Q. What are the admission deadlines?

A. The application deadline is January 8. Decisions on completed files will begin as soon as possible, with the process continuing through February. Applicants will be notified by email or in writing upon receipt of their application, and will be informed of any missing items, which should be provided immediately.

Q. I am interested in receiving financial aid during my studies. Is aid available?

A. Admissions decisions are made independently of financial aid, and students are generally supported by a variety of fellowships and research and teaching assistantships during their time in residence. These appointments pay fees, tuition, and a competitive stipend. Students are encouraged to seek outside fellowships to help finance their graduate studies. Many of our students are supported by NSF, Whitaker, NPSC, Hertz, etc., as well as other governmental and corporate sponsorships.

Q. I cannot afford to pay the application fee. Can I defer the fee until I am admitted?

A. We understand the financial difficulties associated with application to graduate programs, however, the $60.00 application fee cannot be deferred or waived, except for U.S. citizens and permanent residents who qualify based on financial need. In all other cases, the University will not allow an application to be considered unless it is accompanied by the application fee.

Q. I am interested in working for a specific faculty member. Should I send my application directly to them?

A. Admission decisions are made by a departmental committee. Students apply to the department, rather than to a professor, and decisions are made on overall qualifications, independent of research interest. Upon entering our graduate program, the faculty present the research projects that are available, to allow for an informed advisor selection process. Students are also encouraged to meet with a number of faculty members before making a choice of thesis advisor.

Q. What kinds of research projects are pursued by graduate students in Chemical Engineering at UC Berkeley?

A. In broad terms, research in the department can be divided into the following areas:

Biochemical Engineering
Catalysis and Reaction Engineering
Complex Fluids: Polymers and Colloids
Electrochemical Engineering
Electronic Materials
Environmental Engineering and Energy
Molecular Theory and Simulation
Soft Materials and Polymers

Click here to see a list of faculty sorted by subject area.

In addition, some of our students choose to work with a broader set of faculty ranging from Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories to the Department of Chemistry (for example: Alivisatos, Francis, Geissler, Groves, Majda, Mathies, and Tilley) and the College of Engineering (for example: Arkin, Dejonghe, Healy, Howe, Kumar, and Liepmann) on campus.

Q. My undergraduate degree is not in chemical engineering but I would like to pursue a M.S. or Ph.D. in chemical engineering. What are my chances of being admitted to your program?

A. Admission to the graduate program in chemical engineering at the University of California at Berkeley is highly competitive. While an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering is not a formal requirement for admission, we expect students to have completed the equivalent of our own undergraduate required curriculum.

This includes (number of semester units in parentheses):

General Chemistry (8)
Organic Chemistry (5)
Inorganic Chemistry (3)
Physical Chemistry (6)
Physical Chemistry Laboratory (3)
Introduction to Chemical Process Analysis (3)
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics (3)
Chemical Kinetics and Reaction Engineering (3)
Transport Processes (6)
Separation Processes (3)
Chemical Engineering Laboratory (3)
Chemical Process Design (3)
Dynamics and Control of Chemical Processes (3)

Q. I am thinking of applying but I am worried that my background and qualifications are such that I won't be accepted. Is there someone I can call who can tell me if I'll be accepted before I apply?

A. As much as we would like to offer pre-screening, regrettably we do not have the resources to offer this service. We recommend that you contact the advising staff at your own undergraduate institution for an evaluation of your current record and suggestions regarding where to apply for graduate school. Your undergraduate record, performance on the GREs, any undergraduate research experience, letters of recommendation, and your personal statement are all considered in our final decision regarding admission.

Q. I've been working several years since I graduated from college. Do I need references from faculty members?

A. Yes, get at least two academic references. You may add one or two professional references if you wish.

Q. My undergraduate degree is in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. I have such happy, fond memories of the department that I cannot bear the thought of pursuing graduate studies away from Cal. Can I go to Berkeley for graduate school, too?

A. Although nearly all of the best chemical engineers are Berkeley graduates, this department, like most other top chemical engineering departments, feels strongly that its' undergraduates are better served by pursuing graduate studies in a new and different environment. Thus, unless you have obtained a degree elsewhere or have substantial industrial experience since you graduated from Berkeley, we will not admit you to the department for graduate work.

Q. Do I need to take a Subject (e.g., Engineering or Chemistry) GRE exam?

A. For admission to Berkeley, only the Verbal, Analytic, and Quantitative portions of the GRE are required. However, many fellowship programs, including the National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowship, require a subject exam. We encourage students to take a subject exam and pursue these Fellowship opportunities. Such fellowships are awarded to you as an individual and go with you to the institution you choose for graduate study. Such a fellowship often means that you are not dependent on "funded projects" at your new institution and enhances your freedom to choose a project. More information regarding Fellowships is available on the Financial Support page.

Q. When should I take the GRE?

A. October is the best time to take the GRE. It assures that your scores are provided to the Universities you release them to on a timely basis and allows us to make admissions decisions at the earliest possible date. We must have the scores BEFORE January. Computer tests, from which the scores are available immediately, are available on demand from the GRE for an additional charge. Test results must be officially released to the University of California, Berkeley. For more information about the GRE, see the ETS website.

Q. I am an international student and I would like to apply for admission to the graduate program. Do my chances of being admitted differ from those who can establish permanent residency?

A. Unfortunately, recent changes in the University of California budget make it difficult for this department to accept students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. As a result, the department is able to accept only a small fraction of the many highly qualified international students who apply. The MINIMUM requirements for admission include: a grade point average of 3.0 and a minimum score of 570 (paper based) or 230 (computer based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language. The Department of Chemical Engineering requires that applicants be able to demonstrate an A- or better undergraduate record. The department requires all applicants to take the Graduate Record Examination. The Advanced section of the Graduate Record Examination is not required. All applicants must have an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering or equivalent training. 

Q. I will be in town and I would like to stop by and tour the department. Can I drop in on a few faculty members and research groups at that time?

A. While everyone is welcome to take the Berkeley campus tour, regrettably the department cannot accommodate the many students who wish to make drop-in visits prior to being formally admitted to the department. Students who are admitted to the graduate program are invited to visit the department, meet with faculty and current graduate students, and tour labs and facilities at the department's expense in the early spring. During those visits, faculty and graduate students make every effort to clear their schedules of the many obligations and appointments which may make them unavailable at other times. We strongly urge you to plan to visit the department during one of our scheduled "recruiting weekends". The dates and details of these will be included in our offer of admission.