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Program Overview

What is UC LEADS?

UC LEADS (Leadership Excellence Through Advanced DegreeS) program was started in 2000. It is funded by the University of California, Office of the President and the California State Legislature. Each UC campus has a UC LEADS program. The UC LEADS program provides students with educational experiences that prepare them to assume positions of leadership in industry, government, public service and academia. Additional benefits include: research experience, research stipends, GRE preparation, seminars/workshops, advising, networking and travel to professional meetings. We are also excited to share that the UC Office of the President (UCOP) has created a NEW UC LEADS Fellowship to help support our community! This STEM PhD fellowship is designed to increase the application, admission, and enrollment of talented UC LEADS scholars in UC STEM PhD programs.

Program Eligibility

  • Current UC Davis undergraduate student in good academic standing 
  • Science, technology, mathematics or engineering major
  • Educationally and/or economically disadvantaged
  • 3.0 GPA minimum
  • US citizen, permanent resident, and AB540, DACA, and undocumented eligible
  • Interested in research (note: you do not have to have previous research experience to apply to this program)
  • Seasoned UC Davis sophomore or rising junior standing (transfer students currently at UC Davis are encouraged to apply). Since this is a two-year program, UC LEADS scholars will need to be available to spend one summer performing research at UC Davis and then a second summer performing research at another UC campus.
  • Interested in pursuing a doctoral degree in the UC system

Program Components

  • Research experience (all year)
  • Research symposiums and conferences
  • Professional/scientific meetings
  • Enrichment opportunities
  • Travel to other campuses
  • Academic advising
  • Seminars and workshops

Program Benefits

  • Opportunity to meet other students interested in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM)
  • GRE preparation
  • Leadership skills
  • Presentation skills
  • Graduate school application help
  • Potential source for future letters of recommendation
  • Student study center
  • Academic credit (1 to 5 points)
  • Financial stipends
  • Eligibility for UC LEADS Fellowship 

Financial Support

  • Junior Year
    • $3,500 during summer
    • Up to and additional $3000 paid during summer for academic year expenses (conferences, campus travel, visits, GRE exam, professional development, etc.)
  • Senior Year
    • $4,500 during summer
    • Housing, travel, meals* expenses covered/reimbursable
    • Up to and additional $3000 paid during summer for academic year expenses (conferences, campus travel, visits, GRE exam, professional development, etc.)
  • UC LEADS Fellowship (Only for University of California STEM Ph.D. Programs)
    • UC LEADS alumni applying to a UC STEM Ph.D. program to enroll in fall 2025, and later, all admitted UC LEADS alumni are eligible to receive competitive funding packages of at least 5 years. 
    • The UC LEADS Fellowship is a cost-shared award package between UCOP and your UC graduate program, and includes tuition and fees, stipend/salary support (at the competitive level for your program), and a summer stipend (for at least the 2 years covered by UCOP). 
    • Additional funding details will be provided in the offer letter once you are accepted into a program.
    • Living Supplement/Transition Award - Enrolled UC LEADS Fellows will receive a $3,000 transition supplement, to support moving expenses and/or the transition to graduate school at a UC campus.
    • Professional Development - Enrolled UC LEADS Fellows will receive a $5,000 professional development funding allocation that may be used at any time during their Ph.D. program