FAQs
Application Process
What are the basic admissions requirements?
International applicants for the LL.M. program must hold an undergraduate or graduate law degree (LL.B., LL.M., etc.) from a foreign institution. American LL.M. applicants must hold a JD degree from an accredited U.S. law school. J.S.D. applicants must hold an LL.M. degree from an accredited American university. more about admission requirements...
When is the application deadline?
Applications for the Fall/Spring academic year must be postmarked by December 1 of the prior year. Applications for the Summer LL.M. program are due by September 30 of the prior year.
How much is the application fee and how do I pay it?
The application fee is $75.00 (U.S.), non-refundable. If you apply electronically through the LSAC web site, you may pay online using a credit card. Otherwise, please send payment in the form of a check from a U.S. bank, an international money order/certified bank check, or traveler’s checks. These should be made payable to "UC Regents". If paying by traveler’s check, please be sure to submit the exact amount as we cannot provide change.
Can I get the application fee waived?
Only a limited number of application fee waivers will be granted. Should you find yourself in need of a fee waiver, please submit a written request for a waiver with your application for admission. The waiver request will be reviewed by the program director in February. Should your request not be approved, you will have the option to either pay the fee or ask that your application be withdrawn.
When will admissions decisions be made?
Decisions are made in April (for the Fall/Spring program) and in September (for the Summer LL.M. program), at which point applicants will be notified of their admission status. All decisions are made at the same time, not on a rolling basis.
How can I receive updates on my application status?
Please note that the review process is very thorough and time consuming. For this reason, we do not always have immediate information on your application status. However, please rest assured that if critical information is missing from your file, we will contact you immediately. To expedite such a notification, please make sure that you provide us with your current email address.
How do I apply for financial aid?
Fill out the financial aid application included in the application for admission (Fall/Spring LL.M. applicants only). For the electronic application, this form is located under "Supplemental Forms" after you save your E-app. Financial aid is determined only after admission. J.S.D. and Summer LL.M. applicants are not eligible for financial aid. more about financial aid...
What is the difference between the Personal Summary and Statement of Purpose?
Your Statement of Purpose should describe your legal interests and professional plans following completion of your study at Berkeley Law. Your Personal Summary should provide a brief account of your personal history, with emphasis on the development of your interest in law. more about personal statements...
Exams
What exams are required?
The LSAT and GRE are not required. The TOEFL is required if English is not your primary language. more about the TOEFL...
Can I waive the TOEFL?
You are eligible for a TOEFL waiver if you meet any of the following criteria:
1. If you have attended a US university for full time study for a minimum of one academic year with a 3.0/B average or higher which you can verify via official academic transcripts, or
2. Earned a degree from a foreign university in which the sole language of instruction is English. This must be clearly documented in your official academic records.
What is the minimum accepted TOEFL score?
The minimum score required by the university is:
600 on the paper-based test, or
250 on the computerized test, or
100 on the internet based test (IBT).
more about the TOEFL...
What is UC Berkeley School of Law's institution code (for TOEFL reports)?
The Institution Code for UC Berkeley School of Law is 4833, and the Department Code is 03.
May I take the IELTS instead of the TOEFL?
Yes. The minimum score required by the university is 7 on a 9 point scale (total score). You must provide us with an official test report form (TRF) of your IELTS. To register for the IELTS, consult the IELTS web site.
Transcripts and Letters of Recommendation
My transcripts and/or recommendations are not in English. Must I have them translated?
Yes. All official academic records must be issued in their original language. If official records are not available in English they must be accompanied by certified English translations. Translations must be made and certified by an official translator. You must submit both the original and the translated versions. more about transcripts...
Should my transcripts and recommendations be sent together with my application forms, or may they be sent separately?
If you have subscribed to LSAC's Crediential Assembly Service, you need to send your transcripts and TOEFL scores to LSAC, not Berkeley Law. All other supplementary application materials (certification letter, letters of recommendation, etc.) should be sent directly to Berkeley Law. If you are not using the Credential Assembly service, your transcripts and TOEFL scores must be sent directly to Berkeley Law as well. We prefer to receive all supplementary application materials in one package. more about applying...
Finances
How much is tuition?
For the LL.M. program, tuition and fees for the current academic year are approximately $42,294.50 (subject to increase for the 2009-2010 academic year). Summer program tuiton is equivalent to the prior academic year's semester fee (half of the yearly fee). Please note that we do not offer discounts for California residents who enroll in the LL.M. program. For the J.S.D. program, in-state students will pay $10,243.50 while out-of-state students will pay $25,249.50. Just as with the LL.M. program, fees for the 2009-2010 year have not yet been set and may increase. more about tuition and fees...
How much money I should budget for living expenses while studying at UC Berkeley?
Based on self-reported student costs, you should plan to spend approximately $21,500.00 on living expenses for the nine-month academic year. The Berkeley International Office recommends adding $7,000.00 for an accompanying spouse and $5,000.00 for each dependent child accompanying the student. These amounts are in addition to student tuition and fees. more about living expenses in Berkeley...
Do you offer financial aid?
University and law school financial aid funds are extremely limited, and only partial awards (in the form of grants or tuition waivers) can be offered to a few LL.M. students each year. Financial aid is not available to J.S.D. students or Summer LL.M. program participants. more about financial aid...
Academics
What courses are offered at UC Berkeley School of Law?
A current course listing can be viewed at the Law School's web site. more about courses...
Is it possible to specialize within the LL.M. program?
Students may now earn a Certificate of Specialization in Environmental Law. Otherwise, the LL.M. program at UC Berkeley School of Law is a generalized program, although students may focus their studies in a particular area of interest. more about the LL.M. curriculum...
If accepted to the LL.M. program, would I automatically be admitted to the J.S.D. program?
Candidacy for the J.S.D. degree is very restricted, and does not follow automatically from admission to the LL.M. program. It is normally open only to those who have completed the requirements for the LL.M. degree and are engaged in or planning careers in academic or other work that emphasizes legal scholarship. more about the J.S.D....
If I am selected, may I defer for one or more years?
If you are admitted but cannot accept our offer, you may request deferral for the following year only. Deferrals are not automatically granted but reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Advanced Degrees Program Committee. They are generally only granted in the case of extreme unforeseen circumstance.