Materials Science & Engineering Graduate Orientation
Orientation for Fall 2026 will be a combination of remote sessions throughout July/August, as well as an in-person component right before classes start. Additional dates and times will be available soon.
Be sure to scroll down to find additional training, orientation and resources to get you started.
Orientations & Trainings
- Virtual Orientation: TBD (optional for all)
- Details coming soon.
- In Person Orientation: TBD (required for all)
- Details coming soon.
- Internaional Student Orientation Program (required for International Students)
- International students are required to attend the International Student Orientation Program.
Please be sure to read all the information on the “Newly Admitted Students” website.
For more information about requirements for international students, please contact SISS at [email protected] or by phone at (530) 752-0864. Find your advisor. - Graduate Student Resource Fair (optional for all)
- Graduate Studies hosts an in-person Graduate Student Resource Fair each year.
Date: September 15, 2026
This fair serves to welcome all new incoming students and current graduate students to campus and to the Graduate Center at Walker Hall. The event will include campus vendors on the North Lawn of Walker Hall. - Center for Excellence in Education Teaching Assistant Orientation (required to be a TA)
- The Center for Excellence in Education Teaching Assistant orientation.
Date: September 21, 2026
Register by: Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m. PST
This is required if you wish to be a Teaching Assistant in Fall. There is limited availability for the section session in January if you miss this one. If you do not do either one, you will not be able to TA. - Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination and Prevention (SHAPE)
UC Davis requires that all new incoming students (undergraduate, graduate and professional) to complete mandatory Sexual Violence and Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, and Prevention (SHAPE) training* within the first six weeks of instruction or start of program.
All continuing students must complete the training yearly thereafter.
The training is automatically assigned through Canvas and will appear on each student's dashboard once created. To complete your training assignment, please log in to Canvas.
Failure to complete the SHAPE training will result in a hold being placed on a student's account which will prevent them from registering for future classes. The hold will not be removed until the training requirement is met.
This training is conducted online via Canvas and replaces the Sexual Assault Prevention (SAP) module that was previously offered through the Vector Solutions platform.
- Holistic U
- Holistic U is an orientation experience which focuses on the unique issues facing newly admitted graduate students from historically marginalized communities. It is designed to prepare participating students for issues they may experience in their first year of graduate school through interactive workshops, panels, and networking activities with their peers, faculty, and staff. It is open to all students who are committed to fostering an equitable and inclusive academic environment.