Dear Prospective International Agricultural Development Scholar,
Thank you for considering our program. We encourage you to review our website, you will find a wealth of information, inspiring stories, and top tier research and projects by current IAD Scholars. Our goal is to ensure that you are well prepared and informed through the application process. As a scholar, you will gain advanced knowledge of history and philosophy of development; leadership and management techniques; fundamentals of crop and livestock farming systems; agricultural economics; and the interaction of agriculture and the social sciences. You will graduate with skills necessary to implement, facilitate, and manage programs that enhance agricultural development, resource management, and rural life.
The International Agricultural Development admission decisions are based on the candidate’s entire application package, we implement a holistic review of each prospective scholar's application. Including academic degree(s), transcripts (prior academic performance), statement of purpose and personal statement, relevant experience, letters of reference are reviewed thoroughly by our committee. Applicants are expected to demonstrate a commitment to International Agricultural Development through their work and/or volunteer experience and illustrate that successfully in their application.Our Admissions Webinar highlights the faculty, alumni and network of support our of Graduate Group. We hope that you will consider submitting your application for review before December 15th.
We wish you the best in your process,
Dr. Cameron Pittelkow
Associate Professor, Plant Sciences
Chair, International Agricultural Development Graduate Group
Honora Knopp
Graduate Program Coordinator, International Agricultural Development Graduate Group
iadgradadvising@ucdavis.edu
Fall 2025 Prospective Applicant Virtual Office Hours with Honora, Graduate Program Coordinator:
Feel free to join our drop-in zoom meetings, at any point during the window of time listed, to ask questions that you have about the IAD Graduate Program. Registration is required to attend these drop in hours. Note: this drop-in time is not intended to discuss the timing for admission decisions to be released.
November 25 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
December 2 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
December 9 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PST
Register Here:
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYucO2rqDgiH9QN1N38srCZClLqZJkeIgPg
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
- UC Davis Graduate Student Application and Program Application Dates and Deadlines
While separate applications are required for each graduate group, each application has the same general requirements. Applications must be submitted through the application system. To apply for admission to the International Agricultural Development (IAD) Graduate Program, complete the UC Davis Graduate Studies online application here.
We welcome your application and encourage you to apply to the Priority Admission/Prospective Student Fellowship Deadline.
Be mindful of the following program specific dates and deadlines:Priority Admission Deadline/Prospective Student Fellowship Deadline: December 15
Priority Admission Letter of Recommendation and Supporting Documents Deadline: January 3
General Admission Deadline: April 15
General Admission Letter of Recommendation and Supporting Documents Deadline: April 22
Space Available Deadline: May 15
Space Available Letter of Recommendation and Supporting Documents Deadline: May 15
Submit Intent For Registration: July 1
Submit Request for Admissions Deferral: August 1
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Deadline: March 2
- Application Fee
- A graduate application fee is required from all applicants ($135 for US Applicants; $155 for international Applicants). There are NO fee waivers available for international applicants. There are some fee waivers available for domestic students (see list). Applicants who choose to apply to more than one graduate program must pay an application fee for each program. The application fee is not refundable and must be paid before the application can be reviewed. Instructions for payment will appear when you submit your online application.
- Statement of Purpose
This statement allows you to tell the Admissions Committee directly why you should be admitted to the program. It should be concise (500-1000 words; max 4000 characters), informative and well-organized, and present yourself as someone who can successfully complete the graduate program. There are several online resources available to help you, but here are few tips:
Be clear on why you are applying to this specific graduate program/universityDescribe your past academic and research experiences
Discuss you current research interests
Map out your potential career plan
- Personal History and Diversity Statement
This statement should provide the reader with a clear perspective of the circumstances that shaped you, how it is interconnected with your academic pursuits, and how it prepares you for success in this graduate program. It is a chance for self-introspection: what are the specific driving forces or the single transformative event that propelled you to this point, where pursuing graduate studies in this graduate group is the next logical step in your development. The personal history section can also be used to:
Fill in the gaps about inconsistencies in your application, such as low grades
Highlight how you were able to persevere and excel academically in spit of any economic or social challenges you faced
Give examples of leadership, service, teaching and tutoring during your academic career
List any successes you achieved and what you learned from them
Learn More Here
- Letters of Recommendation
We require three letters of recommendation. We encourage applicants to seek these out early. Give your letter writer at least 6 week’s notice (no later than mid-October) and follow up a few week before the deadlines. Your letter writer should be academically familiar with you and should be able to speak to your ability to complete a M.S. International Agricultural Development.
- Curriculum Vitae
The CV presents a full history of your academic credentials, so the length of the document is variable. This in contrast to a resume which provides a concise picture of your skills and qualifications for a specific position. Your CV should emphasize academic accomplishments, including publications, academic projects, and research experience.
- English Language Requirement
UC Davis requires students to demonstrate English proficiency through one of the following ways:
Earning a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited US college of university where English is the sole language of instruction. English proficiency requirements automatically applied.
A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. UC Davis Graduate Studies will only approve waivers for foreign colleges and universities which list English as the sole language of instruction in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). Email iadgradadvising@ucdavis.edu after submitting your application with your institution’s WHED code for the waive to be applied.
Earn a satisfactory score on one of the following English language examinations and send official scores to UC Davis:
TOEFL iBT: minimum score 80
Note: UC Davis does not accept TOEFL MyBest scores
IELTS: minimum score 7.0 on a 9-point scale
Learn More Here- Prerequisite Course Information
Students who have a large number of prerequisites missing will not be as competitive as other candidates and are less likely to be admitted. In that case, we recommend completing your missing prerequisites and then submitting your application.
Students who are admitted into the program with one or two missing prerequisites may take these courses the Summer prior to entering the program. It is the student's responsibility to find a comparable course and seek approval from the GGIAD faculty, by email: iadgradadvising@ucdavis.edu
If not possible, coursework deficiencies should be made up by the end of the first academic year following initial enrollment by earning a letter grade of “B” or better.
Prerequisite Courses:
ARE 100A— Intermediate Microeconomics: Theory of Production & Consumption (4 units)
Course Description: Theory of individual consumer and market demand; theory of production and supply of agricultural products, with particular reference to the individual firm; price determination, and employment of resources under pure competition.
Course Catalog: ARE Courses
PLS 110 — Crop Management Systems for Vegetable Production (4 units)
Course Description: Horticultural principles applied to production and management systems for vegetable crops. Laboratory and discussion illustrate efficient field management and resource use practices.
Course Catalog: PLS Courses
PLS 120 — Applied Statistics in Agricultural Sciences (4 units)
Course Description: Application of statistical methods to design and analysis of research trials for plant, animal, behavioral, nutritional, and consumer sciences. Basic concepts and statistical methods are presented in lectures, laboratories emphasize data processing techniques, problem solving, and interpretation in specialized fields.
Course Catalog: PLS Courses
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you need to complete the GRE to gain admission to the IAD MS program?
No, the program does not require the GRE for admission.
Does the program offer funding for students?
As with most Masters programs, students are expected to finance the majority if not all of their IAD graduate education with their own resources. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she has adequate funding for graduate study. Please review our Overview of Funding page for more information.
Do I need to identify a major professor before I submit my application?
No, admitted students who plan to complete their IAD master’s degree by writing a thesis (known as Plan I) will also identify a major professor. Some students identify this person before enrolling in their first quarter. Other students identify the major professor during the first year of the program. The major professor may direct a student’s research and may provide a funding opportunity.