Students are admitted to the graduate program in the fall semester only. The postmark deadline for admission applications (including such supporting documents as transcripts, letters of recommendation and GRE scores), is December 7. For information on graduate admissions and the electronic application, see http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/prospective/index.shtml. Please note that applicants who apply online should mail the writing sample directly to the department. The university also offers graduate diversity fellowships.

The Graduate Division of the University of California at Berkeley has established three basic requirements for admission to graduate programs: (1) a valid degree from an accredited institution, (2) sufficient and appropriate undergraduate training to undertake graduate study in the chosen field, (3) a satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B). You must meet both Graduate Division and Film Studies requirements for admission.

All materials are submitted directly to the Rhetoric Department (be sure to indicate "Film" as your emphasis on Form A of the application).

In summary, the requirements are:

Graduate Division

Completed application forms including:

  • A statement of purpose
  • A $60 application fee for U.S. citizens and permanent residents; $80 fee for all others
  • 3 letters of recommendation
  • Official transcripts with calculation of grade point averages and
  • Official GRE scores no more than 5 years old (use departmental code 4506)

Film Studies

  • At least one writing sample
  • A statement about foreign language proficiency, if any (be specific: how long, at what level, what kind of familiarity, i.e., conversational or reading).

Downloadable application checklist
 
 

The application deadline is a postmark deadline. Late material may not be read by admissions committee members.

To submit a complete and timely application:

  • Take the GREs no later than early November. Scores must be no more than 5 years old as of the application deadline. The department code is 4506.
  • Request transcripts and letters of recommendation 6 weeks in advance and, if possible, have them sent to you to include in the application packet. You will need to have your own copies of transcripts in order to calculate your GPA.

Once complete, your file is ready for review by admissions committee members. The various materials required for application are evaluated together to produce an overall portrait of the applicant. A superb writing sample may offset low undergraduate grades or low GRE scores, for instance, especially with a convincing statement of purpose.

Admissions decisions are made by a departmental committee; membership changes annually. The admissions committee meets early in the spring semester after having read the files over winter break. Decisions for fellowship nominations are made in January and February; other decisions may not occur until March. Applicants to whom the program is not offering admission will be notified by email.

The Request for a Waiver of the Graduate Admissions Application Fee is included in the Graduate Application. Completed Applications should be mailed to: Graduate Admissions, 309 Sproul Hall, UC Berkeley, 94720-5900; phone 510/642-7474. The deadline for the receipt of completed forms and supporting documents is February 10th. Applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents and able to demonstrate financial need. In addition to the form, Admissions requires a statement of need from a financial aid officer at the college or university the applicant is currently attending, a copy of the student's most recent Student Aid Record (SAR), or a copy of the applicant's or the applicant's guardian's most recent federal income tax return form 1040.

The University of California, in compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, or age in any of its policies, procedures, or practices; nor does the University discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.