phd application uc berkeley

Graduate Admissions

Applying to UC Berkeley's Physics Graduate Program

The application deadline for Fall 2024 admission to the Berkeley Physics Ph.D. program is:

December 11 2023, at 8:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time)/11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Your application should be complete — meaning that all of your letters and supplemental materials should be uploaded — by this deadline. Application review commences immediately after the deadline; as such, we cannot guarantee that materials received after the deadline (including letters of recommendation) will be fully reviewed.

Apply for graduate admission online (click here to go to online application)

Updates for Fall 2024 graduate admissions

• Submission of a  Physics Subject GRE score is  OPTIONAL
• General GRE scores will  not be reviewed . Please do not submit your general GRE scores to Berkeley Physics.

At this time, no determination has been made if the GRE and/or Physics GRE scores will be required application materials for graduate admission in fall 2025 and beyond.

Our graduate admissions committee conducts a holistic evaluation of all applications, which takes into consideration recommendation letters, academic achievements, research experience, a record of leadership and outreach activities, efforts to promote diversity, personal history, and more.

We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation. You will invite your recommenders to submit their letters through the online application. All letters should be uploaded by the application deadline.

Please do NOT send updated transcripts, publications, etc. after the application deadline. Applications will not be updated after the December 11th deadline with transcripts showing fall grades. Letter writers are still able to upload letters of recommendation via the Slate submission links, but we cannot guarantee that the committee will have them available for review since the application deadline has passed.

Please read the application instructions thoroughly. All supporting materials, including your transcript(s), should be uploaded to your application. Your application will be reviewed with your unofficial transcripts. If you ultimately are admitted and enroll at Berkeley, you will submit official transcripts prior to matriculating.

You must submit a course and textbook list of all the third- and fourth-year physics, astrophysics, and mathematics courses that you have completed. Download our  "Course and Textbook List" form here  ( alternate link 1  /  alternate link 2 ). You may complete our form directly, or you may use our form as a template to create your own document; please save the completed document as a PDF and upload it to the Physics Program page in the online application.

We typically begin making offers of admission in mid-February. Our final offers of admission will be made no later than mid-March.

Please check our  frequently asked questions (FAQ) , compiled from inquiries by prospective graduate students. 

To contact our staff regarding graduate admissions, please email  [email protected] . 

General Information

Thank you for your interest in the Applied Mathematics/Mathematics PhD Programs! The Math Department admits new graduate students to the Fall Semester only.  The graduate admissions application for Fall 2024 admission is available as of Wednesday, September 13th, 2023. The deadline to apply is Monday, December 11th, 2023, at 8:59pm Pacific Time.  Access the Graduate Division's Online Application . Please read the information on Graduate Division requirements and information required to complete the application. Copies and "unofficial" transcripts are accepted via the online application system if the name of your institution and your name are on the transcript. Please  do not  mail original transcripts for the review process. We require three letters of recommendation, which should be submitted online. We do not accept mailed letters of recommendation. Letters should be received online by the admissions deadline. To learn more about the program, here is a recording of a recent presentation we held at the 2022 Graduate Diversity Admissions Fair .

Admission to the Ph.D. Program

The Department of Mathematics offers 2 Ph.D. degrees, one in Mathematics and one in Applied Mathematics. Applicants for admission to either Ph.D. program are expected to have preparation comparable to the undergraduate major at Berkeley in Mathematics or in Applied Mathematics. These majors consist of 2 full years of lower-division work (covering calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, and multivariable calculus), followed by 8 one-semester courses including real analysis, complex analysis, abstract algebra, and linear algebra. These eight courses may include some mathematically based courses offered by other departments (e.g., Physics, Engineering, Computer Science, or Economics).

Applicants for admission are considered by the department's Graduate Admissions Committee. The number of students that can be admitted each year is determined by the Graduate Division. In making admissions decisions, the committee conducts a comprehensive review taking into consideration letters of recommendation, level of mathematics preparation, performance in courses, broader impacts (community contributions), research experience, etc.

A Note on the GRE Exams

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the  GRE exams will be optional for the Fall 2024 graduate admissions application.  You may still submit GRE scores; however, an absence of GRE scores will not negatively impact your application. For those who choose to take the General GRE and/or the Mathematics Subject GRE exams: to ensure timely reception of official score reports, we recommend you take both exams no later than October; official score reports are due by the admissions deadline. The Educational Testing Service will send your scores to the institutions you specify when you take the exams, please consult their website to see how long it takes for ETS to transmit score reports to institutions. Additional information about the GRE exams, and how to register, can be obtained on the web .

A Note on GPAs

If your undergraduate institution does not use a 4-point grading scale please do not convert your GPA to match the 4.0 scale. Instead, leave the section blank, or write in 0.00. The faculty review committee will be able to see your true academic performance from your uploaded unofficial transcripts. For the "Advanced GPA," our program does not require a GPA calculation spreadsheet.

International Students

All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. Please refer to the Graduate Division's admissions page for information on the English language requirement .

For international applicants, we are pleased to offer a limited number of need based  fee  waivers each year to eligible applicants. The waiver is available in the program page of the online application and must be submitted by December 1st. 

The M.A. in Math

The Department of Mathematics no longer accepts applications for the Master's in Mathematics Program. If you are interested in graduate study at UC Berkeley, please apply for the Applied Mathematics or Mathematics Ph.D. program. The MA application is only available to current Ph.D. students at Berkeley interested in a simultaneous MA in Mathematics.

We expect to make final decisions by the end of February or mid-March.

Email Math Graduate Admissions

After reading the above material and our  FAQ  page, if you have further questions on admission to our program you can send an email to  [email protected] . 

Graduate Admissions

The Department of Philosophy at Berkeley seeks graduate students whose talents and interests will enable them to benefit from the distinctive intellectual resources on offer here, and who will contribute to a stimulating and friendly philosophical community. The Department values a diversity of interests, perspectives, and backgrounds among its students.

Admission to the Ph.D. program in Philosophy at Berkeley is highly competitive. We typically receive hundreds of applications each year, and can offer admission only to a small handful of students (the entering class generally numbers fewer than ten). Students are admitted only for the Ph.D. degree; there is no M.A. program in philosophy at Berkeley. All students who are admitted must begin their study at Berkeley in the Fall semester. Applications from women and members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged.

In reviewing applications, the Admissions and Fellowships Committee looks for evidence that applicants have the training and intellectual characteristics they will need for success in a rigorous graduate program such as ours. Candidates for admission are not required to have majored in philosophy, but applicants who have not taken a considerable number of courses in the subject are unlikely to be admitted. The intellectual characteristics that the Committee looks for include the ability to write clear and well organized argumentative prose, the ability to discriminate between promising and unpromising lines of inquiry, the capacity to develop independent arguments and insights, and a nuanced appreciation of philosophical problems and issues.

The Admissions and Fellowships Committee attempts in each case to arrive at a fair assessment of the candidate on the basis of the totality of evidence submitted for review. It pays particularly close attention to the candidate's sample of written work, as well as to the letters of recommendation that are sent in support of the candidate's application. Candidates should seek letters of recommendation from teachers who are in a position to comment in detail both on their general scholarly abilities and on their distinctively philosophical talents and achievements. These same qualities should be evident in the writing sample submitted for review; it should go beyond mere exposition or superficial analysis of a philosophical text or problem. A good target length for a writing sample is 15-20 (double-spaced) pages.

Detailed information about admission to graduate study at UC Berkeley is available on the UCB Graduate Admissions website of the UC Berkeley Graduate Division. The Berkeley campus as a whole is home to a richly diverse intellectual community; for more information see the Graduate Diversity Outreach site.

How to apply

To apply for admission to the Ph.D. program in philosophy, apply online through the campus-wide UCB Graduate Admissions site. Do not send materials to the Department of Philosophy.

A complete online application would contain the following:

• Transcripts for all your undergraduate and graduate study
• Three letters of recommendation from those familiar with your philosophical work
• A representative sample of your best written work in philosophy (no more than 20 pages)
• Your results from the Graduate Record Examination
• A personal history statement
• A statement of purpose (applicants who wish to be considered for the concentration in Ancient Philosophy or History and Philosophy of Science should indicate this in their statement of purpose)

For information on application deadlines and other important dates please see the UCB Graduate Admissions site .

Fee waivers

• Fee waivers for international students are not available at this time.
• U.S. citizen or current permanent residents can apply for need-based application fee waivers.
• Undocumented students (not international) may be considered for an application fee waiver if they demonstrate financial need.
• Participants in certain programs and summer institutes can receive a fee waiver by documenting program participation. See the list of pre-approved programs here .

Berkeley School of Education

How to apply: doctorate in education (phd).

