An example of a personal history statement is available at http://ls.berkeley.edu/soc/diversity/apply/personalstatement1.html.

Q: Is it okay if I contact faculty persons regarding admission?

A: Applicants may contact faculty persons with whom they wish to do research before they apply, via e-mail. This serves a dual purpose. It informs the faculty member of your interest in the faculty member's research and may inform you whether the faculty member is accepting students.

Q: I studied abroad. Do I need to submit transcripts from the host university?

A: In some cases, the transcript of the home university only contains credits/units from the host university. In these cases, you do need to submit the transcript from the host university. You do not need to submit the transcript from the host university in cases where the credits/units, grades, course names and course numbers appear on your home university's transcript.

GRE & TOEFL
Q: Do I need to take the GRE? Is there a score requirement for the GRE?

A: We require all applicants to take the GRE general test. The GRE psychology subject test is not required. We do not have a score requirement for the GRE.

Q: What are the average GRE scores?

A: The average GRE scores for our most recent entering class, by area, are:

A: Our graduate program is a 5-year program. Students typically complete the program in 4, 5, or 6 years. We guarantee funding for 5 years.

A: Students may specialize in one of the following areas:

Information about each of these areas is available at http://psychology.berkeley.edu/graduate/index.html.

The Department does not offer programs in criminal or forensic psychology, counseling psychology, or school psychology. (UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Education does have a School Psychology program, but this is program is completely separate from the Department of Psychology.) Information about programs in these areas is available at the American Psychological Association web site http://www.apa.org and at http://www.apa.org/about/division.html.
We also do not offer a Psy.D. degree program or any joint or concurrent degree programs.

A: Our Clinical Science program is accredited by the APA. The APA does not accredit programs in the other areas of our department.

A: No. University policy prohibits students entering Ph.D. programs to transfer credit. Whether a student enters with a master's degree or with a bachelor's degree, the student will begin at Year One of our program.

A: There is not a unit requirement for degree completion. Progress in the program is measured by milestones: qualifying examination, advancement to candidacy, dissertation proposal meeting, filing of the dissertation, and graduation. The standard timeline for completion is as follows:
 

A: Yes. Many students work with professors from more than one area within the Department. Our students also collaborate with professors of other departments/schools/institutes, such as Neuroscience, Integrative Biology, Education, Social Welfare, Sociology, Business, Public Health, Public Policy, Music, and Computer Science.

A: Many careers are open to graduates of our program. Most graduates attain jobs in academia as professors or researchers. Others may work in the medical field, in the corporate world, or for government agencies. Others may be self-employed as consultants.

A: Our Clinical Science graduate program provides training in clinical psychology. Completion of our program (or any program) does not automatically guarantee licensure. For information about the requirements and procedures to become licensed as a psychologist in California, please visit the California Board of Psychology Web site (http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/). Requirements for licensure may vary from state to state. For requirements in other states, please contact the board of psychology, or equivalent agency, of each state in which you want to be licensed.

A: We guarantee 10 semesters of support for each of our students. This is usually through a combination of Graduate Student Instructor (GSI; teaching assistant), Graduate Student Reseacher (GSR; research assistant), and fellowship support. The basic type of support is from GSI appointments. Our department also has 5 or 6 semester fellowships for first-year students. Faculty members may have GSR support available to students in their laboratories as well. The GSI and GSR appointments are for one semester or one year, provide a monthly stipend, and cover approximately 90% of fees excluding the nonresident tuition fee.

The Department guarantees to pay the nonresident tuition for students in their first year only. By the start of the second year, U.S. citizens and permanent residents must establish California residency for tuition purposes or they are responsible for paying their own nonresident tuition. Prior to admission, international students must provide documentation that they have guaranteed funding to cover the nonresident tuition for the length of the our graduate program, up through advancement to candidacy.

A: Yes. The reason is that international students are responsible for paying non-resident tuition (NRT) after the first year. International students who have advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree are eligible to receive a waiver of the NRT for no more than three years. After three years of the NRT waiver, international students will again be responsible for paying the NRT.

A: Most financial aid from the University is only available to U.S. citizens and U.S. permanent residents. International students are eligible to hold teaching and/or research positions, however.

A: Students must meet a number of requirements before the University will classify students as California residents for tuition purposes. The Residence Deputy in the Office of the Registrar reviews requests to establish California residency for tuition purposes and makes the official determination of student's residency. For residency process information and specific residency requirements, visit http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/legalinfo.html or contact the Office of the Registrar at (510) 642-5990. The essential point is that the process of establishing residency must begin as soon as the student arrives in California.

A: The University has housing available for graduate students. There are residences for single students and for students with families. Information about University housing and housing alternatives is available at http://www.housing.berkeley.edu/livingatcal/graduatestudents.html.

A: Off campus and group housing are other options. The staff of Cal Rentals can assist you with your search. More information is available at https://calrentals.housing.berkeley.edu/.