Welcome! Thank you for taking a look at the financial opportunities associated with the Undocumented Student Resource Center and other opportunities for support. All resources offered through our Center do not require repayment and are not loans. Questions about offered financial aid can be directed to the Financial Aid office via my.ucdavis.edu. Here are several additional resources for student financial support as well:
Center Grants
Questions about our grants and eligibility can be directed to our center email : undocumented@ucdavis.edu .
Opportunity Grant
The Opportunity Grant helps offset unexpected expenses through basic needs and USCIS filing fee support up to $1,500/year - based on financial aid eligibility. The application will open and close quarterly until funds are depleted for the academic year. Please email us at undocumented@ucdavis.edu with questions regarding additional financial assistance or other opportunities.
We encourage UC Davis California Dream Act Application students enrolled in the current academic period (at least 6 credits/units) and UC Davis undocumented students with or without AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office. If this is your first time submitting an application, an intake meeting will be needed. Please allow up to 5 business days for us to process your application; we will contact you with any additional steps.
The application is CLOSED for Fall Quarter but will re-open Winter Quarter '25.
Professional Development Grant
This grant is intended for undocumented scholars to use to offset the cost of conference attendance, professional development opportunities, and other academic or experiential learning opportunities requiring travel, conference fees, membership fees, etc. for eligible students.
Examples of professional development opportunities
- Annual membership fee connected to your career interests
- Annual membership tool that helps your career interests (zoom, canva pro, etc.)
- Conference attendance connected to your career interests
- Travel costs for a conference, workshop, etc.
- Coaching or Mentorship Program
Examples of personal development opportunities
- Convening or workshop attendance connected to your personal goals
- Retreat attendance connected to something you are personally working on
- Coaching or Mentorship Program
- Book or tools helpful to bettering your well-being (The Nap Ministries Rest Deck, Beyond survival book, etc.)
- Program connected to things that ground you or help you feel whole (herbalism, doulas work, etc.)
Who is eligible to apply for the grant?
- Currently enrolled in the current academic quarter as an undocumented undergraduate/post-bacc graduate or graduate/professional school UC Davis student with or without an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
- Must be enrolled in at least 12 credits/units or full-time (in accordance with student's professional program)
- You must have 2.5 cumulative GPA or higher (Note: If your GPA is lower than the GPA listed previously you will automatically be ineligible for this grant. Medical school students are exempt.)
Requirements if Awarded
Within 3 weeks of your engagement, you will be required to submit documentation of how your grant money was used. This can be in the form of a video, slideshow, vlog/blog, journal entries, etc. Receipts from purchases where you used the grant money will also be required to be submitted.
This application is temporarily closed for the Winter Break. You are welcome to work on your application, but we will not process it until we return on January 06, 2025.
Application Link to Apply: https://bit.ly/DevelopmentGrant
Center Scholarships
Questions about our scholarships and eligibility can be directed to our center email: undocumented@ucdavis.edu.
Dragonfly Leadership Award
This is a one-time opportunity for undocumented undergraduate/post-baccalaureate UC Davis students to be awarded up to $1,500 – based on financial aid eligibility – to honor community service or leadership experience.
Amount Awarded: Six to eight $1,500 awards per quarter (based on student's financial aid eligibility)
Eligibility Update: The Dragonfly Leadership Award will be a one-time award.
If you previously won the Dragonfly Leadership Award in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If you won this scholarship prior to the 23-24 Academic Year, you may still apply, however, priority consideration will be given to new scholarship applicants who have never been awarded the Dragonfly Leadership Award scholarship.
Decisions made by the Undocumented Student Resource Center Scholarship Committee composed of UC Davis graduate students, alumni, campus and community partners.
Eligibility Requirements to Apply:
- Enrolled in the current academic quarter as a UC Davis undocumented student with or without an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
- Have demonstrated financial need (based on Financial Aid)
- Demonstrate leadership experience and/or stellar community service.
- Are a undergraduate or post-baccalaureate student
- Currently enrolled full-time in classes at UC Davis (12 units minimum)
Application Checklist:
- Resume (1-page front and back max)
- Short Written Statements
Criteria
Applications will be evaluated via the following categories and ranked (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, N/A).
- Community and Familial Service and Engagement (e.g., childcare, interpreting/translating, etc.) OR Campus/Community Leadership Experience (e.g., service to non-profits, community organizing, campus student organization, etc.)
- Commitment to Social Justice (e.g., articulates values in alignment with the Center’s mission and the UC Davis Principles of Community)
- Motivated to achieve their goals.
- Application overall
The application is CLOSED for Fall Quarter but will re-open Winter Quarter '25.
UndocuScholar Award
This is a one-time opportunity for undocumented undergraduate/post-baccalaureate UC Davis undocumented students to be awarded up to $1,500 to honor stellar academic performance.
Amount Awarded: Six to eight $1,500 awards per quarter (based on student's financial aid eligibility)
Eligibility Update: The UndocuScholar Award will be a one-time award.
If you previously won the UndocuScholar Award in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If you won this scholarship prior to the 23-24 Academic Year, you may still apply, however, priority consideration will be given to new scholarship applicants who have never been awarded UndocuScholar Award scholarship.
Decisions made by the Undocumented Student Resource Center Scholarship Committee composed of UC Davis graduate students, alumni, campus and community partners.