Applicants must submit all materials for the Education PhD program by Mon., Dec. 4th, 2023 @ 8:59 p.m. (PST)

Online application.

• Application deadline : Monday, December 4th, 2023 @ 8:59 p.m. (PST) .
• Select Term: Fall; Degree objective:  Education PhD.
• All uploaded documents should be in PDF format only.

All materials are due by the application deadline.

All application materials become property of the University of California. Materials can neither be returned to you nor released to any other party.

Application Fee

• When you apply for graduate admission, you will be required to submit the application fee using a major credit card.
• If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the application fee is $135; for all others, the fee is $155.
• The application fee is non-refundable .
• You may qualify for an application fee waiver. To check eligibility, visit the Graduate Division website . 

Program Information

Cluster/emphasis choice You will be required to select from one of the 5 clusters:

• Critical Studies of Race, Class, and Gender
• Learning Sciences and Human Development
• Policy, Politics, and Leadership
• Social Research Methodologies
• Language, Literacy, and Culture

Faculty Adviser You will be required to select and rank up to three (3) faculty members with whom you wish to work and whose research best reflects your interests.

Adviser Choices Briefly tell us why you chose these faculty members and why this rank order.

You are required to submit two essays: a Statement of Purpose, and a Personal History. There is no minimum or maximum length. We recommend one to three pages; 12-point font; and single-spaced, for each essay.

Statement of Purpose

Describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests in your chosen area of study, and your future career goals. Please be specific about why UC Berkeley would be a good intellectual fit for you.

Personal History 

Describe how your personal background and experiences inform your decision to pursue a graduate degree. In this section, you may also include any relevant information:

• on how you have overcome barriers to access higher education;
• evidence of how you have come to understand the barriers faced by others;
• evidence of your academic service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and individuals from other groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education;
• evidence of your research focusing on underserved populations or related issues of inequality; or
• evidence of your leadership among such groups.

GPA Worksheet

You must calculate your Advanced GPA, which is defined as all coursework after the first two years of your bachelor's degree.

For applicants whose undergraduate trajectory was not a standard 4 years at one institution, simply use your last two years of your Undergraduate degree.

If you need a GPA calculator, we recommend  this online resource .

If you have a graduate degree, there is a separate box for you to enter your graduate degree GPA.

If your GPA is not on a 4.0 scale there is no need to convert it. Enter it as is, in the appropriate GPA box.

Transcripts

• Student information (i.e., first/last name)
• Institution information
• Degree conferral date(s) when applicable
• All coursework information
• Hard copies are not accepted.
• Upload PDF scans of your final transcripts from institutions where you did not receive a degree (e.g., community college) if you received credit that was later applied toward your degree, or if credit from that institution is listed on your bachelor's degree transcript.
• Official transcripts will be required if you are accepted into our program; please do not send transcripts before official acceptance.

Letters of Recommendation

You are required to submit three (3) letters of recommendation.

• At least two (2) should be academic letters.

You will add the recommenders' information to the online application. Each recommender is then responsible for uploading their letter directly into the online portal.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)

You are required to submit a resume that includes education and professional work history; other professional activities (e.g., professional organizations); professional productivity (e.g., professional publications or professional development); and other major professional, vocational, community, or recreational activities, interests, and pursuits.

Submit via the online Graduate Division application, Resume/CV section.

English Language Proficiency

• All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency.
• Use recipient code 4833 for UC Berkeley.
• For current information regarding this requirement, visit the Graduate Division website .

Review Process

A faculty admissions committee will review all completed application files for their relevant area of study. In accordance with students' active participation in School of Education governance, duly appointed students may also participate in reviewing applicant files. In addition to grades and test scores, we will assess your application by noting achievements in graduate study, employment, and extracurricular and other voluntary activities that you describe in your statement of purpose.

Some degree programs require interviews of top-ranked applicants. We will notify all applicants who need to fulfill this requirement. Telephone interviews may be conducted by arrangement with program staff.

Notification of Decision

The School of Education sends recommendations for admission to the Graduate Division between February and April for final approval. Notice from the Graduate Division constitutes official approval of admission. Communication or correspondence with the School of Education or an individual faculty member does not constitute approval of admission.

Fees & Fellowships

Bse admissions office.

email: [email protected]

Questions about BSE's application process?

Sign up for our BSE Application Office Hours to speak with our Admissions & Fellowship Coordinator.

PhD Program information

The Statistics PhD program is rigorous, yet welcoming to students with interdisciplinary interests and different levels of preparation. Students in the PhD program take core courses on the theory and application of probability and statistics during their first year. The second year typically includes additional course work and a transition to research leading to a dissertation. PhD thesis topics are diverse and varied, reflecting the scope of faculty research interests. Many students are involved in interdisciplinary research. Students may also have the option to pursue a designated emphasis (DE) which is an interdisciplinary specialization:  Designated Emphasis in Computational and Genomic Biology ,  Designated Emphasis in Computational Precision Health ,  Designated Emphasis in Computational and Data Science and Engineering . The program requires four semesters of residence.

Normal progress entails:

Year 1 . Perform satisfactorily in preliminary coursework. In the summer, students are required to embark on a short-term research project, internship, graduate student instructorship, reading course, or on another research activity. Years 2-3 . Continue coursework. Find a thesis advisor and an area for the oral qualifying exam. Formally choose a chair for qualifying exam committee, who will also serve as faculty mentor separate from the thesis advisor.  Pass the oral qualifying exam and advance to candidacy by the end of Year 3. Present research at BSTARS each year. Years 4-5 . Finish the thesis and give a lecture based on it in a department seminar.

Program Requirements

• Qualifying Exam

Course work and evaluation

Preliminary stage: the first year.

Effective Fall 2019, students are expected to take four semester-long courses for a letter grade during their first year which should be selected from the core first-year PhD courses offered in the department: Probability (204/205A, 205B,), Theoretical Statistics (210A, 210B), and Applied Statistics (215A, 215B). These requirements can be altered by a member of the PhD Program Committee (in consultation with the faculty mentor and by submitting a graduate student petition ) in the following cases:

• Students primarily focused on probability will be allowed to substitute one semester of the four required semester-long courses with an appropriate course from outside the department.
• Students may request to postpone one semester of the core PhD courses and complete it in the second year, in which case they must take a relevant graduate course in their first year in its place. In all cases, students must complete the first year requirements in their second year as well as maintain the overall expectations of second year coursework, described below. Some examples in which such a request might be approved are described in the course guidance below.
• Students arriving with advanced standing, having completed equivalent coursework at another institution prior to joining the program, may be allowed to take other relevant graduate courses at UC Berkeley to satisfy some or all of the first year requirements

Requirements on course work beyond the first year

Students entering the program before 2022 are required to take five additional graduate courses beyond the four required in the first year, resulting in a total of nine graduate courses required for completion of their PhD. In their second year, students are required to take three graduate courses, at least two of them from the department offerings, and in their third year, they are required to take at least two graduate courses. Students are allowed to change the timing of these five courses with approval of their faculty mentor. Of the nine required graduate courses, students are required to take for credit a total of 24 semester hours of courses offered by the Statistics department numbered 204-272 inclusive. The Head Graduate Advisor (in consultation with the faculty mentor and after submission of a graduate student petition) may consent to substitute courses at a comparable level in other disciplines for some of these departmental graduate courses. In addition, the HGA may waive part of this unit requirement.

Starting with the cohort entering in the 2022-23 academic year , students are required to take at least three additional graduate courses beyond the four required in the first year, resulting in a total of seven graduate courses required for completion of their PhD. Of the seven required graduate courses, five of these courses must be from courses offered by the Statistics department and numbered 204-272, inclusive. With these reduced requirements, there is an expectation of very few waivers from the HGA. We emphasize that these are minimum requirements, and we expect that students will take additional classes of interest, for example on a S/U basis, to further their breadth of knowledge. 

For courses to count toward the coursework requirements students must receive at least a B+ in the course (courses taken S/U do not count, except for STAT 272 which is only offered S/U).  Courses that are research credits, directed study, reading groups, or departmental seminars do not satisfy coursework requirements (for courses offered by the Statistics department the course should be numbered 204-272 to satisfy the requirements). Upper-division undergraduate courses in other departments can be counted toward course requirements with the permission of the Head Graduate Advisor. This will normally only be approved if the courses provide necessary breadth in an application area relevant to the student’s thesis research.

First year course work: For the purposes of satisfactory progression in the first year, grades in the core PhD courses are evaluated as: A+: Excellent performance in PhD program A: Good performance in PhD program A-: Satisfactory performance B+: Performance marginal, needs improvement B: Unsatisfactory performance

First year and beyond: At the end of each year, students must meet with his or her faculty mentor to review their progress and assess whether the student is meeting expected milestones. The result of this meeting should be the completion of the student’s annual review form, signed by the mentor ( available here ). If the student has a thesis advisor, the thesis advisor must also sign the annual review form.

