Applying to Berkeley
Before embarking on graduate work in French,
applicants should have completed an undergraduate
major in French literature or
the equivalent coursework. Students with an M.A. in French from another
institution are welcome to apply for admission to the Berkeley Ph.D. program
in French.
Students who would like to apply to the Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures with a French emphasis must meet separate admission requirements. Applicants from foreign countries should be aware that the department's
resources for supporting them with nonresident tuition are limited; admission
of such
students is therefore particularly difficult.
All application materials are due by December 15 every year (for both the Ph.D. in French Literature and the Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures, French emphasis). The departmental Graduate
Admissions Committee examines all completed
applications soon after and makes its recommendations for admission to the Graduate
Division. The committee also recommends awards of GSIships and/or
fellowships. The department
notifies all applicants recommended for admission before the end of February
each year.
Criteria for the selection of applicants for graduate study
in French include the following: academic background (including grades
and test
scores) and
interests, professional promise, evidence of intellectual initiative
and commitment, potential for a successful teaching career at the university
or college level, and language proficiency in French. The assessment
of
the applicant's potential is based primarily on the statement of purpose
(which
should focus on the candidate’s intellectual interests), past
record and recommendations. A writing sample (in French) that shows
the applicant's
thought process and style of argument is required.
Questions regarding
the application procedure as well as general questions regarding the graduate program can be addressed to the Graduate Assistant, who can be contacted via email: frenchga@berkeley.edu or phone: 510-642-2714. If you call and leave a message, please include your email address.
There are a variety of ways to finance graduate study at UC Berkeley. Most support packages are composed of a combination of fellowship and teaching opportunities.
Required Application Materials
The following materials are required of all applicants for both the French literature program and the Romance Languages and Literatures, French emphasis program.
-
Graduate
Division Admissions Application including the “Statement
of Purpose.” This application is available online and is submitted electronically. Be sure to indicate whether you are applying for French or for Romance Languages and Literatures.
-
Background in Languages and Literatures Form
(available in PDF and Word)
-
Graduate Student
Instructor (GSI) Application
(available in PDF and Word)
-
Two sets of official transcripts of all undergraduate
and graduate work (covering each college-level course taken, whether
in the U.S. or abroad, during
the
regular academic year or in summer session). A bachelor’s
degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution
with a satisfactory
scholastic average–usually a minimum GPA of 3.0 (B)—is
required. Applicants are advised to request official transcripts well in advance of the deadline, since universities can require up to several weeks to processs requests for official transcripts. All official transcripts should be mailed directly to the French Graduate Assistant.
-
Three letters of recommendation, written in English
or French, preferably from previous instructors in
the field of French. Letters of recommendation should be accompanied by the cover form provided as part of the Graduate Division Admissions Application. Applicants are advised to request letters from their recommenders well in advance of the deadline. All recommendation letters should be mailed directly to the French Graduate Assistant.
-
TOEFL scores for international student applicants. International students are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) unless they have completed one year or more of full time course-work at an English speaking university. Applicants are advised to
take the examination well in advance of the December 15 application deadline. For
test registration
information, please contact the Educational
Testing Service (ETS) . Applicants must authorize ETS to send an official score report to Berkeley. Berkeley's institution code is 4833.
-
GRE scores are not required for the French program, but are required for the Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL) Program.
-
One
writing sample of at least 5 and no more than 8 pages, typed and
double-spaced, in French.
Please note that this sample is one of the most important documents
in
your application. Applicants should make sure that it accurately
reflects their intellectual
interests and abilities.
The application deadline is December 15.
The Graduate Division Admissions Application should be electronically submitted by this date and all supporting materials (Items 2-8 above) should be postmarked by this date. Items 2-8 should be mailed directly to:
Graduate Assistant
Department of French
University of California, Berkeley
4125 Dwinelle Hall, MC #2580
Berkeley, CA 94720-2580
UC Berkeley requires all applicants to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applications are available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The school code for Berkeley is 001312.
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