Admission
We admit students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds, and we expect each student to bring different strengths. To make the most of the program, incoming students are encouraged to strengthen any areas where they have less experience—especially in core technical or analytical skills—prior to the start of the program.
The ideal applicant is an early- to mid-career professional interested in technology-driven solutions for local and global development. Strong candidates will have:
- A minimum of a two-course sequence in a technical area such as computer science, data science, economics, engineering, mathematics, or physics (depending on their undergraduate background).
- A STEM or quantitatively rigorous degree or a background in the social or natural sciences with relevant technical coursework.
- 1–3 years of professional experience, though exceptional recent graduates with relevant internships or project-based work are also considered.
Additional experience in development, entrepreneurship, social or environmental policy, or community-based work is valued, though not required.
No. We welcome applicants from a variety of undergraduate and graduate fields of study.
Yes. MDevEng students come from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds. While prior experience in development and/or humanitarian engineering is strongly encouraged, it is not required. We are particularly interested in applicants who can bring domain expertise from other fields and apply it to technology-driven development challenges. The MDevEng is also a strong fit for those with technical backgrounds who are looking to transition into the development / humanitarian sector.
No, prior work experience in your chosen concentration area is not required. Your concentration serves as the focal point for your studies at Berkeley. It can be used in two ways: to deepen your expertise in a field where you already have experience or interest, or to explore and build new skills in an area that is entirely new to you. The program is designed to support both pathways.
No. The GRE is not required for admission to the MDevEng program.
All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. View full details about English proficiency exams and requirements here
If your academic records are in a language other than English or Spanish and your university does not offer a translation, you may submit translations in one of two ways:
- Submit translations prepared by certified translators from the American Translators Association or the Ministry of Education. Degree names and grades should be transcribed, not converted, into English words or the U.S. grades of A-F.
- Submit an official World Education Services (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) evaluation. To electronically submit your WES ICAP, follow the instructions provided by WES. Select “University of California at Berkeley” as the recipient and “Graduate Admissions” 318 Sproul Hall #5900, Berkeley, CA 94720-5900 as the school/division.
Make sure to submit the records in both the original language and the translated copies.
Program Design and Curricula
The MDevEng program admits students only for the fall semester. Because the curriculum is carefully sequenced, all students must begin the program in the fall. Spring admission is not available.
At this time, we do not offer any concurrent or dual degree programs with the MDevEng. Additionally, UC Berkeley does not permit ad hoc joint degree programs, and applicants may only apply to one graduate degree program per admissions cycle.
Our typical cohort size is approximately 30 students, although this may vary slightly from year to year, depending on application volume and admissions decisions.
The MDevEng is a full-time, on-campus program with a rigorous course load designed for immersive, professional training. Students should expect to spend at least 12 hours per week in classes, plus an additional 24 hours per week on coursework, group projects, and independent study. This program is not designed to be pursued part-time.
The MDevEng program offers six areas of concentration, including a customizable option, to help students develop depth in a specific development engineering and humanitarian design domains:
- AI / Data Analytics for Social Impact
- Community-Based Ecosystem Stewardship
- Energy, Water & the Environment
- Sustainable Design Innovations
- Healthcare Transformations
- Self‑Designed Concentration
Because development and humanitarian challenges span diverse sectors, selecting a concentration enables you to focus your coursework and projects in an area where your technical expertise and passions intersect with real-world impact. Your concentration supports your specialized career paths and future academic endeavors. Your concentration area will be printed on your official transcript. To learn more about the concentration areas, visit the Master of Development Engineering Elective Courses and Concentration Areas page.
Yes, you can. We understand that your interests may evolve, and we will work with you to navigate your concentration choice and guide your selection of electives to align with your academic and professional goals.
International Students FAQs
Yes. If you are offered admission to the program, UC Berkeley’s International Office will provide support and documentation to help you obtain a student visa.
Yes. The MDevEng has been classified as a STEM-designated degree under CIP code 14.9999 – Engineering, Other. This designation makes it eligible for the STEM OPT extension. Learn more about STEM OPT from the Berkeley International Office.
Tuition and Financial Aid Questions
No. The MDevEng has a fixed tuition rate for all students, regardless of residency status. Students are encouraged to explore financial aid opportunities to help offset costs. Resources can be found on. Resources can be found on the Development Engineering Funding Opportunities page.