Guidance on choosing course work

Choice of courses in the first year: Students enrolling in the fall of 2019 or later are required to take four semesters of the core PhD courses, at least three of which must be taken in their first year. Students have two options for how to schedule their four core courses:

• Option 1 -- Complete Four Core Courses in 1st year: In this option, students would take four core courses in the first year, usually finishing the complete sequence of two of the three sequences.  Students following this option who are primarily interested in statistics would normally take the 210A,B sequence (Theoretical Statistics) and then one of the 205A,B sequence (Probability) or the 215A,B sequence (Applied Statistics), based on their interests, though students are allowed to mix and match, where feasible. Students who opt for taking the full 210AB sequence in the first year should be aware that 210B requires some graduate-level probability concepts that are normally introduced in 205A (or 204).
• Option 2 -- Postponement of one semester of a core course to the second year: In this option, students would take three of the core courses in the first year plus another graduate course, and take the remaining core course in their second year. An example would be a student who wanted to take courses in each of the three sequences. Such a student could take the full year of one sequence and the first semester of another sequence in the first year, and the first semester of the last sequence in the second year (e.g. 210A, 215AB in the first year, and then 204 or 205A in the second year). This would also be a good option for students who would prefer to take 210A and 215A in their first semester but are concerned about their preparation for 210B in the spring semester.  Similarly, a student with strong interests in another discipline, might postpone one of the spring core PhD courses to the second year in order to take a course in that discipline in the first year.  Students who are less mathematically prepared might also be allowed to take the upper division (under-graduate) courses Math 104 and/or 105 in their first year in preparation for 205A and/or 210B in their second year. Students who wish to take this option should consult with their faculty mentor, and then must submit a graduate student petition to the PhD Committee to request permission for  postponement. Such postponement requests will be generally approved for only one course. At all times, students must take four approved graduate courses for a letter grade in their first year.

After the first year: Students with interests primarily in statistics are expected to take at least one semester of each of the core PhD sequences during their studies. Therefore at least one semester (if not both semesters) of the remaining core sequence would normally be completed during the second year. The remaining curriculum for the second and third years would be filled out with further graduate courses in Statistics and with courses from other departments. Students are expected to acquire some experience and proficiency in computing. Students are also expected to attend at least one departmental seminar per week. The precise program of study will be decided in consultation with the student’s faculty mentor.

Remark. Stat 204 is a graduate level probability course that is an alternative to 205AB series that covers probability concepts most commonly found in the applications of probability. It is not taught all years, but does fulfill the requirements of the first year core PhD courses. Students taking Stat 204, who wish to continue in Stat 205B, can do so (after obtaining the approval of the 205B instructor), by taking an intensive one month reading course over winter break.

Designated Emphasis: Students with a Designated Emphasis in Computational and Genomic Biology or Designated Emphasis in Computational and Data Science and Engineering should, like other statistics students, acquire a firm foundation in statistics and probability, with a program of study similar to those above. These programs have additional requirements as well. Interested students should consult with the graduate advisor of these programs. 

Starting in the Fall of 2019, PhD students are required in their first year to take four semesters of the core PhD courses. Students intending to specialize in Probability, however, have the option to substitute an advanced mathematics class for one of these four courses. Such students will thus be required to take Stat 205A/B in the first year,  at least one of Stat 210A/B or Stat 215A/B in the first year, in addition to an advanced mathematics course. This substitute course will be selected in consultation with their faculty mentor, with some possible courses suggested below. Students arriving with advanced coursework equivalent to that of 205AB can obtain permission to substitute in other advanced probability and mathematics coursework during their first year, and should consult with the PhD committee for such a waiver.

During their second and third years, students with a probability focus are expected to take advanced probability courses (e.g., Stat 206 and Stat 260) to fulfill the coursework requirements that follow the first year. Students are also expected to attend at least one departmental seminar per week, usually the probability seminar. If they are not sufficiently familiar with measure theory and functional analysis, then they should take one or both of Math 202A and Math 202B. Other recommended courses from the department of Mathematics or EECS include:

Math 204, 222 (ODE, PDE) Math 205 (Complex Analysis) Math 258 (Classical harmonic analysis) EE 229 (Information Theory and Coding) CS 271 (Randomness and computation)

The Qualifying Examination 

The oral qualifying examination is meant to determine whether the student is ready to enter the research phase of graduate studies. It consists of a 50-minute lecture by the student on a topic selected jointly by the student and the thesis advisor. The examination committee consists of at least four faculty members to be approved by the department.  At least two members of the committee must consist of faculty from the Statistics and must be members of the Academic Senate. The chair must be a member of the student’s degree-granting program.

Qualifying Exam Chair. For qualifying exam committees formed in the Fall of 2019 or later, the qualifying exam chair will also serve as the student’s departmental mentor, unless a student already has two thesis advisors. The student must select a qualifying exam chair and obtain their agreement to serve as their qualifying exam chair and faculty mentor. The student's prospective thesis advisor cannot chair the examination committee. Selection of the chair can be done well in advance of the qualifying exam and the rest of the qualifying committee, and because the qualifying exam chair also serves as the student’s departmental mentor (unless the student has co-advisors), the chair is expected to be selected by the beginning of the third year or at the beginning of the semester of the qualifying exam, whichever comes earlier. For more details regarding the selection of the Qualifying Exam Chair, see the "Mentoring" tab.  

Paperwork and Application. Students at the point of taking a qualifying exam are assumed to have already found a thesis advisor and to should have already submitted the internal departmental form to the Graduate Student Services Advisor ( found here ).  Selection of a qualifying exam chair requires that the faculty member formally agree by signing the internal department form ( found here ) and the student must submit this form to the Graduate Student Services Advisor.  In order to apply to take the exam, the student must submit the Application for the Qualifying Exam via CalCentral at least three weeks prior to the exam. If the student passes the exam, they can then officially advance to candidacy for the Ph.D. If the student fails the exam, the committee may vote to allow a second attempt. Regulations of the Graduate Division permit at most two attempts to pass the oral qualifying exam. After passing the exam, the student must submit the Application for Candidacy via CalCentral .

The Doctoral Thesis

The Ph.D. degree is granted upon completion of an original thesis acceptable to a committee of at least three faculty members. The majority or at least half of the committee must consist of faculty from Statistics and must be members of the Academic Senate. The thesis should be presented at an appropriate seminar in the department prior to filing with the Dean of the Graduate Division. See Alumni if you would like to view thesis titles of former PhD Students.

Graduate Division offers various resources, including a workshop, on how to write a thesis, from beginning to end. Requirements for the format of the thesis are rather strict. For workshop dates and guidelines for submitting a dissertation, visit the Graduate Division website.

Students who have advanced from candidacy (i.e. have taken their qualifying exam and submitted the advancement to candidacy application) must have a joint meeting with their QE chair and their PhD advisor to discuss their thesis progression; if students are co-advised, this should be a joint meeting with their co-advisors. This annual review is required by Graduate Division.  For more information regarding this requirement, please see  https://grad.berkeley.edu/ policy/degrees-policy/#f35- annual-review-of-doctoral- candidates .

Teaching Requirement

For students enrolled in the graduate program before Fall 2016, students are required to serve as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for a minimum of 20 hours (equivalent to a 50% GSI appointment) during a regular academic semester by the end of their third year in the program.

Effective with the Fall 2016 entering class, students are required to serve as a GSI for a minimum of two 50% GSI appointment during the regular academic semesters prior to graduation (20 hours a week is equivalent to a 50% GSI appointment for a semester) for Statistics courses numbered 150 and above. Exceptions to this policy are routinely made by the department.

Each spring, the department hosts an annual conference called BSTARS . Both students and industry alliance partners present research in the form of posters and lightning talks. All students in their second year and beyond are required to present a poster at BSTARS each year. This requirement is intended to acclimate students to presenting their research and allow the department generally to see the fruits of their research. It is also an opportunity for less advanced students to see examples of research of more senior students. However, any students who do not yet have research to present can be exempted at the request of their thesis advisor (or their faculty mentors if an advisor has not yet been determined).

Mentoring for PhD Students

Initial Mentoring: PhD students will be assigned a faculty mentor in the summer before their first year. This faculty mentor at this stage is not expected to be the student’s PhD advisor nor even have research interests that closely align with the student. The job of this faculty mentor is primarily to advise the student on how to find a thesis advisor and in selecting appropriate courses, as well as other degree-related topics such as applying for fellowships.  Students should meet with their faculty mentors twice a semester. This faculty member will be the designated faculty mentor for the student during roughly their first two years, at which point students will find a qualifying exam chair who will take over the role of mentoring the student.

