Graduate Admissions

As a Berkeley graduate student, you’re part of a diverse community of change-makers known worldwide for innovation and academic excellence. Our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation is informed by a deep commitment to contributing to a better world. We're consistently ranked the top-ranked public university in the nation, and it shows: among our alums are five Nobel prize winners, more than 40 MacArthur Foundation "Genius Grant" recipients, and founders of hundreds of successful companies.

On our 1,200-acre campus overlooking San Francisco Bay, you'll find more than 20 libraries, countless interdisciplinary centers and institutes, art and science museums, four outdoor pools for year-round swimming, and resident Peregrine falcons in our bell tower. Every day, the campus is buzzing with activity: dance and music performances, lectures and symposia, readings and recitals, and — as the birthplace of the Free Speech Movement — teach-ins and peaceful political protests.

And the robust and engaging academic, cultural, and social offerings available on the UC Berkeley campus are just the beginning: Berkeley's location in the Bay Area offers unparalleled opportunities. We're just across the bay from San Francisco, where you'll find thriving architectural practices, world-class museums and art spaces, and creatives of all types. Both the state capital, Sacramento, and Silicon Valley are just short hops away, putting you in a position to engage with policy-makers as well as entrepreneurs who are shaping the future.

California is the ideal laboratory for bold actions to make our world a better place. At the edge of the continent, California embraces a global perspective. With a population of 40 million, it's one of the most culturally and ethnically diverse states in the nation. And the diversity of its natural and built landscapes — deserts, coasts, mountains, forests, cities, suburbs, exurbs agricultural regions — offers boundless opportunities.

California is also a bellwether of some of this century's most urgent problems, from housing affordability, social inequities, rising sea levels, extreme heat, and wildfires. At Berkeley, we are committed to harnessing research, creativity, and knowledge to meet these challenges. We invite you to learn more about how a Berkeley graduate education can empower you to be a change-maker.

About our Graduate Programs

We offer six professional degrees and five academic graduate degrees, as well as opportunities for earning concurrent degrees within the college and with other Berkeley colleges and departments.

How to Apply

Start your application journey by reviewing the general application process on UC Berkeley's Graduate Division website.

Then, review the required materials for the degree program you are applying to. When you are ready to apply, submit your materials through the Graduate Division portal.

Deadlines

Application deadlines for CED graduate degree programs range from mid-November to mid-January, depending on the program.

Applications for fall 2025 open on Thursday, September 12, 2024.

MArch, MAAD, MS Architecture, PhD Architecture

MLA

PhD in Landscape Architecture + Environmental Planning

MCP, PhD in City + Regional Planning

MUD

MRED+D

Concurrent Degrees

Fees + Financial Aid

CED is committed to recruiting students of outstanding achievement and potential, regardless of ability to pay. Visit our Fees + Financial Aid page for information about financial aid, scholarships and fellowships, and work opportunities.

Learn More

Visit our department web pages to find out more about each of our graduate degree programs and how to apply.

Application Materials

• UC Berkeley Graduate Application
• Application Fee
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History Statement
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Examinations
• GRE
• TOEFL/IELTS
• Transcript(s)
• Grade Point Average
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• Portfolio of Creative Work
• Portfolio FAQs
• Recent Publication, Report, or Writing Sample

