    Interests, specializations, and career goals may include your research interests, disciplinary subfields, area/s of specialization, and professional objectives.

    Alignment may include how your preparation, experiences, and interests match, specific faculty or resources and characteristics of your graduate program at UC Davis. Please include specific faculty within your desired graduate program with whom you would like to work and how your interests align with the identified faculty member/s.

  • Personal Statement (max 4,000 characters)

  • All applicants are required to submit a Personal Statement as part of a complete graduate admissions application. While the Statement of Purpose is primarily focused on academic preparation, research interests/concept, and alignment with the graduate program, the Personal Statement is an opportunity to share the unique background, experiences, perspectives, and abilities that you will bring to a graduate program. 

    Please describe how your background and life experiences shaped your academic and/or professional path and influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This may include formative experiences, environment, values, motivations, interactions, decisions, etc.

    We encourage you to consider these potential scenarios when developing your Personal Statement:

    • Commitment to overcoming significant obstacles despite economic disadvantage, challenging social environment, or other specific experiences of hardship.

      Unique talents, abilities or skills relevant to personal growth.

      Employment experiences, extracurricular activities, or community participation that inspired further education.

      Evidence of growth, maturity and commitment to graduate study or a graduate degree.

  • Digital Portfolio

  • You may submit up to 20 files offering a view of your best and most current work. Please refer to the file format and size instructions on the “Digital Portfolio” tab in the application.

    Audio and video clips may be directly submitted or linked to SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, DropBox or Box.com. If your URL is password-protected, password must be clearly provided.

    If you are submitting a book as part of your portfolio, you may submit images of the cover and/or sample pages of the physical book, and a PDF file or a URL that presents the content of the book. 

    Please DO NOT submit an entire portfolio in PDF or linked to a URL.

  • C.V.
  • Maximum two pages.
  • Fellowship Application
  • Please complete this application [link to come] in order to be eligible for any fellowships that our department or the Office of Graduate Studies may award. It includes listing any fellowships you may already have as you apply to graduate school, and a statement of 2000 character max. describing how you plan to support yourself during your first academic year.
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Recommenders must submit all recommendations online via the applicant portal. More information is available via Graduate Studies.
  • Application Fee
  • Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee ($135 for domestic applicants or $155 for international applicants) to be eligible for admission. Please note: the application processing fee is nonrefundable. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted.

** Applicants are responsible for making certain the Graduate Program receives all application supporting documents (transcripts, etc.). An application is not considered “complete” by the University unless all supporting documents have been received by application deadline. The program is not responsible for any materials that are submitted after application deadline.

International Student Information

The program offers generous fellowships for international students. There is an English language requirement, see the Graduate Studies website for details. International students may be required to take additional English language examinations or courses depending on TA/AI status

Application for Financial Aid

If you will be applying for need-based grants, loans, or financial aid, you must submit a completed FAFSA form to the Financial Aid Office. This form may be obtained at any college or university financial aid office or online. For complete information regarding financial aid at UC Davis, see the Financial Aid and Scholarships page for graduate and professional students.

Acceptance

Completed applications are evaluated with supplemental materials. The department's Graduate Admissions Advisory Committee submits recommendations to the Dean of Graduate Studies, who makes final admissions decisions, usually notified in writing in March via the Application Slate account.