Frequently Asked Questions

Contents:

  1. Do you offer a Master's Degree program?
  2. How do I apply for the PhD program? 
  3. Is the General GRE exam or Mathematics Subject GRE exam required?
  4. What are your GRE Score and minimum GPA requirements?
  5. Does your application require a GPA calculation worksheet?
  6. My school does not use a 4-point grading scale. Do I need to convert my grades?
  7. I'm not sure if I qualify for a TOEFL exemption. What are the requirements?
  8. How do I show that I qualify for a TOEFL exemption?
  9. Do you accept the IELTS?
  10. I'm an international student with a 3-year bachelor's degree from my home country. Can I apply for your program?
  11. How can I enroll in Berkeley math classes if I am not a Berkeley Student?
  12. Is there a separate deadline for letter writers?
  13. My letter writer will not be able to submit their recommendation by the deadline. Will my application still be considered?
  14. My letter writer missed the deadline. Can they still upload their letter?
  15. Does the department offer financial aid for graduate students?
  16. Are application fee waivers available?

  1. Do you offer a Master's Degree program?

    No, we do not offer a Master's degree program. If you are interested in graduate study at Berkeley you must apply for the Ph.D. program.

  2. How do I apply for the PhD program?

    We are unable to provide individual consultation on how to get into graduate school or increase one's chance of being accepted. The best way to learn how to apply to our program is to review our website and Graduate Division's website.

  3. Is the General GRE exam or Mathematics Subject GRE exam required?

    Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we plan to make the GRE exams optional for the Fall 2022 graduate admissions application. You may still submit GRE scores; however, an absence of GRE scores will not negatively impact your application.

  4. What are your GRE Score and minimum GPA requirements?

    We do not have a minimum GRE score requirement or any type of review cutoff for the subject or general exams. Our admissions committee uses a holistic review process for all applications submitted by the deadline, so all components of the application are reviewed and considered. Our department complies with Graduate Division's minimum GPA requirement so applicants must have at least a 3.0 average on a 4-point scale.

  5. Does your application require a GPA calculation worksheet?

    No, we do not require a GPA calculation worksheet on the application.

  6. My school does not use a 4-point grading scale. Do I need to convert my grades?

    No, if your school doesn't use a 4-point grading scale, or only provides narrative evaluations, without grades, we do not want you to convert your GPAs; you should simply leave the GPA sections blank. The admissions committee will be able to assess your performance from your uploaded transcripts.

  7. I'm not sure if I qualify for a TOEFL exemption. What are the requirements?

    The English language requirement is overseen by Graduate Division's Office of Admissions. You can find the requirements for an exemption here. After reviewing the policy linked above, if you have further questions on whether you qualify, you can contact gradadm@berkeley.edu for assistance.

  8. How do I show that I qualify for a TOEFL exemption?

    To show that you are exempt from taking the TOEFL, you just need to submit your transcripts in the online application portal, and admissions evaluators will determine that you are not required to submit TOEFL scores.

  9. Do you accept the IELTS?

    Yes, Graduate Division accepts IELTS reports. All IELTS scores must be sent electronically from the testing center; no institution code is required. You can find detailed instructions on how to submit scores here.

  10. I'm an international student with a 3-year bachelor's degree from my home country. Can I apply for your program?

    Applicants must have, or expect to have prior to the beginning of instruction, a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Equivalency is determined by International Evaluators in the Graduate Admissions Office. If you have additional questions on equivalency standards, please contact gradadm@berkeley.edu.

  11. How can I enroll in Berkeley math classes if I am not a Berkeley Student?

    Non-Berkeley students can enroll in Berkeley classes via the Concurrent Enrollment program. You can find more information here.

  12. Is there a separate deadline for letter writers?

    No, all application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be uploaded by the application deadline.

  13. My letter writer will not be able to submit their recommendation by the deadline. Will my application still be considered?

    Yes, as long as you submit your application by the deadline your application will be reviewed and considered for admission. If you are missing a letter, the committee will only have limited information to assess your application.

  14. My letter writer missed the deadline. Can they still upload their letter?

    Yes, the unique upload link is still active after the deadline. Your recommender should upload their letter as early as possible. If they upload it after the deadline, there's no guarantee it will be available for the review since the committee can begin reading applications anytime after the deadline has passed.

  15. Does the department offer financial aid for graduate students?

    All PhD students who make satisfactory progress are fully funded for five years. You can find more information on graduate financial aid here.

  16. Are application fee waivers available?

    U.S. citizens or permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need are eligible to apply for an application fee waiver. Please see the Graduate Division's page on how to Request an Application Fee Waiver. For international applicants, we are pleased to offer a limited number of need based fee waivers each year to eligible applicants. The waiver is available in the program page of the online application and must be submitted by December 1st. 

After reading the above material and our Admissions page, if you have further questions on admission to our program you can send an email to grads-math@berkeley.edu.