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Applying to Berkeley
Requirements for Admission
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 also 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 (RLL) 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.
Please note that the French Department does not admit applicants whose ultimate goal is the M.A. degree.
The application deadline is December 15 every year (for both the Ph.D. in French 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 Graduate Student Instructorships (GSI) and/or
fellowships. The department
notifies all applicants recommended for admission before the end of February
each year. We only admit applicants for the fall term for both French and Romance Languages and Literatures.
Criteria for the selection of applicants for graduate study in French include the following: academic background (including grades) 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, recommendations, and a writing sample. The writing sample (in French) should show
the applicant's
thought process and style of argument.
Questions regarding
the application procedure as well as general questions regarding the graduate program can be addressed to:
Graduate Assistant
frenchga@berkeley.edu
510-642-2714.
If you call and leave a message, please include your email address.
Financial Support
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. US citizens and permanent residents who are not California residents for tuition purposes are usually provided with a non-resident tuition scholarship in their first year of the program. These students are expected to establish California residency for tuition purposes by the start of their second year in the program.
Required Application Materials
The following materials are required of all applicants for both the M.A./Ph.D. French literature program and the Ph.D. program in Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL), French emphasis.
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Graduate
Division Admissions Application including the Statement of Purpose, which should focus on what the applicant plans to study in graduate school and beyond. This application is available online and is submitted electronicallly. Be sure to indicate whether you are applying for French or for Romance Languages and Literatures. If you select Romance Languages and Literatures, be sure to indicate "French" as your first emphasis.
All applicants are automatically considered for most university and department fellowships, but those applicants who would like to be considered for a Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship must indicate this on the Graduate Admissions online application and submit a separate statement. (Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible). This statement should convey the applicant's strong committment to studying the language and world area they have selected as well the importance of that language to what they plan to study in graduate school. Applicants may select advanced French or any other language they would like to study. If you have questions about the FLAS application or terms of the fellowship, please contact the French Graduate Assistant (frenchga@berkeley.edu).
The Graduate Division provides some information designed to help with applying to graduate school, including tips on writing the statement of purpose.
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Background in Languages and Literatures Form
(available in PDF and Word)
Please email the completed form as a Word or PDF attachment to frenchga@berkeley.edu.
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Graduate Student
Instructor (GSI) Application
(available in PDF and Word)
Please email the completed form as a Word or PDF attachment to frenchga@berkeley.edu.
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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. All transcripts should be mailed to the French Department (address below).
Applicants are advised to request official transcripts well in advance of the deadline, since universities can require up to several weeks to process your request.
Transcripts are not considered official unless they arrive in an envelope sealed by the registrar of your university or college. Applicants should arrange to have their official transcripts mailed directly to the Graduate Assistant (address listed below) from their university or college. Applicants may also forward transcripts to the Graduate Assistant so long as those transcripts are in an envelope sealed by their registrar's office.
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Three letters of recommendation, written in English
or French, preferably from previous instructors in
the field of French. Letters of recommendation may be submitted electronically as part of the online application or mailed directly to the French Department (address below). Applicants are advised to request letters from their recommenders well in advance of the deadline.
For letters of recommendation submited online:
Click on "Recommendations" in the left-hand column of the online application. Input your recommenders' information and click on the box indicating that your recommender will submit the letter online. Once you save the information you may then click on a "Notfiy by Email" button, which will send a notice to the recommender with a username and password allowing him/her to log in and upload his/her letter. (Applicants are advised to ask individuals to serve as recommenders before clicking on the "Notify by Email" button). You will also have the option of sending an email reminder to your recommender.
For letters of recommendation mailed directly to the Department:
Please note that even if you have the letters mailed to the French Department, you must take these three steps: 1) list your recommenders' information on the online application; 2) fill out the waiver section on the online application and 3) print and provide to your recommenders a cover sheet (Form G) for them to fill out and mail along with the letter.
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TOEFL scores for international students. 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. Note to native English speakers: If you have not completed one year or more of full-time course-work at an English speaking university, you are also required to take the TOEFL.
Applicants are advised to begin making exam arrangements in the late summer or early fall, as exam dates may fill up quickly. Applicants are also advised to take the exam well in advance of the December 15 application deadline so that the scores arrive in time. 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.
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GRE scores are not required for the French program, but are required for the Romance Languages and Literatures (RLL) Program. Berkeley's institution code is 4833.
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One
writing sample of at least 5 and no more than 8 pages, typed and
double-spaced, in French.
Please note that the writing sample is one of the most important documents
in
your application. Applicants should make sure that it accurately
reflects their intellectual
interests and abilities.
Please email your writing sample as a Word or PDF attachment to frenchga@berkeley.edu.
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 emailed or postmarked by this date.
Department Mailing Address:
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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