Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
What can I do to prepare my application to UC Berkeley?
- Register and prepare for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Please consult the Educational Testing Service (ETS) regarding the locations, test dates, and the time it will take for score reports to reach Berkeley (all test scores are due to us by January 3, 2013). The oldest acceptable test date is June 2008.
- Contact three (3) individuals regarding letters of recommendation. You may want to prepare packages for your recommenders that include copies of work you have done with them, resumes/CVs, transcripts, etc., to aid them in writing your letter. Letters are very important to us so it is best to make sure that the letter writers know you well enough to compose a detailed, positive letter.
- Applicants who attended university in countries in which English is not an official language must also satisfy the Evidence of Language Proficiency requirement. You can do this by taking the TOEFL, but the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is also acceptable. The oldest acceptable score on language tests is June 2011.
- Please see our Requirements page and the Graduate Division's webpage for Prospective Students for more detailed information.
Does EECS accept applications for the Spring semester?
The EECS Department does not have admissions for the spring semester. We only offer admission in the Fall. Our next admissions period starts in September 2012 for students starting in August 2013.
Does the department have a supplemental application?
No we do not have a supplemental application for our standard graduate programs.
Does the university accept three (3) year degrees?
We will accept three-year Bologna Process bachelor-level degrees as a legitimate basis for admission to graduate status at Berkeley. This policy pertains to applicants to Berkeley academic and professional master's programs, doctoral programs, and combined master's and doctoral programs. Some European institutions may continue to offer bachelor-level degrees requiring more than three years of study, which we will, of course, continue to accept. The Graduate Division requires a bachelor-level honors degree from applicants from universities in Australia and New Zealand who have completed three-year degrees. We will not accept three years degrees from India.
What are the minimum requirements to be considered for
admission to a graduate program in EECS?
Please see http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Prerequisites.htm.
My undergraduate degree is not in Electrical Engineering (EE) or Computer Science (CS). Can I still apply to a graduate program in EECS?
Yes. A particularly strong application, however, will still have to elaborate on your technical knowledge, your ability to do graduate level research and classes upon entrance to the program, and your academic potential in general.
Is it possible to apply to two departments?
You can only submit one graduate school application for UC Berkeley. However, there are a number of concurrent programs to which a person can apply. Please see http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/programs/concurrent.shtml for more information.
What are your degree options for admission?
Please see http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/degreesexplained.htm.
Do I need a Masters to apply for the Ph.D program/Can I
apply to the Ph.D. program directly?
We do not require a masters degree for an application to our Ph.D. program. You can apply to the Ph.D. directly.
Do you have a separate application process for students who wish to transfer to your program from another university?
We do not have a separate application procedure for applicants who desire to transfer to our program from another graduate program. These applicants should follow our normal application directions.
Can I transfer credit from another university?
If one is admitted, at that time and with the approval of your advisor and the Vice Chair, one may petition to transfer up to 4 semester units (6 quarter units) of credit earned while you were in graduate standing at another institution towards an M.S. or up to 16 semester units (24 quarter units) of coursework toward the course requirements for the Ph.D. Units used to complete a bachelor's degree will not be accepted.
If I already have a Masters of Science or a PhD can I apply to your program?
Applicants who already hold Masters of Science in Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or any closely related field should not apply for the Masters in Science in our department.
Students who already hold a doctoral level degree are not admitted and duplication
of degree or admission to a lesser degree is not permitted. However, in extraordinary
circumstances, the faculty of the department may request an exception from the
Dean of the Graduate Division. The department must demonstrate that the second
degree field of study and program are distinctly different from that of the
original degree, and that there is a professional or scholarly purpose that
requires this second degree.
Do you accept recommendation letters from industry/outside
of academia?
Though recommendations from professors are preferred, letters from employers are also acceptable. Regardless of who writes it, the letters should demonstrate your academic and research ability and potential.
Do you accept more than three letters of recommendation?
Our system will allow you to submit more than three letters. However, there is no guarantee that more than three letters will be read. Also, please keep in mind that three good letters and one bad letter will still put you at a disadvantage.
Do I need to pay the application fee?
You must submit an application fee when you apply. The application fee is not refundable. If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the application fee is $80; for all others, the fee is $100. Fees are subject to change.
If you apply online, you may pay the fee by credit card (this is the preferred method). If you submit a check or money order, it must be drawn on a United States bank. Checks should be made payable to "UC Regents." Do not submit UNESCO coupons, traveler's checks, international postal money orders, Eurocheques, or cash. Do not transfer funds electronically.
Please send checks to:
Graduate Admissions
Re: Application Fee
309 Sproul Hall #5900
Berkeley, CA 94720-5900
For information on fee waivers, please see http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/before_begin.shtml#6.
What is the departmental GRE code?
To ensure that your official GRE scores are forwarded to the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences you must give ETS either the Electrical Engineering department code (1203) or the Computer Science department code (0402) when requesting official score reports to be sent to UC Berkeley (institution code - 4833). Do not have them sent to 4925.
Does the department require any GRE subject tests?
Only the general GRE consisting of the verbal, analytical and quantitative sections is required. The Computer Sciences division accepts the Subject GRE in either Math (M67), Physics (P77) or Computer Science (C29). The Subject GRE is not required and there is no penalty for those who do not submit one.
If I take the GRE more than once, which scores do you consider?
The highest scores will be the most important to us.
How important is the writing/verbal portion of the GRE?
Though the math section will be more important in our review, any score less than a 400 on the verbal section of the test will be of concern.
