New Student Information

Please take the time to read through all of this important new student information to get you started.

New Student Set Up

  • Submitting your SIR (Statement of Intent to Register)
  • We ask you SIR as soon as possible (whether you are attending UC Davis or not) so that we can plan accordingly, and you can complete all the steps to start here in the Fall. Please submit your SIR by April 15.

    To submit your SIR: Please click on the link in the email you received from the Office of Graduate Studies informing you about your formal admission offer.  If you lost this email, or if the link takes you to an error page, please contact Christal Wintersmith and she will request the system re-send the email to you. 

    After you submit your SIR, you will want to complete all the steps in your checklist (you will see this after submitting your SIR). Additional program specific information will be shared by the end of April. Please be patient for this information.
  • Official Transcripts
  • All students must submit their official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Studies. If you submitted your official transcripts before you graduated, you will also need to order a final transcript with your degree posted, and resubmit this transcript. The official transcript(s) should be sent directly to the Office of Graduate Studies. Find out more here.
  • Computer & E-mail Accounts
  • You should establish your UC Davis computing and email account after submitting your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). Instructions can be found here. If you need assistance setting up your computing account and email, contact IT Express: http://itexpress.ucdavis.edu/.

    All university-related communications will be sent to your UCD email, so it’s important that you check it on a regular basis. You can also forward your UCD email to a preferred email.
  • DUO
  • DUO is a multi-factor authentication system which will better protect your UC Davis accounts. Enroll now.
  • Statement of Legal Residence Hold (Deadline July 1st) 
  • The Office of the University Registrar will be contacting you regarding filling out a Statement of Legal Residence form. This form is online and the deadline to complete it is July 1. If you do not meet this deadline, you will be classified as a nonresident and will be assessed the Nonresident Supplemental Tuition. Find out more here.
  • UC Davis Health Requirements 
  • Be sure to submit your immunization records. Find out more here.
  • My UC Davis
  • My.ucdavis.edu is a portal you can use to access your email, your schedule, your bill, and has links to all sorts of resources. Once you log in, you can edit the tiles on the main screen to have easy access to the things that are important to you. I would recommend using myAccounting, mySchedule, and myQuicklinks.

    In the Finances tab, you will also see a link to myAwards – please note that these are awards through the Financial Aid office, and completely separate from any funding through the department or college. Academic appointments and departmental fellowship for example are not reflected in myAwards.
  • AggieCard - Student ID
  • All students will receive a student ID card called an AggieCard. Find out more here.
  • Request to defer admission
  • If you are interested in deferring your admission, please email the Graduate Coordinator to discuss your options. The BMEGG typically approves deferral requests for 1 year, to the next Fall Quarter. After receiving approval from the Graduate Coordinator, you would submit your SIR as a "yes" (by Aug. 1, 2024), but DO NOT enroll in fall courses (if you enroll, you can no longer defer). 

    Deferral Requests will be automatically denied if:
    - If the request is made after UC Davis instruction starts
    - If you have enrolled in classes
    - If you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) as a "no"
    - If you were admitted to the MS program, and you plan to attend a MS program elsewhere during the deferral period

International Students

  • International Student Orientation Program
  • International students are required to attend the International Student Orientation Program. 
    Please be sure to read all the information on the “Newly Admitted Students” website.

    For more information about requirements for international students, please contact SISS with the following:
    Website: http://siss.ucdavis.edu/
    Email: siss@ucdavis.edu
    Phone: (530) 752-0864

    You can find your advisor based on last name here.
  • English Language Courses for International Students
  • Many international students will need to take UWP 225 / UWP 226 during their first academic year. The policy regarding this requirement can be found here.

    For more information about the English Course Requirement, please visit this website.

    This course will NOT count toward your degree requirements, or units needed for the degree, but it will count towards the 12 units needed to be a full-time student in any given quarter.

    It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED to take this course in the fall, as it will help you be successful in the graduate program at UC Davis.

