Master of Engineering

A downloadable Application Requirements Checklist can be found HERE.

Please review each of the application requirements below for details on each requirement. Additionally, we encourage you to visit our FAQ throughout your application process.

The Industrial Engineering and Operations Research department offers the following Master of Engineering concentrations:

• Management Science & Engineering
• FinTech

*NOTE: Applicants who are not eligible for the FinTech concentration will be automatically considered for the Management Science & Engineering concentration.

We require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or recognized equivalent and sufficient undergraduate education for graduate work in your chosen field.

More information HERE (Minimum Admissions Requirement).

Academic records from all post-secondary institutions attended must be uploaded to your online application. Do not mail transcripts or other academic records to our office at the time of application.

Official transcripts are preferred. Unofficial transcripts must include at a minimum the name of the institution, your full name as it appears on your application, and a chronological listing of all classes and grades.

More information HERE (Academic Records).

If you received your degree or are a candidate to receive your undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States, please see additional information HERE (Bachelor’s Degree from an International Institution).

*Note: Ensure that your academic records are complete when you submit the application, as these cannot be updated after submission.

If you received your bachelor's degree from a domestic institution, please report Cumulative GPA (CGPA) and Advanced GPA (all courses completed after your second year for your bachelor’s degree) from the degree granting institution. All other GPAs listed on the online Graduate Application are not required.

​I​f you received your bachelor's degree from an international institution, please report only the Cumulative GPA (CGPA) from the degree granting institution. For international institutions that did not grade on a 4.0 scale, please include the Cumulative GPA as it reads on the transcript in “Other Scale GPA”; you may ignore the CGPA field.​ All other GPAs listed on the online Graduate Application are not required.

*Note: The IEOR department doesn’t require a GPA calculation worksheet; however, we require the transcript grading scale.

It is strongly recommended that all prerequisites be completed with grades at the time of application submission:

• Management Science & Engineering Concentration: To be successful in this concentration, entering students are expected to have a basic understanding of linear algebra, probability, and statistics. Students will find the knowledge of optimization also beneficial.
• FinTech Concentration: To be successful in this concentration, entering students are expected to be knowledgeable in probability and statistics, have a basic understanding of optimization, as well as proficiency in at least one programming language, such as Python, C/C++, or Java. Experience with statistical inference and Python programming will be highly beneficial.

• No minimum score is required.
• Please send official scores to UC Berkeley at institution code 4833 for Graduate Organizations. ”Department” code is not required for GRE scores to be matched to the online application.
• More information on sending scores HERE (Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and Other Test Scores).
• For Fall 2027, tests taken before June 1, 2022 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley. Additionally, tests must also be taken by the application deadline.

GRE scores are required for all applicants except for those who:

• have earned their University of California (UC) degree with a 3.5 or higher cumulative or advanced GPA
• are current University of California (UC) students who have, at the time of application submission, a 3.5 or higher cumulative or advanced GPA
• are/were transfer students to a University of California (UC) with a 3.5 or higher advanced GPA

*Note: Test scores may be submitted and received prior to application submission.

If you received or are a candidate to receive your undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States, you are required to fulfill the UC Berkeley Graduate Division’s Evidence of English Language Proficiency requirement.

*Note: Test scores may be submitted and received prior to application submission.

• We require two letters of recommendation.
• 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.
• When completing the online application, you will enter the email addresses of your recommenders and click the appropriate box to have the recommenders upload their letters. You are responsible for ensuring that the letters of recommendations are submitted by your recommenders. We cannot guarantee that letters of recommendation uploaded after the application deadline will be reviewed with your application.
  More information HERE (Letters of Recommendation).

*Note: Letters of recommendation may be submitted and received prior to application submission.

The Statement of Purpose is your “academic statement” and should convey why you are interested in the program, what you will contribute to the program, and what you plan to do after the program.

This essay should include the following:

• Academic and research experiences
• Publications and/or presentations
• Internship or employment opportunities you have had
• Your motivation and interests in the program, including your professional objectives, research interests, areas of specialization, etc.
• Additional contributions to your program of study: Let us know how your experience has led to the perfect fit for this program. Are there specific IEOR faculty you want to work with? Why are you choosing this program at UC Berkeley specifically?

Be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.

More information HERE (Writing Your Statement of Purpose).

*Note: Ensure that your statement of purpose is complete when you submit the application, as this cannot be updated after submission.

The Personal History Statement should provide insight to you as a person and any personal experiences that have influenced you to apply for graduate studies in IEOR. Take this opportunity to write about your personal goals, dreams, and what motivates you towards your degree and objectives. Remember to be authentic in your essay, as we want to hear your voice and perspective.

Please describe how your background and life experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree at this time. This may include formative experiences, values, or motivations that have influenced your academic and/or professional path.

In this section, you may also include any relevant information on the following:

• Any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences or opportunities that have shaped your academic journey
• Challenges or responsibilities you have navigated in pursuit of your educational goals, and how you responded to or overcame them
• Significant barriers or hardships you have faced, and how they have contributed to your growth and shaped your perspective
• Leadership experiences, community outreach, service initiatives, or research projects you have participated in or plan to pursue that aim to positively impact others or the broader community
• Ways in which your perspectives, experiences, or aspirations have aligned with UC Berkeley’s Principles of Community

Be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.

More information HERE (Writing Your Personal Statement).

*Note: Ensure that your personal history statement is complete when you submit the application, as this cannot be updated after submission.

Upload your resume so that the admissions committee may gain a more in-depth understanding about your academic and professional experiences.

Although work experience is not required for admission, we want to know about your professional, internship, and research experiences.

*Note: Ensure that your resume/CV is complete when you submit the application, as this cannot be updated after submission.

Priority Deadline: Tuesday, December 15, 2026, 8:59 p.m. PST

Deadline to submit a complete online application for guaranteed application review. An application will only be considered complete and reviewable if all application materials are submitted electronically by the deadline, and all letters of recommendation and official test scores have been received and verified by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed during the priority deadline.

Final Deadline: Wednesday, January 6, 2027, 8:59 p.m. PST

Deadline to submit a complete online application. An application will only be considered complete if all application materials are submitted electronically by the deadline, and all letters of recommendation and official test scores have been received and verified by the deadline.

*Note: Letters of recommendation and test scores may be submitted and received prior to application submission. Ensure that your Resume/CV, Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, and academic records are complete when you submit the application, as these cannot be updated after submission.

A nonrefundable application fee is required when you apply. Information on the application fee can be found HERE (Application Fee).

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER:

There are two ways in which you may qualify for an application fee waiver:

1. U.S. citizens or current permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need or who have participated in certain programs are eligible to apply for a Graduate Division Application Fee Waiver.
2. Applicants may be eligible for a Berkeley MEng application fee waiver via the Fung Institute.