• Home
• Site Map
• For Faculty
• For Staff

PhD Admissions: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions:

UPDATED: September 5, 2008

Click on a category below to go directly to that section of the FAQ page, or scroll down to browse through all sections.

• The PhD Program
• Application
• Required Application Forms
• Transcripts
• GPA Calculation
• Recommendation Letters
• Standardized Tests
• Application Essays
• Required Supplemental Documents
• Admissions Criteria and Application Review
• Deadlines

The PhD Program
Q: Do you offer a Master's degree?
A: No, we only offer the PhD in Political Science. You will earn a Master's degree on your way to receiving the PhD, but we do not offer the MA for non-PhD students.

Q: How long will the program take?
A: You can reasonably expect to finish the program in 5-6 years. Political Science PhD students typically spend at least one year in the field conducting research, which is why it may take longer than for other social science doctorates.

Q: Do you offer dual degrees with other programs or departments at UC Berkeley?
A: Currently, the Political Science PhD program does not offer any formal dual degrees.

Application
Required Application Forms
Q: What forms am I required to fill out in order to apply?
A: You must fill out all sections of the online Graduate Division Application, AND the Department Supplemental Application. Click here for an application checklist.

Transcripts
Q: Am I required to submit official transcripts?
A: Yes. In order to be considered for admission, we must have official transcripts for ALL courses that you received academic credit for toward a degree. All transcripts should be in the department no later than our application deadline, December 2.

Q: What is the difference between an official and unofficial transcript? Do you accept both?
A: An official transcript is issued directly by your registrar's office in a sealed envelope either to you or mailed directly to us. You are not permitted to see an official transcript. An unofficial transcript is one that you have seen, either issued by your registrar's office or printed from your online student account. You may submit an unofficial transcript to meet our December 2 deadline, but must submit an official transcript as soon as possible after your fall grades have been issued in order to be considered for admissions.

Q: I have taken courses at multiple institutions. Which transcripts do you need?
A: We need official transcripts for ALL courses that you received academic credit for toward a degree. A list of transferred courses on your degree transcript is not sufficient.

Q: My institution does not issue grades until after your December 2 deadline. What should I do?
A: We must have a transcript on file by the December 2 deadline to review your application. Submit a current transcript by the deadline (unofficial is OK), and have your updated official transcripts sent as soon as grades become available.

Q: What can I do if I am in a Master's program, and won't have any grades until after the December 2 deadline?
A: Ask your registrar's office to send us an official document verifying your enrollment and current course list, as well as a date when we can expect your official grades.

Q: How should I submit my unofficial transcripts if I will not have fall grades by the December 2 deadline?
A: You must submit unofficial transcripts electronically through the Department Supplemental Application. 

Q: How should I submit my official transcripts as soon as my fall grades are ready?
A: You may either collect your official transcripts from your registrar's office, then forward them to the department (see the department address at the bottom of this page), or have your registrar's office send them directly to us.

Q: What are the transcript and translation requirements for international students?
A: Please refer to the instructions given by the graduate division about degree requirements for international applicants at http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/admis_require.shtml.

GPA Calculation
Q: The online application asks for various GPAs, but my institution does not use a 4.0 GPA scale. What should I do?
A: Ask your registrar's office if they have a standard format for changing your grades to a 4.0 GPA scale. If it is not a simple conversion, you may leave these sections in the online application blank.

Q: In the online Graduate Division Application, they ask for the average GPA of my Upper Division coursework. How do I know which courses to include?
A: UC Berkeley refers to advanced level undergraduate courses as "Upper Division." Generally, these are the courses that may require prerequisites, junior or senior status, and/or are restricted to students within the major. Talk to your undergraduate advisor for further assistance in deciding which courses fit into this group.

Recommendation Letters
Q: How do my recommenders submit their letters?
A: In the online Graduate Division Application, you will be asked to submit the names and email addresses of your letter writers. Once you enter and confirm this information, your professors will receive an email with instructions on how to submit their letters online.

Q: My professor would prefer to send the letter by mail. Is that OK?
A: While we strongly prefer to receive letters online, we are also happy to accept letters by mail. Ask your professor to mail the letter to the address at the bottom of this page. Please remind him or her that our deadline is December 2, and we need to have the letter in our office by that date.

Standardized Tests
Q: What standardized tests do you require?
A: ALL applicants are required to take the GRE General Test. International students from countries where the official language is not English must also take the TOEFL or IELTS. Please refer to the graduate division's requirements for evidence of English language proficiency for exceptions to this requirement and more information at http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/admis_require.shtml.

