Graduate Admissions

Deadlines

All applications are submitted online. The deadline to apply for Fall 2012 admission is December 10th, 2011 (11:59:59PM, Pacific Time, US).  The Spring 2012 admission is cancelled. The deadline dates are the dates by which all transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE exam scores, and for international applicants, the TOEFL exam score are due. Late applications will not be considered. Please plan accordingly.

General Admissions Requirements

  • A bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution in Engineering, Physics or Chemistry is required. We do not accept students without these types of degrees. Complete details on minimum admission requirements are on The Graduate Admissions website. Graduate Admissions will not admit applicant with Ph.D. degrees in Science.
  • Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.
  • No less than a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B). International students should be in the top 5% of their class.
  • Original transcripts from each college or university you have attended.
  • We require three letters of recommendation submitted online.
  • A general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score (85% percentile is desirable) in the Verbal/Analytical/Quantitative. The institution code for Berkeley is 4833 and departmental code is 1403. GRE Scores older than 5 years are not accepted. We do not require any subject tests.
  • International applicants: the minimum TOEFL score accepted is at least 570 for the paper-based test or at least 230 for the computer-based test (CBT) or 68 on the internet-based test (iBT; 18 Writing, 17 Speaking, 16 Listening, 17 Reading) to be admitted to the MSE department. The institution code for Berkeley is 4833 and there is not a departmental code. Scores older than 2 years from the date of admission will not be accepted.

Note: Admission decisions are based on a combination of factors, including academic degrees and records, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant work experience. The MSE department also considers the appropriateness of your goals to the degree program in which you are interested and to the research interests of the program’s faculty.

Application Requirements

To be considered for graduate admissions in MSE you need to:

  1. Complete the online graduate application.
  2. Submit 3 letters of recommendation online.
  3. Submit one official transcript from each college or university you have attended.
  4. Submit the General GRE exam scores (and TOEFL/iBT for international students).

All graduate applications must be submitted online at the Berkeley campus' website: https://sis.berkeley.edu/grdappl/welcome. Only the original transcripts can be submitted as hard copy. Please do not mail hard copies of the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, GRE exam scores, TOEFL scores for international students, resumes, or publications. Instructions for submitting the letters of recommendation online are included below. Any supplemental data, such as publications, resumes, and homepages, should be submitted by including the URL's in the confirmation e-mail you will receive about a week after submitting your online graduate application.

Note: The MSE department requires that you enter your recommenders' full names and email addresses when submitting your online application. This is so your recommender can be contacted via our database with instructions on submitting your letters. Thus, please be sure that these email addresses, as well as your own email address, are entered correctly.

Letters of Recommendation

The department requires three letters of recommendation to be submitted online. We recommend these letters to be from persons who have supervised your research or academic work and who can evaluate your intellectual ability, creativity, leadership and potential.

After submitting your application online, you will receive an email from the Material Science & Engineering (MSE) department acknowledging receipt of your application. This email will contain instructions to complete your letters of recommendation's waivers on-line. This step is required to complete your application - keep in mind that we will not consider your application if it is not completed.

Once the electronic waivers are completed, our database will contact your recommenders via email with instructions to provide us with your letters. Letters must be submitted electronically, and we encourage you to make your recommenders aware of this. We will notify you via email when we receive the letters from your recommender.

It may take some time for the University's Graduate Division to transfer the application to the MSE department, so we ask you to be patient.

Transcripts

Once you're accepted, and if you enroll, we require one official hard copy transcript from each college or university you have attended. Please send sealed original transcripts of all University work. Transcripts not in English should include translations from the school that issued the original transcripts.

Send to:
MSE Graduate Admissions
University of California at Berkeley
210 Hearst Memorial Mining Building #1760
Berkeley CA 94720-1760
USA

GRE

  • Our department requires the General GRE exam; no exceptions. Oldest acceptable exam date is October, 2006
  • Test results for the General Record Exam must be directed to 4833 (the Berkeley institution code) and to 1403 (Material Science department code) .
  • We encourage you to take the GRE as soon as possible to ensure that your scores arrive by the deadline.
  • Dates and information for computer-based testing (CBT) may be obtained by contacting the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at the address below, by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL, or by consulting the GRE website.
  • Applications for the GRE can be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000, (609) 771-7670, or the website.
  • Domestic candidates from families with extremely low incomes may qualify for a waiver of GRE test fees. Consult your undergraduate financial aid office to determine whether your institution participates in the GRE Fee Waiver Program and whether you qualify. Fee waivers are not available directly from the Educational Testing Service or from the Graduate Division.

