Ph.D. Program in Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Ph.D. degree is for those students who have a major interest in developing deep knowledge of and performing independent, extensive research in their area of specialization, conducted in close collaboration with faculty. Students may apply directly to the Ph.D. program whether or not they have already obtained an MS degree, and many students start at UC Davis on the MS pathway and later transition to the Ph.D. program. Admission to the Ph.D. program is highly competitive, and requires the support of a faculty member.
Normative Time to Degree: 5.3 years
Measured from the time a student begins graduate study, with no prior graduate experience.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) must meet the University of California minimum GPA requirement for admission (3.0 Undergraduate Cumulative GPA). Other requirements for admission include:
- A Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an accredited institution;
- Three letters of recommendation;
- Official Transcripts with translation, if needed;
- TOEFL or IELTS: English proficiency examination for international applicants who have not studied at an institution where the language of instruction was in English. International applicants must meet minimum score requirement in the Graduate Studies Policy on the Implementation of Admission Requirements and Exceptions.
- The GRE is not required or accepted as part of our admissions
Before You Apply
Ph.D. applicants are strongly encouraged to connect with faculty members whose research aligns with their interests before applying. Developing these connections can help applicants identify potential research opportunities and determine whether a faculty member is accepting new students.
Before submitting your application:
- Explore CEE faculty research areas to identify professors whose work matches your academic and research interests.
- Contact faculty members by email to introduce yourself, share your research interests and ask about current or future opportunities in their research group.
- Discuss research alignment by asking about ongoing projects, laboratory directions and potential areas of collaboration.
- Begin these conversations early in the fall before the application deadline to allow time to build a connection and explore potential advising opportunities.
Admission to the Ph.D. program does not guarantee placement in a specific research group, and faculty cannot formally commit to advising a student before admission. However, establishing communication with potential advisors before applying can help facilitate the transition into a research group after admission.
Funding Opportunities
Financial support opportunities, including application fee waivers and fellowship programs, are available for eligible graduate applicants. Explore available funding resources and eligibility requirements before submitting your application.