Application to the Master of Urban Design (M.U.D.) Program is made via an electronic submittal process. Please read the instructions below and our frequently asked questions (FAQ) list, and email the Graduate Admissions Assistant at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it if you have any questions. Admission is for the Fall 2013 semester only.

Please visit the Graduate Division’s website for University admission requirements and useful tips on applying.

Application Deadline

(Note: The specific deadline date will be posted as soon as it is available.)

Applicants are required to submit both the Graduate Division Online Application and all supplemental materials.

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 GRE and minimum TOEFL/IELTS score requirements.
• Two years of professional experience after completion of the professional degree is recommended but not required. Applicants will be evaluated based on the quality of their work.
• Recommended: A course in history/theory of urban form (comparable to City Planning 240). Students without this course will be expected to enroll in City Planning 240 during the program.
  
  

Application Instructions

All required materials for admission into the graduate programs are listed below. If you have any additional questions, please refer to our list of frequently asked questions to make sure you have assembled all the required materials. 

Submit the UC Berkeley Graduate Division Online Application and complete all of its sections.

• Statement of Purpose. This is your academic statement and should include: why you want to study urban design, why you want to study at UC Berkeley, and how our program can help you achieve your professional goals. For additional information visit our FAQ page.
  
  
• Personal History Statement. The personal history statement should convey how a combination of life experiences, idealism, role models, education, and work experiences have influenced your decision to apply. You may also include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey.
  
  
• Three Letters of Recommendation. A minimum of three letters of recommendation submitted via the Graduate Division Online Application by the application deadline; however, applicants may submit additional letters. Only letters submitted online will be accepted. If your recommender is having trouble with the system, please instruct him or her to send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .
  
  
• GRE. Domestic applicants must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and have their official scores reported to the Graduate Division by the Educational Testing Service (ETS).
  
  Only GRE scores taken after June 2008 are valid. There is no minimum score requirement. School code: 4833. Department code: 4406.
  
  
• TOEFL or IELTS. Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) examination. (However, foreign applicants who have baccalaureate degrees from educational institutions at which instruction was in English must take the GRE rather than the TOEFL.) Applicants who take the TOEFL or IELTS are not required to take the GRE.
  
  The TOEFL and IELTS must have been taken after June 2011. Minimum required scores are 570 for the paper-based test, 230 for the computer-based test, and at least 68 for the internet-based test (iBT). Minimum required IELTS score is a 7 on a 9-point scale. School code: 4833. Departmental code: 99.
  
  
• Transcript(s). An electronic or scanned copy of your official transcript(s) in PDF format from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs. Please make sure that transcript images are properly rotated, and not sideways or upside-down.
  
  
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae. An electronic copy of your resume or curriculum vitae. You should also include any publications, awards, or community/volunteer experiences.
  
  
• M.U.D. Exhibit of Creative Work (Portfolio). Download the Requirements for Exhibit of Creative Work (Portfolio) [PDF]. Applicants must submit an electronic copy of their portfolio to the online application and a mail a hard copy (postmarked by the admission deadline) to the Master of Urban Design Program:
  
  Graduate Admissions Committee
  Master of Urban Design Program
  University of California, Berkeley
  202 Wurster Hall #2000
  Berkeley, CA 94720-2000
   

Visits to Campus

The admissions committee of the M.U.D. program does not conduct interviews. However, visits to the Berkeley campus are strongly encouraged. We recommend you make appointments with the Student Affairs Officer and specific faculty members at least one week prior to your visit. The Student Affairs Officer may be contacted at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . For faculty appointments please refer to the website for contact information. Faculty members manage their own calendars and it is not possible for departmental staff to set up appointments. Faculty members are available during the months of September, October, and November (fall semester) and February, March, and April (spring semester).

The University also has a Visitor Services Office that offers daily campus tours and other visitor related services. Please contact their office for more information.