Graduate Program

• M.A. degree
• M.A. Admissions
• Ph.D. degree
• Joint degrees
• Asian Studies and Law
• Asian Studies and Journalism

Admissions to the M.A. degree program

Note: The Graduate Admissions application for Fall 2010 entry is now available. The deadline to apply is DECEMBER 2, 2009. All supplemental documents, as listed below, must also be post-marked by DECEMBER 4, 2009. A link to the application will be available here after the application goes live. We do not offer spring admission.

How to Apply

1. Fill out and submit the online Graduate Admissions application.
2. Send two official copies of all college transcripts. Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution. Official transcripts must be in sealed envelopes as issued by the school(s) you have attended. Request a current transcript from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. For international students, academic records must be issued in their original languages accompanied by English translations (usually prepared by your university or an official translator).
3. Send three letters of recommendation from three recommenders familiar with your work, preferably in an academic setting. Letters can be filled out online by the recommenders (preferred) or via paper. Make sure that your recommenders also fill out the cover sheets (Form G in the application).
4. Send a 5-7 page sample of academic writing (in English) such as an essay or book review.
5. Submit GRE scores of the general test (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical components). Scores must be sent directly by ETS to both the Graduate Division (institution code 4833) and the Group in Asian Studies (department code 2601). Current scores are preferred, however, scores up to five years back will be accepted.
6. All applicants from countries in which English is not the official language are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency through the TOEFL exam. If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better in residence at a U.S. university, you do not need to take this test. Tests taken before June 2008 will not be accepted. Your most recent score must be at least 570 for the paper exam, at least 230 for the computer-based test, or at least 68 for the Internet-based test (iBT). Scores must be sent directly by ETS to UC Berkeley (institution code 4833).
7. Send all supplementary materials listed above to: University of California, Berkeley, Group in Asian Studies, 2223 Fulton Street # 2318, Berkeley, CA 94720-2318.

Applicants are also required to read and meet the admissions requirements of the Graduate Division listed at http://grad.berkeley.edu/ admissions/ admis_ require.shtml#2.

Profile of a successful applicant

The profile of a successful applicant admitted recently would include such attributes as:

• Two or more years of relevant Asian language preparation
• An upper division grade point average of 3.5 or higher (In evaluating grade point average, particular emphasis is placed on the applicant's last two years of undergraduate study and on his or her work in the area in which he or she intends to specialize.) For assistance calculating your major GPA, please consult the GPA Calculator.

• A writing sample of high caliber
• A verbal GRE test score in the 90-99th percentile.
• Excellent letters of recommendation from academic sources that can comment in detail on scholarly attributes
• A concise, mature, and directed statement of purpose that fits within the interdisciplinary Asian Studies program requirements and capabilities
• Some experience living, studying, or working in Asia.

Tuition and fees

2009-2010 tuition and fees are $5616.25 per semester for California residents, and $13,134.25 per semester for non-California residents (includes international students). Fees are subject to change. Please consult the Registrar's Office for the latest information. Non-resident students can gain California residency if they follow the residency requirements listed by the Registrar's Office. For additional information, please see The Guide to Financial Support for Graduate Students.

We welcome your application. If you have further questions (after thoroughly reading all of the information listed above), please contact us at asianst@berkeley.edu. Admissions information for the Ph.D. and concurrent degrees is listed on the individual program's page.