Eligibility Requirements to Apply:
- Enrolled in the current academic quarter as a UC Davis undocumented student with or without an AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
- Must have 2.5 cumulative UC Davis GPA or higher
- Currently enrolled full-time in classes at UC Davis (12 units minimum)
Application materials:
- Transcript (Include a copy of your unofficial transcript)
- Short Written Statements
Criteria
Applications will be evaluated via the following categories and ranked (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, N/A).
- Motivation to achieve academic/professional goals
- Expressed passion for the field(s) of study
- Commitment to social justice (e.g., articulates values in alignment with the Center’s mission and the UC Davis Principles of Community)
- Academic Standing
- Application Overall
The application is CLOSED for Fall Quarter but will re-open Winter Quarter '25.
Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award
NOTE: To fill out the application you must use your UC Davis student email.
The Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award is a one-time opportunity for undocumented graduate/professional school UC Davis students to be awarded up to $4,000 – based on financial aid eligibility – for academic excellence and/or stellar leadership/community service.
Eligibility Update: The Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award will be a one-time award.
If you previously won the Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, you are not eligible to apply for this scholarship. If you won this scholarship prior to the 23-24 Academic Year, you may still apply, however, priority consideration will be given to new scholarship applicants who have never been awarded Graduate/Professional School Student Support Award scholarship.
Decisions made by the Undocumented Student Resource Center Scholarship Committee composed of UC Davis graduate students, alumni, campus and community partners.
Please note, that if awarded, the aid amount and disbursement date will depend on the financial aid department of your graduate/professional school
Eligibility Requirements to Apply:
- Enrolled in the current academic quarter as an undocumented graduate/professional school UC Davis student with or without AB540 verification and CA Dream Act Application on file with the UC Davis Financial Aid Office
- Have demonstrated financial need
- Enrolled "full time" as dictated by your program
- Demonstrate academic excellence, and/or leadership experience and/or stellar community service.
- 2.5 cumulative UCD Davis GPA or higher. If this is your first quarter/semester of your program at UC Davis, you will not be eligible to apply at this time. However, we highly encourage you to apply once you complete your first semester/quarter and have a UCD GPA. [Medical students are exempt from GPA requirement - but must be in good academic standing]
Application Materials:
- Resume or CV
- Short Written Statements
Criteria
Applications will be evaluated via the following categories and ranked (Excellent, Good, Fair, Poor, N/A).
- Community and Familial Service and Engagement (e.g., childcare, interpreting/translating, etc.) OR Campus/Community Leadership Experience (e.g., service to non-profits, community organizing, campus student organization, etc.)
- Motivation to achieve academic/professional goals
- Commitment to Social Justice (e.g. articulates values in alignment with the Center’s mission and the UC Davis Principles of Community)
- Application Overall
This application is temporarily closed for the Winter Break. You are welcome to work on your application, but we will not process it until we return on January 06, 2025.
Application Link to Apply: https://bit.ly/ab540gradapp
*Other Resources Outside of Our Center*
California Dream Act Application (CADAA)
The California Dream Act Application allows students interested in attending eligible California Colleges, Universities, and Career Education Programs to apply for state financial aid. This application is unrelated to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the previously proposed national DREAM Act Legislations. This application is free. The information provided on your California Dream Act Application is used to calculate your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The EFC is used by UC Davis to determine your eligibility for financial aid. You can apply for financial aid before you apply for admissions. For more information about CADAA review the information on the UC Davis Financial Aid Office website: https://financialaid.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/apply and or the California Student Aid Commissions website at https://dream.csac.ca.gov/
Immigrants Rising Fellowships & Scholarships
Immigrants Rising (formerly E4FC) is a renowned non-profit located in the Bay Area. Driven by and for Undocumented people, they aim to support Undocumented students in achieving their educational and career goals. Accompanying their Scholarship Application Guide and Scholarship Essay Tool, they have compiled lists of fellowships and scholarships that do not require proof of citizenship or lawful permanent residence status in the United States.
My Undocumented Life
The mission of My Undocumented Life is to provide up-to-date information and resources to Undocumented students. They include a list of My Undocumented Life scholarships.
Yolo County Short Term Emergency Aid Committee
Food, utility, rental, and job readiness help for qualified individuals living in Yolo County with incomes at or below the federal poverty level found at the STEAC website.
Health Equity Fund
With the support of campus, the Health Fee Oversight Committee, and the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP), students can apply for financial assistance, in the form of a grant. Funds are available to all students who are experiencing significant out of pocket expenses related to accessing health care, or, to students who have a significant privacy concern as a dependent (e.g., sexual health services). Grants may be requested for expenses that total at least $50. If awarded, students should consult a tax professional to determine if the grant award is taxable.
Questions? Please contact the Insurance Services office at the Student Health and Wellness Center. They can be reached at insurance@shcs.ucdavis.edu.
Here are additional resources for student financial support as well:
- UC Davis Financial Aid Computer Loan Program
- Aggie Compass basic needs resources is offering rent support grants, groceries, and more for students available across the range of immigration statuses right now, with or without AB 540 and a California Dream Act Application on file.
Financial Aid
1100 Dutton Hall (view Dutton Hall on the campus map)
One Shields Avenue
Davis, CA 95616-8596
Office Hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday
Telephone: 530-752-2390 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday)