University of California, Berkeley GRE requirements (2026)
GRE policy at Berkeley is set department by department: most graduate programs no longer require it, some have stopped accepting it entirely, and a small number still require or accept it.
About University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is a public land-grant research university founded in 1868 and the flagship campus of the University of California system. It is known for its strengths across the sciences, engineering, social sciences, and professional schools.
QS World University Ranking 2026: #17
GRE requirement by program
University of California, Berkeley sets its GRE policy by program, so there is rarely a single university-wide answer. Below is each program we have checked, with its status, a link to the program's own admissions page, and the date we last confirmed it.
| Program | Status | Official source | Last checked |
|---|---|---|---|
The Graduate Division (most programs) masters and PhD | Varies by program The Graduate Division states that some programs require a standardized test such as the GRE General Test and directs applicants to consult their specific program for its requirements. | grad.berkeley.edu | Jun 2026 |
EECS (Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences) masters and PhD | Not accepted The department states that Berkeley EECS no longer requires, nor accepts, GRE scores. | eecs.berkeley.edu | Jun 2026 |
Mechanical Engineering (College of Engineering) MS and PhD | Not accepted The department states that the GRE General Test is not required in the Fall 2026 application period. | me.berkeley.edu | Jun 2026 |
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (Master of Engineering) MEng | Required The department states that GRE scores are required for all applicants except those who have earned or hold a UC degree or current UC standing with a 3.5 or higher cumulative or advanced GPA. | ieor.berkeley.edu | Jun 2026 |
Haas School of Business (Full-time MBA) MBA | Required Haas states that all candidates are required to take the GMAT, GMAT Focus, or GRE exam, with no minimum acceptable score. | mba.haas.berkeley.edu | Jun 2026 |
College of Chemistry (PhD) PhD | Required The College of Chemistry states that the GRE General Test is required with no required minimum score, and that GRE Subject Tests are not required. | chemistry.berkeley.edu | Jun 2026 |
Each status was read from the program's own admissions page (last checked 12 06 2026). Policies change between cycles; always confirm on the linked official page before you apply.
Not the program you need? The status is set department by department. Use the three-step check on the is the GRE required page to confirm any program in a couple of minutes.
Should you submit a GRE score?
Where University of California, Berkeley marks a program Optional, a score comfortably above the program's admitted-student median can strengthen a borderline application, especially for funded or international applicants. Below that median, your effort is usually better spent on the required parts of the file. Where a program is Not accepted, do not send a score, it will not be reviewed.
Unsure where you would land? Sit a free full-length mock and convert your scaled score to its exact official percentile before you decide.