Astrophysics PHD programs

Astrophysics PHD programs

Astrophysics / April 4, 2024

Welcome prospective graduate students! We are glad you are interested in choosing UC Berkeley to assist in your pursuit of higher education.

How to Apply

The deadline to apply for Fall 2017 admission is December 5th, 2016.

The application process is entirely online. Please read the application instructions thoroughly. All supporting material, including your transcript should upload to your application. Your application will be reviewed with your unofficial transcripts. If you are recommended for admission to the Astrophysics PhD program, you must submit official copies of your transcript for final approval of your admission by Graduate Division's Graduate Admissions Office.

Our review process begins in early January. We typically expect to make offers of admission by the end of February or beginning of March.

A Note on the GREs

We require reporting the results of both the General GRE and GRE Subject Test in Physics. We emphasize that GRE scores are only one of several metrics that are used to select candidates for our program and that we are cautious of the many systemic biases associated with standardized test scores. For timely reporting of scores, we encourage taking both tests no later than November. We accept preliminary self-reporting of GRE scores, but require official ETS reporting before certifying final admission to our program. Our departmental code is 0802. Additional information about the GRE exams, and how to register, can be obtained on the GRE website. The Department is aware that ETS score reports for examinations taken in November may arrive after the Dec. 5 deadline. This is acceptable.

International Students

All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries, and non -English-speaking countries in Africa.

If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better in residence at a U.S. university, you do not need to take a standardized test. Instead, you must submit an official transcript from the U.S. university.

We will only accept TOEFL tests administered by the Educational Testing Service and sent to us directly by the TOEFL office. Tests taken before June 2012 will not be accepted, even if your score was reported to Berkeley. The institution code for Berkeley is 4833. You may submit a photocopy of the Examinee's Score Report for review purposes only, but this is not a substitute for an official score report.

For purposes of admission, your most recent score must be at least 68 for the Internet-based test (iBT). Students wishing to be appointed as teaching assistants should have a score of 26 on the speaking section of the iBT.