| MS/PhD Admissions |
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The next date for admission to the Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees in architecture is Fall 2009. Admission is for the fall semester only. We recommend beginning the admissions process well in advance of the December 1, 2008, deadline. This includes not only obtaining appropriate forms, but also contacting professors with whom you will want to study. Please read the following application instructions carefully. In addition, you may wish to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Application Components 1. University Application and Fee The University application and fee ($60 for U.S. citizens or current permanent residents, $80 for all others) must be submitted online by December 1, 2008, for Fall 2009 admission consideration. The department does not accept paper applications. In addition to submitting the online application and fee, applicants must assemble and submit by mail the following materials. Please click on the links below for further information about each.
Mailing Address All supplemental materials must be postmarked by December 1, 2008, and mailed to:
We request that applicants make their best effort to include all materials in one package. Please do not enclose your supporting documents in plastic covers, cases, sleeves, or binders as these extraneous elements will be discarded. Review of Applications The Graduate Division will send you a confirmation email after your online application is submitted, so please be sure that the email address you indicate on Form A is one you check regularly. Important: To work around bulk email or SPAM guards, the Architecture Graduate Office requests that applicants set up a filter in their email accounts to direct email from the following addresses to their "In" folders: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Please note: We request that you do not call or email inquiring about your application status. If we are missing any of your application materials, we will email you by the second week in February. Notification of Acceptance Unofficial application decisions are emailed to applicants by the end of March. Applicants who have been recommended for admission are notified by the Graduate Division by mid-April. 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. Below are details on the required supplemental materials. M.S. Departmental Application [available September 2008] Statement of Purpose (1000 words, maximum) Part 1: Goals. 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. 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. 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. Please submit your Statement of Purpose and Personal History by one of the following methods: 1) Send the architecture graduate office a hard copy version (preferred if you want to preserve formatting) 2) Copy and paste your statement onto Form F of the University online application. If you plan to copy and paste, first save your document in plain text format (.txt) to avoid the occurrence of strange symbols in your essay. Include professional work, teaching experience, awards, publications, relevant volunteer/public services activities, etc. Three letters of recommendation Three are required and should testify mainly to academic and professional capacity and promise. Letters should be substantive statements from academics and professionals familiar with your abilities and accomplishments. Letters should come in envelopes signed across the seal by the recommender. You can download and print out recommendation cover Form G. Two official sets of transcripts Two official sets of transcripts are required from the institution from which the undergraduate degree was earned. If the credits for course work transferred from another school are not accompanied with grades on your undergraduate transcript, we will require a separate official transcript from that other school. Please include copies of transcripts for previously completed graduate work. Submissions should support the statement of purpose and clearly demonstrate research and writing abilities. There is no limitation as to length. Design portfolios may also be included if relevant to the proposed research. TOEFL (if required); GRE (optional) Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination. The school code is 4833; the department code is 12. The TOEFL must have been taken after June 2007. If the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is taken, scores must be reported to the Graduate Division by the Educational Testing Service. The school code is 4833; the department code is 4401. The written form of the GRE must be taken by November. The computer-based test must be taken by December. The GRE must have been taken after June 2004. |