Research-focused mentoring : Once students have found a thesis advisor, that person will naturally be the faculty member most directly overseeing the student’s progression. However, students will also choose an additional faculty member to serve as a the chair of their qualifying exam and who will also serve as a faculty mentor for the student and as a member of his/her thesis committee. (For students who have two thesis advisors, however, there is not an additional faculty mentor, and the quals chair does NOT serve as the faculty mentor).

The student will be responsible for identifying and asking a faculty member to be the chair of his/her quals committee. Students should determine their qualifying exam chair either at the beginning of the semester of the qualifying exam or in the fall semester of the third year, whichever is earlier. Students are expected to have narrowed in on a thesis advisor and research topic by the fall semester of their third year (and may have already taken qualifying exams), but in the case where this has not happened, such students should find a quals chair as soon as feasible afterward to serve as faculty mentor.

Students are required to meet with their QE chair once a semester during the academic year. In the fall, this meeting will generally be just a meeting with the student and the QE chair, but in the spring it must be a joint meeting with the student, the QE chair, and the PhD advisor. If students are co-advised, this should be a joint meeting with their co-advisors.

If there is a need for a substitute faculty mentor (e.g. existing faculty mentor is on sabbatical or there has been a significant shift in research direction), the student should bring this to the attention of the PhD Committee for assistance.

PhD Student Forms:

Important milestones: .

Each of these milestones is not complete until you have filled out the requisite form and submitted it to the GSAO. If you are not meeting these milestones by the below deadline, you need to meet with the Head Graduate Advisor to ask for an extension. Otherwise, you will be in danger of not being in good academic standing and being ineligible for continued funding (including GSI or GSR appointments, and many fellowships). 

†Students who are considering a co-advisor, should have at least one advisor formally identified by the end of the second year; the co-advisor should be identified by the end of the fall semester of the 3rd year in lieu of finding a Research Mentor/QE Chair.

Expected Progress Reviews: 

* These meetings do not need to be held in the semester that you take your Qualifying Exam, since the relevant people should be members of your exam committee and will discuss your research progress during your qualifying exam

** If you are being co-advised by someone who is not your primary advisor because your primary advisor cannot be your sole advisor, you should be meeting with that person like a research mentor, if not more frequently, to keep them apprised of your progress. However, if both of your co-advisors are leading your research (perhaps independently) and meeting with you frequently throughout the semester, you do not need to give a fall research progress report.

Graduate Admissions and Degree Programs

Berkeley EECS graduate programs rank first and second in the nation and provide one of the best educational experiences anywhere. Our graduate students are immersed in an intellectually rigorous, interdisciplinary, globally aware environment, and have the opportunity to study and do research with faculty world-renowned for their innovation and discovery.

Join Our Team

 We welcome your application to our competitive graduate programs. We look forward to the mixture of backgrounds and approaches that each new group of graduate students brings to us.

Industry-Oriented Degree Programs

Berkeley EECS offers two degrees for planning a career in industry.

• Master of Engineering (MEng)
• Five Year Master of Science (5th Yr M.S.)

Research-Oriented Degree Programs

Berkeley EECS offers three degrees for planning a career in industrial R&D and teaching. The Master of Science (M.S.), the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and the combined M.S./Ph.D.

• Apply to the M.S. or Ph.D. Research Degree Programs

Quick Links

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• Graduate Fellowships
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• EECS Ph.D. Student Guide

Equal Access to Application Assistance Program

The student-run Equal Access Assistance (EAAA) program aims to ensure that all applicants to higher degree programs (M.S./Ph.D.) at Berkeley EECS have access to guidance on the higher degree application process. One current (or recent graduate) in EECS will provide feedback on your statement of purpose, personal history statement, CV/resume, and other application materials in advance of higher-degree application deadlines in the fall semester.  This feedback will be Berkeley- and admissions-focused, as opposed to grammar or formatting advice.

Application for admission to Berkeley EECS is a process that must be completed separately; participation in EAAA does not guarantee admission nor affect the admissions decision-making process in any way.

More information about the EAAA

PhD Admissions Application Instructions

All applicants to doctoral study at Berkeley apply for graduate admission online, through the UC Berkeley Graduate and Professional Application for Admission. A separate application to the School of Social Welfare is not required.

The online application becomes available in early September each year. Berkeley Social Welfare only admits for the fall semester each academic year; no spring or summer admissions are offered.

Application Deadline for Fall 2024 Admission

The next admission cycle, for entry in Fall 2024, is now open. All applications for Fall 2024 admission must be completed and submitted online by Monday, December 4, 2023 at 8:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST).

Graduate Application Requirements for PhD Admission

To be considered complete, applications for admission to the PhD Program and Combined MSW/PhD Program must include all of the following items :

• A completed UC Berkeley Graduate and Professional Application for Admission, including payment of application fee and selection of faculty adviser.
• Transcripts from ALL college-level course work undertaken.
• Three Letters of Recommendation.
• A written Statement of Purpose.
• A written Personal History Statement.
• A sample of scholarly written work.
• A current résumé/CV.
• For international applicants, a TOEFL electronic score report sent directly to Berkeley.

Expand the tabs below for instructions and tips for completing each of these application components.

UC Berkeley Online Graduate Admissions Application

Applicants to all Berkeley Social Welfare graduate programs apply for admission by submitting a single online UC Berkeley Graduate and Professional Application for Admission .

All application supporting materials, including transcripts, written statements and writing samples, letters of recommendation, and résumé/CV, must be uploaded as PDF files directly into the online application by the application deadline. No late or paper copies are accepted , without exception.

Accessing the Online Application

When you log onto the graduate admissions application system for the first time, you will be instructed to create an account in order to begin your online application for graduate admission. The online application system will send you an automated e-mail with instructions for updating your log-in credentials (password) and accessing your individual application.

Technical Difficulties?

If you experience technical difficulty when applying online, please send an email describing the problem to [email protected].

Application Updates and Status Checks

After you begin an application, you may save it and continue working on it later, but once you submit your application, you may no longer change your record online. You will still be able to login to check your application, monitor its status, and communicate with your recommenders. For other changes or questions, please email the Social Welfare Admissions Office directly at [email protected] .

Application Fee

You must submit an application fee when you apply. For U.S. citizens or current permanent residents, the application fee is $135. For all others, the fee is $155.

The application fee is paid directly to Berkeley Graduate Admissions, and payment must be submitted online with a major credit card at the time you submit your completed application. The application fee is nonrefundable.

Requesting an Application Fee Waiver.

Faculty Advisor Choice

In your online application you will be required to enter the name(s) of the faculty member(s) you wish to work with and whose research best reflects your interests. You will also be asked to briefly state why you chose these faculty members and why you chose them in your particular rank order. We highly recommend that applicants research and reach out to faculty before submitting an application

For Fall 2024 applications to the Social Welfare PhD or Combined MSW/ PHD Programs, the following doctoral faculty advisors are available to serve as primary mentors:

• Adrian Aguilera
• Jill Duerr Berrick
• Yu-Ling Chang
• Julian Chow
• Emmeline Chuang  
• Joyce Dorado
• Neil Gilbert
• Anu Manchikanti Gómez
• Kristina Lovato
• Kurt Organista
• Angie Perone
• Laurent Reyes
• Valerie Shapiro
• Jennifer L. Skeem
• Paul Sterzing
• Susan Stone

Transcripts

Transcripts for ALL college-level coursework undertaken must be uploaded as PDF files directly into the "Academic History" section of the online application. Unofficial copies are acceptable for the graduate admissions application, but all submitted transcripts MUST include:

• the legible, full name of the applicant;
• the legible, full name of the issuing academic institution; and
• name of official degree conferred and date of conferral.

All uploaded transcripts should also display in the correct page orientation (i.e. landscape or portrait), and include the transcript legend (the back page in most cases).

Official copies of transcripts will be requested by the Graduate Division for all applicants who are admitted to and matriculate at Berkeley.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation are required. For applicants to doctoral study, recommendations from individuals who have supervised your research and scholarly work (e.g., research project supervisors, thesis advisors, professors) tend to be the most useful to our selection process and should comprise the majority, if not all, letters.

Recommendations are submitted directly to your online application by your recommenders, and must be received by the application deadline. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact potential recommenders as early in the application process as possible to ensure letters are received by the deadline.

Your recommenders will receive an email at the email address you provide when you apply and will be asked to follow a link to submit their recommendation. Please use your recommender's institutional or corporate email address. Submissions from anonymous email addresses (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) may be subject to additional review.

