PhD

Application Process

Please read the Graduate Division web pages on admission requirements and policies. If you received or are a candidate to receive your undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States, you will need to also read the section on International Applicants.

The application process is entirely electronic. Please do not mail any documents to the IEOR department.

An application will only be considered complete and reviewable when all application materials are submitted electronically and all letters of recommendation and official test scores have been received by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed or receive a decision.

Admission Requirements & Application Materials

Note: Application materials can be submitted independently and in any order.

1. Online Application & Application Fee
   • You must submit an application fee when you apply. 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:
     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 admissions application fee waiver.
     2. The application fee will be waived for UC Berkeley current undergraduates and alumni. Please complete and submit your application by the Thursday, December 15, 2022 deadline in order to have your application fee waived. This process will happen automatically, on or around the application deadline, based on the undergraduate university information listed in your application. To claim the Application Fee Waiver, select the credit card option, but do not pay. Then, submit your application by the December 15 deadline, but do not pay. Your application will be credited for payment on or soon after December 15.
   • You may only apply to one-degree program at UC Berkeley per admission cycle. 
   • Please remember to submit your application. Complete but unsubmitted applications will not be reviewed.
2. Undergraduate Education
   • We require a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or recognized equivalent and sufficient undergraduate education for graduate work in your chosen field.
3. GPA
   • Graduate Division requires a satisfactory scholastic average, with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0-scale. 
   • Applicants must report their GPA as it reads on their transcript. 
   • International students do not need to convert their grades to the 4.0 system. 
4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) - GRE Scores Required for Fall 2023 Admissions
   • Please send the official scores to Berkeley at institution code 4833 by the deadline. Please do not send them to the IEOR department.
   • There is no minimum score required.
   • Only tests taken within the past 5 years are acceptable. For Fall 2023 admissions, tests taken before June 2017 will not be accepted.

• Please keep in mind that ETS sends us test scores twice a month electronically, so even if you've received them, it does not mean that we have. Because this is the case, it's a good idea to take the test as early as possible in advance. Note that for scores to be matched to your Berkeley application, it helps if you set up your Berkeley application account using the same name (including spaces) that you use when you register for the test.
• UC Berkeley current undergraduates and alumni applying to the IEOR department who earned their UC Berkeley bachelor’s degree with a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA are not required to submit GRE scores with their application.

     5. International Applicants: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

• • For information regarding TOEFL exemption, please visit here.
  • Please send the official score to Berkeley at institution code 4833 by the deadline. Please do not send it to the IEOR department.
  • The minimum score is 90 for the internet-based test (iBT) and 570 for the paper-based test (PBT).
  • Only tests taken within the past 2 years are acceptable. For Fall 2023 admissions, tests taken before June 2021 will not be accepted.
  • The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is the only acceptable substitute. The minimum acceptable score is 7 on a 9-point scale on your most recent exam. Only tests taken within the past two years are acceptable. Note that other tests, such as the TOEIC, are not acceptable.
  • Please keep in mind that ETS sends us test scores twice a month electronically, so even if you've received them, it does not mean that we have. Because this is the case, it's a good idea to take the test as early as possible in advance. Note that for scores to be matched to your Berkeley application, it helps if you set up your Berkeley application account using the same name (including spaces) that you use when you register for the test.

     6. Electronic Letters of Recommendation

• • Letters of recommendation provide the admissions committee with third-party, qualitative accounts of your potential for success in our program. 
  • We require three 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. You are responsible for ensuring that letters of recommendations are submitted prior to the application deadline.
  • See the Career Center for additional guidance.

7. Statement of Purpose

• • 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: 
    1. Academic and research experiences
    2. Publications and/or presentations
    3. Internship or employment opportunities you have had
    4. Your motivation and interests in the program, including your professional objectives, research interests, areas of specialization, etc.
    5. 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.

8. Personal Statement

• • 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.
  • Discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This statement can also include any obstacles or barriers that you have overcome during your educational career or any social or community projects/programs with which you have worked.
  • Please include any of the following information:
    1. Educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey
    2. How you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field
    3. How you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree
  • 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.

