| M.S./Ph.D. Admissions |
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Note: Prospective applicants to the graduate programs in the Department of Architecture are invited to attend our fall open house in October. Read more. The next date for admission to the Master of Science (M.S.) and Ph.D. degree programs in architecture is Fall 2013. Admission is for the fall semester only. We recommend beginning the admissions process well in advance of the December 2012 deadline. (Note: The specific deadline date will be posted as soon as it is available.) This includes not only obtaining appropriate forms, but also contacting professors with whom you will want to study. Applicants without an advanced degree in architecture are encouraged to consider the M.S. degree first. Please read the following application instructions carefully. In addition, you may wish to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Below are the application components that you must submit in order to be considered for admission. All components must be submitted electronically. 1. University Application and Fee The University Graduate Division online application (includes Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, and self-reported TOEFL score, if applicable) and application fee ($80 for U.S. citizens or current permanent residents, $100 for all others) must be submitted online by the application deadline. The department does not accept paper applications. 2. Statement of Purpose (1,000 words, maximum) Part 1: Goals (500 words). A statement describing your general academic and career goals, the field(s) in which you would like to study, and why you wish to attend UC Berkeley in particular (you may want to refer to specific classes, faculty, or research projects that interest you). Your ideas should be clear, specific, and persuasive. Part 2: Research Proposal (500 words). An example of a specific research proposal that you may wish to undertake while at UC Berkeley. You may present a single proposal, or perhaps two alternates, about your dissertation Although you are not committed to do precisely what you propose (and, if fact, it is expected that your ideas will evolve during your studies), the committee will use this proposal to assess your ability to conceptualize a research plan. Your research proposal should succinctly frame a research question, articulate why it is important, demonstrate an understanding of the relevant literature and gaps in current knowledge, and identify what types of research methods one might apply to address the problem. If possible identify faculty in architecture and/or other departments with whom you would like to work. 3. Personal History (500 words, maximum) This essay is a narrative description of your life background in terms of how it has prepared you for this next stage of your studies. It should describe relevant aspects of your life story and achievements, as well as educational and cultural opportunities or circumstances that supported or deprived you of such achievements; family background; economic circumstances; special interests and abilities; and community or social service involvement. Throughout, be selective in describing things that specifically relate to your academic goals and intellectual pursuits. In particular, please be sure to focus on details of your research experience, and how your background has prepared you for the next stage of your studies. 4. Official Transcript(s): Digital Format Obtain a set of official transcripts from all post-high-school educational institutions attended (whether or not a degree was earned). Convert the transcripts to digital (.pdf) format. Remove your Social Security number and birth date before submittal. 5. Three Letters of Recommendation Submit in digital format via the University graduate application. 6. TOEFL (required for all international applicants); GRE (optional) Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) instead of the GRE. School code is 4833; department code is 12. TOEFL scores are valid for two years. Minimum scores: 570 for the paper-based test; 230 for the computer-based test; and 68 for the internet-based test (iBT). As a substitute to the TOEFL, applicants may take the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. Minimum score is 7 on a 9-point scale. Please provide the department with an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS. Domestic applicants may take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). School code is 4833; department code is 4401. GRE scores are valid for five years. There is no minimum required score. 7. Resume Include professional work, teaching experience, awards, publications, relevant volunteer/public services activities, etc. Submit in digital (.pdf) format. 8. Research/Writing Samples (50 pages, maximum) Submissions should support the statement of purpose and clearly demonstrate research and writing abilities. Submit in digital (.pdf) format. The University Graduate Division will send you a confirmation email after you submit the online graduate application. Please note: If we are missing any of your application materials, we will email you by the second week in February. Important: To avoid bulk-email or SPAM guards, we request that applicants set up a filter in their email accounts to direct email from This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to their "In" folders. Unofficial application decisions are emailed to applicants by the end of February. Applicants who have been recommended for admission are notified by the Graduate Division by end of March. Only the written notice of the Dean of the Graduate Division constitutes approval of admission. Correspondence with the department or with individual faculty members, no matter what the content, does not commit the University to an approval of admission. |
