About Master’s Program,
The M.F.A. in the Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program at UC Davis is a two-year, generously funded, critically engaged graduate program that provides an opportunity for interdisciplinary study in the visual arts. Drawing on the vast resources of a research one university, the program offers M.F.A. students the opportunity to engage in intensive artistic work supported with individual, spacious 24-hour access studios, while interacting with other artists, scholars and STEM professionals across campus. We are committed to delivering an innovative educational curriculum in preparation for professional public engagement in the arts including arts education, exhibition and curatorial practices, and community-based work. The culmination of two years study is presented in the cross-campus, cross-disciplinary thesis exhibition in the beautiful Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art.
The Maria Manetti Shrem Art Studio Program offers three vibrant visiting artist programs including The California Studio, the Thiebaud Lecture, and the Visiting Artist Lectures Series.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
You need to hold a degree from an accredited four-year university with a minimum overall GPA of 3.0; it need not be in art studio. You need to provide evidence of your ability and commitment to the art process. GRE scores are not required for admission to the M.F.A. program or for fellowship consideration.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
The M.F.A. program in Art Studio has a number of Fellowships that we award to M.F.A. students every year. In addition, there are competitive awards and grants offered by the department, Graduate Studies, and other campus groups that provide financial support to our M.F.A. students in Art Studio. Some of these are listed here; for more information, please see the M.F.A. Handbook, or contact the Graduate Adviser or Program Coordinator.
Application Requirement,
Apply at the Office of Graduate Studies website: https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/apply-graduate-admission-uc-davis. The online application includes:
an application for admission and a fellowship application generated and sent to applicants who apply by the priority deadline.
an application fee ($120 domestic and $140 international), which can be paid by credit card or e-check. Please note: the application processing fee is nonrefundable. The fee must be paid before the application will be considered complete, and the fee must be paid for each application submitted.
three (3) letters of recommendation. Recommenders must submit all recommendations online through the online application web site.
your artist statement under the “essay describing your research or professional interest”. The artist statement should be no more than 2000 characters and sums up your vision as an artist.
UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. For more details visit https://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/prospective-students/admissions-application/submitting-your-transcripts.
TOEFL score, if you are International status. Minimum score of 90 required.
Your portfolio MUST be submitted as part of your online application.
You may submit up to 20 files offering a view of your best and most current work, in reverse chronological order, Please refer to the file format and size instructions on the submission page.
Audio and video clips may be directly submitted or linked to SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, DropBox or Box.com. If your URL is password-protected, password must be clearly provided.
If you are submitting a book as part of your portfolio, you may submit images of the cover and/or sample pages of the physical book, and a pdf file or a URL that presents the content of the book.
Please DO NOT submit an entire portfolio in PDF or linked to a URL.
Application Deadline,
Jan 05, 2026
Application Fee,
an application fee ($120 domestic and $140 international),
