The University of California Davis (UC Davis) is a public research university in Davis, California, about 25 minutes from the state capital Sacramento and 70 miles from San Francisco. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of California system and is best known for agriculture, veterinary medicine, biological sciences and engineering — its School of Veterinary Medicine is consistently ranked the best in the world. For a Pakistani student who wants a University of California degree at a slightly less frantic pace than Berkeley or Los Angeles, Davis is the strongest option in the system.
University of California Davis: programmes
UC Davis offers more than 100 undergraduate majors. The strongest for international students are biological sciences, animal science, agricultural and environmental sciences, biomedical engineering, computer science, economics, psychology and communication. The College of Engineering covers civil, mechanical, electrical, chemical and biomedical engineering, and the Graduate School of Management offers one of the smaller, more selective MBA programmes in the UC system. Davis is also one of the few US universities where you can study viticulture and enology (wine science) — a legacy of its agricultural roots. Most undergraduate degrees take four years, and students can change major within the university if they meet the requirements.
University of California Davis: fees and costs
| Cost (2026-27, new undergraduates) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Nonresident tuition and fees | $57,347 a year |
| Systemwide tuition and fees (all students) | $15,588 a year |
| Nonresident Supplemental Tuition | $39,270 a year |
| Application fee | $95 (reported — confirm on the UC application) |
The nonresident figure above is the University of California Office of the President's published 2026-27 total for the Davis entering cohort; campus-based fees differ slightly between campuses, which is why Davis, Irvine and Santa Barbara quote different totals. Add housing, food, books and health insurance on top: a realistic total budget for an international undergraduate at Davis is roughly $90,000–$95,000 a year. UC tuition is locked by entering cohort under the Tuition Stability Plan, so the rate you start with stays with you for up to six years. The University of California gives no need-based financial aid to international undergraduates, so plan on the full cost — though merit scholarships from outside the university are still available.
University of California Davis: admission
Applications for the University of California open on 1 August and close on 30 November for the following autumn — the same deadline as every UC campus, and you apply through the single UC application, choosing up to nine campuses. UC Davis is test-blind: SAT and ACT scores are not considered for admission at all. What matters is your school record (FSc or A-levels), the personal insight questions (four short essays of up to 350 words each), and your activities. There is no separate English test waiver for most Pakistani applicants: UC Davis accepts IELTS, TOEFL and Duolingo, with a typical minimum of IELTS 6.5–7.0 or TOEFL 80. Davis's acceptance rate is roughly 40% overall, which makes it one of the more accessible UC campuses — but popular majors such as computer science and biological sciences are more competitive than the university average, so apply early and list an alternate major.
Frequently asked questions
What is UC Davis best known for? Agriculture, veterinary medicine and biological sciences — its veterinary school is ranked first in the world — plus strong engineering, economics and computer science.
How much does UC Davis cost for international students? Nonresident tuition and fees are $57,347 a year for the 2026-27 entering cohort, and a realistic total budget is about $90,000–$95,000 a year including living costs.
Does UC Davis require the SAT? No. The University of California is test-blind, so SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission decisions.
When is the UC Davis application deadline? 30 November for the following autumn, through the single University of California application.
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Sources and verification: University of California Office of the President, 2026-27 total charges by campus (Davis nonresident tuition and fees $57,347; systemwide fees $15,588; Nonresident Supplemental Tuition $39,270). UC application opens 1 August, closes 30 November; UC is test-blind; no need-based aid for international undergraduates. Application fee $95 and total budget $90,000–$95,000 are reported — confirm on the UC application and Davis cost-of-attendance pages.