Admissions
The Master of Urban Design (MUD) program is intended for exceptionally qualified post-professional students who already have professional work experience. Students must demonstrate evidence of high-quality work and potential for development based on the grade-point average, TOEFL/IELTS scores, letters of recommendation, and examples of work.
Admission to the Master of Urban Design program requires a prior five-year professional degree in Architecture (B. Arch. or M. Arch.), Landscape Architecture (B.L.A. or M.L.A.), or City and Regional Planning (M.C.P., M.U.P., or equivalent with a strong design background). Professional experience after completion of the professional degree is highly recommended.
Cost
The cost of the MUD program is contingent upon resident status, summer class units, and campus fees. Non-residents should expect to pay approximately $40,000 in tuition and fees while residents should expect to pay approximately $28,000. For a more accurate cost projection, add the cost of the MUD program during the regular school year (fall and spring) to the cost of your summer units, along with listed campus fees. MUD program costs (during the school year) are listed on UC Berkeley's Fee Schedule page under Graduate: Professional - College of Environmental Design. MUD program costs during the summer can be calculated on the Application and Fees section of UC Berkeley's Summer Sessions website. The MUD program requires you take at least 8 units in the summer. You may take additional elective units if you so choose, with the total number of summer units determining the cost for that term.
Admissions Process
The program opens to applicants in mid-September and closes in mid-December. Final decisions are sent out in early March and must be accepted by April 15th. The program begins in early June.
Applicants must submit the online Graduate Division application together with the application fee by January 7, 2025. All items are electronic, and must be uploaded to your application.
Admissions Checklist
- UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division application
- Statement of purpose (see the Graduate Admissions page for further specifications)
- Statement of Personal History (see the Graduate Admissions page for further specifications)
- Resume
- Official transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL/IELTS scores
- A portfolio of design work. Up to 20 pages, single page. You may choose whichever orientation illustrates your work the best, but it must be the same orientation throughout.
For more information on UC Berkeley's Graduate program admissions, please select the link below:
If you have specific questions about the program please email MUD advising at mudgrad@berkeley.edu.
Note: All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries, and non-English-speaking countries in Africa.
If an applicants’ undergraduate degree is from a university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, British, New Zealand or a university where instruction is only in English, they are not required to take an English language examination. For International applicant admission questions please contact the Graduate Admissions Office at: 510-642-7405 or gradadm@berkeley.edu.