You may waive the right to inspect your letters of recommendation on a voluntary basis. To waive access to your letters, complete the waiver section for each Letter of Recommendation.

Tips for Recommendations

• Choose your recommenders carefully. If any of your potential recommenders are ambivalent about providing a recommendation for you, consider choosing someone else.
• Contact your potential recommenders and confirm their contact information early in the process of preparing your application. Let them know that they will be receiving an automated invitation from the application system to complete their recommendation and submit a letter online directly to your application file.  Be sure to inform them of the application deadline .
• After submitting your application, check your Application Status page frequently to monitor when your recommendations are received, and communicate with your recommenders as necessary.

Technical Difficulties with Submitting Recommendations?

If a recommender is having trouble submitting their recommendation, please ask them to contact Berkeley Social Welfare Admissions directly by email to [email protected].

Statement of Purpose

The Statement of Purpose is required from all applicants. You must upload your statement as a single PDF file to the corresponding page in your online application.

Statement of Purpose Prompts

For your Statement of Purpose, please respond to EACH of the following prompts under separate headings:

• Motivations and Goals: What are your motivations for doctoral study? What would be your goals as a doctoral student at Berkeley Social Welfare?
• Preparation: Describe the research experiences that contribute to your motivations and readiness for the Berkeley Social Welfare doctoral program.
• Research Interests and Intellectual Fit: Which specific social problems or research questions might you be interested in studying? Please speak to how you might study them by describing your key unit of analysis (e.g., individuals, organizations) and your intended methodological approaches. Please specify why Berkeley Social Welfare would be a good intellectual fit for your research interests, describing potential faculty mentors in Social Welfare and other departments, as well as campus supports and resources you would leverage.
• Future Career Goals: What career do you intend to pursue after the doctoral program? How will the doctoral degree contribute to your career goals?

Statement of Purpose Tips

• Statements should follow general APA Style Guidelines. They should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. Please use a clear font that is highly readable. APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font.
• Do not exceed the page limit guideline: 3-5 typed, double-spaced pages.
• Review the Graduate Division’s essential tips for “Writing the Statement of Purpose.”
• Proofread your statement for spelling, grammar and punctuation errors before uploading them to your online application.

Double-check that you are uploading the correct file to your online application.

Personal History Statement

The Personal History Statement is required from all applicants. You must upload your statement as a single PDF file to the corresponding page in your online application.

Personal History Statement Prompts

Your Personal History Statement should describe how your personal background and experiences have informed your decision to pursue a graduate degree in social welfare:

• Present a compelling image of you as a person, and your potential for success as a member of the Berkeley Social Welfare graduate academic community.
• Highlight your understanding of or experiences with a non-traditional educational background, or groups historically under-represented in higher education.
• Direct readers’ attention to the evidence of your promise for higher education, and address any potential deficiencies in your academic record.

Personal History Statement Tips

• Your Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose.
• Do not exceed the page limit guideline: 1-2 typed, double-spaced pages.
• Review the Graduate Division's essential tips for "Writing the Personal Statement."

Sample of Scholarly Written Work

Your sample of scholarly written work must be uploaded as a PDF file to your online application for admission.

For your scholarly writing sample, you may submit published articles, a master’s thesis or portion thereof, papers written for graduate courses, or material written in a professional capacity. The writing sample should give evidence of your ability to think critically and analytically; it should not be purely descriptive.

Résumé/Curriculum Vita

You are required to upload a current CV/résumé to your online application. You may format your CV/résumé however you wish. Please include contact information; educational background; relevant work/volunteer experience; teaching experience; and research experience, publications, and presentations. Previous successful admits typically have had 1-2 years of formal research experience.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Scores

For applications for Fall 2024 admission to the PhD Program or Combined MSW/ PhD Program, the Graduate Record Exam is NOT required.

Evidence of English Language Proficiency (for International Applicants)

International applicants from countries in which the official language is not English, and who do not meet the TOEFL exemption qualifications , must submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement is most commonly satisfied by submitting an official score report for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

For purposes of admission, your most recent TOEFL score must be at least 90 for the Internet-based test (IBT), and 570 for the paper-based format (PBT). Acceptable TOEFL scores are from tests taken between June 1, 2022 and November 15, 2023. TOEFL tests taken after November 15, 2023, will not be accepted for admission into the 2024-25 academic year.

All test scores should be sent electronically, directly to UC Berkeley Graduate Division (Institution Code 4833); they do not need to be sent to the School of Social Welfare.  All official test score reports must be received by the application deadline.

Re-applicants to All Programs

Re-applicants to all graduate degree programs are required to re-submit all elements of the application, including a current résumé/CV and new letters of recommendation.

Admissions Decisions and Notification

All applicants to the PhD Program and Combined MSW/PhD Program will be notified of decisions and offers of funding support in early February.

The University of California, Berkeley is a participating institution in the Council of Graduate Schools'(CGS) Resolution Regarding Graduate Scholars, Fellows, Trainees and Assistantships, also known as the “April 15 Resolution.” Students are under no obligation to respond to offers of financial support prior to April 15. For more information please see the CGS April 15 Resolution website .

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University of California, Berkeley Mechanical Engineering

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Online Application

All applications must be submitted through the Berkeley campus’  Online Application  for graduate admissions. Please take care to ensure all email addresses, as well as your own email address, are entered correctly. Applications that are incomplete by the time of review will not be competitive for admission. Making sure an application is complete is solely the responsibility of the applicant and should be done in a timely manner. The application process is ENTIRELY ONLINE. Please DO NOT mail copies of essays, transcripts, GRE AND TOEFL scores, publications, resumes or recommendation letter.

Application Requirements

Uploaded official transcript notes.

We require you to upload, in  PDF format , one (1) Unofficial Transcript and/or Academic Record from each college or university you have attended. Please note that even if you have not yet finished your coursework when you apply, we still require a current transcript from you. Document policies:

• Only one PDF per school will be allowed to be uploaded to the site.
• PDF files should include both the front and back side of pages. Grading legends should be included.
• International Students must provide English Translations of their Academic Records as well as documents in their original language . For more details, please visit the  Graduate Division  website.
• English Language Grades should appear at the beginning of the file. Translations, Legends, Degree Certificates and other material, should be towards the end of the file.
• All Social Security numbers need to be either blacked out by pen before scanning , or redacted in Adobe before you upload the documents, to protect your privacy. Please refrain from highlighting the numbers in black or changing the font color to white, as the information would still remain in the document.
• Unofficial transcripts from Bear Facts will be accepted (for UC Berkeley Students).
• Once you have submitted your Online Application , you will not be able to update these materials, and unfortunately, due the number of applications we receive, we will not be able to upload them for you . Please do not email or mail us updated transcripts as they will not be reviewed. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

For more information about transcripts, please visit the  Graduate Division  website.

Major Field and Research Focus Area

As part of the online application, you will be asked to provide your Major Field and Research Focus Area. These will represent your primary areas of study and research during your graduate studies in Mechanical Engineering at Berkeley. The Research Focus Areas have been determined by the faculty as current major themes of research in the department. As these categories do not include all of our research activities, you are encouraged to examine  faculty webpages  for additional research topics. To further understand your interests, we also ask that you provide us with your preference, if any, of research method.

Your selections of major field and research focus area, along with your preference of research method, will be used during the admissions process to guide us both in determining which faculty members are best suited to review your application and in the selection processes for various kinds of financial support.

Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Notes 

The GRE is not required for Fall 2024 Admission Cycle.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Notes

• TOEFL/IELTS Scores DEADLINE:  Monday, December 4, 2023 , 8:59 PM PST .
• For Fall 2024, tests taken before June 1, 2022 will not be accepted.
• For more detailed information, please see visit the  Graduate Division  website.
• IELTS tests should be sent directly to: Graduate Admissions Office – UC Berkeley Re:  IELTS Test Score for the Department of Mechanical Engineering 318 Sproul Hall #5900 Berkeley, CA 94720-5900

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation Notes

• Due Monday, December 4, 2023 , 8:59 PM PST .
• Letters of Recommendations will be gathered electronically as part of the Online Application.
• Having more than 3 letters, though we allow it, is not recommended. Due to the volume of applications we receive every year, there is no guarantee that additional letters will be read. Also, please note that we may verify the authenticity of the letters submitted for you.
• It can be a good idea to ask your recommenders if they can write you a good, detailed letter. The best letters gauge your ability and potential for research and graduate study as well as your leadership capability, often citing examples from the recommenders own experiences with you.
• For more advice, please visit the  Career Center  website.

Faculty Preference Notes

Applicants are required to provide at least 3 specific faculty members they have a strong preference to work with. You may list up to nine selections in rank order, with your strongest interest listed first. The page will refresh after each entry. To learn more about our department’s faculty members, please see our  Faculty list .

