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Applying to the Graduate Program in Near Eastern Studies

Students are admitted for the Fall Semester only each academic year. The deadline is December 15th of the year preceding the academic year in which admission is sought. The online application and instructions are available at:
http://www.grad.berkeley.edu/prospective/index.shtml.

Information for prospective students applying for graduate work in Egyptology:
Please note that, due to the untimely passing of Professor Cathleen Keller, temporarily, NES is not considering applications for its graduate programs in Egyptology and Egyptian Art and Archaeology. We expect to accept applications again just as soon as Professor Keller is replaced.

Graduate Admissions Process and How to Apply

*Review the information about Graduate Admissions.
*Complete the Online Application. If using a PDF version, the application must be submitted directly to the department, however, electronic form is strongly preferred.
*GRE/TOEFL scores (whichever is applicable) must be submitted electronically by the deadline.

With reference to the GRE requirement please note that all applicants must take the General Test of the GRE, except for those required to take one of the English language proficiency tests. These are students from countries in which the official language is not English; however, students who have completed at least one year of full-time academic course work with grades of B or better at a U.S. university do not need to take a standardized test. For reporting both the GRE and the TOEFL scores, the UC Berkeley code is 4833 and the department code may be given as 2999 (Humanities) or 0000 (Other). Applicants are not required to submit scores in an advanced subject test.

Following materials should be submitted directly to the Department of Near Eastern Studies on or before
December 15:

  • One set of college/university level transcripts (foreign transcripts to be accompanied with official English translations)
  • A Writing sample (approximately 20 pages that you have written for a college level course or the equivalent in any subject; this may be an excerpt from something longer than 20 pages or a complete paper. It can be something that has been published, or not; the writing sample should be in English).
  • Three letters of Recommendation should be uploaded according to the directions in the application or should be submitted directly to the department in sealed envelopes by the deadline (letters of recommendation submitted via email will not be accepted).

Materials arriving after the deadline will not be considered for review by the Department. Applicants to the graduate program should note that the Department will make its recommendations on admission applications immediately following the admission application deadline. For this reason it is important that all parts of the student's application, including all college level transcripts, three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample must be received by the appropriate office by the deadline.

All materials to be submitted directly to the Department must be sent to the following address:
Graduate Assistant
Department of Near Eastern Studies
250 Barrows Hall #1940
University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720

Applying to Joint Doctoral Program in Near Eastern Religions

The deadline for applications to the joint doctoral program in Near Eastern Religions is also December 15. These applicants must file the enclosed application with the University of California and the appropriate application with the Graduate Theological Union (GTU), meeting GTU deadliness as well. GTU applications can be obtained from the GTU at 2465 LeConte Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94709, or by writing to gtuadm@gtu.edu.

For Readmission Applicants:

According to the University policies, if you were registered as a graduate student in any program no matter how long ago, you have to apply for readmission (Application for Readmission). If you have been away from the university for more than 5 years, you must submit the same documentation to the department as those applying for initial admission; this includes letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, copies of transcripts of work completed in the interim, GRE/TOEFL scores (whichever is applicable) and a 20 page writing sample. These materials must be submitted by the deadline set by the department. Please note that readmission applicants may be in competition for admission with new applicants. If you are applying to a program different from the one in which you were last registered, you must complete a Graduate Petition for Change of Major or Degree Goal.
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Fellowship deadlines for incoming students are the same as the admission application deadlines. Entering students may apply by filling out the appropriate portion of the admission application. FLAS (Foreign Language and Area Studies) fellowships and multi-year UC fellowships are administered through the Graduate Division on the basis of a campus-wide competition. Competition for Magistretti fellowships, Block Grant awards, and smaller stipends and nonresident tuition grants is department-based. Graduate applicants who are members of certain ethnic minority groups may qualify for the University's Graduate Opportunity Program. Please refer to the Graduate Division for details. Applicants for any of these awards who are U.S. citizens or Residents are asked to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).


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