Your master's in ECE. Supported, focused and career-ready.
Admitted students get their application fee back, and top applicants earn fellowships of $5,000 to $15,000 toward their degree.
At UC Davis Electrical and Computer Engineering, master's students learn alongside faculty who design next-generation chips, wireless systems, quantum devices, AI hardware and secure computing. Whether you are aiming for industry, a promotion or a PhD, our program gives you advanced skills, hands-on lab experience and a degree from one of the nation's top public universities. And we are investing directly in the students who choose us.
Announcements
- Now open: applications for Fall 2027 entry.
- January 15, 2027: priority deadline for fellowship consideration.
- Application fee reimbursed for admitted students who enroll.
4
quarters (time to degree)
2
degree options: thesis or exam
Jan. 15
application deadline
GRE
is not required
We Invest in You
Your application fee, back
If you are admitted to our MS program and enroll, we reimburse your full application fee ($135 domestic, $155 international). There is nothing extra to apply for. The reimbursement is processed during your first quarter, once your enrollment is confirmed.
The application fee is waived for current UC Davis students through the College of Engineering Graduate Application Fee Fellowship.
Master's Excellence Fellowships: $5,000 to $15,000
Each year, ECE awards merit fellowships to incoming master's students who show exceptional promise. No separate application is needed.
Who is considered for a fellowship
- Every admitted student who accepts their offer of admission by the deadline is considered.
- Selection is based on academic record (competitive applicants typically have a GPA of 3.5 or higher), relevant coursework, research or industry experience, and letters of recommendation.
- UC Davis IDP students receive priority consideration.
How the fellowship works
- Apply by January 15 for first consideration.
- Accept your offer of admission by the deadline in your admission letter.
- Fellowship recipients receive an ECE fellowship letter after Graduate Studies sends the initial admission email.
- The fellowship is paid in your second quarter, provided you are enrolled full time and in good academic standing.
Why UC Davis ECE
Hands-on Learning
Tape out your own chip, design PCBs, and work in labs spanning circuits, photonics, wireless, robotics and AI hardware.
Work with Faculty
Take on a faculty-sponsored project or research in areas from chip design to quantum devices.
Close to Industry
Sacramento and the Bay Area put semiconductor, energy, networking and AI employers within reach.
Show Your Work
Present your projects to industry partners, alumni and faculty at ECExpo and the annual student poster session.
Hear From our Graduates
Graduate school kickstarted my career. I am currently a product engineer with Texas Instruments Inc. in Dallas, Texas at the largest analog semiconductor plant in the world. I would not be here without a graduate degree from a top-notch university.
- Ryan Parker, M.S. '23
I chose UC Davis for the calm atmosphere, academic freedom, and access to great facilities both on campus and at nearby national labs. All of these aspects have now made for a productive, memorable grad school experience.
- Calum Shelden, Ph.D. student
Our college provides a tremendous education to our students and creates a welcoming environment for any student, irrespective of their background, to learn all the most beautiful ideas that humans have thought up to build whatever crazy stuff they can dream.
- Noah Glick, M.S. '24
Areas of Study and Where They Lead
Focus your coursework and project in one of six areas, each with faculty-sponsored projects. Browse current projects and sample course plans on the Current MS Students page.
Computer Engineering
Computer architecture, embedded and hardware security, AI hardware and systems.
Typical roles: hardware design engineer, embedded systems engineer, verification engineer, ML systems engineer.
Integrated Circuits and Systems
Analog, mixed-signal, RF and digital IC design, from specification to tape-out.
Typical roles: analog or digital IC designer, mixed-signal engineer, physical design engineer.
Information Systems
Communications, signal processing, machine learning and networks.
Typical roles: wireless systems engineer, signal processing engineer, ML engineer, data scientist.
RF-to-THz Electronics and Waves
Antennas, microwave and millimeter-wave circuits, electromagnetics and sensing.
Typical roles: RF engineer, antenna engineer, radar and test engineer.
Photonic and Electronic Devices
Semiconductor devices, photonics, quantum and nanoscale technologies.
Typical roles: device or process engineer, photonics engineer, semiconductor R&D engineer.ign engineer.
Bio, Ag and Health Technologies
Biosensors, bioelectronics, medical devices and agricultural sensing.
Typical roles: medical device engineer, biosensor engineer, ag-tech hardware engineer.
Paying for your degree
Fee reimbursement and merit fellowships reduce what you pay, and many employers offer tuition assistance for graduate study. Estimated costs and financial aid options are in the FAQ below.
Already an Aggie Engineer? Stay for your master's
UC Davis ECE undergraduates have two fast tracks into our master's program, and both come with added benefits.