• Select the APPROPRIATE program by SCROLLING DOWN the alphabetized list of choices and complete ALL sections of the UC Berkeley Graduate Application: Academic History, Languages, Economic Background, Employment, Program Page, Supporting Materials.
  • UC Berkeley begins accepting applications in early September for the following fall term only (no spring admissions) and on a full-time basis.
  • Please allow yourself at least 1 hour prior to the deadline to submit your application.
  • Late applications or changes to the application after the deadline will NOT be accepted.
  • You do NOT have to complete the entire application at one time.
  • After submitting your application, you will receive an email from UC Berkeley’s Graduate Admissions Office confirming your submission.
  • We strongly encourage that you log back into your application to monitor the status of materials received/processed, such as fee waivers, test scores, and recommendations.
  • Pay the nonrefundable Application Fee by credit card (no other forms of payment allowed in the application system).
    • If you are a U.S. Citizen or current Permanent Resident, the application fee is $135.
    • For all others, the application fee is $155.
    • The Fee Waiver policy is set by the university and all documentation is reviewed by UC Berkeley’s Graduate Admissions Office. ONLY the Graduate Admissions Office can provide approval for an application fee waiver.
    • The form to request a fee waiver is included in the payment section of the online application.
    • To be considered for a fee waiver, applicants MUST select the waiver payment option and upload any required supporting documents BEFORE submitting the online application.
    • Please discuss (with clarity and focus) why you want to study your proposed subject field, why you want to study at UC Berkeley, and how our program can help you achieve your academic and professional goals.
    • Note to PhD applicants and applicants to the academic master’s degree programs: The admissions committee will read your Statement of Purpose seeking an account of your prior research experience and looking for evidence that you are prepared to undertake a significant, sophisticated, independent, and in-depth research project.
      • Your competence and intellectual potential to undertake research is among the most important criteria considered by the admissions committee.

      Architecture PhD and MS Applicants Only

      Architecture PhD and Master of Science applicants should structure their Statement of Purpose as follows:

      • 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, in 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.

      MArch Applicants Only

      Architecture Masters of Architecture & MArch Concurrent Degree applicants should structure their Statement of Purpose as follows:

      Application Essay Part 1 (500 words). Write a short essay that responds to the following question.

      What do you want to contribute to the field of architecture during your time at Berkeley and after? How will Berkeley contribute to these aspirations?

      • Please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree.
      • Your statement can include any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey such as:
        • How you have overcome barriers to access in 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

        Architecture PhD and Master of Science applicants should structure their Personal History Statement as follows:

        • This essay (500 words, maximum) 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.

          Masters of Architecture & MArch Concurrent Degree applicants should structure their Personal History Statement as follows:

          Application Essay Part 2 (500 words). Choose one of the following questions below to share more thoughts.

          1. What is at stake for the future of architecture?

          2. For whom do you want to design and why?

          3. What does your application not say about you?

          • A minimum of three letters of recommendation must be submitted through the UC Berkeley Graduate Division Application by the application deadline.
            • The strongest letters are from individuals who have supervised your work in either an academic, employment or community service capacity.
            • Your recommenders are encouraged to describe SPECIFIC EXAMPLES of your work that demonstrate your intellectual ability, creativity, initiative, leadership potential, and promise for graduate study in your desired field.
            • In the Recommendations section of the application, for each individual you will:
              • Enter the recommender’s contact information
              • Select your answer for the “access waiver” question
              • Provide your signature
              • Click “send”
              • Thereafter, you should notify your recommenders that they will receive an email from UC Berkeley’sGraduate Admissions Office: gradadm@berkeley.edu. The email’s subject line will be “Recommendation request from [Applicant Name] for the University of California, Berkeley” and the body of the email will outline the steps required to upload their letter to the application system.

              Applicants to the CED’s graduate programs may be required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)/International English Language Testing System (IELTS). See the table below for the examination(s) required by your program. Please plan ahead and schedule your examinations at least one month prior to the application deadline so that we may have timely receipt of your scores. It can take up to 2.5 weeks for your scores to be received and matched to your application.

              We will be allowing the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition. Please note that your exam must be administered by Educational Testing Services (ETS)

              The GRE is no longer required for admission to:

              For PhD and MS programs, the GRE is optional.

              For all other programs not listed, please contact the department.