Application

The department of anthropology and graduate division accept applications for admission to the anthropology and medical anthropology programs once each year for the fall semester only. the application must be completed online.  .

**The Joint Ph.D. in Medical Anthropology is a separate Ph.D. program and must be applied for as such.  It is not a subdiscipline available to those accepted into the Ph.D. in Anthropology.

First go to Graduate Admissions to complete and submit the online application:

Link to the online application.

This must be completed and submitted by no later than 8:59 PM, Pacific Standard time, December 4.  We prefer that letters of recommendation be submitted online as provided for in the application.  However, we recognize that some recommenders will either be unable or unwilling to send their letters electronically.  In that event, we will accept hard copy letters of recommendation.  Please upload scanned copies of transcripts to the online application.  Do not send hard copy original transcripts to the Anthropology Department.  You will not be required to submit original hard copies of transcripts unless you are planning to accept an offer of admission.  Everything else must be uploaded to the online application as directed.  We are accepting only the online graduate school application.

**Materials that can be accepted after December 4 are limited to letters of recommendation,TOEFL scores, or writing samples.

Applicants for the Anthropology Ph.D. are required to specify the track to which they wish to apply:

• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Sociocultural Anthropology

Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Arts degree or its equivalent from an institution of acceptable standing and may hold a Master of Arts in Anthropology or another field. Previous concentration in Anthropology is not required. The Department does not accept applicants interested in the Master of Arts in Anthropology degree only. The University's Graduate Division requires a combined junior and senior grade point average of at least 3.0 of an applicant to be admitted.

**Students interested in medical anthropology may apply to either the UCB program or the UCSF program but not both . Students should carefully review information about both programs before making a decision.  Information on UCSF’s program can be found at  http://dahsm.ucsf.edu/programs/medical-anthropology/

Applicants should keep in mind:

Admission review begins immediately. Your application will be given the most serious consideration if all materials are on hand by December 4. Incomplete applications will be at a disadvantage.

The University does not deliver and sort mail during the winter holiday, so materials submitted after December 4 are likely to be delayed well into January. Given that the Department receives about 400 applications per year, it is not possible to review applications regularly in search of late materials and documents.

Please be assured that our program admits a cohort agreed upon by all the faculty, so the audience for your application is the entire program. On admission, you will be assigned two initial co-advisors, either (or both) of whom may end up being your doctoral advisor, and your interests in working with particular faculty certainly help determine those assignments.

In judging applications, the Department is interested (in order of importance) in:

• Statement of purpose.
• Statement of personal history.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Grade point average.
• TOEFL scores/IELTS scores

Statement of Purpose The applicant's Statement of Purpose should be concise (maximum 2000 words) and very explicit about the applicant's interests and anthropological goals. These statements are read carefully and are taken very seriously. 

For more information on what should be included in the Statement of Purpose, please see the link below:  https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/statement-purpose/

Statement of Personal History The applicant's Statement of Personal History should be maximum 2000 words.

Letters of Recommendation We require three letters of recommendation. The Department prefers that letters of recommendation be submitted electronically through the online graduate school application as mentioned above.  If need be, a hard copy letter can be sent to:

Department of Anthropology

Graduate Office

232 Anthrpology and Art Practice Building 

UC Berkeley

Berkeley, CA  94720-3710

GRE  GREs are no longer accepted or reviewed. Please do not submit them. 

TOEFL/IELTS Scores

International applicants whose native language is not English and who have not  earned a basic degree at an appropriately recognized US college or university must take the TOEFL or IELTS test. For more information on the TOEFL go to  http://www.ets.org , and for the IELTS,  https://ielts.org/.

Nondiscrimination Policy Statement

T he University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and University policy, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.

Inquiries may be directed to the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination at  http://ophd.berkeley.edu/ .

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Find out about application deadlines, student profiles, the academic setting and what it takes to “Be Berkeley.”

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PhD Program Admissions

Visualization of copper in normal (top row) and mutant (bottom row) zebrafish brains. Image by Tong Xiao, Chang lab.

The application deadline for Fall 2024 admission was November 27th, 2023 (by 8:59 pm Pacific Standard Time). 

The Neuroscience PhD Program grants PhDs only. We do not offer a master’s degree. Applications are accepted from the middle of September through the end of November for admission for Fall of the following year. We do not accept applications for spring semester. All application materials must be received by the deadline. Late applications are not accepted or reviewed. 

Applications will be reviewed holistically, using a rubric that considers academic preparation, research experience, contributions to diversity and community, initiative and motivation, and synergy with the program, each evaluated in the context of the individual applicant.

For more information please visit:

• Which Program is Right For You
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Areas of Neuroscience

The Neuroscience PhD Program provides research training in four broad areas of neuroscience: cellular & molecular neuroscience, circuit, systems & behavioral neuroscience, human cognition, and computational neuroscience. Read more about each below.

Molecular & Cellular Neuroscience

Molecular and cellular neuroscientists at Berkeley study neuronal cell biology, cellular physiology, and molecular and genetic basis of neuron, synapse, and glial function. Specific topics include sensory transduction, cellular-level neuronal development, synaptic transmission and plasticity, ion channel physiology, neurodegenerative disease, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Many faculty develop novel molecular genetic tools to more precisely measure cellular physiology or to develop new therapeutical approaches to disease. Methods from molecular biology, computational biology (bioinformatics), and cellular physiology are often used in this research.

Circuit, Systems & Behavioral Neuroscience

Circuit, systems and behavioral neuroscientists at UC Berkeley study how neural circuits, ensembles, and large-scale neural systems process information in order to interpret the sensory world, make and recall memories, and produce specific behaviors. Our faculty study neural systems for sensory processing (vision, audition, touch), innate behaviors, memory, navigation, motivated behaviors, sleep, circadian rhythms, social behaviors, decision making, and more. This research often involves neurophysiology, imaging, and optogenetics experiments, usually in behaving animals. Computational models of neural circuits, and sophisticated data analysis involving modeling and machine learning, are often used in this research.

Cognitive Neuroscience

Cognitive neuroscience at UC Berkeley focuses on human cognition and its brain correlates. Our faculty study the human cognitive abilities and neural mechanisms underlying learning and memory, decision making, perception, reasoning, attention, sleep, motor control, etc. Berkeley human cognition labs employ a broad range of experimental techniques, including functional and structural neuroimaging, electrophysiology, brain stimulation, pharmacology, computational modeling, and quantitative behavioral analyses.

Computational Neuroscience

Although quantitative methods are used in all sub areas of neuroscience for analyzing complex data sets, the focus of Computational Neuroscience is to model the brain or brain function: computational models can attempt to model experimental data obtained in neurophysiological experiments (biophysically plausible models) or model functions achieved by the brain such as object recognition, language comprehension, symbolic manipulations, etc. A strong mathematical and programming background is required for research in Computational Neuroscience.

Please see the Neuroscience Department page:  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion .

Recorded Info Session:

Friday, November 3, 2023 11am-12pm Pacific Time Neuroscience PhD Program – Diversity Admissions Fair Info Session Hosted by Program Faculty with Current Students Session Recording

Previously Recorded Info Session:

Friday, November 4, 2022 10-11am Pacific Time AMA Grad Student Panel for Prospective Applicants Hosted by Current Students Session Recording

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U.S. News & World Report ranks UC Berkeley computer science graduate program No. 1

UC Berkeley’s computer science graduate program was ranked first in the nation for the second year in a row by U.S. News & World Report , according to 2024 rankings  released April 8.

Berkeley’s program in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences shared the top spot with computer science programs at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford University and Carnegie Mellon University. 

Several other Berkeley graduate programs in business, public health, public affairs and more were listed in the top 20 for their disciplines. These rankings are based on a survey of academics at peer institutions, according to U.S. News .

Berkeley’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences is shared by the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society and the College of Engineering. Learn more about Berkeley’s computer science graduate program.

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The School of Information is UC Berkeley’s newest professional school. Located in the center of campus, the I School is a graduate research and education community committed to expanding access to information and to improving its usability, reliability, and credibility while preserving security and privacy.

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The School of Information offers four degrees:

The Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS) program educates information professionals to provide leadership for an information-driven world.

The Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) is an online degree preparing data science professionals to solve real-world problems. The 5th Year MIDS program is a streamlined path to a MIDS degree for Cal undergraduates.

The Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS) is an online degree preparing cybersecurity leaders for complex cybersecurity challenges.

Our Ph.D. in Information Science is a research program for next-generation scholars of the information age.