Integrated BS/MS Degree Program (IDP)
Start your master's while you finish your bachelor's, and move directly into the MS program after graduation. The IDP has its own route, separate from the standard application below, and requires two applications:
- Apply to the ECE department's IDP in your junior year. The IDP application opens in June and is due August 28.
- Apply to the MS program through the UC Davis Graduate Studies online application.
- Who should apply: ECE juniors (or students in the year before graduation) with strong academic records
- To advance to the MS: Maintain a UC Davis cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
- IDP advantages: Application fee reimbursement and priority fellowship consideration
Senior Design to Master's
Your capstone project can be the start of your master's. Senior design gives you a real engineering project; the master's lets you take it further, mentored by ECE faculty.
- Juniors: Apply to IDP by August 28, before your senior year, so you can build on your capstone work in your master's.
- Seniors not yet in IDP: Talk with your senior design advisor. You may still apply to IDP with a justification, or apply directly to the MS program by January 15.
Coming from another major?
You do not need an ECE bachelor's degree to join us. Students with degrees in physics, computer science, mathematics, mechanical or biomedical engineering and related fields succeed in our program when they have the right foundation. Some areas, such as Information Systems and Bio, Ag and Health Technologies, are natural fits for applicants from adjacent fields.
Check the requirements, then apply
Review the MS program admission requirements. If you meet them, we encourage you to apply. Every application is reviewed in full by the ECE admissions committee, and your application fee is reimbursed if you are admitted and enroll.
How to apply
The application for Fall 2027 entry is now open. Applications open each October.
- Prepare three letters of recommendation, transcripts from every college you attended, and a statement of purpose. English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo) are required if English is not your first language. The GRE is not required.
- Apply through UC Davis Graduate Studies by January 15 for first fellowship consideration.
- UC Davis ECE undergraduates: see the IDP route above.
Application timeline: Fall 2027 entry
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| October 2026 | Application opens on the Graduate Studies portal (now open) |
| January 15, 2027 | Priority deadline: first consideration for fellowships |
| February to March | Admission emails sent by Graduate Studies, followed by ECE fellowship letters |
| By April 15, 2027 | Accept your offer by the deadline in your admission letter |
| June 1, 2027 | Final application deadline, as space allows |
| Fall 2027 | Classes begin; fee reimbursement processed once enrollment is confirmed |
| Winter 2028 | Fellowship paid in your second quarter |
Frequently asked questions
- How much does the MS cost?
Estimated costs for one academic year (three quarters) of graduate study at UC Davis in 2026-27, from the UC Davis Financial Aid and Scholarships Office:
2026-27 academic year (3 quarters) California resident Nonresident Tuition and campus fees $16,258 $16,258 Nonresident supplemental tuition $0 $15,102 Health insurance (UC SHIP) $8,820 $8,820 Direct costs (billed by UC Davis) $25,078 $40,180 Housing and food $21,846 $21,846 Transportation $3,319 $3,319 Personal expenses $2,456 $2,456 Books and supplies $1,604 $1,604 Estimated indirect costs (not billed) $29,225 $29,225 Total cost of attendance, one year $54,303 $69,405 Full-program estimate. Most full-time MS students finish in about four quarters
Four quarters at 2026-27 rates California resident Nonresident Direct costs (tuition, fees, health insurance) about $33,437 about $53,573 Total cost of attendance about $72,404 about $92,540 Calculated as the one-year figures plus one additional quarter at the same rates. Rates for your second year may be higher, and students completing a thesis may take longer.
ECE support reduces your cost: application fee reimbursement ($135 domestic, $155 international) for every admitted student who enrolls, and Master's Excellence Fellowships of $5,000 to $15,000 for top applicants.
Tuition and fees are estimates based on currently approved amounts and may change. Indirect costs are average estimates and vary with your housing and lifestyle. See the full graduate cost of attendance. Figures updated [Month Year] for the 2026-27 academic year.
- Are student loans and other financial aid available?
Graduate loans: U.S. citizens and permanent residents should file the FAFSA each year to be considered. Graduate financial aid is changing for the upcoming year; see UC Davis graduate loans for current details. Students eligible for Federal Direct loans have an additional average loan fee in their budget.
Employer support: Many employers offer tuition assistance for graduate study.
Teaching and research positions: Master's students may apply for Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Researcher appointments. Most MS students are self-funded or use graduate financial aid.
- Do I choose a thesis or non-thesis option when I apply?
- No. The application does not ask you to choose. You will select your degree plan with your faculty adviser after you enroll, and it becomes final when you advance to candidacy.
- Can international students receive fellowships?
- Yes. Fellowships are merit based and open to domestic and international applicants.
- Why is the fellowship paid in the second quarter?
- Paying in Winter quarter supports you through the core of your program and lets us confirm full-time enrollment first.
- Can I continue to a PhD?
- Yes. MS students may continue to the PhD with program approval.