The application process for the Department of City and Regional Planning is completely electronic. Please read the instructions below and email the Graduate Admissions Advisers at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions. Admission is for the Fall 2013 semester only.

Please visit the UC Berkeley Graduate Division admissions website for University admission requirements and useful tips on applying.

Application Deadlines

(Note: Where omitted, specific dates will be posted as soon as they are available.)

 
Applicants applying for the concurrent degree programs should follow any additional instructions for that degree program.

Application Instructions

All required materials for admission into the graduate programs are listed below. If you have any additional questions, please refer to our list of frequently asked questions to make sure you have assembled all the required materials. 

Submit the UC Berkeley Graduate Division Online Application and complete all of its sections.

• Statement of Purpose. This is your academic statement and should include: why you want to study city planning, why you want to study planning at UC Berkeley, and how our program can help you achieve your professional goals. For additional information visit our FAQ page.
  
  Note for Ph.D. Applicants: The Ph.D. admissions committee will read your statement of purpose seeking an account of your prior research experience and looking for evidence that you are prepared to undertake a significant, sophisticated, and independent in-depth research project. You do not need to have a specific research topic; however, you should remember that your competence and intellectual potential to undertake dissertation research is among the most important criteria considered by the doctoral admissions committee.
  
  
• Personal History Statement. The personal history statement should convey how a combination of life experiences, idealism, role models, education, and work experiences have influenced your decision to apply. You may also include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.
  
  
• Three Letters of Recommendation. A minimum of three letters of recommendation submitted via the Graduate Division Online Application by the application deadline; however, applicants may submit additional letters. Only letters submitted online will be accepted. If your recommender is having trouble with the system, please instruct him or her to send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  
  
• GRE. All applicants (including international applicants) must submit a recent Graduate Record Examination (GRE) aptitude test score by the application deadline of the program to which they are applying (receipt date). It can take up to four weeks for the University to receive and process GRE scores from ETS, so applicants should be mindful of the application deadline when scheduling a test date. The institution code for UC Berkeley is 4833, and the department code for City and Regional Planning is 4402. Only GRE scores within the last five years will be accepted (valid scores are those for test dates on or after December 1, 2008). Other standardized tests (e.g., LAST and GMAT) will not be accepted as a substitute; there are no exceptions to this requirement.
  
  
• TOEFL or IELTS. International applicants from countries in which the official language is not English must provide official evidence of English proficiency by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. The test must be taken by the beginning of December 2012. Additional information on this requirement can be found at the Graduate Division admissions website. The TOEFL and IELTS must have been taken after June 2011.
  
  Minimum required scores are 570 for the paper-based test, 230 for the computer-based test, and at least 68 for the internet-based test (iBT). Minimum required IELTS score is a 7 on a 9-point scale.
  
  
• Transcript(s). An electronic or scanned copy of your official transcript(s) in PDF format from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. Please make sure that transcript images are properly rotated, and not sideways or upside-down.
  
  
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae. An electronic copy of your resume or curriculum vitae. You should also include any publications, awards, or community/volunteer experiences.
  
  

Submit Optional Supplemental Application Materials

• Exhibit of Creative Work and/or Design Portfolio. Applicants with a design background in their undergraduate education are encouraged to submit a portfolio with examples of drawings, sketches, or photographs of visual design work. For applicants without a design background, a portfolio of graphic work is optional.
  
  
• Recent Publication(s) or Writing Sample. Applicants may want to provide an excerpt from a publication or other writing sample for the committee to review. This is strongly encouraged for Ph.D. applicants.
  
  

Visits to Campus

The department does not conduct admission interviews. However, visits to the Berkeley campus are strongly encouraged. We recommend you make appointments with the DCRP student affairs officer and specific faculty members at least two weeks prior to your visit. The student affairs officer may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For faculty appointments, please refer to the website for contact information. Faculty members manage their own calendars, and it is not possible for departmental staff to set up appointments. Faculty members are available during the months of September, October, and November (fall semester) and February, March, and April (spring semester).

The University also has a Visitor Services Office that offers daily campus tours and other visitor related services. Please contact their office for more information.