Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the doctoral program take?
This is a four-year program. Most students finish in their fourth or fifth year.

Can I attend in the evening or part-time?
This is a full-time day program; we do not offer part-time studies.

Do you offer a distance learning degree?
No.

Can I be admitted for the spring semester?
No. We admit only for the fall semester.

Does the Haas Ph.D. Program offer financial aid?
To the extent of its resources, the Haas School of Business seeks to provide financial assistance to Ph.D. students in the form of stipends, fellowships, tuition and fee remission, and/or research and teaching assistantships for the first four years of study. 

What financial aid is available for foreign applicants?
Foreign applicants may qualify for financial assistance offered by the Haas School.  However, foreign students should be advised that our resources are limited, and that only the most highly qualified applicants will be admitted with financial aid.

Should I take GMAT or GRE?
We will accept either GMAT or GRE taken within five years of application (October 2002)..

If I already have master's degree or Ph.D., do I still need to take the GRE or GMAT? 
Yes, without exception, all applicants must have taken either the GRE or GMAT within five years of application.

May I give you my qualifications and be pre-assessed for admission?
We are unable to determine in advance if an applicant will be admitted to the Ph.D. Program.  There are too many variables involved.

For your information, the factors given most weight by the Admissions Committee are the total profile, with special attention paid to:

• Letters of recommendation, especially those from academic references.
• The applicant's statement of purpose.
• GMAT/GRE scores.
• Grades in the last two years of undergraduate work and in all graduate work undertaken.

There is no minimum GPA, but recently admitted applicants averaged a 3.8 GPA in undergraduate and 4.0 in graduate work.

Regarding test scores, among those admitted, the median GMAT total score was 730. The median GRE scores was 660 verbal, 800 quantitative.

Work experience is not required.  More important is an interest in research and teaching.

I plan to reapply to the Ph.D. Program.  What are the procedures?

Please contact the Ph.D program office if you have applied to the Haas Ph.D. program within the past two years. Call 510-642-1409 or email us at phdadms@haas.berkeley.edu

We will have your previous application on file, but will need to know what parts of your prior application you want to move forward to your current application.

To reactivate your application, you will need to:

• Submit the UC Berkeley Graduate Application for the current year: Graduate Application

•  Submit a $60 application fee (on-line applicants may pay by credit card).

• Also submit official sealed transcripts for any academic work completed after your original application.  Although not required, we recommend you rewrite the Statement of Purpose to include new information and provide new letters of recommendation and GRE or GMAT scores. 

Can I schedule an interview?
No.  We do not require nor arrange interviews for applicants. 

Is there a minimum GPA required for admission?
There is no specific requirement imposed by the department.  Applicants offered admission in recent years averaged a 3.8 GPA for undergraduate and 4.0 for graduate work. 

Can I defer admission?
An offer of admission and financial aid is made for the upcoming academic year only.  Acceptance of the offer cannot be deferred.  You would need to reapply for the following year without a guarantee of admission. 

Who must take the TOEFL?
International students from countries in which the official language is not English are required to take the TOEFL.  Your most recent score must be at least 570 for the paper-and-pencil test or at least 230 for the computer-based test. 

Is it possible to waive the TOEFL requirement?
If you have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at an American university, or have received a degree from a recognized English-speaking institution, TOEFL may be exempted. For details, refer to the UC Berkeley Graduate Division requirements for international applicants at www.grad.berkeley.edu.

Can I get an MBA and a Ph.D. simultaneously?
No. You would have to get an MBA first and then apply for a doctorate.

I have completed graduate coursework at another school. Will my credits transfer or the program be any shorter?
UC Berkeley does not accept transfer credits from other schools. All students are required to take the full two years of coursework. However, you may be able to waive several core courses and take more advanced work.

I'm from a foreign country. Will my degree be acceptable?
Most four-year degrees are recognized. A three-year degree coupled with a recognized graduate degree (e.g. a BComm and PGDM from India or a Vordiplom and a Diplom from Germany) is generally accepted. Please contact the Graduate Division with other questions.

Do you offer a concentration in international business?
No, we do not. However, there are faculty whose research has an international focus. We recommend that you look at faculty webpages and faculty bios on the Ph.D. fields of specialization webpages to identify faculty working in this area. Also, students may take pertinent coursework both at the Haas School and in other departments at the university.

Am I allowed to take classes in other departments on campus?

Yes. Students can take electives in other departments on both undergraduate and graduate levels.

Where can I learn more about Haas faculty?
For a complete faculty directory, including research interests and publications, go to http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/faculty/.

Where can I find more information about Ph.D. or MBA courses?
For complete course descriptions, go to http://www.berkeley.edu/catalog/.
For a current Haas course schedule, go to http://www.haas.berkeley.edu/courses/
schedule/.

Nondiscrimination Policy Statement
The University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and University policy, prohibits discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.

Inquiries may be directed as follows: Sex discrimination and sexual harassment: Nancy Chu, Title IX Compliance Officer, 1-510-643-7985. Disability discrimination and access: Ward Newmeyer, A.D.A./504 Compliance Officer, 1-510-643-5116 (voice) or 1-510-642-3172 (TTY). Other inquiries may be directed to the Academic Compliance Office, 200 California Hall, #1500, 1-510-642-2795.

Because the faculty and administration of the Haas School of Business are continually reviewing the Ph.D. program to give its students the best possible educational experience, the school reserves the right to change at any time any of its provisions, statements, policies, curricula, procedures, regulations, or fees.

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