Energy Graduate Group

Don’t just think about our energy issues.

Equip yourself to act.

Earn a Master’s or PhD in Energy Systems.

No GRE required.

Our prosperity and way of life depend on energy. But the energy system needs our help.

The production and use of energy is the largest contributor to climate change and many other environmental challenges. The rising cost of energy drains the budgets of families and businesses. A fundamentally new approach to how we provide and consume energy is needed.

Our challenge is to mitigate the risks of fossil energy production while increasing supply and competitiveness of low-carbon, renewable sources. Key to this effort is building a more efficient system and for us to interact with energy in ways that reduce its use. And we must do so while considering and working to better understand the economic, social, and environmental impacts of our choices.

The energy industry in California, and throughout the world, has a critical unmet need for professionals with graduate training in energy systems. Are you up for the challenge?

Become one of the world’s foremost energy experts and a future leader of industry, government, or academia.

Earn your master’s or PhD while conducting groundbreaking research on the environmental, economic, policy, and social challenges facing California, the United States, and the world. 

Our faculty from throughout UC Davis will train you in engineering, physical sciences, economics, environmental sciences, management, sociology, and policy. Part of the UC Davis Energy and Efficiency Institute, you will have access to cutting-edge research centers and programs, and close partnerships throughout the energy industry.

The UC Davis Energy Graduate Group, offering MS and PhD degrees in Energy Systems with two tracks of study: Energy Science & Technology and Energy Policy & Management. No GRE required.

For more degree information please click here.

What EGG Students Have to Say

Kabian Ritter: Advancing Water Remediation Materials

Meg Slattery: Sustainability Project at Ruhstaller Brewery

Ryan Barr: Second-Life EV Battery Research

What Makes the EGG Program Unique

We focus on energy

This is not a general environmental management degree.

We address energy systems broadly

including renewable energy, transportation, and energy efficiency.

We offer rigorous, science-based degrees

without the requirement of an engineering degree.

We promote interdisciplinary interaction

among graduate students and faculty.

We are hosted by the UC Davis Energy and Efficiency Institute

and its affiliated research centers.

We have a large, world-renowned community of faculty and researchers

engaged in energy research.

UC Davis has a long, successful history

of research and professional engagement in energy, policy, and management.

We are located in West Village

the country’s first and largest planned Zero Net Energy (ZNE) community.

We are located in close proximity to federal and state agencies

stakeholders and industries in California.

California is a global leader in energy efficiency

low-carbon vehicles and fuels, renewable energy, and grid storage.

We provide valuable access to internship and job opportunities.

Learn to Lead

EEI alumni are energy leaders and experts in government, the private sector, and academia.

Closing the Experience Loop

Alumni play a valuable role both within UC Davis and the world.
Our Alumni offer our graduate students:

  • Visits to UC Davis to discuss their career
  • Provide information about their workplace and meet potential hires
  • Discuss current work and research

Why Choose UC Davis?

At UC Davis, we are more than just a campus. Our graduate students and faculty are a strong community awash in boundless curiositycollaborative spirit and rich diversity.

UC Davis is the home of the Aggies — go-getters, change makers and problem solvers who make their mark at one of the top public universities in the United States. 

Since we were founded in 1905, we’ve been known for standout academics, sustainability and Aggie Pride as well as valuing the Northern California lifestyle. These themes are woven into our 100-plus-year history and our reputation for solving problems related to food, health, the environment and society.

Our 5,300-acre campus is in the city of Davis, a vibrant college town of about 68,000 located in Yolo County. The state capital is 20 minutes away, and world-class destinations such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Lake Tahoe and the Napa Valley are within a two-hour drive.

Campus Life

UC Davis campus offers limitless opportunities, including a state-of-the-art recreational facility, performing arts center, miles of bicycle trails, museums and cultural centers, and much more.

Campus Tours

Interested in visiting UC Davis, but can’t make it here in-person? Our virtual tour is a great way to explore campus and see what makes us unique.

painterly illustration of a tree with the word SUSTAINABLE, that combines simple shapes with complex textures. Links to UC Davis report on being the most sustainable campus in 2019

UC Davis is the number 1 sustainable campus in the U.S.

Ranked by UI GreenMetric. The UI GreenMetric World University Ranking is a ranking on green campus and environmental sustainability initiated by Universitas Indonesia in 2010. See the U.S. rankings here. Learn more about UI GreenMetric.