Following is information on Applying for Admission, Admission Requirements, Special Circumstances, and Notification of Action on Admission:

Applying for Admission

A complete list of graduate academic departments, the degrees offered, and the deadlines for application can be found at grad.berkeley.edu/programs/list.shtml.

You must file a completed application to be considered for admission, in addition to any supplemental documents specific to the program for which you are applying. The online application can be found at grad.berkeley.edu/admissions. Paper applications are also acceptable and can be downloaded from the Graduate Admissions web page or from the department to which you are applying. Applicants to the master’s programs in the Haas School of Business or programs at the School of Law should not use this application but should contact those schools directly.

You must submit an application fee when you apply. The application fee is not refundable. If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the application fee is $70; for all other applicants, the fee is $90. Note: Fees are subject to change. You may pay the fee by credit card if you apply online. If you submit a check or money order, it must be drawn on a U.S. bank and made payable to “UC Regents.” U.S. citizens or current permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply for a waiver of the application fee. Contact the Graduate Admissions office at gradadm@berkeley.edu for further information.

Limited Enrollment

Each graduate program at Berkeley has a maximum enrollment, which limits the number of applicants who may be accepted. Almost invariably, this maximum is smaller than the number of applicants who meet the minimum qualifications for admission. Selection procedures are designed to admit applicants in accordance with their relative merit and promise among those at least minimally qualified. It is to your advantage to inquire early about the possibility of study at Berkeley.

Admissions Requirements

The minimum graduate admission requirements are: (1) a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution; (2) enough undergraduate work to do graduate work in your chosen field; and (3) a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B).

Many departments or groups have additional requirements, including the GRE, TOEFL score minimums, higher GPA minimums, and number of copies of official academic records that must be submitted. Department contact information can be found at grad.berkeley.edu/programs/list.shtml.

Satisfying minimum standards, however, does not guarantee your admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. As a result, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Most departments, schools, and groups require applicants to take a standardized test such as the General Test of the GRE, a Subject Test of the GRE, the GMAT, MCAT, OAT, or LSAT. Check with the department to which you are applying for specific test requirements and deadlines. For more information, or to register for the GRE, consult their web site at gre.org or call 1-800-473-4373.

International Applicants

International applicants must fulfill all previously stated admission requirements and have an excellent command of the English language before beginning graduate study at Berkeley; students cannot be admitted to graduate standing to learn English. If you are applying from a country in which English is not the official language, you are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. There are two standardized tests you may take, the Test of English Language as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL is currently administered in three formats: paper and pencil, computer-based, and Internet based (iBT). Minimum score and other requirements for these tests are listed on the Admissions section of the Graduate Division web site. Individual academic departments may choose to require a higher score than the minimum requirement set. Further information on TOEFL can be found online at toefl.org or by calling 1-877-863-3546 or 1-609-771-7100. IELTS information can be found online at ielts.org.

Graduate students who plan to teach but do not speak English as a native language and do not hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution in the United States must demonstrate oral English proficiency to be eligible for appointment as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI). In those countries where the iBT TOEFL has been introduced, English language proficiency is determined by the speaking section score of the iBT TOEFL. In those countries where the new iBT TOEFL has not yet been introduced, students can demonstrate their proficiency by taking and passing the Test of Spoken English (TSE) before enrolling in Berkeley or the SPEAK test offered on the Berkeley campus. Information on passing scores, testing options, and language courses can be found on the GSI Teaching and Resource Center’s web site.

Special Circumstances

Readmission

If you have previously registered and withdrawn and want to re-enroll or have completed any graduate degree program at Berkeley, you must file an Application for Readmission, obtainable from the Registrar's web site. A nontransferable, nonrefundable readmission fee of $70 must accompany the Application for Readmission when first submitted, or the application will not be reviewed. A Statement of Legal Residence must also be submitted. Note: Approval of readmission is not guaranteed. The Graduate Division and your department, school, or group will review your application and academic record and notify you whether your readmission has been approved.

Duplication of Higher Degrees

Normally, duplication of doctoral-level degrees is not permitted. Students may enroll for a second academic or professional degree if the second degree is in a distinctly different field.

Reactivation of Application

The Graduate Division keeps application materials on file for two years. If you filed an application within the past two years but did not complete the application process, were denied admission, or were admitted but did not register, you may reactivate your previous file by submitting a new application form and fee by the established deadline for the semester in question.

Notification of Action on Admission

A written notice from the dean of the Graduate Division is the only valid proof of admission. Admission to graduate study is limited by the number of places available in the various colleges, schools, graduate groups, and departments of Berkeley. If you have applied for admission and fellowship consideration, you should be notified by April 1 of the action on your applications. If you have applied for admission only, you will be advised as soon as possible after a decision has been reached. Normally, however, acceptance letters for admission only will not be issued until after March for the fall semester.