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The School of Information's courses bridge the disciplines of information and computer science, design, social sciences, management, law, and policy. We welcome interest in our graduate-level Information classes from current UC Berkeley graduate and undergraduate students and community members.  More information about signing up for classes.

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Research by faculty members and doctoral students keeps the I School on the vanguard of contemporary information needs and solutions.

The I School is also home to several active centers and labs, including the Center for Long-Term Cybersecurity (CLTC) , the Center for Technology, Society & Policy , and the BioSENSE Lab .

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The Goldman School of Public Policy, the CITRIS Policy Lab, and the School of Information hosted the inaugural UC...

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This position involves developing and implementing programs for student outreach, recruitment, and admissions for the UC Berkeley School of Information graduate programs. The Admissions Coordinator is responsible for communicating with prospective students, applicants, and admitted students about admissions requirements, policies, and processes.

Responsibilities

Responds to inquiries from prospective students regarding entrance requirements, application procedures, financial aid availability, housing alternatives, etc.

Communicates with applicants about the status of their application. Collects and processes missing materials as received to complete files.

Processes and prepares application files for reader evaluation.

Assists with Graduate Division admissions recommendation process. Ensures timely and complete receipt of newly admitted student application materials and all consecutive enrollment requirements. 

Provides technical support for admissions systems, including Slate, Salesforce, the admissions website, and other campus platforms. Works with internal, external, and campus partners on troubleshooting technical issues as they arise.

Provides additional administrative and operational support, as needed.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.

Excellent customer service and interpersonal skills. Multicultural competencies. Enthusiastic about working with diverse populations.

Working knowledge of UC, and the ability to interpret policies and procedures to prospective applicants and the public.

Ability to multitask in a fast-paced department, work under multiple deadlines, and have the ability to prioritize workflow in a logical manner to meet strict and important deadlines.

Skills in judgment and decision-making, problem solving, identifying measures of system performance and the actions to improve performance.

Ability to develop original ideas to solve problems and not deterred by ambiguity. Ability to be resourceful, creative, innovative, and flexible.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Strong attention to detail and very organized.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities.  Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.  The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits  website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. 

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $28.30 to $39.00 hourly. This is a 100% FTE career position eligible for full benefits.

How to Apply

You may also go to https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu and search for Job ID #67558.

The first review date for this job is April 23, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles , our Principles of Community , and our Strategic Plan .

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu

About the School of Information

The School of Information (I School) advances knowledge and practice everywhere humans interact with digital technologies. Through interdisciplinary research and teaching we are committed to expanding access to information and to improving its usability, reliability, and credibility while preserving security and privacy. Our faculty conduct research in human-computer interaction (HCI), security and privacy, applied data science, and technology in developing regions.

We currently offer three professional master’s degrees and an academic doctoral degree. Our Master of Information Management and Systems (MIMS) program trains students for careers as information professionals and emphasizes project-based learning. Our Master of Information and Data Science (MIDS) program is an online degree designed for working professionals with career goals in the emerging field of data science. The newly launched Master of Information and Cybersecurity (MICS), also offered online, offers a holistic approach to cybersecurity and prepares students for professional careers in cybersecurity. Our Ph.D. program equips scholars to develop solutions and shape policies that influence how people seek, use, and share information.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the  U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission  poster.

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Berkeley IEOR Alum Tony Xu, DoorDash CEO and Co-Founder, to Deliver 2024 Commencement Address

Berkeley IEOR is proud to announce that Tony Xu (B.S. ’07 IEOR), CEO and co-founder of DoorDash, a technology company that connects consumers with their favorite local businesses, is this year’s keynote speaker for the College of Engineering, Class of 2024 bachelor’s degree ceremony on May 14.

Born in China, Tony came to America with his parents and grew up working in a restaurant alongside his mother. He and his co-founders started DoorDash with a mission to grow and empower local businesses, like his mother’s restaurant.

DoorDash began by addressing the challenges of delivery from restaurants and has since expanded to include grocery, retail, beauty, alcohol, pet food, flowers, and convenience. In 2018, DoorDash established Project Dash, an initiative that helps deliver food and essential items to people experiencing food insecurity. Since 2018, Project DASH has powered more than 5 million deliveries of an estimated over 80 million meals.

Prior to co-founding DoorDash in 2013, Tony worked in product at Square, led special projects for the CEO and CFO at eBay, and began his career at McKinsey & Co.

Tony Xu exemplifies how Berkeley IEOR alums impact the world by creating innovative solutions and spearheading transformative changes across industries.

The College of Engineering’s Baccalaureate degree ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, May 14 at 2 pm . For a comprehensive list of this year’s speakers across all degree programs, please visit the provided link .

Berkeley IEOR will host a special ceremony open to all Berkeley IEOR graduating students on Tuesday, May 14th from 11am-1:30pm .

Academic & Professional Development (new)

These three offices support graduate students as they develop the skills and experience to succeed academically and prepare for future careers.

GradPro is the campus Graduate Student Professional Development Resource Hub. Grad Pro supports students through all stages of exploring and preparing for a wide range of careers. GradPro’s services, programs, and resources help students to develop vital professional competencies and skills in order to succeed in their academic programs and launch careers within and beyond academia. GradPro also supports departments and faculty in creating professional development programming for graduate students. [email protected]

Graduate Writing Center

The Graduate Writing Center (GWC) helps students develop the writing skills needed to complete their graduate programs and prepare for the writing they will do in future careers. The GWCoffers workshops on academic writing, grant writing, dissertation writing, editing, and preparing articles for publication. The center also offers one-on-one consultations, the Graduate Writing Community, writing groups, boot camps, and a graduate-level course on academic writing, GSPDP 320. [email protected]

Graduate Student Instructor Teaching & Resource Center

The Graduate Student Instructor Teaching & Resource Center (GSI-TRC) prepares graduate students for teaching at UC Berkeley and for the teaching they will do in future careers, within and beyond academia. The GSI-TRC offers teaching conferences, workshops, seminars, consultations, classroom observations, grants, awards, an online teaching guide, and a web-based course on professional standards and ethics in teaching. The center also provides language testing, specialized courses, and consultations for current and prospective multilingual international students at UC Berkeley. [email protected]

Upcoming Professional Development Events

Skills and strategies to manage depression and anxiety in grad school.

Thank you for your interest in the “Skills and Strategies to Manage Depression and Anxiety in Grad School” workshop offered…

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“Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment” presented by Natalia Caporale

Natalia Caporale, Associate Professor of Teaching, Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, UC Davis will present tips and insights for…

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“Professional in Residence” career mentoring with Dr. Natalia Caporale

Professionals in Residence – QB3-Berkeley Graduate and Postdoc Career Development with Dr. Natalia Caporale, Associate Professor of Teaching, Department of Neurobiology,…

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Long Bridge Program for Faculty and Graduate Students

You’re invited to join us for our second Graduate Student and Faculty gathering of the The Long Bridge Program on April…

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Using Peerceptiv Peer Review to Increase Collaboration and Improve Student Grades

Peerceptiv is a peer collaboration tool now available for all UC Berkeley classes as part of a pilot. It facilitates peer…

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Find the Perfect Program

Under the Haas Undergraduate Business Programs, we have four distinct and unique programs that embrace and foster the Distinguished Leadership Principles. The programs are: The Spieker Undergraduate Business Program, The Global Management Program, The Robinson Life Sciences and Business Entrepreneurship Program, and Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology Program.

Our Programs

Spieker undergraduate business program.

The Spieker Undergraduate Business Program is a four-year undergraduate business program at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

Global management program.

The Global Management Program links the expertise of UC Berkeley business courses with project-based travel opportunities to develop a global perspective.

Management, entrepreneurship, & technology program.

A freshman admit program for students interested in studying both engineering and business.

Robinson life sciences, business, and entrepreneurship program.

The Robinson Life Science, Business, and Entrepreneurship Program combines the strengths of the Biosciences Division in the College of Letters and Science and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley.

Easiest & Hardest UCs and CSUs to Get Into in 2024

April 9, 2024

The University of California and the California State University system schools are some of the most coveted universities to attend in all of California, let alone the rest of the United States. College-bound California students are lucky to have the ability to attend world-class universities at in-state prices. However, these schools can be incredibly competitive, making it difficult for students in their home states to access education in their backyards. If you’re a student searching to go to a UC or CSU school in the coming years, this might lead you to the question: what are the easiest and hardest UCs and CSUs to get into?

In this article, we’ll give you a ranking of all of the University of California schools and some of the hardest and easiest CSU schools. We’ll also provide other pertinent information to help you decide the schools to which you are best suited to apply.

There’s a word of caution, here, however. The University of California advises: “Please be cautious in drawing conclusions from this information. Use it as a general guide to selectivity and not as a predictor of your chance for admission” to any of the UC schools. The same holds true for the CSU campuses listed.

