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 Mechanical 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 complete (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 Mechanical Engineering admit applicants for the Spring semester?
The department's enrollment allocation is met during the Fall admissions cycle. Therefore, we do not hold a Spring admission cycle.
Does the Department have a supplemental
application?
You must complete and submit a Graduate
Study Questionnaire after you submit your online application to the
Graduate Division.
What are the minimum requirements to be considered
for admission to a graduate program in Mechanical 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
Can I study towards a graduate degree in
Mechanical Engineering part time?
All students are required to maintain a full-time load of 15 units. There are
no evening courses. The Department does not allow part-time graduate study.
Do you offer online courses in Mechanical
Engineering?
The Mechanical Engineering Department currently does not offer online courses.
How long does it take to complete an M.S. degree?
M. Eng. degree? Ph.D. degree?
The Master of Science program usually requires between two to three semesters
(24 units of course work) and a report and presentation. A thesis plan (20
units of course work) for the Master of Science degree is also possible.
The Master of Engineering program consists of 40-44 units of course work,
including an independent study report. An M. Eng. degree is usually obtained in
4 semesters.
The Ph.D. program is generally completed 4-5 years after completion of the M.S.
degree.
How do I apply for graduate studies in Mechanical
Engineering?
Complete instructions are located here.
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
Mechanical Engineering you must give ETS our department code 1500 when
requesting official score reports to be sent to UC Berkeley.
Does the Department require a GRE subject test?
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.
Does the Department of Mechanical Engineering
require that I calculate and list my grade-point average (GPA) on the
application?
For applicants who received their undergraduate degree at a
Where do I send
supporting documents?
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. ALL LETTERS OF
RECOMMENDATION NEED TO BE SUBMITTED ON LINE, only the official transcripts
need to be sent in sealed envelopes to:
Student Services Office
Mechanical Engineering
University of California, Berkeley
6189 Etcheverry Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-1742
Where do I send the application fee?
You must submit an application fee when you apply. The application fee
is not refundable. If you are a
If you apply online, you may pay the fee by credit card. 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.
Can I have the application fee waived?
International applicants are not eligible to have the application fee waived.
Mail the Request for Waiver of the Graduate Application Fee with the
supporting materials to the Waiver Officer, Graduate Admissions, 309 Sproul
Hall #5900,
If you received a waiver last year, that fee waiver will not carry over to this year. You must pay the application fee or submit a new Fee Waiver Request form.
Please note that funds for waivers are limited, and there is no guarantee that all those eligible will receive waivers.
Note: The application fee and policy are subject to change without notice.
What happens if you receive my GRE score
report or transcripts before or after my application is submitted?
All documents sent to the Student Services Office in the Department are kept
for two years. Documents that arrive separately are matched against our
database. 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 to the M.S./Ph.D program. Applicants who already hold 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
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, 230 on the computer based test and 68 on the Next
Generation TOEFL (iBT). 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.
Will I be notified when my application has been submitted or is
complete?
The Graduate Division will send you a confirmation email after your online
application is submitted. Once the Graduate Division electronically forwards
your application to our department you will receive an email message from us
notifying you that we have received your application. At that time, we will
request that you complete our web-form. After you have completed the web-form
which you will receive approximately a week after you apply, you can log onto
the same site at any time to check the status of your 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 Services Office in the Department of
Mechanical Engineering by the appropriate deadline.
How can I check on the status of my
application and/or supporting documents?
After you have completed our REQUIRED department web-form which you will
receive approximately a week after you apply, you can log onto the same site at
any time to check the status of your application. You will get periodic e-mails
notifying you of any received supporting documents. Your application will not be reviewed 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, and tight admission deadlines, we are
unable to check on individual applications.
What do I need to do to reactivate my previous application?
If you filed an application for graduate admission at
You must meet all current deadlines and requirements; make sure that your GRE and TOEFL tests meet the current test date cutoffs.
If you applied for admission more than two years ago, you must submit a new application, pay the application fee, and provide all required materials
How do I apply for a Teaching or Research
Assistantship?
Graduate Student Instructors (GSI) and 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 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. Beginning Fall 2006, applicants that took the Next Generation TOEFL (iBT) and receive a 26 or higher on the speaking section do not have to take the SPEAK test. For acceptable scores and additional information please review the Teaching and Resource website .
Information regarding GSI and Reader appointments can be located at: http://www.me.berkeley.edu/new/students/Information_to_Students_Employment.pdf
How do I apply for a merit-based
fellowship?
If you are a
What is the cost of graduate
study at UC Berkeley?
For an estimate of living expenses while attending
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,
What type of financial assistance is
available to international students?
If you are an international applicant, you must complete the fellowship section
of the online application to be considered for multi-year University Graduate
Fellowships, Departmental Block Grant Fellowships, and Restricted Fellowship Endowments.
Please be advised that University resources for international students are
very limited. As you may be aware, U.S. Federal regulations require that
international students be able to demonstrate sufficient financial support for
their studies in the
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,
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 committee 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 will send the “official” admission letter. Admission to graduate
study is limited by the number of places available in the various colleges,
schools, and departments at
How do I accept or decline your offer of admission?
Applicants receiving an offer of admission will also receive from the Graduate
Division a copy of Taking
the Next Step (PDF). This document details the steps necessary to complete
three required forms online: the Statement of Intention to Register Form,
Statement of Legal Residence Form, and the Non-Immigrant Information Form (for
non-U.S. citizens). Please note that applicants who have mislaid their SID and
PIN numbers should contact User and Account Services at (510) 642-7355.
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Updated: 6/6/08