Applying for Graduate Admission

UC Berkeley’s Master of Development Engineering program admits students for the fall semester only. Applications for admission to the Fall 2024 semester will be available online at the Graduate Admissions website starting September 2023. Select Fall 2024 and the Master of Development Engineering (MDevEng) in the entry pulldown menu. We recommend that applications are completed as early as possible.

Priority Deadline: for priority consideration and for departmental grants consideration, the application and all supporting materials (transcripts, letters of recommendation, etc.) must be submitted by Tuesday, January 9, 2024 at 8:59pm PT.

Secondary Deadline: Monday, March 4th, 8:59pm PT. While applications submitted after January 9th but before March 4th will still be considered for admission, it’s important to note that they will not qualify for fellowship funding from the MDevEng program. Ensure you meet the January 9th priority deadline to be eligible for both admission and fellowship funding opportunities.

The following are key materials applicants will need to prepare. View all application requirements by starting your application.

1) Letters of Recommendation 

Three letters of recommendation are required. You will be asked to submit the names of your recommenders as part of the online application. We strongly recommend that you use the UC Berkeley’s online letter of recommendation system instead of having your recommenders send their letters through the mail. You will still be able to log in to the application and manage your letters of recommendation after you submit your online application. When seeking recommendations, please allow sufficient time for the letter to reach us by the deadline.

2) Statements

  1. Statement of Purpose/Research Statement (Maximum Word Limit: 1,000 words, roughly 2 pages, single spaced)
    • This statement should discuss motivations for graduate school, professional interests, current and prior design/research/work experience, and how your interests can be developed with a Master of Development Engineering degree. View more information on this statement

 

2. Personal History Statement (Maximum Word Limit: 1,000 words, roughly 2 pages, single spaced)

    • This statement should discuss personal motivations for pursuing a Master of Development Engineering. It is also important to discuss any personal and leadership experiences with advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion.  View more information on this statement

3) Portfolio

All applicants are required to submit a portfolio that demonstrates their experience with complex problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity. Depending on background and experience, this may include examples of community development, design work, products, services, entrepreneurial endeavors, course projects, research artifacts, creative works deployed in the field and other creative or technical pursuits that are valued and celebrated by the intended users and other communities of practice.

Your portfolio will be reviewed by a broad array of faculty and practitioners and, therefore should be accessible to a general audience. Portfolios are expected to include both images and supporting text. They should convey the context from which the project arose, the impact or outcome of the work, and for whom the project was intended for. Collaborative work is encouraged, but please credit all authors and detail your specific contribution. Similarly, academic, professional, and personal work are all welcome, but please differentiate these types of work.

Strong portfolios describe a limited selection of projects in depth, rather than account for a large breadth of projects superficially. We suggest highlighting between 3–5 of your most compelling exemplars of creative work. The most important role of a portfolio is to clearly communicate your skills, experience, and perspective.

Your portfolio must include your name and contact information and be submitted as a stand-alone PDF formatted document.

Any URLs or links to outside materials within your portfolio or elsewhere in your application will not be reviewed.

4) Transcripts and Degree Certificates

All applicants must submit unofficial transcripts for each prior college or university attended.  If your cumulative GPA is not clearly stated on your transcript, as is the case for some international university transcripts, download the following International GPA Calculator to calculate your GPA and upload it as part of your application

International students whose transcripts don’t list the degree awarded and conferred date must submit a degree certificate that lists this information along with their transcript.

5) Resume or CV (Required)

6) Writing Sample (Optional)

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.

7) Test Scores

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.

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. 

If you would like to be considered for an application fee waiver, please submit this form with information about your interest in the program, your reason for needing an application waiver, and your current resume or CV. Our staff will contact you if you have been granted an application fee waiver.

For any questions about the application, you may email devenginfo@berkeley.edu or schedule an appointment with an MDevEng Advisor here.

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