What is the departmental TOEFL code?
The institution code for UC Berkeley is 4833. There is no department code for
the TOEFL.
Who needs to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores?
The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required of all international applicants who received their undergraduate degree at a university or college in a country where English is not the official language. However, if at the time of application, you have already completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at a U.S. university, you do not need to take the TOEFL. Instead, you must submit an official transcript from the U.S. university. The following courses will not fulfill this requirement:
- courses in English as a Second Language
- courses conducted in a language other than English
- courses that will be completed after you apply
- courses of a non-academic nature
Also, simply having lived and worked in the US or another English-speaking country does not satisfy the English Language Requirement.
What TOEFL score do I need to be considered for admission?
The minimum TOEFL score required by U.C. Berkeley for graduate admission is
570 on the paper-based test (PBT), 230 on the computer based test (CBT) and
68 on the Internet Based Test (iBT). The minimum score for the IELTS is an overall band score of 7.
There is no minimum score for the different bands. Applicants with a score below these will
not be admitted.
Can I submit test scores before I apply?
You can send the test scores (GRE, TOEFL, etc.) to us any time during the year as long as they are in by the deadline. Once you apply, we will match the scores to your application. We actually prefer that you send them early because ETS is notorious for transposing names and listing incorrect information.
Does the department require that I calculate and list my grade-point average (GPA) on the application?
Yes. For applicants who received their undergraduate degree at an American university or college we use all coursework towards the degree after the first two years in our GPA calculation. If you attended a university that does not use the 4.0 system, please do not try and convert your grades to our system--just leave that section blank if it does not allow you to enter your GPA.
Does the department require applicants to contact faculty before submitting an application?
No. Most applicants will not have any interaction with faculty prior to applying for admission.
Hardcopy transcripts are no longer required for the application process. Please do not mail them. Follow the instruction in the online applciation regarding the uploading of unofficial transcripts.
What do I need to do to reactivate an old application?/What do I need to do to reapply?
Please see http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/Reactivations.htm.
How do I apply for a Teaching or Research Assistantship (GSI or GSR)?
When you apply for our graduate programs, we will automatically consider you for these types of support. If you are admitted and offered a position, it is at this time that we will need additional paperwork.
What are the guidelines to submitting letters of recommendation?
Please see http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/RequiredData.htm#recletters.
If I apply on the deadline, will my recommenders be able to submit their letters in time for the review?
Recommenders have until January 3, 2013 to submit their letters. However, submission before the deadline is highly encouraged. Follow the instructions in the online application to ensure that your recommenders are able to submit their letters.
When does the application review begin? Does the department have a rolling application process?
The application review begins shortly after the application deadline. We do not have a rolling application process, although we encourage all applicants to apply as early to correct problems that might arise.
How can I include papers I have written or a resume with my online application?
Please follow the instructions in the online application for submitting documents such as resumes and publications.
How do I apply for a merit-based fellowship?
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must complete the online application's financial forms to be considered for multi-year University Graduate Fellowships, Departmental Block Grant Fellowships, Diversity Fellowships, and Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP) Awards. To be considered for GOP Awards, you also must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). When completing the section on resources for the coming academic year, provide your best estimate of your summer gross earnings. In the other income section, only list fellowships which have already been awarded to you. For additional living expenses, give your best estimate for the coming academic year. Please be sure to include a Personal History Statement describing your personal history and intellectual development. All admitted applicants are automatically considered and no special application is needed.
Do I complete the online application's financial forms to apply for a fellowship if I chose a Masters of Science as my degree goal?
There are several multi-year fellowships listed on the online application's financial forms. If you wish to be considered for any of these you must submit the appropriate form (there is one for domestic students, one for international).
In addition, U.S. citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to apply for the many external fellowships for which they are eligible.
Once I apply, how do I check the status of my application?
Please follow the instructionsin the online application to check the status of your application.
When will I be notified whether I have been admitted?
All of our decisions will be sent by e-mail by April 1st.
It is possible to add a degree once I am in the department?
Once you are admitted, you will be able to petition to add a major (in most cases, this is usually an additional Masters degree).
The Department does not allow part-time graduate study for the M.S. or Ph.D. programs. All students are required to maintain a full-time load of 8-12 units. There are no evening or weekend courses. The M.Eng. and MAS-IC programs (starting Fall 2013) will allow part-time students. The University does, however, have an extension division with open admissions and classes offered at night and on weekends in locations throughout California. For more information about this please see the MAS-IC homepage.
Do you offer EECS courses online?
The Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department offers online courses through the MAS-IC online degree program only. University Extension does offer some separate online courses. Please contact University Extension regarding correspondence courses and courses offered nights and weekends. Please be aware, however, that Extension units do not count toward a Berkeley degree.
How long does it take to complete an M.S. degree? A Ph.D. degree? An M.Eng. degree? A MAS-IC degree?
Please see http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradadm/degreesexplained.htm.
Where can I find the department degree requirements in detail?
Please see the Graduate Student Handbook at http://www.eecs.berkeley.edu/Gradnotes/.
How much does your graduate program cost?
Please see http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Registration/feesched.html and http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/cost_fees.shtml.
What type of financial assistance is available for international students?
International students who are seeking a Ph.D. are given the same financial considerations that domestic students are and should fill out the appropriate financial form on the online application. More information about international students can be found at http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu.
Whom do I contact if I have a question that is not answered here?
Please call (510) 642-3068 or email gradadmissions at eecs dot berkeley dot edu.
revised 7/18/12