Applying for the PhD

Statement of Purpose

Please follow the instructions below for the Statement of Purpose (SOP). These instructions supersede the instructions for the general SOP in the online application.

Address these areas in 5-7 double-spaced pages:

1. The present: Why do you want to pursue a PhD in public policy?
2. The past: What experiences or activities bear on your qualifications for this program, e.g., academic research, teaching, professional experience, etc? How do these experiences relate to your decision to undertake a PhD in public policy?
3. The future: What are your public policy research interests, including the topics /areas you would like to study in the PhD program? And what are your short- and long-term career objectives?

Personal History Statement

The Personal History Statement is a required part of the UC Berkeley graduate application. Consider this as your personal introduction to the admissions committee.

In your Personal History Statement, please describe how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a PhD in Public Policy.

CLICK HERE for helpful tips and advice for drafting a compelling Personal History Statement. 

The Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose, but there may be some overlap of experience.

There is no page length requirement for the Personal History Statement, but the essay is generally 1-2 pages, double-spaced.

Faculty Advisor Preferences

Select 3 preferences for a faculty advisor if you are admitted to the program (view profiles of Goldman School faculty here). The assignment of faculty advisors is not guaranteed and is based on the availability of each faculty member.

If you find that your faculty preference is not listed on the application dropdown list, please add their name to the write-in field that follows the dropdown selection.

Curriculum Vitae
(CV)

Upload a current CV reflecting your academic and professional work experience, education, and any other relevant information. 

Writing Sample

The writing sample is required. It must be a solo-authored, original research paper (under 30 pages, double-spaced, and excluding references). We strongly prefer a writing sample that goes beyond just a literature review or summary of existing research. Its purpose is to make it evident that the student can undertake policy research.

Transcripts

Upload unofficial transcripts from all universities or colleges attended. Transcripts should list the name of your undergraduate or graduate institution and the degree conferral date. If you studied abroad, either as part of an exchange program administered by your school or on your own, please upload those transcripts as well. 

In addition to unofficial transcripts, international applicants should also upload degree certificates/diplomas with evidence of degree conferral.

Academic records should be issued in the original language and accompanied by English translations if required. English translations are required for all languages except Spanish. Translations should be submitted according to the guidelines listed <here>.

Official transcripts will be required only if admitted.

Letters of Recommendation

Three (3) letters are required. Applications without three letters are incomplete.  Applicants may submit up to five (5) letters maximum.

Please follow the instructions in the online application for the online letter of recommendation submission process. 

We have a two-week grace period for late letters of recommendation. Letters may arrive up until 11:59 PM PST on December 15th. We cannot guarantee that letters received after December 15th will be considered.

GRE Scores

GRE scores are required for the Fall 2026 application (no exceptions or substitutions).

To ensure you meet the application deadline, please take the GRE no later than early November 2025.

We will not accept scores dated before August 2020.

GRE scores are due the same day the application is due. Keep in mind that it may take a few weeks for your official scores to be received and matched to your application electronically. Our institution code is 4833 (Graduate Programs).

Reservations for the GRE should be made in advance through the Education Testing Service (ETS) http://www.ets.org/gre (Phone: (609) 771-7670 or 1-800-GRE-CALL).

Evidence of English Language Proficiency

All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency.

This requirement applies to institutions from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asian countries, most European countries, and countries in Africa in which English is not the official language.

We will only accept TOEFL tests administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) and sent to UC Berkeley directly by the TOEFL office. UC Berkeley's Graduate Division is currently not accepting the TOEFL ITP Plus for Mainland China or Duolingo.

For Fall 2025, tests taken before June 1, 2024, are considered invalid even if your score was reported to Berkeley. Use institution code 4833 (Graduate Programs). You may sign up for the TOEFL at http://www.ets.org/toefl. 

As an exception to the TOEFL, UC Berkeley also accepts the IELTS exam. All IELTS scores must be sent electronically from the testing center, no institution code is required. Tests taken before June 1, 2024, will not be accepted. Your most recent overall Band score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale.

The address for identification purposes: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720.

Please do not mail any score reports.

Important: GSPP does not offer TOEFL/IELTS waivers, however, some applicants may qualify for an exemption. Please review UC Berkeley's exemption criteria HERE and direct any questions to UC Berkeley's Graduate Admissions Office at gradadm@berkeley.edu.

Application Fee

The application fee must be submitted with the online application and is not refundable. If you are a U.S. Citizen or current Permanent Resident, the application fee is $135; for all others, the fee is $155.

Eligible applicants may apply for an application fee waiver. To do so, you must be a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident. International students are ineligible. 

The form to request a fee waiver is included in the payment section of the online application. Please select the fee waiver option before submitting your application to initiate the fee waiver review process.

Our department does not grant application fee waivers. No exceptions.

Addendum (optional)

Please complete this section if you wish to address specific issues that have adversely impacted your academic performance and/or any aspect of your application.