ERG Admissions FAQ

When does the application open? First week of September 2024

What is the application deadline? Tuesday, December 3, 2024, 8:59 pm Pacific Standard Time (PST).

When are admissions decisions made? We will send admissions decisions during the first week of March.

May I submit updates to my application after the deadline? No. Your application will be automatically locked at the deadline. The review process begins immediately after the deadline, so it is not possible to update your application, with the exception of submitting a fall 2024 grade transcript (or in special circumstances a late letter of recommendation). Please send late transcript copies to erggrad@berkeley.edu.

May I apply for spring admission? The Energy and Resources Group accepts applications for fall admissions only.

What if my recommender is unable to upload their letter or doesn’t meet the deadline? Please have letter writers contact erggrad@berkeley.edu if they have any problems or concerns. Please stay in touch with your letter writers to ensure they meet the deadline.

May I submit TOEFL or IELTS scores after the deadline? The deadline for all application materials is Tuesday December 3rd, 2024. We recommend you plan to take required tests by the end of October to ensure scores will be available by the deadline. However, ERG will accept your unofficial self-reported scores that you receive immediately after the TOEFL test, entered on your application before the deadline, until official scores become available.

What is Berkeley’s Institutional Code for my TOEFL Test? The code for all UC Berkeley Graduate Programs is 4833. You do not need to enter any departmental code.

What is the deadline for Letters of Recommendation? Letters of recommendation must be submitted by the letter writer (not the applicant) by uploading them using the link provided to their email address by Tuesday December 3rd, 2024.

What if my recommender is unable to upload their letter or doesn’t meet the deadline? Please have letter writers contact erggrad@berkeley.edu if they have any problems or concerns. Please stay in touch with your letter writers to ensure they meet the deadline.

Is there a minimum GRE score required? Beginning 2021 the Energy and Resources Group no longer accepts GRE scores for its Master’s or PhD programs. They will not be solicited or considered if provided.

Are any GRE subject tests required? No.

What are the English language proficiency requirements for international applicants? The UC Berkeley Graduate Division requires an internet-based Test of English as a Second Language (ibT TOEFL) overall score of at least 90.  Although the TOEFL test is preferred, IELTS scores will also be accepted.  For more information on language requirements please see the Graduate Division language proficiency requirements.

If I attended an English-speaking school in a non-US country can I receive an English language proficiency test waiver? This is not usually the case. Please refer to the Graduate Division language proficiency requirements.

Should I apply for the MS or MA? Apply to the degree goal that you expect will best reflect your research interests.  Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the program, there are only minor differences between the coursework for the MS and MA and there is no strategic advantage to one or the other in terms of your application. All Master’s applications are considered together without regard to degree category. You may work with your advisor after admission to revise your degree goal if appropriate.

Is it possible to apply to more than one graduate program at UC Berkeley in the same year? No. At UC Berkeley, applicants must identify one department or concurrent degree program to which they wish to apply.  If you change your mind, you may ask the Graduate Division Admissions unit to switch your application to another department.

Do you offer part-time or distance learning degree programs? This is a full-time program; we do not offer part-time, online, or distance learning degrees.

May I give you my credentials and be pre-assessed for admission? No. We are unable to determine in advance if an applicant will be admitted to the ERG graduate program. There are too many variables involved.

When are admissions decisions made? We will send admissions decisions during the first week of March.

Are there campus-wide minimum admissions criteria that apply to all graduate programs at Berkeley? Yes. Please refer to the Graduate Admissions Requirements section on the UC Berkeley Graduate Division website.

How long should my Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement be? Essays should be 1-2 pages, and no longer than three pages each, double spaced (10-12 pt. font).  We can be somewhat flexible on length but please keep in mind that the committee must read hundreds of essays so concise statements are highly appreciated.

What is the Admissions Committee looking for?  Is there a typical ERG student profile? ERG deliberately admits students with a wide variety of interests, perspectives/disciplines, research methods, and experience so that each can help the others see the whole picture and keep the faculty in line as well. To be competitive at ERG, your application needs to convince us that you are committed to interdisciplinary approaches. Even better if you could demonstrate your interest this by actually doing it; many applicants have prior interdisciplinary work or volunteer experience. We value creativity, good mathematical skills, clear thinking and writing, passion about the issues you think are important. Most successful applicants have at least two years of experience after their undergraduate degree, although applicants directly out of their undergraduate program are sometimes admitted. Most of our students have GPAs above 3.5, although we also consider the interesting skills, perspectives, accomplishments, and experiences applicants bring to the table.

Do I have to define a project in my application? No. We expect that many students will explore and learn and change their minds several times. (This is part of the reason we cannot always guarantee funding.) You should explain why ERG is the right place for you and it is often helpful to describe an interesting project as means.

I am an international student. Who can advise me on transition and visa questions? Please contact the Berkeley International Office.

Are there residential opportunities available to international students?UC Berkeley has a lively international community living opportunity at International House. You will find information about this at the Berkeley International Housing Website. Berkeley International Office offers housing advice and resources can be found here.

Is it a good idea to visit? You are welcome to visit campus, but it is not necessary. If you would like to speak with a student or staff member during a visit, or to arrange a remote “visit”, please contact erggrad@berkeley.edu.

