The Master of Urban Design program is intended for exceptionally qualified students who already have professional work experience. Admission is competitive. Students must demonstrate evidence of high-quality work and potential for development based on grade-point average, GRE/TOEFL scores, letters of recommendation, and examples of work.

The next date for admission to Master of Urban Design program is Fall 2009. Admission is for the fall semester only. Applications must be submitted or postmarked by January 5, 2009.

Application Procedure

Applicants must submit both the UC Berkeley Graduate Division online application and the Urban Design Departmental Application [available September 2008], along with the following supporting materials:

• Statement of purpose in entering graduate program, proposed emphasis of studies, and special interest(s) in the field.
• Résumé.
• Two sets of official transcripts.
• Three letters of recommendation (evaluating academic and/or professional competence).
• Photocopy of GRE or TOEFL scores (see Required Examinations below). Note: The Graduate Division requires official scores.
• Portfolio of professional and creative work.
   

The Graduate Division application must be submitted online (we do not accept paper Graduate Division applications). Mail the Departmental Application and supporting materials to:

Graduate Admissions Committee
Urban Design Program
University of California, Berkeley
202 Wurster Hall #2000
Berkeley, CA 94720-2000

If portfolio exhibits are to be returned, applicants must include a check made out to "U.C. Regents" and drawn on a U.S. bank in the amount of $10.00. DO NOT SEND SELF-ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPES. If no arrangements are made for return of portfolio materials, they will be discarded. 

Prerequisites

Admission to the Master of Urban Design program requires:

• A prior professional degree in architecture (B.Arch. or M.Arch.), landscape architecture (B.L.A. or M.L.A.), or city and regional planning (M.C.P., M.U.P. with a strong design background).
• Evidence of high-quality academic and professional work, including acceptable GRE and TOEFL scores.
• At least two years of professional experience after completion of professional degree by the January 5 deadline.
• Recommended: A course in history/theory of urban form (comparable to CY PLAN 240). Students without this course will be expected to enroll in CY PLAN 240.
   

Required Examinations

Domestic applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have their scores reported to the Graduate Division by the Educational Testing Service. The GRE must have been taken after June 2004.

Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination instead of the GRE. The TOEFL must have been taken after June 2007. Minimum required scores are 570 for the paper-based test and 230 for the computer-based test. Foreign applicants who have baccalaureate degrees from educational institutions in which instruction was in English must take the GRE rather than the TOEFL.

Applicants should plan on taking the GRE or TOEFL by December 1 to ensure that results will arrive before the above deadlines.