So, while the data is reflective of a statistical overview of each school, do note that there are always people who are rejected every year who fit the statistical overview and students who are accepted every year who we might otherwise think of as outliers.

With that being said, let’s dive into the University of California school rankings.

Hardest UC to Get Into

This is the full list of UC schools and their relevant data, ranked from hardest to easiest to get into, based on acceptance rate. Data comes from the specific university websites and from US News and World Report school profiles.

• Applicants: 145,904
• Admits: 12,779
• Overall Acceptance Rate:  8.8%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 4.20–4.31

It should come as no surprise that UCLA tops the list. With the lowest number of admitted students in the bustling metropolis of Los Angeles, UCLA has rigorous admissions standards. You might be surprised to note that the most selective major for the fall 2023 class was Nursing, with an acceptance rate of only .8 percent. That’s lower than Film and Television, which had a 1 percent acceptance rate; Design and Media Arts, which had a 2.9 percent acceptance rate; and Computer Science, which had a 3.1 percent acceptance rate.

2) Berkeley

• Applicants: 125,910
• Admits: 14,566
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 11.6 %
• High School GPA of middle 25–75 % of students: 4.15–4.29

Computer Science, Engineering, and Economics are the top three hardest majors to get into at Berkeley, followed by Biology and Political Science. The Computer Science program at Berkeley is one of the top-ranked CS programs in the world, so admission there is no small feat.

3) San Diego 

• Applicants: 130,841
• Admits: 32,314
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 24.7%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 4.11–4.29

All UCSD students are organized into one of the small colleges on campus, based on preference and ranking. If you choose a “Selective Major” but are out-ranked by other students and the cap on the major is met, you will be sorted into your second or third choice major. UCSD recommends choosing a “Non-Selective” major as your backup option.

Selective Majors are as follows:

• School of Biological Sciences
• Data Science
• Public Health
• Bioengineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Computer Engineering
• Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Nanoengineering
• Structural Engineering
• Applicants: 121,095
• Admits: 31,181
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 25.7%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 4.07–4.28

If you’ve got your sights set on a UC school, but aren’t sure about your ability to get in, consider UC Irvine. High-performing community college students are automatically accepted into UC Irvine through the state’s Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program , if they meet the eligibility requirements. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Business, Engineering, Psychology, and Computer and Information Sciences.

5)  Santa Barbara 

• Applicants: 110,876
• Admits: 30,914
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 27.9%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 4.13–4.29

UC Santa Barbara is an outstanding school, ranked #12 in Top Public Schools by US News and World Report for 2024. The most popular majors are Social Sciences, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics, Psychology, and Communications/Journalism.

• Applicants: 94,635
• Admits: 39,601
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 41.8%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 4.03–4.27

UC Davis is ranked first in the nation for agriculture and forestry, and it is first in the nation for veterinary medicine. The school is second in the nation for ecology and evolutionary biology and third in the nation for biological and agricultural engineering.

Easiest UC to Get Into

• Applicants: 27,184
• Admits: 24,016
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 88.3%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 3.48–4.08

At UC Merced, the most popular majors are Biology/Biological Sciences, which makes up 15 percent of the student body. Research and Experimental Psychology accounts for 13 percent, Computer Engineering 11 percent, Mechanical Engineering 10 percent, and Business Administration 9 percent.

2) Riverside

• Applicants: 56,938
• Admits: 40,054
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 70.3%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 3.76–4.18

Social Sciences accounts for 20 percent of students at UC Riverside, followed by Biological and Biomedical Sciences at 18 percent, Business at 14 percent, and Psychology at 10 percent, and Engineering at 7 percent.

3) Santa Cruz 

• Applicants: 68,821
• Admits: 43,159
• Overall Acceptance Rate: 62.7%
• High School GPA of Middle 25–75% of students: 3.86–4.22

The most popular majors at UC Santa Cruz are Computer and Information Sciences, Psychology, Business/Managerial Economics, Cellular and Molecular Biology, and Sociology. In fact, the schools of Engineering, Physical and Biological Sciences, and Social Sciences account for more than 80 percent of students overall.

Hardest CSU to Get Into

Generally speaking, many consider the California State University schools to be easier to get into than the University of California schools. For one thing, there are many more CSU campuses than there are UC campuses. That means that there are more options for you to consider when thinking about your odds of acceptance—and more places for you to potentially be accepted.

So when you’re rolling the admissions dice, where should you apply? This list isn’t as exhaustive as the UC schools list, but we break down the harder and easier options. Our list uses the most recent admissions data from the National Center for Education Statistics College Navigator, where you can go to get the full picture of any of these schools.

It’s worth noting that there are many schools within the California State University system that have acceptance rates above 90 percent. Adding some of these “easier” campuses to your list of colleges could help you feel more secure in your chances at attending a California state school.

1)  Cal Poly San Luis Obispo  

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo had an admit rate of 30 percent for the Fall 2022 semester. A whopping 29 percent of those admitted accepted and enrolled in the school. With a graduation rate of 85 percent, students who get admitted to Cal Poly enroll, and those who enroll stay to graduate. Engineering, followed by Business, had the highest number of admits as overall majors, meaning that they are also highly competitive. If you’re on the fence about your competitiveness, but really want to go to Cal Poly, consider applying with a less populated major, like Foreign Language, Philosophy, or English.

2) San Diego State 

            San Diego State is typically thought of as a tougher CSU school to get into, and with good reason. In the Fall of 2022, the admissions rate was 39 percent. It falls just behind San Luis Obispo in selectivity. Business is going to be the toughest major to get into, with Engineering, the Health Professions, Psychology, and the Social Sciences a bit farther behind (while still being very popular).

3)  Cal Poly Pomona 

The admissions rate at Cal Poly Pomona was 55 percent in Fall 2022. Engineering is certainly the most competitive major, but you do have roughly a 50/50 chance at being admitted at Pomona.

4)  Cal State Long Beach 

Long Beach has a 40 percent acceptance rate, and nearly half of those accepted (18 percent) decide to enroll. At Long Beach, you’ll find yourself competing against a lot of students to study Business or the Visual and Performing Arts.

Easiest CSU to Get Into

1) cal poly humboldt.

Cal Poly Humboldt had an admissions rate of 98 percent for the Fall 2022 semester, meaning almost everyone who applied got in. Just 12 percent of those admitted ended up enrolling, however. If you want to go to a Cal Poly school, but are unsure about your level of competitiveness, add Humboldt to your list.

2) Chico State

Chico State has a 95 percent admissions rate, and Business and Psychology are the most populated majors.

3) Fresno State 

Fresno State has an admissions rate of 95 percent. In other words: almost everybody who applies gets in. This is great news if you’re looking for a welcoming in-state school to take you to the next level.

Fifty percent of the applicants who chose to submit SAT scores submitted scores in the 880 to 1140 range. One quarter—or twenty-five percent—of applicants who submitted test scores had scores below 880 and the other twenty-five percent had scores above 1140.

The admissions rate doesn’t mean you’re going to school with everyone who applied, though. Out of the 95 percent admitted, 20 percent enrolled in the 2023–2024 academic year.

4) San Francisco State 

If you want to study in San Francisco, you’ll be pleased to know that San Francisco State had a 94 percent acceptance rate for the Fall 2022 semester. While an overwhelming number of students want to study Business, the Visual and Performing Arts are also very popular.

5) CSU Channel Islands

At the Channel Islands, 90 percent of applicants are admitted, and just seven percent end up enrolling. Psychology is the most populated major, followed by Health Professions and Business.

6) CSU Bakersfield

Bakersfield boasts a welcoming 87 percent admissions rate, with just 9 percent of admitted students going on to enroll. Business, Liberal Arts, and Psychology are the most populated majors, and students tend to take six years to graduate.

Other CSU Schools 

There are still more CSU schools to check out. Here’s the rest of the list of campuses. One of these schools might be the perfect fit for your specific admissions profile!

• CSU Dominguez Hills
• Cal State East Bay
• Cal State Fullerton
• Cal State LA
• Cal Maritime
• CSU Monterey Bay
• Sacramento State
• Cal State San Bernardino
• San José State
• CSU San Marcos
• Sonoma State
• Stanislaus State
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Brittany Borghi

After earning a BA in Journalism and an MFA in Nonfiction Writing from the University of Iowa, Brittany spent five years as a full-time lecturer in the Rhetoric Department at the University of Iowa. Additionally, she’s held previous roles as a researcher, full-time daily journalist, and book editor. Brittany’s work has been featured in The Iowa Review, The Hopkins Review, and the Pittsburgh City Paper, among others, and she was also a 2021 Pushcart Prize nominee.

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