UC Berkeley’s Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) program, is a professional master’s program focused on development, humanitarian, and social impact engineering, admits students for the fall semester only.
MDevEng Fall 2025 Admissions Timeline
- Select “Fall 2026” and choose “Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng)” from the program list.
- Monday, November 17th at 5:00 PM PDT. Application Fee waiver application deadline: Apply for a fee waiver here.
- For Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Applicants: If you are an applicant from the African continent seeking consideration for the Mastercard Foundation Scholarship, please note that there is an earlier application deadline with some materials due by early December. Refer to the MDevEng Mastercard Foundation Scholarship Application Guide. for full details on the specific dates and requirements for scholarship consideration.
Final Application Deadline: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 – 8:59 PM PT
The following is an overview of key materials applicants will need to prepare. For full details about completing your application, please view the MDevEng Admissions Guide. Additional information can also be found on UC Berkeley’s graduate division application webpage.
- Degree and Date of Granting: If your transcript does not clearly list the degree granted and the date it was granted, you must submit a copy of your official degree certificate or diploma.
- Current Students: If you are in your final term of study and will complete your degree while applying for the MDevEng program, a degree certificate is not required at the time of application submission.
Three letters of recommendation are required. You will enter your recommenders’ names and contact information in the online application. They will then receive an email prompting them to submit an evaluation form and upload their letter of recommendation. Letters are only accepted electronically. Please allow ample time for your recommenders to submit their letters before the deadline.
To help your recommenders write strong, detailed letters, we recommend sharing with them in advance your application materials such as your resume, statement of purpose, and relevant background information.
The MDevEng program does not require the GRE.
Some students who have completed their undergraduate degree outside of the US may need to take the TOEFL or IELTS exam to demonstrate English proficiency. View full details here.
Your Statement of Purpose should explain your motivations for pursuing graduate study, your professional interests, and any relevant design, research, or work experience. You should also describe how your interests align with the Master of Development Engineering program and how the degree will help you achieve your goals.
Maximum length: 1,000 words (approximately 2 pages, single-spaced).
Please describe how your background and life experiences have influenced your decision to pursue the Master of Development Engineering degree at this time. This may include formative experiences, values, or motivations that have influenced your academic and/or professional path.
In this section, you may also include any relevant information on the following:
- Any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences or opportunities that have shaped your academic journey
- Challenges or responsibilities you have navigated in pursuit of your educational goals, and how you responded to or overcame them
- Significant barriers or hardships you have faced, and how they have contributed to your growth and shaped your perspective
- Leadership experiences, community outreach, service initiatives, or research projects you have participated in or plan to pursue that aim to positively impact others or the broader community
- Ways in which your perspectives, experiences, or aspirations have aligned with UC Berkeley’s Principles of Community.
The Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose.
- Community development initiatives
- Design projects
- Product or service development
- Entrepreneurial ventures
- Coursework
- Research outputs
- Field-deployed technologies
- Other technical and creative efforts that have significantly impacted users or communities.
What to Include
Your portfolio will be reviewed by a diverse group of faculty and practitioners, so ensure it’s accessible to a broad audience. Each project should feature visuals (e.g., images, diagrams) alongside accompanying text that clearly communicates:- The context and goals of the project.
- Its intended audience or users.
- The outcomes or impact.
- Your specific role, especially in collaborative work (with proper credit to all contributors).
Submission Requirements
Your portfolio must:- Include your name and contact information.
- Be submitted as a stand-alone PDF document. Max size 20MB
- Maximum 10 pages
All applicants must submit a concise and impactful resume or curriculum vitae in PDF format. This document should effectively showcase your professional journey and accomplishments while adhering to the following guidelines:
- Maximum length: Two pages
- Font size: 12 point
- Includes relevant experience from your undergraduate and any work experience or volunteering.
- Excludes photographs and sensitive information (e.g., home address).
You may use this template for your reference to structure your document effectively. Your resume should go beyond merely listing job responsibilities. Instead, we encourage you to:
- Highlight significant contributions that have added value to your team, organization, or community
- Emphasize improvements you’ve initiated or been part of in your school, work, or volunteer team
- Showcase instances where you’ve exceeded standard expectations
For those with leadership experience, please pay particular attention to:
- Demonstrating your career progression, including advancements and promotions
- Detailing key achievements in each leadership position
Following these guidelines will create a compelling narrative of your professional experience that aligns with our evaluation criteria. We look forward to learning about your unique skills and accomplishments.
You may submit a sample of a published or unpublished written work for the admissions committee to review as part of your application. Written work that is co-authored can be included as long as you directly contributed to them.
Application Fee
Final Decision on Acceptances
Once ALL application materials are received, the Development Engineering Admissions Committee will review your application and then make recommendations for acceptance to the Dean of the Graduate Division. The final decision on admission acceptance is made by the Dean of the Graduate Division. Most admits will be notified of their acceptance by late March.
Helpful information on submitting your application can be found at Graduate Admissions.
For any questions about the application, please visit our FAQs.
If your question isn’t answered there, feel free to email us at devenginfo@berkeley.edu or schedule an appointment with an MDevEng Advisor.
