Undergraduate Students

Bustling Campus Greets Students for UC Merced’s 21st Academic Year

August 19, 2026

UC Merced students and parents using carts to move stuff into residence halls

The growing energy across campus is palpable as UC Merced prepares for its 21st academic year. Fall semester instruction begins Wednesday, Aug. 26, furthering the mission of one of the nation’s top public research universities to provide knowledge and opportunity to a vibrant and diverse...

Professor Patti LiWang and student Adesh Johal, holding a syringe and a test tube, stand in a lab at UC Merced.

Early Ambition, Hard Work Lead to Graduating UC Merced at 19

A few months ago, Adesh Johal wanted to join Patti LiWang's research group. "At the time, he was loaded up on credits so it didn't seem like he would have enough time to get...

Merced Native Sets Sights on Career in Veterinary Medicine

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester. Driven by a passion for animal care, incoming biological sciences major student Esperanza...

Dublin High Grad Drawn to UC Merced’s Growth and Potential

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester. Incoming UC Merced student Shrihan Lakinana is bringing a growth mindset, a passion for...

Bobcat Bound graphic and a photo of incoming student Peyton Smith.

Fresno Student Eager to Dive into Life at UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester. Peyton Smith brings a love of water sports, an interest in medicine and a goal to work as a...

Summer Program Helps First-Gen Student Take Flight Into Drone Research

When first-generation mechanical engineering student David Miguel arrived at UC Merced, he had no research experience, but a passion for engineering and a desire to learn. A former foster care...

Journeys That Start with a Boarding Pass and Change Everything

Editor's note: This story is republished from the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of UC Merced Magazine. Yaritza Mora clutched her boarding pass and took a deep breath. Alone at the...

New UC Merced student and the Bobcat Bound graphic

From Atwater to UC Merced with a Big Head Start

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester. Tayven Tipler won’t travel far from his hometown when he starts at UC Merced and he is...

Victorville Student Pursues Neuroscience at UC Merced

This is part of a series of profiles of new UC Merced Bobcats enrolled for the fall 2026 semester. After moving from Nigeria to the United States two years ago, Wonderful Ezieme built a...

Leadership from Las Positas and UC Merced Board of Trustees pose with big check

UC Merced Foundation Trustees Establish Endowed Scholarship to Support Las Positas Transfer Students

Four members of the UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees have created a $100,000 endowed scholarship designed to remove financial barriers for Las Positas College students on...