For background information about the Master's Entry Program in Nursing, including admission requirements and an overview of the application process, please view the video below for the 2023 enrollment. 

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Not sure how to apply? Watch our how-to videos series

Online applications for summer incoming classes in the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing are available through NursingCAS. Applications open each year by mid-August and close at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) Nov. 1.

  • A bachelor's degree
  • A minimum bachelor's-degree GPA of 3.0
  • Three letters of recommendation; refer to NursingCAS for more information
  • A minimum 3.0 GPA in all science prerequisite coursework 
  • Statement of purpose submitted through NursingCAS, additional essays required for the UC Davis Graduate Studies Application
  • The application process may require an interview
  • The GRE is not required
  • TOEFL or IELTS (International graduates only)
  • International graduate requirements

Note: Prerequisite coursework must be completed at time of application.

An applicant's bachelor's degree may be in progress; however, the individual must graduate prior to matriculating in June.

Students applying for the Master's Entry Program in Nursing must complete a NursingCAS application and meet selection criteria. Following that process, a select pool of qualified applicants are invited to apply through the UC Davis Graduate Studies application. All invited applicants must meet UC Davis graduate admissions requirements.

Admissions decisions are made on a case-by-case basis. Meeting some or all of these criteria does not guarantee admission, but merely eligibility. Admission is competitive.

The School of Nursing accepts qualified student applicants who completed relevant military education and experiences, meet the university admission requirements and present documented equivalency courses. Veterans, service members or their dependent, should visit the UC Davis Veterans Success Center website for information on services and resources.

Learn more about special circumstances

Successful applicants must meet the admission requirements of UC Davis Graduate Studies and complete the college-level prerequisite courses listed below before applying to the program. Prerequisites may not be in progress at the time of application submission. All prerequisites are required at the college level from an accredited school and must be included on the submitted transcript as part of the NursingCAS application process. Each prerequisite is expected to be one full course, either a quarter or a semester long. Completion of prerequisite course work from an accredited, online school is acceptable. Advanced Placement scores awarded in high school do NOT fulfill prerequisites. All prerequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or better. Chemistry and Microbiology courses are recommended to be taken within the past seven years:

  • Human Anatomy with lab (minimum 5 quarter/3 semester units)∗
  • Human Physiology with lab (minimum 5 quarter/3 semester units)∗
  • Or a human anatomy and physiology series: Part I and Part II with labs (minimum 5 quarter/3 semester units each)
    (Note: Mammalian, vertebrate or animal anatomy or physiology will not fulfill this requirement.)
  • Microbiology or Bacteriology with lab (minimum 3 quarter/2 semester units)
  • Chemistry with lab (minimum 5 quarter/3 semester units)
  • Statistics or Epidemiology (minimum 4 quarter/3 semester units)
  • Psychology (general or above) (minimum 3 quarter/2 semester units)
  • Sociology or Cultural Anthropology (minimum 3 quarter/2 semester units)
  • Human Development Across Lifespan (minimum 3 quarter/2 semester units)
  • Communication (must include group, verbal and written principles) (minimum total of 9 quarter/6 semester units)

*Completion required within the past five years of the date of application. 

*Note: MEPN applicants may complete a combined Human Anatomy and Human Physiology series course: Part I and Part II with labs. Series courses are offered in two parts and are completed over the course of two quarters or two semesters. Series courses must be completed in full, and must include a lab component. If an applicant only completes one part of the series course, they must additionally complete a course in either Human Anatomy or Human Physiology to fulfill the requirement—Mammalian or Animal Anatomy doesnot fulfill this requirement.

Sample prerequisites for Master's Entry Program in Nursing

Each student admitted to the Master's Entry Program in Nursing at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing receives financial support from generous donors to offset a portion of tuition and fees.

Graduate school is challenging, especially for the many students who juggle family, school and financial responsibilities. The Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing seeks students with diverse life experiences along with the potential and determination to make an impact. Scholarships and other financial support ensure the most qualified, diverse and driven students may enter graduate degree programs – a principle upon which the school was founded with its founding grant from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.

Specific details about financial support are provided to individuals as part of the admission offer.

All Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership students are encouraged to seek a variety of forms of financial support and it is essential for students to apply as early as possible. Master’s-degree students who come from educationally or environmentally disadvantaged backgrounds are encouraged to apply — in their second year of the MEPN program — for the school’s Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students, which is funded through a Health Resources and Services (HRSA) grant*.

Please review the general financial aid resource section below for additional details and links about financial aid resources available.

*The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $2,677,250. The contents here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.

Tuition and fees

Tuition and fees for the Nursing Science and Health-Care Leadership Graduate Degree Program are set by the Regents of the University of California and can change without notice. Tuition is based on residency as well as degree type (i.e. academic or professional). The Master’s Entry Program in Nursing is a Self-Supporting Degree Program (SSDP). For more information, visit the Office of Budget and Institutional Analysis, professional degrees.

UC Davis internal fellowships

There are a variety of fellowships available for students with varying backgrounds, research interests and undergraduate majors. These fellowships are competitive funds for graduate students across the entire UC Davis campus. Please check if you qualify for any of the current funding opportunities.  For more information, visit the UC Davis Graduate Studies, Internal Fellowship.

General financial aid resources

Information about various financial aid resources available for clinical education (grants, scholarships, fellowships, loan programs and short-term loans) is provided through the UC Davis Health Financial Aid Office. There are different procedures for applying for each type of financial assistance and they are not program-specific to the School of Nursing.

Both federal and state resources provide a range of flexible repayment options, including, but not limited to, income-based and income-contingent repayment plans, as well as loan-forgiveness benefits. Other forms of assistance, such as short-term and interest-free loans, are also available to enrolled students. A member of the UC Davis Health Financial Aid Office can answer questions regarding these programs and discuss how to best meet your financial aid needs.

Students are encouraged to seek private scholarships and external funding. For more information, visit the UC Davis Graduate Studies External Support Resources page. There are also several online scholarship databases. One example is collegeboard.org.

The Master’s Entry Program in Nursing is a Self-Supporting Degree Program. Students are not eligible for California-state-supported fellowships such as the College Tuition Fee Waiver for Veteran Dependents. Students are eligible for all other types of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid opportunities.

For information regarding cancelation of registration, withdrawal from a program and fee refunds, please refer to the UC Davis policy webpage.

Financial aid tips

  • Credit-based loans are a part of most financial aid packages.
  • Check your credit through free credit score checks from Transunion, Experian, and Equifax.
  • To increase your credit score and your ability to qualify for loans, pay off credit card debt before beginning graduate school. Plan ahead as credit scores take time to update.
  • Interest rates are affected by your credit ratings.
  • Financial aid is not to be used for paying credit card debt; it is only for school tuition and fees.
  • To apply for federal student loans, scholarships and grants, complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application early.

MEPN application timeline Online applications for summer incoming classes in the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing are available through NursingCAS. Applications open each year by mid-August and close at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern time) Nov. 1.

Students applying for the Master’s Entry Program in Nursing must complete an application at NursingCAS and meet selection criteria. Following that process, a select pool of qualified applicants are invited to apply through the UC Davis Graduate Studies application. All invited applicants must meet UC Davis graduate admissions requirements.

Applications and materials must have “complete” (all materials received and pending verification) or “verified” application status by the deadline. For those who purchased NursingCAS’ Professional Transcript Entry Service (PTE), coursework entry must also be completed by NursingCAS and approved by the applicant prior to the deadline. It is the applicants’ responsibility to monitor the status of their applications and application materials on a regular basis. NursingCAS does NOT notify applicants if applications are incomplete or documents are missing.

Apply now!

Not sure how to apply? Watch our how-to videos series

For more application assistance, visit our MEPN FAQ page and the NursingCAS Applicant Help Center. The NursingCAS Application Status page includes applicant status assistance.