Master of Science in Computer Science

You will be required to submit electronic copies of transcripts from every post-secondary school ever attended. Official transcripts will be required if admission is granted. Please do not mail any documents to the program office.

US Degree Equivalency: If you graduated from a recognized academic institution outside the United States, you must hold a degree equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree. Equivalency is determined by international evaluators in the UC Berkeley Graduate Admissions Office: http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/requirements/

If you are recommended for admission and choose to enroll in the program, UC Berkeley Graduate Division will require that you submit official academic documents (transcripts, degree conferral certificates, translations, as applicable) by the end of your first term.

GPA Minimum: To be eligible for the MAS-E degree, as with all UC Berkeley graduate degrees, you must have a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale. Applicants whose GPAs are based on a 4.0 scale will need to enter their cumulative GPA, as well as calculate their Advanced GPA and Major GPA for the application. The application will specify which courses to calculate for each GPA field. The university does not provide a GPA calculator. Applicants should use their university’s grading scale to calculate their GPAs to the best of their abilities.

Applicants whose GPAs are not based on a 4.0 scale should not calculate or convert their GPAs. Instead, these applicants should leave the aforementioned GPA fields blank and enter their cumulative GPA as it appears on their transcript in the “Other Scale GPA” section.

Letters of recommendation provide the admissions committee with third party, qualitative accounts of your potential for success in our program. We require two letters of recommendation from all applicants.

We strongly prefer that letters of recommendation come from a current direct supervisor, former direct supervisor, faculty, or other individuals with whom you have had significant professional interaction. Please select individuals who know you well and who will take the time to write thorough and thoughtful letters on your behalf. The title of those you select is not important. What does matter is how closely your letter writers have worked with you and whether they can attest to your value as an employee or student, your professional accomplishments, and your personal qualities. We have found the most helpful letters to be recent, relevant, and written specifically for this application. We discourage letters of recommendation from subordinates, family, or friends.

When completing the online application, you will enter the email address of your recommender and click the appropriate box to have the recommender upload their letter. The application system requires 3 recommenders despite our program requiring 2, please put your own email address as the third and ignore the instructions to submit. You are responsible for ensuring that letters of recommendations are submitted by the application deadline.

Note: You can submit your application before all of your letters have been submitted.

For more information and FAQ's about letters of recommendation, visit Berkeley's page here.

Statement of Purpose: This essay question was created to provoke honest, thoughtful responses to help us get to know you. The admissions committee is interested in learning how your professional and academic experiences and achievements equip you and motivate you to enroll in our program. At a minimum, the statement of purpose should indicate, with clarity and focus, your purpose for entering the Master of Advanced Study in Engineering program and why this advances your professional and personal goals. We are especially interested in understanding both your experience in and your capacity to take full advantage of an intensive, fast-paced degree program. The Statement of Purpose should be 1-2 pages single spaced.

Personal History Statement: Anything that can give reviewers a sense of you as a person belongs here. Any experiences that show your promise, initiative, and ability to persevere despite obstacles could be considered. If you have faced any obstacles or barriers in your education, sharing those experiences provides a deeper understanding of who you are as an applicant. If one part of your academic record is not ideal, due to challenges you faced, this is where you can explain that, and direct reviewers’ attention to the evidence of your potential for higher education. Touch on the following points without duplicating your Statement of Purpose: Overcoming obstacles to access higher education; gaining insights into barriers faced by others; experience or leadership pertaining to underserved populations, equitable access or inequality. Compose a concise 1-2 page Personal History Statement. This essay also factors into the selection process for MAS-E program scholarships.

We are interested in a 1-page summary of your academic and professional background. On the application, please upload your most current resume or curriculum vitae. If applicable, please also include honors, awards, publications, presentations, languages spoken, and associations you belong to.

The application fee is not refundable. If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the application fee is $135; for all others, the fee is $155.

• Fee Waiver: U.S. citizens or permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply for a waiver of the application fee. See guidelines for waivers.

If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic coursework (with grades of B or better) in residence at a recognized U.S. institution, you do not need to take a standardized test. Instead, you must upload an unofficial transcript from the recognized U.S. institution.