There is no separate application required. All applicants are automatically considered for our competitive fellowships, which are awarded based on both merit and financial need. Simply submitting your complete application materials qualifies you for fellowship consideration, but completing the “Departmental Grant Application” as part of the admissions application will increase the chances of being awarded a fellowship. If selected for an award, you will be notified directly.
Choosing Between MDevEng and Other Programs
The Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) is designated as a Self-Supporting Graduate Professional Degree Program (SSGPDP)—a category of graduate programs designed primarily for working professionals seeking to advance their careers.
As a self-supporting graduate program, the MDevEng is structured to maintain flexibility, develop specialized curricula, support dedicated faculty and staff, and provide enhanced student services tailored to the unique needs of development and humanitarian engineers.
Under this model, a significant portion of the tuition paid by students is reinvested directly into the MDevEng program to sustain its academic and professional offerings. The remaining portion is allocated to UC Berkeley’s central campus to cover shared services, including facilities, technology, and administrative support. This funding structure enables the program to deliver a high-quality, mission-driven educational experience while remaining responsive to the needs of students and industry.
The Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) is an interdisciplinary degree administered by the Development Engineering Graduate Group, composed of faculty from across UC Berkeley and housed in the Blum Center for Developing Economies. The Master of Development Practice (MDP) is also interdisciplinary and governed by the MDP Graduate Group, with faculty from across campus. It is housed within the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP).
Both programs prepare leaders to work with governments, NGOs, multilateral organizations, businesses, and social enterprises to create a more just and sustainable world. However, the two programs differ in focus and pedagogy. The MDP emphasizes natural resources, public policy, and economics, while the MDevEng centers on the role of engineering and technology in development. The MDevEng curriculum is grounded in solving complex global challenges through systems thinking, entrepreneurship, and human-centered design.
Key differences include:
- Program Length: The MDevEng is a three-semester program, while the MDP spans four semesters.
- Core Focus:
- MDevEng emphasizes design, engineering, and technology, and trains students to solve complex development challenges through entrepreneurship and human-centered design.
- MDP builds depth in economics, quantitative and qualitative methods, and the natural and physical sciences, offering a strong foundation in multidisciplinary development practice.
- Capstone Experience:
- MDevEng includes a project-based capstone connected to partner organizations and real-world challenges.
- MDP culminates in a Final Project or Master’s Thesis, integrating a broader set of academic and professional experiences.
- Curricular Breadth:
- MDevEng offers technical specialization with opportunities to engage with engineering and design across campus.
- MDP offers broad exposure to development practice and policy, with flexibility to specialize through elective coursework.
The Berkeley Master of Engineering (MEng) is a two-semester, full-time program with 450–600 students per cohort, designed to develop both advanced technical knowledge and professional leadership skills for future engineering leaders. Students choose from over 35+ concentrations in cutting-edge engineering fields offered across seven departments within the College of Engineering.
The Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) is a three-semester, interdisciplinary program with a smaller cohort of 35–40 students, designed for early- to mid-career professionals interested in applying technology, engineering, and data science to social impact, global development challenges and humanitarian engineering. The program is led by the Graduate Group in Development Engineering, and administered by the Blum Center, a research unit within the College of Engineering. It emphasizes human-centered design, systems thinking, and technology-driven solutions. A summer internship or fieldwork is built into the curriculum to support experiential learning and applied impact.
Key differences:
- Size and Scope: MEng is larger, technically focused, and housed entirely in the College of Engineering. MDevEng is smaller, interdisciplinary, and housed in the Blum Center, drawing faculty from engineering, public health, business, and more.
- Duration: MEng is a two-semester program; MDevEng spans three semesters, including a summer.
- Career Path: Both are professional degrees aimed at careers in industry, entrepreneurship, nonprofit, or government sectors—but the MEng leans toward traditional and emerging engineering roles, while the MDevEng prepares students to innovate in global development with humanitarian engineering focus through technology and design.
Students interested in technical leadership across engineering fields may consider the Berkeley MEng, while those focused on social impact and humanitarian development through technology and social entrepreneurship may find the MDevEng a better fit.
Email DevEngInfo@berkeley.edu or schedule time to talk with our graduate student advisor. We’d be happy to connect with you!
