General Questions
Can I apply for spring admission?
No. The School of Information accepts applications for fall admission only.
When will admissions decisions be made?
We will send admissions decisions in mid-March.
Letters of Recommendation
If I submit my letters of recommendation online, do I need to mail hard copies too?
No, the online version of the letter will suffice. You do not need to mail a hard copy of the letter.
If my letter of recommendation is not submitted online, how should they be sent?
The letter of recommendation should include Form G and be sent in a sealed envelope. Please send any hard copies of the letters of recommendation directly to the I School in the supplemental packet.
Can letters of recommendation be received after the application deadline?
All supporting application materials (including test scores and letters of recommendation) must be received by the School no later than the announced deadlines.
Computer Competency (Required of Master's applicants only)
What is the Computer Competency Statement?
Each master's program applicant must submit a Computer Competency Statement describing specifically his/her level of proficiency with the Parts A and B Requirements. This statement is not a form; it is a document each applicant creates, similar to a resume. It should, however, address each of the applications and languages listed in Part A and Part B, along with a brief description of relevant courses completed for Part B.
Please include the Computer Competency Statement in your packet of supplemental materials. (The statement is not part of the online application.)
Which programming languages meet Part B of the requirement?
Part B requires knowledge of a high-level object-oriented language such as Python, Java, or C++. Programming languages such as Visual Basic, C, and those languages used to implement and enhance database management systems (such as SQL) are not acceptable.
Are specific courses required for meeting the programming part of the Computer Competency Entrance Requirement?
No, but it is expected that applicants will have completed one or more courses in the programming languages described above.
Should any documents be submitted as evidence of completion of Part B of the competency requirement?
It is not necessary to submit any transcripts showing successful completion of an appropriate programming course, but applicants should describe their level of programming competency and name and describe completed courses in their Computer Competency Statement.
Transcripts
What if I am currently in school or have not completed my degree?
Please send your current transcripts, in advance of the application deadline. Do not wait for the end of the term or until you have completed your degree. If you are admitted, we will follow up and request your final grades.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
What minimum GRE scores are required?
The I School has not set any minimum scores, but normally successful applicants score in the high percentiles (80's and 90's) on all sections of the General Test.
Can the GRE scores be received after the application deadline?
All supporting application materials (test scores and letters of recommendation) must be received by the School no later than the announced deadlines.
Do applicants who already possess a Ph.D. degree need to take the GRE?
Yes. No exemptions are granted to holders of higher degrees.
Do applicants already admitted to the UC Berkeley Graduate Division need to take the GRE?
All applicants must furnish valid GRE scores. If your scores are already on file with the Admissions Office and are still valid, you do not need to resubmit them.
How long are GRE scores valid for admission purposes?
No more than five years may have passed between the GRE test date and the application deadline. For example, applicants for Fall 2010 admission should not submit test scores taken before December 2004.
May I substitute the GMAT for the GRE?
No, the School of Information requires the GRE.
Should I include copies of my GRE scores in my packet of supplemental materials?
No. Test scores should be sent directly from the testing authorities.
What are the GRE School and Department codes?
The School code for UC Berkeley is 4833. The Department code for the I School is 0404 (Information Sciences).
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Do foreign national applicants who graduated from a university in the U.S. have to take the TOEFL?
If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better in residence 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.
How long are TOEFL scores valid for admission purposes?
No more than two years may have passed between the TOEFL test date and the application deadline. For example, Fall 2010 applicants should not submit test scores taken before December 2007.
Should I include copies of my TOEFL scores in my packet of supplemental materials?
No. Test scores should be sent directly from the testing authorities.
What are the TOEFL School and Department codes?
The School code for UC Berkeley is 4833. The Department code for the I School is 99.
Fees, Fellowships and Financial Aid
What are the fees for the I School?
Fees for future years have not yet been announced. For the 2009–10 academic year, graduate students who qualified as residents of California were required to pay $11232.50. Nonresidents and international students were required to pay the nonresident tuition in addition to the fees, for a total of $26268.50 for the 2009–10 academic year.
The UC Regents have approved an additional professional degree fee of $6000 per year for MIMS students entering in Fall 2010.
All fees are subject to change. Applicants should expect tuition and fees to increase each academic year.
More information: Registration Fees
What is California residency?
Nonresidents, for purposes of registration, are those who have not been legal residents of California for more than one year immediately before the opening day of the semester for which they register. Legal residence is a combination of physical presence and the intention of making the state one's permanent home, coupled with the relinquishment of legal residence in any other state. International students with F-1 visas cannot be classified as California residents for tuition purposes.
More Information:
Is fellowship support provided by the I School?
Each year, the I School has available a limited number of merit-based fellowships for domestic and international students. Applicants interested in applying for fellowship assistance must complete Part C of the application.
Fellowships for Master's students are awarded only for the first year of study, and cover all or part of the registration fees. A number of student research and teaching appointments are also available to qualified Master's students, which also greatly reduce the registration fees (see student employment section below). On average, about half of the admitted Master's students receive fellowship assistance during their first year of study, covering all or part of their educational costs. Please note the I School does not offer Master's students stipends for living expenses. Fellowship support for continuing students (past the first year of study) is awarded only to doctoral students to fund their ongoing degree work.
In most cases, Ph.D. students are offered fellowship support in various forms for the first four years of study. This support covers all registration costs (fees and non-resident tuition) and provides a stipend for living expenses.
The University awards through competition a limited number of merit-based and diversity fellowships each year. See University Fellowships for further details.
Is financial aid available?
Federal and University loans are available to students through the Office of Financial Aid, 201 Sproul Hall, University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley, CA 94720-1960. See Financial Aid for further detials. U.S. federal financial aid is not available to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
Student Employment
Do students work while attending the program?
A majority of our students work part-time while attending school, but normally they are working in academic appointments. The course load is sufficiently heavy that students, particularly during the first year, should not plan a very heavy work schedule.
By working in an academic appointment, all or part of the educational costs will be waived depending on the number of hours worked and if the student is a California resident or non-California resident. (Non-resident tuition is not waived for students by working in an academic appointment.) You would also receive an hourly wage by working in an academic appointment. See Academic Appointments for further details.
International students on an F-1 or J-1 visa who are enrolled in a full-time degree program may hold an academic appointment.
What are academic appointments?
The following positions are considered 'academic appointments' and are often available to graduate students enrolled at Berkeley:
- Graduate Student Researcher: Performs research under the direction of a faculty member.
- Tutor: provides tutorial services to individuals or groups of students under the direct supervision of a regular faculty member. I School faculty sometimes hire qualified graduate student tutors to provide lab assistance for I School courses.
- Reader: Performs duties related to grading of papers and examinations, but are not assigned teaching duties.
- Graduate Student Instructor: Serves as an apprentice teacher under the supervision of a regular faculty member, usually in the instruction of lower division undergraduate courses. After advancement to candidacy for the doctoral degree, a GSI may with permission teach an upper division graduate course. Graduate students are not permitted to teach other graduate students.
The Graduate Division determines the requirements for qualifications and working conditions for all graduate student appointments. For further details, please visit the Graduate Division's Appointment Office website.
How do students secure academic appointments?
Faculty members will make individual arrangements with qualified and eligible students depending on their needs for research and teaching assistance. Opportunities are highly dependent on faculty need, and it is difficult to predict the number and kinds of jobs that will be available in a given academic year. The following website provides a helpful list of Instructor, Reader, and Tutor positions normally available each year. There is no equivalent website for Researcher positions on campus.
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