TOEFL

Applicants whose native language is not English, and who have received a degree from an institution in which English is not the official language, are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). To be considered for admissions, your most recent minimum score must be at least 570 for the paper-based test or at least 230 for the computer-based test (CBT) or 68 on the internet-based test (iBT; 18 Writing, 17 Speaking, 16 Listening, 17 Reading.).

Tests taken before June 2009 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to Berkeley. Official scores are required. The institution code for Berkeley is 4833.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS): As an exception, you can submit scores from the Academic Modules of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The minimum acceptable score on the IELTS must be at least 7 on your most recent exam.

More information about these requirements, can be found in the Graduate Division website: http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/admis_require.shtml#4_3

Fellowships

Fall 2012 applicants, if you are applying for both the fellowship competition and admission, the completed application for admission and fellowship with all supporting documents must be filed by DECEMBER 10, 2011.

We encourage applicants to apply for fellowships from sources other than UC Berkeley. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are particularly encouraged to apply for the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Defense Science and Engineering (NDSEG) fellowships. Information and forms can also be found at university career offices. In addition, some corporations award fellowships to their employees. Many governments also award fellowships for overseas study.

In addition, U.S. citizens are encouraged to apply for the many external fellowships for which they are eligible:

National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program

National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships

Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowships

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Graduate Fellowships

Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowships

Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC) Graduate Fellowship Program

AT&T Labs Fellowship Program

For Women and Minorities:
National Physical Science Consortium Fellowships

Lucent Fellowship Program - Bell Labs Graduate Research Fellowship Program

For Women:
American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation

For Minorities:
GEM Fellowship Program

Ford Predoctoral Fellowships for Minorities

For Canadians:
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC)
Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS)

For outstanding international applicants, the prestigious Berkeley Fellowship and I-House Fellowship will be considered.

Financial Assistance

Financial support for graduate students is provided in the form of fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. There are a number of Departmental and University fellowships for which you will automatically be considered if admitted.

Please see "Fellowships" link on the left for more information.

GSI/GSRA

Graduate student instructorships and research assistantships are available to qualified graduate students. If you are interested in a Teaching Assistantship appointment, please contact the department offices after you are admitted. Research Assistantship appointments are offered by the individual faculty researchers. Students interested in these positions should indicate this in the online application for Graduate Admission and Financial Assistance.

Contact

mail: gradoffice@lists.berkeley.edu
Voice Mail: (510) 642-0716
Fax: (510) 643-5792

Mail:
Graduate Admissions
Materials Science and Engineering
University of California at Berkeley
210 Hearst Memorial Mining Building #1760
Berkeley CA 94720-1760
USA

FAQ

What can I do to prepare for applying to UC Berkeley?

We encourage you to begin early and prepare all documents needed to support your application. Register and prepare for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Contact three of your professors regarding letters of recommendation. International applicants should request official transcripts early and have official translations prepared. Applicants from countries where English is not the official language must also register for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Please read the information for prospective applicants on the Graduate Division web page.

What are my chances of being admitted to the Department of Materials Science & Engineering?

Because of the large volume of applications and inquiries we receive during each admissions cycle, we cannot evaluate the potential success of each applicant. Admissions decisions can only be made by the admissions committee after an application is completed (including all supporting documents). The admissions committee considers many factors in its decision, including but not limited to: academic record, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, research experience, and test scores.

Does MSE admit applicants for the Spring semester?

The department does admit in the spring admission cycle.

Does the Department have a supplemental application?

No. There is no supplemental application

What are the minimum requirements to be considered for admission to a graduate program in Materials Science & Engineering?

The minimum graduate admission requirements are: (1) a bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution; (2) enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field; (3) a satisfactory scholastic average, with a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) and (4) the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations. Please read the Graduate Division webpage on Admission Requirements. If you received or are a candidate to receive a degree from an institution outside the United States, please read the section on International Applicants in Admission Requirements.

Can I study towards a graduate degree in Materials Science & Engineering part time?

All students are required to maintain a full-time load of 12 units. There are no evening courses. The Department does not allow part-time graduate study.

Do you offer online courses in Materials Science & Engineering?

The Department currently does not offer online courses.

How long does it take to complete an M.S. degree? M.Eng. degree? Ph.D. degree?

Master of Science, Plan I: (usually in 2 years)

20 semester units
8 strictly graduate units in the major subject
2 units of MSE 298 or 299
Thesis

Master of Science, Plan II: (usually in 2 years)

24 semester units
12 strictly graduate units in the major subject
2 units of MSE 298 or 299
Comprehensive exam
Report

Master of Engineering: (usually in 2 years)

40 semester units (20 strictly graduate units in the major subject)
16-20 units of courses oriented toward design and analysis (12 graduate units in major)
8 units (grad or advanced UG) in social sciences and humanities, or from professional schools
4-8 graduate units in professionally-oriented individual study or research, culminating in a written report.

Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering: (usually in 3 years after completion of the MS Degree)

33 semester units
18 strictly graduate units in the major subject
2 minors for breadth
(2 to 3 courses taken while in graduate standing elsewhere can be used to satisfy Berkeley course requirements)
Pass the Preliminary Examination
Pass the Qualifying Examination
Serve 1 semester as Graduate Student Instructor
Dissertation

What is the Department's code to have official GRE scores sent?

To ensure that your official GRE scores are forwarded to the Department of Materials Science & Engineering you must give ETS our department code (4833) when requesting official score reports to be sent to UC Berkeley.

Does the Department require a GRE subject test? Do I need to retake the GRE because the GRE General Test is changing in October 2002?

The General GRE Test consisting of the verbal, analytical and quantitative sections is required. No subject test is needed to apply for graduate study in Mechanical Engineering. If you have already taken the General GRE test since October 2006, you do not need to take the new version of the General GRE Test.

Does the department of Materials Science & Engineering require that I calculate and list my grade-point average (GPA) on the application?

For applicants who received their undergraduate degree at a U.S. university or college, calculate the GPA using all course work after the first two years. Applicants who received their undergraduate degree outside the U.S. should convert their grades to the U.S. scale using all course work.

Where do I send supporting documents?

All supporting documents should be entered on-line.

Please do not send extra items or documents that are not required, including: printouts of forms you have already submitted online, theses, dissertations, papers, or diskettes. Do not send plastic covers, cases, sleeves, or bindings on documents. Only official transcripts need to be in sealed envelopes.

Where do I send the application fee?

Please check the online instructions given by Graduate Division. If you are paying by credit card, follow the directions carefully. If you are paying by check, please print the fee payment form and enclose it with a check or money order drawn on a United States bank in the amount of $60 for national students and $80 for international applicants, payable to the "Regents of the University of California." You should mail payment to the Graduate Division to expedite the processing of your application.

Can I have the application fee waived?

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and can demonstrate financial need, you may be eligible for a waiver of the application fee. For information and to obtain a Request for Waiver of the Graduate Application Fee, contact Graduate Admissions, 309 Sproul Hall #5900, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-5900. International applicants are not eligible to have the application fee waived.

Can I send my sealed transcripts and letters of recommendation directly to Berkeley in a single package?

Yes. Transcripts may be enclosed if they are in sealed, official envelopes from the institutions that issued them. A few colleges or universities may not issue transcripts directly to students. In such cases, the institutions must send the transcripts directly to our office. Please see the Graduate Division Admissions Requirements web page for transcript requirements. Recommendation letters must be in sealed envelopes; the recommender should sign the envelope on the seal.

What happens if you receive my GRE score report, letters of recommendation, or transcripts before or after my application is submitted?

All documents sent to the Department are kept until we receive your online admission application. We then prepare an application file for each applicant. Please note that your application will not be reviewed until all application materials are received.

I have a B.S. in engineering. Can I apply to the Ph.D. program directly?

You may apply directly to the Ph.D. program, or you can apply for an M.S./Ph.D. Applicants who already have an M.S. degree from another institution should apply directly to the Ph.D. program.

Who needs to submit TOEFL scores?

The Test of English as a Foreign Language 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: 1) courses in English as a Second Language, 2) courses conducted in a language other than English, 3) courses that will be completed after you apply, 4) courses of a non-academic nature. For more information about TOEFL requirements, please see "Evidence of English Language Proficiency" on the Graduate Division Admissions Requirements webpage.

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 and pencil test or 230 on the computer based test. Applicants with a score below this will not be admitted.

What code do I use to have an official TOEFL score report sent to UC Berkeley?

The institution code for UC Berkeley is 4833. The department code for graduate study in Materials Science & Engineering is 1403.

Will I be notified when my application has been submitted or is complete?

The Graduate Division sends a confirmation email after your online application is submitted. We will contact you about missing documents using the e-mail address given on the online application. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that the application is submitted and all supporting documents are received by the Student Affairs Officer in the Department of Materials Science & Engineering by the appropriate deadline.

How can I check on the status of my application and/or supporting documents?

After you have submitted your online application, you will get periodic e-mails notifying you of any outstanding application components. Your application will not be sent for review until all materials have been received. Please do not contact our office to check on the status of your application. Due to the large volume of applications processed by our department, we are unable to check on individual applications.

What do I need to do to reactivate my previous application?

