Graduate Admissions

Applying

To apply to a graduate program at the College of Environmental Design, submit the required application materials listed below to the UC Berkeley Graduate Division by the program deadline. See our Frequently Asked Questions list, and contact our graduate program advisers with any other questions. Visits to campus are encouraged.

For information on concurrent degree admissions, see Applying — Concurrent Programs.

Confirmation of Submittal

You may confirm the status of your application and items uploaded by returning to your online graduate application. Please plan ahead and schedule any needed examinations (GRE, TOEFL) at least one month prior to the application deadline so that we may have timely receipt of your scores.

Note: Due to the quantity of applications the College of Environmental Design receives, it is difficult for the graduate advisers to answer individual inquiries regarding application status. In the event we contact you, please ensure that emails coming from the departmental advisers are not processed as SPAM.

Notification of Acceptance

Unofficial notifications of acceptance are emailed to applicants by mid-March, and applicants who have been recommended for admission are notified by the Graduate Division soon thereafter. Only the written notice of the Dean of the Graduate Division consititutes approval of admission. Correspondence with faculty or staff of the College of Environmental Design, no matter what the content, will not commit the University to an approval of admission.

Required Application Materials

Graduate Division Application

Statement of Purpose

  • This is your academic statement and should include: why you want to study landscape architecture and environmental planning, why you want to study at UC Berkeley, and how our program can help you achieve your professional goals. For additional information, visit our frequently asked questions page.
  • Note to all Ph.D. applicants and Master of Science in Architecture applicants: The Ph.D. admissions committee will read your statement of purpose seeking an account of your prior research experience and looking for evidence that you are prepared to undertake a significant, sophisticated, and independent in-depth research project. You do not need to have a specific research topic; however, you should remember that your competence and intellectual potential to undertake dissertation research is among the most important criteria considered by the doctoral admissions committee.

Personal History Statement

  • The personal history statement should convey how a combination of life experiences, idealism, role models, education, and work experiences have influenced your decision to apply. You may also include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.

Three Letters of Recommendation

  • A minimum of three letters of recommendation submitted via the Graduate Division Online Application by the application deadline; however, applicants may submit additional letters. Only letters submitted online will be accepted. If your recommender is having trouble with the submittal system, please contact your graduate program adviser.

Examinations

Applicants to the graduate programs may be required to take the GRE and/or the TOEFL/IELTS. See the table below for the examinations required for each program.

Please plan ahead and schedule your examinations at least one month prior to the application deadline so that we may have timely receipt of your scores.

Program Domestic Applicants International Applicants
GRE GRE TOEFL/IELTS
Master of Architecture Required Not Required Required
M.S. Architecture Optional Optional Required
Ph.D. Architecture Optional Optional Required
Master of City Planning Required Required Required
Ph.D. City and Regional Planning Required Required Required
Master of Landscape Architecture Required Not Required Required
Ph.D. Landscape Architecture Required Required Required
Master of Urban Design Required Not Required Required

GRE

  • Applicants taking the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) must have their official scores reported to the Graduate Division by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Only GRE scores taken after June 2009 are valid. There is no minimum score requirement.

TOEFL/IELTS

Transcript(s)

  • An electronic or scanned copy of your official transcript(s) in PDF format from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. Please make sure that transcript images are properly rotated, and not sideways or upside-down, and remove your Social Security number and birth date before submittal.

Resume or Curriculum Vitae

  • An electronic copy of your resume or curriculum vitae. You should also include any publications, awards, or community/volunteer experiences.

Portfolio/Exhibit of Creative Work

  • Applicants to the following degree programs must submit a digital portfolio as part of their UC Berkeley online application:
    • Master of Architecture
    • Master of City Planning (urban design concentration applicants only)
    • Master of Landscape Architecture (first and second professional degree applicants only)
    • Master of Urban Design
  • The portfolio may contain up to 12 pages (8-1/2"x11" page format) of design content. Please note that beyond 12 pages, your portfolio may not be reviewed. Title page and/or table of contents may be submitted, and will not count toward the 12 pages of content. The digital portfolio should showcase recent, high-quality work, and will be judged on both content and overall design. Applicants without professional training may submit work showing other evidence of creativity (studio art, construction/renovation, furniture design, etc.) that makes a clear demonstration of interest in the design or planning field. Any material submitted that is not entirely the applicant's own work must be clearly identified.
  • The portfolio must be a single document in PDF format, no larger in filesize than 10MB. If your portfolio exceeds 10MB, try compressing it in Adobe Acrobat. Open the file in Acrobat; under the "Advanced" tab on the menu bar, select "PDF Optimizer." Set all "pixels/inch" numbers to 100 or less and click "OK." You can find more information about optimizing PDF files at this Website Optimization link.

Recent Publication, Report or Writing Sample

  • Applicants to the following degree programs must submit a writing sample or recent publication (as noted) as part of their UC Berkeley online application:
    • Master of Landscape Architecture (environmental planning applicants)
    • Master of Science in Architecture
    • Ph.D. in Architecture
    • Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning
    • Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning (publication required, whether published or pending publishing)
  • Submissions (50-page maximum; no minimum page requirement) should support the Statement of Purpose and clearly demonstrate research and writing abilities and/or analytical skills.