Undergraduate Scholarships

Welcome!

The 2013-2014 Undergraduate Scholarship Application is now closed. If you are a prospective or continuing student and applied for 2013-2014 scholarships, good luck! We will begin awarding campus-based scholarships beginning in spring and throughout the summer. For detailed information on the application process, please visit our Apply page

The awarding process for 2012-2013 undergraduate scholarships is complete. We’ve awarded all Regents Scholarships and other campus-based scholarships as well. All scholarship recipients have been notified by email and all scholarships have been posted to students’ MyAwards site. Unfortunately, many highly eligible students may not be awarded scholarships as the applicant pool was very competitive. The University continues to raise money for scholarships, which means the funding available for next year will be even greater.

Scholarships at UC Davis

Undergraduate scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis for academic achievement and, in some cases, financial need. In order to be considered for need-based scholarships, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or for non-citizen AB540-eligible students, a California Dream Act Application, by March 2. Be sure to include our school code, 001313. Scholarship criteria may also include participation in extracurricular activities; specific college or major; career interests; geographic origin; high school or community college attended; parentage; perseverance; and many other personal characteristics. The majority of UC Davis’ scholarships are not renewable; therefore, students must reapply to be considered for scholarships on an annual basis.

Application and Awarding Timeline

Students apply for scholarships in the fall of the academic year prior to awarding. For example: 2012-2013 scholarship recipients applied in the fall of 2011 to be considered. Applications were reviewed and scored in the winter of 2012 and award notices were sent out in spring and early summer, 2012. The application process differs slightly for prospective/entering students and continuing undergraduates; learn more on the Apply page.

Awarding Procedures

All UC Davis and outside agency/private scholarships are posted to the recipient’s UC Davis student account. When credited, the scholarship will first cover any unmet need; then, it will replace a student’s Self-Help expectation, followed by loans and Work Study. Grants and other gift aid will be reduced last, if necessary. Scholarships will be divided and disbursed evenly over fall, winter and spring quarters, unless otherwise specified by the scholarship terms.

Undergraduate & Prestigious Scholarships Listserv

Join the scholarship-opportunities listserv to receive regular updates about the campus-based scholarship program, outside scholarship opportunities, and prestigious undergraduate and graduate scholarships. To sign up, send an email to sympa@ucdavis.edu and indicate “subscribe scholarship-opportunities Firstname Lastname” in the subject line (be sure to type your actual name for Firstname and Lastname); leave the body of the email blank. As with any listserv, you can unsubscribe at any time.

Reporting Scholarships to the Financial Aid Office

Whether awarded by UC Davis or an off-campus organization, scholarships are credited against any remaining need or the student's self-help and loan expectations, thus reducing the amount the student may need to borrow or work to contribute to the cost of his or her education. Students who are awarded a scholarship after reviewing their awards on the electronic Financial Aid Notice (MyAwards), will be instructed to view the revised MyAwards to see the changes. Because the amount of financial aid a student receives cannot exceed the need determined by the federal formula, students must report to the Financial Aid Office all additional outside scholarship awards. Students may be billed for any aid received in excess of their financial need.

Payment Processing for Outside Scholarships

Outside scholarship checks should be made payable to UC Regents and sent directly to the Cashier’s Office, not the Undergraduate Scholarship Office, and accompanied by a memo stating the student recipient’s full name and UC Davis student ID number. The Cashier’s Office address is:

Cashier’s Office
University of California, Davis
PO Box 989062
West Sacramento, CA 95798-9062

Enrollment verification for outside scholarships may only be processed through the Office of the University Registrar.