              • All applicants (domestic and international) who have completed a basic degree IN a country or political entity in which the official language is NOT English are required to submit official Evidence of English Language Proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
                • This applies to institutions in Bangladesh, Burma, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries, and Quebec (Canada)
                • We will only accept TOEFL tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and official scores sent electronically/directly by ETS.
                  • For Fall 2023, tests taken before June 1, 2021 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley electronically.
                  • 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).
                  • MyBest Scores will NOT be accepted.
                  • You must send your TOEFL scores to UC Berkeley’s institution code: 4833.
                  • You are NOT required to list a department code.
                  • After you request ETS to send your official scores to Berkeley, it takes approximately 2.5 weeks for your scores to match with your application.
                  • Please plan ahead and schedule your examinations at least one month prior to the application deadline so that we may have timely receipt of your scores.
                  • If you do not see your scores as verified in the application system, please contact the Department Graduate Advisors (provide your full name and birthdate). We will attempt to search for and match your scores to your application. If we cannot match your scores with your application, you must again request that ETS send your scores and pay the fee.
                  • Please schedule your TOEFL in advance through the ETS/TOEFL website.
                  • More information about evidence of English Language Proficiency, including qualifying for an exemption, can be found here.
                  • Our institution code is 4833.
                    • You are NOT required to list a department code.
                    • For Fall 2023, tests taken before June 1, 2021, will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley electronically.
                    • For purposes of admission,your most recent IELTS overall Band score must be at least a 7 on a 9-point scale.
                    • For identification purposes, please use the Graduate Admissions Office’s address: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Room 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA, 94720.
                    • Mailed score reports will NOT be accepted.
                    • If you do not see your scores as verified in the application system, please contact the Graduate Admissions Office: gradadm@berkeley.edu and provide your full name and birthdate. They will attempt to search for and match your scores to your application. If they cannot match your scores with your application, you must again request that the testing center send your scores and pay the fee.
                    • Please schedule your IELTS in advance through the IELTS website.
                    • Upload transcripts from EACH college or university attended in the U.S. or abroad (whether you earned a degree or not).
                      • Please make sure that transcript images are properly rotated, and not sideways or upside-down, and remove your Social Security number and birth date before submitting.
                      • Applicants (domestic and international) who completed degrees OUTSIDE of the U.S. must upload transcripts AND degree certificates.
                      • If you studied abroad, attended a community college, participated in summer sessions, and/or extension programs, please upload EACH transcript separately.
                      • It is NOT necessary to submit separate transcripts if the courses, credits, and GRADES appear on your bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent transcript.
                      • A G.P.A. of 3.0 or better (on a 4-point scale) for all coursework completed AFTER the first two years of UNDERGRADUATE study is required (this is known as your Advanced G.P.A.).
                      • Please calculate your Advanced G.P.A. using a GPA Calculator.
                      • This calculation EXCLUDES any coursework completed AFTER the completion of your bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent.
                      • For applicants whose undergraduate institution does NOT utilize a 4-point scale, the calculation of an AGPA is NOT required. Please enter your university’s GPA into the Other Scale GPA box.
                      • Your curriculum vitae/resume provides a complete accounting of your educational, research, volunteer, and other experiences (including relevant professional work experience and internships).
                      • Please fully cite publications and conference papers.

                      A digital portfolio of design related content is required for applicants to the following degree programs:

                      • Master of Architecture
                      • Master of Advanced Architectural Design
                      • Master of City Planning — Urban Design Concentration
                      • Master of Landscape Architecture — First and Second Professional Degrees
                      • Master of Urban Design
                      • Architecture applicants can submit a portfolio up to 10 MB.
                      • City Planning and Landscape Architecture applicants can submit a portfolio up to 12 pages in length.
                      • Master of Urban Design (MUD) applicants can submit a portfolio up to 20 pages in length.
                      • Pages:
                        • Pages should be 8 1/2″ x11″ format with two-page spread equaling two pages.
                        • Landscape Architecture and MUD portfolios should be single-paged.
                        • The file size must be no larger than 10MB.
                        • If your portfolio PDF file exceeds 10MB, try compressing it in Adobe Acrobat.
                        • A recent publication, report, or writing sample must be submitted by applicants to the following degree programs:
                          • Master of Landscape Architecture — Environmental Planning Emphasis
                          • Master of Science in Architecture
                          • PhD in Architecture
                          • PhD in City and Regional Planning
                          • PhD in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (recent publication required, whether published or pending publishing)