FAQ

The Master of Advanced Study in Engineering (MAS-E) degree is awarded by the University of California, Berkeley’s College of Engineering.

MAS-E is a designated STEM degree; the CIP code for the MAS-E program is 14.0101. However, International students are ineligible for the F-1 visa STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) extension because the MAS-E program is non-residential (fully online).

Students may complete the program in a minimum of two semesters (full-time) and a maximum of four years (part-time). We anticipate that most students will be on a two- to three-year length program plan.

MAS-E classes are offered in fall, spring and summer sessions. Students may choose to skip only the summer session(s) without withdrawing from the program.

Note that master’s degree students must be enrolled in a minimum of four units per semester for at least two semesters to meet University of California academic residency requirements. The four-unit semesters do not need to be consecutive. Otherwise, fall and spring sessions have a minimum enrollment of one unit to maintain student status.

Students will enroll in the 2-unit capstone project course during their final semester. The goal of the capstone project is to synthesize significant amounts of the content learned in the 22 previous courses. Students propose their own project idea and receive advising and oversight from the program Faculty Director and Teaching Assistant, and benefit from discussions with peers in the course. Capstone projects include a technical problem and solution, project planning and management, and result in individual graded papers and/or presentations. Working professionals should take this opportunity to work on a project outside the scope of their current role that is aligned with their future career goals.

On-campus employment in graduate student instructional and research positions are limited to students enrolled full-time (in 12 units or more per semester). For more information please visit https://grad.berkeley.edu/financial/academic-employment/

Yes, you will be a regularly matriculated graduate student and be accorded most of the rights and responsibilities associated with this status, with one exceptions; MAS-E students are not eligible for the Class Pass (local transportation pass).

The MAS-E cross-disciplinary curriculum facilitates skill building valuable for multiple career paths, depending on the courses a student completes. See our Careers page for more information about prospective employers, potential jobs and career services.

Yes, the MAS-E program welcomes experienced professionals who are interested in pursuing their graduate degree at UC Berkeley to strengthen their technical skill sets.

On average, for every 1 hour of class, students should expect about 2 to 3 hours of additional outside academic work which may include studying, readings, or working on assignments. For example, each 1 unit MAS-E course will typically provide 15 hours of instruction complemented with about 30 to 45 hours of additional work spread out throughout each term. Actual times may vary from student to student.

Applicants with a master’s degree in a STEM field from an accredited program are welcome to apply. The degree may be different from the MAS-E themes you are interested in. The MAS-E program may be beneficial for your career goals, particularly if it is significantly different from that of your original master’s program and does not duplicate previous technical coursework.

You can only apply to one Berkeley graduate program per admission term. Before starting your application, review the programs, and choose the one that is the best fit for your skillset and professional goals.

No, work experience is not a requirement for admission but it can be a positive addition to your application as it helps demonstrate your technical preparation and capacity for graduate study.

Yes! International students are encouraged to apply as we seek a globally diverse student cohort. However, student visas, OPT and CPT are not available to students admitted into the online MAS-E program since it is entirely online.

Admissions requirements are the same for both domestic and international students, except for English proficiency documents. International applicants must have the equivalency of a U.S. undergraduate degree to be eligible to apply and may need to provide materials to verify English proficiency to complete their application.

Please review the Berkeley Graduate Division’s latest guidance for academic records here: https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/steps-to-apply/requirements

Evidence of English language proficiency is required of applicants with basic degrees from countries in which the official language is not English. This includes U.S. citizens who have obtained their basic degrees from an institution outside the United States. Applicants can take either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

TOEFL 

The TOEFL is a standardized test of English language proficiency administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). We accept the internet based (iBT) and iBT Home Edition. We do not accept the Duolingo or scores obtained under the Institutional Testing Program (ITP). 

Applicants must send an official score report via ETS to Berkeley’s institution code 4833 for Graduate Organizations; no department code is required. Official score reports import directly into Slate and will be matched with the application.

ETS reports and verifies TOEFL scores for a period of two years after the date the test was administered. Applicants who took the test more than two years ago must retake it.

The most recent test score for the current test must be at least 90 for iBT. Applicants may take several administrations of the TOEFL, hoping to receive an acceptable score. Because we are concerned with an applicant’s current level of proficiency, the Graduate Admissions Office will base its decision on the applicant’s most recent score, even if earlier scores are higher.

IELTS

The IELTS is a standardized test of English language proficiency which was designed by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate and is administered by the British Council worldwide. Applicants may obtain information on how to register for the IELTS from the IELTS website.

The test is scored on a band width and the most recent overall band score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale. See how the IELTS is scored here. 

Graduate Admissions will no longer be accepting Paper Test Report Forms. All IELTS scores must be sent electronically from the testing center, no institution code is required. Our address for identification purposes is: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 94720. Please do not have applicants mail any score reports.

Applicants currently residing in Iran must take the Academic Modules of the IELTS.

Classes are taught online and asynchronously by top Berkeley Engineering faculty. Each semester, a subset of courses are offered based on student demand. Each one-unit course includes live, online office hours with Berkeley faculty and the support of a teaching assistant.

No, The MAS-E program is offered exclusively online.

Students may complete the program in most countries, but there are exceptions. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) has established regulations that prohibit U.S. persons (including the University of California) from providing services – including remote educational services – to individuals in certain sanctioned countries without a general or specific license. The list of OFAC sanctioned countries currently includes: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and the Ukraine-Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Berkeley Engineering is pleased to offer MAS-E scholarships to qualified candidates. Recipients are awarded partial scholarships based on criteria including academic merit; financial need; overcoming personal, academic or professional barriers; and experience with diversity. Please communicate these through your application’s responses in the:

1. Economic Background section
2. Personal History Statement
3. Personal Information