Frequently Asked Questions
This is a full-time day program; we do not offer part-time studies.
The majority of our students finish the program in 5 years.
No. This is a full-time, in-residence program.
All interested applicants for the Berkeley Haas PhD Program must apply through the Graduate Division website. The online application is available starting in September each year and closes in December.
No. We admit only for the fall semester.
To the extent of its resources, the Haas School of Business seeks to provide financial assistance to PhD students in the form of stipends, fellowships, tuition and fee remission, and/or research and teaching assistantships for the first five years of study as long as they remain in good academic standing.
All students admitted to our program are fully funded for five years with good academic standing. Foreign applicants may qualify for additional financial assistance offered by the Haas School or the Berkeley International Office. However, resources are limited.
Yes, without exception, all applicants must have taken the GRE or GMAT within five years of the application deadline. Although we prefer the GRE, we will also accept the GMAT.
Applicants interested in Accounting, Business and Public Policy, Marketing Science, Real Estate, or Finance should have a strong background in quantitative content. Please review our Suggested Quantitative Preparation handout for more details. Please note that a lack of experience in these specific subject areas should not preclude you from applying.
UC Berkeley is committed to offering support to student parents through policies, programs, and services to help graduate student parents meet their family care obligations while they pursue their academic goals.
We are unable to determine if an applicant will be admitted to the PhD Program in advance. There are too many variables involved, and we do not know the quality of the applicant pool.
There are no special procedures for students who are reapplying. You will complete the online application the same as any other applicant. Please note that applicants cannot transfer documents that were previously submitted.
All applicants being strongly considered for admission will be contacted, usually by phone, for additional information and to learn more about your research interests. The process may vary for each of our programs.
The Graduate Division does have a minimum GPA requirement of 3.0. Although there is no additional requirement imposed by our department, applicants offered admission in recent years averaged a 3.8 GPA for undergraduate and 4.0 for graduate work.
An offer of admission and financial aid is made for the upcoming academic year only. Acceptance of the offer cannot be deferred. You would need to reapply for the following year without a guarantee of admission.
International students from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit current TOEFL or IELTS scores as a part of the official application. Exceptions to this requirement are very rare and eligibility for a waiver must be confirmed by the Graduate Division before submitting your application. To verify your eligibility, please e-mail [email protected].
Your most recent score must be at least a minimum aggregate score of 90 if you take the iBT. The Haas School of Business PhD Program also reviews your scores in each of the four scored sections of the iBT (Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing). To be competitive, your scores should be in the Intermediate-High or Fair-Good range. Typically, they must be taken within two years of the program start date (as of June 1). Please review the expiration date for both TOEFL and IELTS.
When entering your TOEFL score through the online application please be sure to use your registration number, not your ETS ID number, and the correct institutional code: 4833
No, all international students are required to take TOEFL or IELTS. All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. There are very few exceptions to this requirement.
If you feel that you might qualify for a waiver after reviewing the strict exemption qualifications, please contact the Graduate Division: [email protected]. Please note that eligibility for a waiver must be confirmed by the Graduate Division before submitting your application.
UC Berkeley does not accept transfer credits from other schools. All students are required to take the full two years of core coursework. However, there are rare instances when a core course may be waived if it is approved by the Faculty Field Advisor. See the Haas Good Academic Standing Policy.
Most four-year degrees are recognized. A three-year degree coupled with a recognized graduate degree (e.g. a BComm and PGDM from India or a Vordiplom and a Diplom from Germany) is generally accepted. Please contact the Graduate Division with any eligibility questions at [email protected].
No, we do not. However, there are faculty whose research has an international focus. We recommend that you look at faculty profiles under academics to identify faculty working in this area. Also, students may take pertinent coursework both at the Haas School of Business and in other departments at the university.
Yes. Students can take electives in other departments at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
You can learn about the faculty that work directly with PhD students by reviewing your program of interest under academics. Also, there is a more complete faculty directory that includes research interests and publications.
Review our complete course descriptions.
Curriculum information can also be found in each of the fields of academic study under academics.
Prospective students are welcome to review our student profiles to learn more about our current students. You are welcome to contact any of our current students to learn more about their experiences at Berkeley Haas. Please note that there are times of the academic year when our students can be quite busy.
You may review predoctoral initiatives on the Graduate Division website.
At Berkeley Haas, we believe that diversity enhances individual learning and improves organizational performance and we are committed to increasing the representation of historically underrepresented minorities in business education. Of course, there is always more work to do. The Haas DEI Office and PhD Program Office work together to actively seek a diverse applicant pool. In addition, the Berkeley Haas DEI Strategic Plan 2021-2026 was designed to be inclusive of all of our constituencies; focused on increasing representation, building DEI skills, and cultivating a climate of belonging. There are resources and organizations available to help our students thrive.
There are resources available through the Trans Resource Hub.
This hub provides comprehensive information on education, advocacy, and community spaces centering and supporting Trans and Nonbinary communities. Key resources include our Gender Recognition and Lived Name (GRLN) Policy, Inclusive Restrooms Map, Gender-Affirming Benefits through SHIP (Student Health Insurance Program).
The University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and University policy, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.
Because the faculty and administration of the Haas School of Business are continually reviewing the PhD program to give its students the best possible educational experience, the school reserves the right to change at any time any of its provisions, statements, policies, curricula, procedures, regulations, or fees.
