Graduate Admissions Frequently Asked Questions

Application Questions

1. Do I need to pay an application fee?

   Yes, you must submit an application fee by the application deadline for your application to be reviewed. The application fee is not refundable. Please view the Application Fee rates.
    

2. Are application fee waivers available?

   U.S. citizens or permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply for an application fee waiver. Please see the eligibility requirements and deadlines for Requesting an Application Fee Waiver.

    

3. Do I need to contact faculty or establish an advisor before I apply?

   No, you do not need to contact faulty or establish an advisor in order to apply. Instead, on the application, you will list faculty members who you would like to work with should you be admitted to our graduate program. You can view the list of all our current faculty or you can view the faculty associated with each research area.
    

4. Is the General GRE or a Subject GRE required?

   The GRE is no longer required nor accepted.
    

5. Where do I send official TOEFL, or IELTS scores?

   Send all scores electronically to UC Berkeley institution code 4833. You do not need to provide a department code; we will receive your scores through the institution code regardless of whether or not you enter a department code.
    

6. Who needs to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?

   Please see the university requirements for who needs to submit Evidence of English Language Proficiency. Please note that having lived and worked in the U.S. or another English-speaking country does not satisfy the English language proficiency requirement or exempt you from the TOEFL or IELTS.
    

7. What are the minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores required for admission?

   The minimum TOEFL score required by UC Berkeley for graduate admission is 570 on the paper-based test (PBT), 230 on the computer based test (CBT), and 90 on the Internet Based Test (iBT). The minimum score for the IELTS is an overall band score of 7; there are no minimum scores for the individual bands. Applicants with scores below these will not be admitted.
    

8. Can I send official test scores before I apply?

   You can have official test scores (TOEFL, or IELTS) sent any time during the year as long as they are sent by the application deadline.
    

9. My online application says that my official test scores have not been received, can you confirm when you receive my test scores?

   It’s not uncommon for the online application to experience difficulties matching official test scores. Unfortunately, due to the large volume of applications, staff cannot confirm the receipt of official scores. However, as long as you’ve entered valid/unexpired test scores into your application, requested that your official scores be sent to institution code 4833, and submitted your application by the deadline, then we can use your self-reported scores for the admissions review. If you are recommended for admission and we are still unable to locate your official scores, we will contact you.
    

10. Do I need to calculate my GPA for the application?

    Applicants whose GPAs are based on a 4.0 scale will need to enter their cumulative GPA, as well as calculate their Advanced GPA and Major GPA for the application. The application will specify which courses to calculate for each GPA field. The EECS Department nor the university provide a GPA calculator. Applicants should use their university’s grading scale to calculate their GPAs to the best of their abilities.

    Applicants whose GPAs are not based on a 4.0 scale should not calculate or convert their GPAs or input WES evaluations. Instead, these applicants should leave the aforementioned GPA fields blank or enter “0.00” and enter their cumulative GPA as it appears on their transcript in the “Other Scale GPA” section.
     

11. Do I have to provide a GPA calculation worksheet with my transcripts?

    For applicants who attended a university that is outside of the U.S. or that does not use a 4.0 GPA scale, please include a GPA calculation worksheet if you have one.
     

12. What transcripts or academic records should be included in my application?

    Upload to your application unofficial copies (PDFs) of transcripts for all university-level coursework. Unofficial transcripts must include the name of institution, applicant name, courses, grades, and, if applicable, degree conferral. Hardcopy/official transcripts are not required for the application review process. International students who’ve completed their degree should also upload additional documents, such as a degree certificate, if their transcripts do not include evidence of the award of their degree. Official or unofficial transcripts mailed or emailed to the department will not be accepted.
     

13. My transcripts are not in English, do my transcripts need to be translated?

    International transcripts and degree certificates that are in a language other than English or Spanish must have an official English translation of the transcript uploaded to the application along with the original transcript. Translations should be prepared and issued by the school the student attended or an ATA certified translator.
     

14. I’m currently completing my undergraduate degree and my fall grades will be released after the application deadline, will I be able to submit an updated transcript?

    No, you cannot submit a new transcript after you’ve submitted your application. If you are currently finishing your undergraduate degree, please just upload the most current version of your transcript; it is okay if your fall grades do not appear on your transcript.  The application will provide a space for you to list any additional courses that you are currently taking or plan to take in the future.
     

15. How many letters of recommendation are required to apply?

    At least three letters of recommendation are required.
     

16. Can I submit more than three letters of recommendation?

    The online application will allow you to submit more than three letters of recommendation. However, there is no guarantee that more than three letters will be read. Also keep in mind that submitting three good letters and one bad letter will put your application at a disadvantage.
     

17. Who should write my letters of recommendation?

    Recommendations from professors are highly preferred, however letters from employers in industry or outside academia are acceptable. Regardless of who the recommender is, the letter should demonstrate your academic and research ability and potential.
     

18. What should be included in my letters of recommendation?

    Your recommenders are asked to give their personal impressions of your intellectual ability, your aptitude in research or professional skills, your character, and the quality of your previous work and potential for future productive scholarship.
     

19. What does it mean to waive access to my letters of recommendation?

    Applicants who waive the right to access a letter of recommendation means that they have not and will not view or inspect the letter. Instead, the letter remains private between the recommender and the admissions committee.

    Applicants choose whether or not to waive the right to inspect their letters in the Recommendations section of the application. Please note that the application does not allow you to reverse your waiver decision after you’ve submitted it.
     

20. Can my recommenders upload their letters after I’ve submitted my application or after the application deadline?

    The application can continue to receive recommendation letters after you’ve submitted your application and after the deadline. However, the review process begins immediately after the application deadline. If the admissions committee has already reviewed your application before your recommender has submitted their letter, it is not guaranteed that your application will be reviewed again. Therefore, it is highly advised that you contact recommenders at least three months before the application deadline to give them ample time to write and submit their letters by the deadline.
     

21. My recommender did not receive the email with the link to upload their recommendation, what should I do?

    Ask you recommender to check their SPAM folder for the email containing the recommendation link and instructions. If your recommender still cannot locate this email, contact UC Berkeley’s Graduate Admissions Office at gradadm@berkeley.edu and ask for assistance.
     

22. What is the difference between the Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement? How long should each essay be?

    The Statement of Purpose (SOP) is the place for you to discuss your academic goals and research interests. The online application will provide you with some questions to help you write the essay, but other questions we recommend you consider addressing in your SOP are: Why are you applying to this program at UC Berkeley? What do you hope to accomplish at this institution? What are you research goals? How will your research impact you or others? What do you want to do after you receive your degree?

    The Personal History Statement (PHS) is the place for you to discuss your academic goals and research interests in relation to your background/personal history. In addition to the online application prompt, some other questions you may want to address in your PHS are: How has your background influenced your academic goals, research interests, or desire to go into this field? How can your background help you succeed both in this program and with your future goals?

    There is no minimum or maximum length requirement for either essay. Though many applicants aim for each essay to be between 500-1000 words or 1-2 pages. It’s okay if there is a little overlap of information between the SOP and PHS.
     

23. How do I apply for campus fellowships, graduate researcher appointments (GSR), or teaching assistantships (GSI)?

    Applicants to the PhD and MS programs are automatically considered for these types of support. If you are admitted the details of your financial support will be disclosed at the time of admission.
     

24. What is the process to reapply to the EECS Department? Can I reactivate an old application?

    All previous applicants must submit a completed new online application and pay the application fee. Applicants must re-submit all their materials with their online application in order for it to be complete. It’s highly recommended that these materials be new or updated, including letters of recommendation, Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, and the Resume/CV. New TOEFL/IELTS scores will need to be submitted if your previous scores expired. Once your new application and items are submitted, if you applied to an EECS Department graduate program within past two years, then your most recent previous application will be linked to your new application.

     

25. Can you update any documents, test scores, or information after I have submitted my application?

    No, even if you submit the application before the deadline, we cannot update your application after you have submitted it. Please make sure to check that your application is complete and all information and materials are correct before you submit.
     

26. When does the application review begin?

    The application review begins immediately after the application deadline.
     

27. How do I check my application status?

    Once you submit your online application, you will receive an email confirming your submission. You may log back into your application to monitor the status of the materials received or processed such as fee waivers, test scores, letters of recommendation, and admission decision.
     

28. When and how will I be notified regarding my admission status?

    All admission decisions will be sent via email by April 1st.
     

29. Who should I contact if I’m experiencing technical difficulties with the application?

    If you experience technical difficulty when applying online, please send an email describing the problem to UC Berkeley’s Graduate Admissions Office at gradadm@berkeley.edu.