Q: What is the institution and department code for UC Berkeley, Political Science Department?
A: UC Berkeley's institution code is 4833. Please DO NOT include a department code or choose the Political Science department when selecting which schools for ETS to send your scores to. UC Berkeley receives all ETS scores electronically, which will then be automatically matched with your application and sent on to the department. Help save a tree, and prevent a duplicate printed version from being sent to the department.

Q: What are the minimum score requirements for the standardized tests?
A: We do not have minimum score requirements for the GRE. However, due to the highly competitive applicant pool we receive each year, the average scores of admitted students are typically in the 80th percentile or higher on each of the three sections of the GRE General Test. For the IELTS and TOEFL, please refer to the graduate division website at http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/admis_require.shtml.

Q: My tests are scheduled close to the December 2 deadline, and I don't think my official scores will reach you by the deadline. What should I do?
A: In the online Graduate Division Application, fill in the unofficial scores for the quantitative and verbal sections that you will receive immediately after you take the test, and we will wait for your official scores from ETS.

Q: I plan to focus on political theory. Does the admissions committee consider the quantitative section of the GRE for my application as strongly as for non-theory applicants?
A: While the relative need for strong math skills for theory students is taken into consideration during the admissions review process, the admissions committee holds all applicants to extremeley high academic achievement standards. We highly recommend you spend time mastering all skills tested in the GRE exam.

Essays
Q: In the online Graduate Division Application, I see that I am required to write a Personal History Statement AND a Statement of Purpose. What is the difference between the two?
A: The Personal History Statement is where you can inform the committee of your background, what makes you unique, and how you came to apply to a PhD program in Political Science. The Statement of Purpose is where you should focus more on your research interests and how are a good fit with our department. Be sure to read the directions for each essay and answer the questions completely.

Q: There doesn't seem to be a limit on the length of my essays. How long should they be?
A: We do not have a minimum or maximum length for the essays. Focus on answering the questions completely in a concise, well-written manner.

Supplemental Documents
Q: Do I need to submit a writing sample in addition to the essays required in the online application?
A: Yes! You must complete the Department Supplemental Application where you can submit the required political science or other social science research paper you have written, including a 250 word abstract on the paper. You may also submit a CV or resume, but we cannot guarantee the committee will have time to read these non-required documents.

Q: May I mail my supplemental writing sample to the department instead of submitting them online?
A: No, we do not accept printed writing samples. We have limited resources and space, and cannot accommodate additional printed materials from applicants. You should follow the directions in the online Department Application Supplement to submit your documents electronically.

Admissions Criteria and Application Review
Q: What are your minimum admissions criteria?
A: The department requires GRE scores from within the past five years, but does not have a minimum score requirement. Also, the university requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent with a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. However, due to the highly competitive applicant pool we receive each year, our admitted students typically far exceed the minimum requirements. For more information, please visit the Admission Requirements section on the Graduate Division website at http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/admis_require.shtml.

Q: How does the admissions process work?
A: A confidential committee reviews files beginning soon after our application deadline of December 2, which is why it is essential that your application be complete by the deadline, and any updated transcripts be sent as soon as possible. Decisions are made within the department and applicants are notified of the department's decision by email and/or phone. The Graduate Division Dean's office then reviews the department recommendations for admission, and notifies those applicants of their official admission by mail.

Q: When can I expect to hear a decision on my application?
A: The department will contact you by email no later than March 1, usually by mid-February. The department is authorized only to recommend admission decisions to the Graduate Division Dean, but you will receive a final decision from the Dean's office if you are admitted shortly after you hear from the department.

Deadlines
Q: What is your application deadline?
A: The deadline for Fall 2009 admissions is December 2, 2008. We do not offer spring or summer admissions.

Q: Do all of my materials need to be in by the deadline?
A: Yes! The committee begins the review process shortly after the deadline, so your application must be complete--including both completed applications, GRE scores, transcripts, and recommendation letters--by the deadline. We will accept official transcripts that include fall 2008 grades after the deadline, but you must send them as soon as possible once your grades are posted. We cannot guarantee that application materials received after the deadline will be reviewed by the admissions committee.

Q: Is there an advantage to applying early?
A: Yes. Due to the huge volume of application materials we receive during the four weeks surrounding the application deadline, we may not be able to provide you with a status update on your application during this busy time. Therefore, it is in your best interest to submit your application and supplemental materials a few weeks early so you will have time to make sure your application is complete by the deadline. Submitting your application early does not improve your chances for admission, except by ensuring your complete application can be reviewed by the committee.

Q: What about my official GRE scores?
A: Your test date must be no later than December 2, 2008, NO EXCEPTIONS! Be sure to include your unofficial verbal and quantitative test scores in your online application by the deadline, and we will wait for your official scores from ETS.

If you have any further questions, please contact us at pscadmit@berkeley.edu.