After reading the Ph.D. Admissions Requirements below, please see  Application Instructions.

Graduate Division Requirements for Admission

Admission to the doctoral program is contingent upon admission to graduate standing in the University of California, Berkeley, which requires:

• A bachelor's degree or its recognized equivalent from an accredited institution
• Sufficient undergraduate training to undertake graduate study in the chosen field
• A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum 3.0 (B)
• Results of the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
• In the case of international applicants whose academic work has been in a language other than English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

School of Information Requirements for Admission

Selection from among those who meet the Graduate Division Requirements will be based on:

• Past academic performance as reflected by grade point averages (generally expected to be well over a 3.0)
• Evidence of potential academic success as reflected in GRE scores and letters of recommendation
• Indication of appropriate research goals in the intended field of study as expressed in the application Statement of Purpose
• Possession of other relevant advanced degrees, although at the discretion of the faculty, this requirement may be waived

Enrollment in the doctoral program is limited, not only by the over-all maximum enrollment figure set by the Graduate Division, but by the availability of faculty resources for supervision of doctoral studies.

Required Entrance Examinations

Applicants must submit results from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and in the case of international applicants whose academic work has been conducted in a language other than English, the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as well.

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
All applicants to graduate degree programs in the School of Information Management and Systems must submit test results from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination. Application blanks and information on testing dates and examination centers for the Graduate Record Examination General Test are available from the offices of the Educational Testing Service. Check the GRE website or phone: 1-800-GRECALL for exam locations and dates. We advise all applicants to take the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination no later than October preceding submission of an application and preferably before.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
International applicants are expected to fulfill all previously stated admissions requirements including submission of GRE scores and to have an excellent command of English before beginning graduate study at Berkeley. Applicants from countries in which the official language of instruction is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have the results sent directly to the UC Berkeley Graduate Admission/Fellowship Office by the TOEFL authorities. Applicants to Berkeley must attain a TOEFL score of 570 or higher. 

International applicants from any country in which the official language is English or those who have studied for one year or more in schools or universities where English is the language of instruction need not submit TOEFL scores, but must submit the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination.

For more information about taking The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), visit the TOEFL website or contact the TOEFL Office, P.O. Box 6155, Princeton, New Jersey 08541-6155.

Transfer from One Program to Another Within the Berkeley Campus

Application for admission to the doctoral program by students already enrolled in a graduate degree program of the Berkeley campus is formally accomplished by submitting a petition for a Change of Degree Goal. These petitions are considered along with other applications for admission to the doctoral program. A petition for Change of Degree Goal should be accompanied in all cases by a statement describing the reasons for the proposed change and the nature of the program of studies contemplated. Any applicants previously admitted to the Graduate Division must still submit the standard application form and required letters of recommendation.

Computer Ownership Requirement

We require that students own a computer. No particular configuration is specified in this requirement. However, students will be expected to complete assignments using office productivity software (e.g., Microsoft Office, WordPerfect Office, Star Office), web browsers (e.g., Netscape Communicator, Internet Explorer) and the like, and should therefore own a computer capable of running such software.

Students may choose a desktop or laptop. The most common platform is an Intel-based computer running Microsoft Windows. However, students are free to use another platform (e.g., an Intel-based computer running Unix/Linux or a Macintosh running MacOS). Students who do not already own a suitable computer will receive more specific guidance on selecting a new one upon acceptance to the program.