9. Transcripts

• • For the application review process, request a current transcript from every post-secondary school you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. Full academic disclosure is required. Unofficial transcripts and other required academic records should be uploaded, in PDF format, with the online application. Please do not mail transcripts, WES evaluations, or other academic records to our office at the time of application.
    1. Applicant transcripts should demonstrate strong academic preparation and capability. At a minimum, applicants should have two years of undergraduate mathematics (including calculus and linear algebra), a course in probability/statistics, and should demonstrate competency in a scientific programming language. Strong academic preparation also includes courses in one or more of advanced mathematics, operations research, engineering, and computing.
       
    2. Include a copy of the transcript legend or grading scale with the transcript.
    3. Unofficial transcripts must include at a minimum the name of the institution, your full name, and a chronological listing of all classes and grades. 
    4. If your academic records do not include official evidence of the award of your degree, you must also submit additional documents that verify the degree conferral, such as a diploma or degree certificate.
    5. International applicants: Unofficial transcripts and WES evaluations are both required. Academic records should be issued in the original language and accompanied by English translations (usually prepared by your university or Ministry of Education, unless the institution issues original documents in English). English translations are required for all languages; degree names and grades should be transliterated, not converted into English words or the U.S. letter grades of A-F. If your home institution does not issue documents in English, you may submit translations prepared by certified translators from the American Translators Association. 
  • The IEOR department does not require official transcripts at the time of submitting the application. 
    1. If an offer of admission is made, applicants will be required to send to the Graduate Division the official paper documents for verification. Offers will not be considered final until the Graduate Division has received the official documents that match the uploaded record. In general, records or transcripts must be issued by the institution and include the institution’s stamp or embossed seal and the signature of the authorizing official. Official electronic transcripts sent directly by the institution are accepted.  
    2. If you have attended UC Berkeley, official transcripts with evidence of degree conferral will not be required if admitted. 

Not Required and Optional Materials:

• Domestic Fellowship
• FLAS Fellowship
• International Fellowship
• Major Field and Focus Area
• Courses Planned or In Progress
• Self Reported Exam Scores
• Resume/CV (highly recommended)
• Professional Experience
• Honors and Awards
• Publications and Presentations
• Faculty Preference (highly recommended)
• Web Links
• Survey Questions

Status Check

After submitting your application, you may check the status of the materials received or processed (fee waivers, test scores, letters of recommendation, etc.) and an admission decision within the university application system.

We ask that applicants do not contact the department to request a status check. Please see the Application Requirements page for materials required for an application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed or receive a decision.

Decision Notification

If your application is successful, the IEOR department will notify you that you have been recommended for admission. Only the Dean of the Graduate Division can offer official admission. You have not been officially admitted until you have received the official admission letter from the Dean. 

Admission decisions will be released mid-March.

If you have received a fellowship offer, you will be receiving a separate email announcing your award details.

Denied Students

The admission committee conducts a holistic and thorough review of each application. We are unable to offer specific reasons for denial. While we do not want to deny applicants admission to Berkeley, our graduate program is competitive with generally more qualified applications received than allotted slots for new students.

Admitted Students

Applicants receiving an admission offer who would like to accept should review the Accepting Your Offer of Admission guide from the Graduate Division. This webpage details the steps necessary to complete the three required forms online: the Statement of Intention to Register Form, Statement of Legal Residence Form, and the Non-Immigrant Information Form (for non-US citizens).

We encourage applicants who have received an offer of admission to submit the Statement of Intent to Register as soon as they have decided on a graduate program and no later than April 15th.

After a student accepts an offer of admission, the student will begin to receive information regarding registration, orientation, and the I-20 (for international students).

We kindly ask that all admitted students inform us of their intention to attend (accept or decline).

Deferring Admission

Admitted students who have accepted their admission offer may request for their application to be deferred to the following fall term by emailing the IEOR Graduate Student Services staff with the following information:

• Name
• Student ID
• Reason for deferral

If the department approves, a deferral recommendation will be forwarded to the Graduate Division. The Graduate Division will then review and issue a final decision on the deferral application.

More information may be found here.