Domestic Non-Residents

  • Establishing California Residency for Tuition Purposes
  • If you are classified as a domestic non-resident, after one year, you can establish California Residency for Tuition Purposes, and not be charged the Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition. While it takes a year to establish residency, it is important to begin the process early (in the first month of arriving in California, and definitely before December/ the end of your first quarter) with steps such as:
    • Getting a CA driver’s license or ID card
    • Registering to vote in California
    • Registering your vehicle in California (if you have one)

    Please take the time now to understand the steps required so you can start early. More information can be found here.  Also, view our checklist on how to establish residency here.

    **Failure to take these steps EARLY can result in a denial of your in-state residence. 

    Students denied residence will continue to be charged (and responsible for paying) the Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition. 

Insurance and Health Services

*If this is an emergency, Dial: 911 – This website only provides information on non-emergency services

Other Important Information

  • UC Davis Calendars and Important Dates
  • Take a moment to review the Registrar's Calendars and put important dates on your personal calendar.

    There are important deadlines on the 10th, 12th, 20th, and 25th days of instruction you should become familiar with.

    Fee Payment Deadline: the "student fee payment deadline" is relevant for our Undergraduate Students.  As a Graduate Student, please pay attention to the "Graduate Student Final Fee Payment Deadline" each quarter, and make sure you have a zero balance on your account by this later graduate student deadline. For these dates, check out the Graduate Studies Calendar! Even if you are fully funded, it is your responsibility to make sure your fees are paid by the deadline.
  • Graduate Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)
  • All registered graduate students are eligible for, and automatically enrolled in, the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP); it is included in the quarterly student fees. As long as you are registered and your fees are paid each quarter (whether that be individually or via an academic appointment such as a GSR or Teaching Assistant), you have student health coverage through SHIP. 

    For more information on the Student Health Insurance Plan, visit this link. If you plan to continue to carry private insurance, you may submit the 2023-24 SHIP Waiver application online. The deadline to submit the waiver online is September 1 (to be effective in Fall quarter).
  • Housing Information Web Sites
  • Here are a few housing resources/websites to help you get started.  Most leases in Davis will be for the full academic year, so be sure to do your research before signing a lease.
    • Student Housing Office (Official UC Davis information)
    • Community Housing Listing, operated by Associated Students of UCD. This site is especially helpful if you are interested in renting a room in a larger house.
    • Graduate Studies Resource Page: Lots of links and helpful information here!
    • Graduate Studies student facebook page: This page is managed by Graduate Studies, and invites all incoming students to join. Students frequently post housing info, roommate opportunities, and upcoming vacancies
    • Graduate/Profession Housing Facebook Group: This page is managed by students, and can be tricky to join. See instructions here.
    • Davis Enterprise annual Housing Day insert (not affiliated with UC Davis): Features individual listings and contact information for local rental management companies
    • The California Aggie: The campus student-run newspaper often carries classifieds and ads for housing.
    • Craigslist.org (not affiliated with UC Davis). Some apartments, and room leases will be listed here.
    • Uloop.com (not affiliated with UC Davis). Like craigslist, has individual postings
    • Yelp.com (not affiliated with UC Davis). Includes reviews of apartments near Davis.
    • Note: Always be cautious of scams or misleading information when searching for housing online.
  • Campus Map and Transportation
  • The online Campus Map available via this link.
    TAPS is the UC Davis Transportation Services. Parking permits (yes – campus does ticket!), driving, and bicycling information can be found on their website.
    Graduate Studies also has some transportation information as well.
    The UC Davis Bus System is called Unitrans. It has routes throughout Davis, and cost $1.25 for a one ride fare. Discounted passes are available.
  • Get a Free Bike Helmet!
  • You are in graduate school and investing a lot of time, money, and energy into your brain.  Protect it!  Take a short training and sign a pledge with Helmet Hair Don't Care! and get a FREE helmet.

Still have questions?

Please contact the Graduate Coordinator for the BMEGG, Christal Wintersmith, at cdwinter@ucdavis.edu or make an appointment.

If the direct link doesn’t work, you can visit: https://appointments.ucdavis.edu/default.aspx. Choose "Get Scheduled," then select “Biomedical Engineering” and "BME Grad Advising."

Christal's other contact information is:
Email: cdwinter@ucdavis.edu
Office phone: 530-752-2611
Office: 2306B GBSF (in office/remote days will vary)
Walk-ins also available if door is open.