If you have applied within the past two years but have not registered, you may reactivate your application by submitting Form A of the online application by the established deadline. Additionally, you must complete a current Graduate Study Questionnaire. Submit a new Form C (Form E if you received your undergraduate degree outside the U.S. and are not a U.S. citizen) if you wish to be considered for a fellowship. A new Form B and Statement of Purpose are also recommended. When reactivating, applicants must also submit supplementary or updated transcripts covering any academic work and/or degree completed since the last application. The required standardized test scores must be within current time limits.

All applicants must submit the $80 fee for US residents and citizens and $100 for international students with each reactivation of an application.

Upon receipt of your reactivation request (completed Form A of the current application), your previously submitted documents, the reactivation and your updated transcript will be reviewed.

How do I apply for a Teaching or Research Assistantship?

Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) are selected by the admissions committee for the program to which they have applied. Applicants are notified in their admission letters if they have been selected for an assistantship. Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) appointments are offered by the individual faculty researchers. Students interested in these positions should indicate this in the Application form for Graduate Admission and Financial Assistance.

Graduate students who enroll at UC Berkeley for the first time and do not speak English as a native language are required to pass either the Test of Spoken English (TSE), administered through the Educational Testing Service, or the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK), administered on the Berkeley campus by the GSI Teaching and Resource Center before being able to teach as a GSI at Berkeley. A passing score on the TSE or SPEAK is valid for two years prior to your first appointment.

How do I apply for a merit-based fellowship?

If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, you must complete Form C 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 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 that 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 statement on Form C that describes your personal history and intellectual development. All admitted applicants are automatically considered and no special application is needed.

To be considered for Restricted Fellowship Endowments you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and complete Form D.

Do I complete form C to apply for a fellowship if I chose a Masters of Science as my degree goal? (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only)

There are several multi-year fellowships listed on Form C. If you wish to be considered for any of these you must submit Form C or, if you are an international student, Form E.

What is the cost of graduate study at UC Berkeley?

For an estimate of living expenses while attending Berkeley, please see the Graduate Division webpage for Costs and Fees.

Who qualifies for need-based financial aid?

Graduate students may apply for need-based loans and work-study through the Financial Aid Office (FAO). The programs are based on demonstrated financial need and require a separate application, independent of the fellowship application. Low-income students with dependent children will be considered for need-based grant awards if funding permits.

The Financial Aid Office will use the Student Budget for the initial calculation of your eligibility for various programs. If, after reviewing your official offer of financial aid, you decide that your actual expenses are higher, you may then document those expenses, such as medical bills, child care, or research expenses. These extra costs will then be taken into account to increase your loan eligibility. Your eligibility for any federal financial aid program is determined by comparing your resources to your budget.

Questions about the programs described in this section should be directed to the Financial Aid Office, Graduate Unit, 201 Sproul Hall #1960, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-1960, (510) 642-6442. Only U.S. citizens and eligible noncitizens (those holding permanent resident cards) may apply for funds administered by the Financial Aid Office.

What type of financial assistance is available to international students?

If you are an international applicant, you must complete Form E to be considered for multi-year University Graduate Fellowships, Departmental Block Grant Fellowships, and Restricted Fellowship Endowments.

Please see the Registrar's Office for information on academic fees for international students.

The University will not issue a visa to you unless you provide the international student adviser with clear evidence of your ability to pay all required fees and expenses for the first year. You should also indicate the sources of funding you are likely to have available for the remainder of your program. American embassies and consulates will not grant you a student visa unless you can provide proof of adequate funding for the first year and probable support for subsequent years. Spouses on F-2 visas are not permitted to accept employment. Further information can be obtained from Services for International Students and Scholars, International House, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720-2321, or by e-mail (siss@berkeley.edu).

When will I be notified whether I have been admitted?

We will begin sending notification letters to applicants beginning in mid-February and continue to do so until the admissions committe has made all of their decisions. All applicants are notified by e-mail. If your application is successful, the Department will notify you that you have been recommended for admission. However, only the Dean of the Graduate Division can offer admission and send the official admission letter. Admission to graduate study is limited by the number of places available in the various colleges, schools, and departments of Berkeley. If you have applied for admission and fellowship consideration, you should be notified of the results by the end of March. If you have applied for admission only, you will be advised as soon as possible after a decision has been reached.

Do I need to return the Statement of Intent to Register?

The admission letter to new (including reactivating) graduate students contains a Statement of Intent to Register that must be filled out and returned to the Graduate Admissions Office. Only the return of the form to the Graduate Admissions Office indicating an intention to register will reserve the registration slot allocated to you. If you decline the offer of admission, you should complete and return the Declination of Admission section as soon as possible.