How to Apply
Application Process
Please read the Graduate Division webpages on UC Berkeley Admissions Requirements and Policies. If you received or are a candidate to receive your undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States, please also review the section on Evidence of English Language Proficiency and Bachelor’s Degree from an International Institution.
The application process is entirely electronic. Please do not mail any documents to the IEOR department. Materials mailed to the IEOR department will not be considered in the application review.
The IEOR department does not offer Spring admissions.
UC Berkeley alumni and current students may be eligible for GRE and application fee waivers. See Application Requirements below.
Important Deadlines for Fall 2025 Admissions
Thursday, September 12, 2024
- Applications open.
Monday, January 6, 2025, 8:59 p.m. PST
- Deadline to submit the online application. The online application portal will not allow applications to be submitted after this deadline. Ensure that your Resume/CV, Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, Audio/Visual, and academic records are complete when you submit the application, as these cannot be updated after submission.
- Deadline for official GRE scores (and official TOEFL scores, if applicable) to be received and verified in UC Berkeley’s application system. Keep in mind that GRE and TOEFL score reports typically take up to 5-15 days to be verified in UC Berkeley’s application system after they are sent to UC Berkeley. Please plan accordingly. We cannot guarantee that test scores verified after this date will be reviewed with your application.
- Deadline for 2 letters of recommendation to be uploaded to UC Berkeley’s application system by the recommenders. We cannot guarantee that letters of recommendation uploaded after January 6, 2025 will be reviewed with your application.
- An application will only be considered complete and reviewable if all application materials are submitted electronically by the deadline, and all letters of recommendation and official test scores have been received and verified by the deadline. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
Application Requirements
You may only apply to one degree program at UC Berkeley per admission cycle.
Please remember to submit your application. Complete but not submitted applications will not be reviewed. Please note that the online application portal will not allow applications to be submitted after the application deadline.
*Note: Letters of recommendation and test scores may be submitted and received prior to application submission. The Resume/CV, Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement, Audio/Visual, and academic records cannot be updated after submission.
We require a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or recognized equivalent and sufficient undergraduate education for graduate work in your chosen field.
More information HERE (Minimum Admissions Requirement).
Academic records from all post-secondary institutions attended must be uploaded to your online application. Do not mail transcripts or other academic records to our office at the time of application.
More information HERE (Academic Records).
*Note: Official transcripts are preferred. Unofficial transcripts must include at a minimum the name of the institution, your full name as it appears on your application, and a chronological listing of all classes and grades.
It is strongly recommended that all prerequisites be completed with grades at the time of application submission:
- one course in statistics or probability,
- one course in linear algebra, and
- demonstrated proficiency in one programming language
- The GRE is the only test accepted.
- There is no minimum score required.
- Please send the official scores to UC Berkeley at institution code 4833. Please do not send them to the IEOR department. Note that a “department” code is not required for your GRE scores to be matched to your online application.
- More information on sending scores HERE (Graduate Record Examination (GRE)).
- Only tests taken within the past 5 years are acceptable. For Fall 2025 admissions, tests taken before June 2020 will not be accepted. Tests must also be taken by the application deadline, January 6, 2025.
*Note: UC Berkeley alumni and current students applying to the IEOR department who earned their UC Berkeley degree or have, at the time of application submission, a 3.5 or higher cumulative or advanced GPA are not required to submit GRE scores with their application.
If you received or are a candidate to receive your undergraduate degree from an institution outside the United States, you are required to fulfill the UC Berkeley Graduate Division’s Evidence of English Language Proficiency requirement.
- We require two letters of recommendation.
- We strongly prefer that letters of recommendation come from a current direct supervisor, former direct supervisor, faculty, or other individuals with whom you have had significant professional interaction.
- When completing the online application, you will enter the email addresses of your recommenders and click the appropriate box to have the recommenders upload their letters. You are responsible for ensuring that the letters of recommendations are submitted by your recommenders. We cannot guarantee that letters of recommendation uploaded after January 6, 2025 will be reviewed with your application.