May I meet with a member of the faculty? Which faculty members are accepting students? You are welcome to email faculty; however please understand that due to the small number of ERG core faculty and the large number of applicants, it is not possible for faculty to meet with most prospective students.  The Graduate Student Affairs Officer (GSAO) is available to advise you on the ERG programs, requirements for admission, application process, and other questions. Faculty may occasionally be available to discuss research questions on a case-by-case basis by phone, email or during their office hours. However, please be advised that this will have no direct effect on admissions. Applicants are reviewed by the entire admissions committee, and are admitted to the program, not under the auspices of any individual faculty member. ERG students are often available to discuss their experience at ERG and answer questions as well. The GSAO can help you reach out to current students.

But my college advisors tell me to contact faculty about their research. Should I do so? No, this is not necessary or recommended. ERG faculty members generally put current research efforts on their faculty websites. More importantly, because ERG students often change research focus while they are students and often have advisors who are not ERG core faculty, there is no advantage in the application process to proposing to do research that matches the interests of ERG core faculty. We encourage you to define your own research interests.  You do not need the endorsement or sponsorship of any faculty member in order to be admitted to ERG.

Who will be my faculty advisor? When you are admitted, you will be assigned an ERG core faculty advisor based on your research interests. That advisor will help to ensure that you navigate the process of obtaining a degree. Once you are here, you will seek out a research advisor for your Master’s Project or Dissertation as well.  The research advisor can be any faculty member at UC Berkeley, or in some cases researchers or faculty at other institutions. Many of our students do not have ERG core faculty as research advisors. (But many do, of course.) There are nearly 200 ERG Affiliate faculty and researchers in departments across UC Berkeley, plus Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and other institutions who love to work with ERG students. The combination of the UC Berkeley faculty and the Lawrence Berkeley National Lab research staff is probably the world’s largest concentration of professional researchers working on energy and resources, and maybe the best. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the program, you may have more than one advisor and you are never tied or obligated to remain with a specific advisor.

Does the faculty accept short-term visiting students? Due to the high volume of requests ERG core faculty members receive, they are rarely able to accept short-term visiting students and may not respond to inquiries.

How can I get in touch an ERG student? If you wish to be put in touch with a current ERG student, please send an inquiry to erggrad@berkeley.edu with a short summary (just a couple of lines please) including the degree program you are considering (Masters, Ph.D., Concurrent degree), research areas of interest, specific students whose work interests you, a little bit about your relevant background, and your country/language of origin if you are international.

May I schedule a meeting or phone consultation with the Graduate Student Affairs Officer? Yes. Email erggrad@berkeley.edu to schedule a meeting.

Where can I find information about costs and fees for graduate students at Berkeley? Please go to the Office of the Registrar Schedule of Fees.  ERG does not charge any Professional School fees; however Concurrent Degree students are charged professional fees by the concurrent program (Public Policy or Law).

I am not a California Resident; how are fees assessed for out-of-state graduate students? Non-California residents (including international students) are charged additional Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition. U.S. domestic students (citizens or Permanent Residents) are eligible to apply for residency for purposes of tuition after 366 days of physical presence in California. Most domestic students qualify for in-state status after their first year in graduate school.

Is there funding available? Resources to support your search for funding are available on the Graduate Division website. There is some funding available at ERG for first-year students, including financial aid. However, because we do not require students to specify their area of study beforehand, we often cannot guarantee funding for more than one year at a time. Information on Student Appointment eligibility and opportunities can be found here. Most students find support here after they are admitted, either through external fellowships and awards, teaching assistantships, or faculty-sponsored research positions. Campus funding sources exist as well from a range of programs, including international and area studies awards. ERG faculty and students will work closely with you to identify funding sources and write fellowship applications. 

I already have a professional position related to my research and I’d like to keep it. May I work while I am a student at ERG? Some (domestic) graduate students do hold off-campus jobs, but we do not recommend this since your program will demand a great deal of focus and time. International students with F-1 visas are not allowed to work off-campus. Many ERG students obtain on-campus appointments as Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) or Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs – a teaching assistant) in areas related to their studies. GSRs and GSIs are allowed to work no more than 50% Full-Time Equivalent (20 hours/week) when school is in session.

How long do the ERG Master’s Degree and Ph.D. take to complete? The Master’s program requires two years.  The ERG/Public Policy Degree requires three years.  The ERG/JD program requires four years. The Ph.D. depends on you, your research topic, and your funding situation, but normal completion is four to six years.

May I take classes in other academic departments as credit for my ERG degree? Yes. You will take all sorts of classes in a wide range of departments while obtaining an ERG degree. See the Masters Requirements for further details.

What kind of jobs do ERG graduates get? Pretty much what they want, eventually, in universities, think tanks, government agencies, and academia. Examples include Yale, UC Santa Cruz, The Pacific Institute, Redefining Progress, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, California Energy Commission, Pacific Gas & Electric, and venture capital firms, among many others.

What are some similar programs elsewhere? ERG was one of the first interdisciplinary energy and resources programs in the world, and there are a number of programs around the country that are modeled after it.  Nothing is really like ERG, but similar programs are Engineering and Public Policy — Carnegie Mellon, Nicholas School of the Environment and Earth Sciences — Duke, Geography and Environmental Engineering — Johns Hopkins, Technology and Public Policy — MIT (plus other degrees at MIT), Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Environment and Resources — Stanford, Management Science and Engineering — Stanford, Bren School of Environmental Studies — University of California Santa Barbara, School of Forestry & Environmental Studies — Yale, Institute for Energy Studies — Western Washington University, Energy Systems Management — University of San Francisco, Michigan SEAS (School for Environment and Sustainability) — University of Michigan.