MCS Admissions Overview

The minimum graduate admissions requirements are:

• Expect to or hold a bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution.
• A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale.
• A minimum of three years of professional work experience prior to the start of the program

You must hold or expect to hold a bachelor’s degree prior to the start of classes from a U.S. accredited institution by one of the AACRAO regional accrediting agencies* or a recognized equivalent from an accredited institution outside of the U.S.

* Regionally accredited college or university means an institution of higher education accredited by one of the following regional accreditation associations in the United States:

1. Middle States Commission on Higher Education
2. New England Association of Schools and Colleges
3. The Higher Learning Commission (formerly known as North Central Association of Colleges and Schools)
4. Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities
5. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
6. WASC Senior College and University Commission

Graduates of accredited academic institutions outside the United States should hold a degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Please contact Graduate Admissions with questions.

Bachelor’s Degree from a U.S. Institution

Required Records: Upload unofficial transcripts* (i.e. a scanned copy) from every post-secondary school that you have attended, including your undergraduate institution, community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.

*Do not upload transcripts from non-matriculated programs (e.g. certificate).

Bachelor’s Degree from an International Institution

Required Records: Upload a scanned copy of your transcript* and degree certificate for each institution after high school. If your academic records are in a language other than English or Spanish, you may submit translations in one of two ways:

1. Submit translations prepared by certified translators from the American Translators Association or the Ministry of Education. Degree names and grades should be transcribed, not converted, into English words or the U.S. grades of A-F.
2. Submit an official World Education Services (WES) International Credential Advantage Package (ICAP) evaluation (opens in a new tab). To electronically submit your WES ICAP, follow the instructions provided by WES. Select “University of California at Berkeley” as the recipient and “Graduate Admissions” 318 Sproul Hall #5900, Berkeley, CA 94720-5900 as the school/division.

* Do not upload transcripts from non-matriculated programs (e.g. certificate).

Resume Requirement

• Please submit a professional resume as part of your application.
• Your resume should include your educational background, work experience, and relevant skills.
• Do not submit an academic CV, the format must follow the example linked below.*
• For any part-time roles, clearly indicate this by writing “Part-time” or specifying the FTE percentage next to the position title.

*This requirement is especially important for international applicants, who may be more familiar with submitting detailed CVs. The MCS program requires a concise, professional resume format.

Reference Sample
UC Berkeley Haas Resume Sample with Formatting Instructions to guide your resume preparation.

The application requires at least two letters of recommendation, with at least one from a professional reference (e.g., a current or former supervisor).

Recommenders should provide insight into your intellectual abilities, professional skills, character, previous work quality, and potential for success in the Master of Climate Solutions program at UC Berkeley.

Important notes:

• You cannot submit applications to multiple programs at UC Berkeley.
• Inform your recommenders of your chosen application deadline. For example, if you plan to apply by December 2, your recommenders should also submit their letters by that date.
• You may waive your right to view recommendation letters when submitting the recommender invitation.
• The Graduate Division may verify the authenticity of letters with the issuing institution or recommender.

English Language Proficiency Requirement

Applicants who earned their degree in a country where English is not the official language must submit official proof of English language proficiency.

This includes degrees from countries such as:

• Bangladesh
• Nepal
• India
• Pakistan
• Latin America
• The Middle East
• China
• Taiwan
• Japan
• Korea
• Most European countries
• Parts of Africa

Accepted Tests

You may satisfy the English proficiency requirement by submitting scores from one of the following:

• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
• IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

TOEFL Requirements

• Accepted formats: TOEFL iBT and iBT Home Edition
• Not accepted: TOEFL ITP or Duolingo
• Minimum score: 90 (internet-based test)
• MyBest Scores are not accepted
• Scores must be sent directly from ETS to UC Berkeley (Institution Code: 4833)
• Test must be taken after June 1, 2024 for Fall 2026 admissions

More information: TOEFL Website

IELTS Requirements

• Accepted format: IELTS Academic Module only
• Minimum score: 7.0 overall (on a 9-point scale)
• Scores must be sent electronically directly from the testing center (no institution code required)
• Test must be taken after June 1, 2024 for Fall 2026 admissions

UC Berkeley identification:
Graduate Division
Sproul Hall Room 318, MC 5900
Berkeley, CA 94720

Do not mail physical copies of your score report.

More information: IELTS Website

TOEFL/IELTS Exemptions

You are exempt from submitting TOEFL or IELTS scores if you meet any of the following:

• Earned a degree from a country where English is the official language
• Completed a degree at a U.S. institution (or U.S.-accredited institution abroad) where English is the language of instruction
• Completed one full academic year of coursework with grades of B or better at a regionally accredited U.S. institution

Note: ESL courses, non-English instruction, nonacademic coursework, or courses completed after applying do not qualify for exemption.

GRE/GMAT Policy

GRE and GMAT scores are optional and not required for the MCS application.

• To submit GRE scores: Send via ETS to UC Berkeley (Institution Code: 4833)
• To submit GMAT scores: Email a PDF of your score report to applyMCS@berkeley.edu

GPA and Grade Reporting for International Applicants
If your academic records use a grading scale different from the U.S. system, please follow these instructions:

Graduate Admissions Application
In the “Other Scale GPA” section, enter your GPA using your institution’s original grading scale. Do not convert to a U.S. GPA in this section.

Quantitative Resume
Please include both types of grades the original grade based on your country’s grading scale (e.g., 100-point scale), and the converted U.S. equivalent grade for each course.

Helpful Resources:

• Grade Equivalencies for Course Grades – guidance for converting individual course grades.
• International Undergraduate GPA Conversion – instructions for calculating your U.S.-equivalent GPA for your Quantitative Resume.