- More information HERE (Letters of Recommendation).
- The Statement of Purpose is your “academic statement” and should convey why you are interested in the program, what you will contribute to the program, and what you plan to do after the program.
- This essay should include the following:
- Academic and research experiences
- Publications and/or presentations
- Internship or employment opportunities you have had
- Your motivation and interests in the program, including your professional objectives, research interests, areas of specialization, etc.
- Additional contributions to your program of study: Let us know how your experience has led to the perfect fit for this program. Are there specific IEOR faculty you want to work with? Why are you choosing this program at UC Berkeley specifically?
- Be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.
- More information HERE (Writing the Statement of Purpose).
- The Personal History Statement should provide insight to you as a person and any personal experiences that have influenced you to apply for graduate studies in IEOR. Take this opportunity to write about your personal goals, dreams, and what motivates you towards your degree and objectives. Remember to be authentic in your essay, as we want to hear your voice and perspective.
- Discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. This statement can also include any obstacles or barriers that you have overcome during your educational career or any social or community projects/programs with which you have worked.
- Please include any of the following information:
- Educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey
- How you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field
- How you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree
- Be concise; an ideal essay should say everything it needs to with brevity. Approximately 500 to 1000 well-selected words (1-2 single space pages in 12 point font) is better than more words with less clarity and poor organization.
- More information HERE (Writing The Personal Statement).
Prompt: Can you please describe any experience or exposure you have in the area of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging, whether through community organizations or in personal or professional settings? (300 words max)
Upload your resume so that the admissions committee may gain a more in-depth understanding about your academic and professional experiences.
Although work experience is not required for admission, we want to know about your professional, internship, and research experiences.
Please upload a 1-2 minute video or audio file on the Audio/Visual page answering the following prompt: Tell us what characteristics and qualities you have gained through professional, organizational and/or community experience(s) that have prepared you for a career in Analytics.
*Note: Although not required, we strongly encourage the use of video.
A nonrefundable application fee is required when you apply. Information on the application fee can be found HERE (Application Fee).
Application Fee Waiver
There are three ways in which you may qualify for an application fee waiver:
1. Berkeley IEOR is automatically waiving the Master of Analytics, IEOR MS, or IEOR PhD application fee for applicants who identify as:
- Current undergraduate students and alumni of UC Berkeley, or
- Current undergraduate students and alumni of a University of California or California State University institution and are considered a California resident for tuition purposes.
Complete and submit your application by the deadline in order to have your application fee automatically waived based on the undergraduate university information listed in your application. Submit your application and select the credit card option, but do not pay. Your application will be credited for payment on or soon after the January 6 deadline.
*Note: The application fee waiver is available only to applicants who hold, or will hold, a bachelor’s degree or higher from one of the eligible universities noted and meet eligibility at the planned time of enrollment. Visiting scholars and non-degree seeking students are not eligible.
2. Graduate Division Application Fee Waiver Request:
U.S. citizens or current permanent residents who can demonstrate financial need or who have participated in certain programs are eligible to apply for a Graduate Division Application Fee Waiver.
3. Berkeley IEOR Application Fee Waiver Request:
- This Berkeley IEOR Application Fee Waiver Request applies only to the Fall 2025 application cycle.
- Applicants must meet at least one of the criteria listed to be eligible for a Berkeley IEOR Application Fee Waiver and must not be eligible for Graduate Division’s Application Fee Waiver.
Please complete the Berkeley IEOR Application Fee Waiver Request Form before submitting your application. We will review requests within 5-10 business days and provide next steps via email. Please do not submit your application until you receive a decision; we will not be processing application fee reimbursements. Please complete and submit the Berkeley IEOR Application Fee Waiver Request form no later than December 26, 2024, 8:59 pm PT.