Review the entirety of this page, plus these resources:
UC Berkeley Social Welfare MSW Admissions FAQ, Resume Guidelines, and Checklist.
Applicants may apply to only one single degree program or one concurrent degree program per admission term.
Students entering the UC Berkeley Social Welfare master's program are expected to have acquired a broad education, consisting of significant academic preparation in and knowledge drawn from the behavioral, social, and natural sciences, and the humanities. Conceptual ability and the capacity to integrate knowledge from these varied fields should be demonstrated through competence in writing. Additionally, we seek individuals who have exceptional experience in social work or related fields, showcasing both professional promise and leadership potential.
To be eligible for admission to the UC Berkeley Social Welfare MSW degree program, applicants must fully meet all of the following minimum requirements. Please be aware that satisfying these minimal standards, does not guarantee your admission. Since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available, each year we are unable to accommodate many well-qualified applicants.
Applicants should have sufficient undergraduate preparation and training to demonstrate readiness for pursuing professional graduate study in social work.
While there is no minimum preparation requirement in any specific major or area of study (such as number of courses or units), successful applicants will typically have acquired significant academic preparation in the liberal arts and humanities (e.g., literature, language, philosophy, the fine arts, history, etc.) and behavioral or social sciences (e.g., anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, geography, history, linguistics, political science, psychology, sociology, etc.). Please note these examples of coursework areas are not exhaustive.
A college-level introductory course in statistics is required.
Applicants must have completed this course requirement, or be in the process of completing it (i.e., currently enrolled) by the time the application for admission is submitted.
All application supporting materials, including transcripts, written statements, letters of recommendation, and résumé/CV, must be uploaded as PDF files directly into the online application by the application deadline. No late or paper copies are accepted, without exception.
Review the sections below for more information and instructions for submitting the required documentation to your online application:
When you visit the online graduate admissions application system for the first time, you will be prompted to create an account in order to begin your application for graduate admission. The online application system will send you an automated e-mail with instructions for updating your log-in credentials (password) and accessing your individual application.
After you begin an application, you may save it and continue working on it later, but once you submit your application, you may no longer change your record online. You will still be able to login to check your application, monitor its status, and communicate with your recommenders. For other changes or questions, please email the Social Welfare Admissions Office directly at swadmissions@berkeley.edu.
If you experience technical difficulty when applying online, please send an email describing the problem to gradadm@berkeley.edu.
Transcripts for ALL college-level coursework undertaken must be uploaded as PDF files directly into the "Academic History" section of the online application. Unofficial copies are acceptable for the graduate admissions application, but all submitted transcripts MUST include:
All uploaded transcripts should also display in the correct page orientation (i.e. landscape or portrait), and include the transcript legend (the back page in most cases).
Official copies of transcripts will be requested by the Graduate Division for all applicants who are admitted to and matriculate at Berkeley.
You will be required to enter both your Cumulative Undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA), and your Advanced GPA into the "Grades" page of your online application.
The minimum requirement for admission eligibility is a GPA of 3.0 for all coursework completed after the first two years (typically the last 60 semester units or 90 quarter units) of undergraduate study. This is the GPA you should enter in the “Advanced GPA” field in the "Grades" section of your online application for admission.
Calculate and enter your GPA as a value between 0.00 and 4.00. If your GPA is not based on a 4-point scale, leave these fields blank. This may be the case for many international applicants.
The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) Revised General Test is not required for admission to the MSW-only program.
Applicants for concurrent degree programs should confirm standardized test requirements for admission to the other respective degree program.
International applicants from countries in which the official language is not English, and who do not meet the TOEFL exemption qualifications, must submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement is most commonly satisfied by submitting an official score report for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (ILETS). For IELTS, we accept the IELTS and IELTS Online. We do not accept the IELTS indicator.
For purposes of admission, your most recent TOEFL score must be at least 90 for the Internet-based test (IBT), and 570 for the paper-based format (PBT). For IELTS, your most recent overall band score must be at least 7 on a 9-point scale. For Fall 2026, tests taken before June 1, 2024 will not be accepted even if your score was reported to UC Berkeley.Acceptable TOEFL scores are from tests taken between June 1, 20242 and November 15, 2023. TOEFL tests taken after November 15, 2023, will not be accepted for admission into the 2024-25 academic year.
If required, all standardized test scores should be sent electronically, directly to UC Berkeley Graduate Division (Institution Code 4833); they do not need to be sent to the School of Social Welfare. All IELTS scores must be sent electronically from the testing center, and no institution code is required. The address for identification purposes is: University of California, Berkeley, Graduate Division, Sproul Hall Rm 318, MC 5900, Berkeley, CA 64720. All official test score reports must be received by the application deadline.
Three Letters of Recommendation are required, and should include two professional and one academic.
Recommendations are submitted directly to your online application by your recommenders, and must be received by the application deadline. Your recommenders will receive an email at the email address you provide when you apply, and will be asked to follow a link to submit their recommendation. Please use your recommender's institutional or corporate email address. Submissions from anonymous email addresses (Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.) may be subject to additional review.
We strongly encourage you to contact your potential recommenders and confirm their contact information early in the process of preparing your application. Let them know that they will be receiving an automated invitation from the application system to complete their recommendation and submit a letter online directly to your application file. Be sure to inform them of the application deadline. After submitting your application, you can check your Application Status page to monitor when your recommendations are received, and communicate with your recommenders as necessary.
You may waive the right to inspect your letters of recommendation on a voluntary basis. To waive access to your letters, complete the waiver section for each Letter of Recommendation.
In 500 words or less, please respond to the following prompt in your Statement of Purpose:
Statements should follow general APA Style Guidelines. They should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. Please use a clear font that is highly readable; APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Statements should not exceed the 500-word limit, and should be free from spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.
Upload your Statement of Purpose as a single PDF file to the corresponding page in your online application. Before submitting your application, double-check that you have uploaded the correct file.
In 500 words or less, please address the following questions in your Personal History Statement:
Please describe how your background and life experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree at this time. This may include formative experiences, values, or motivations that have influenced your academic and/or professional path.
In this section, you may also include any relevant information on the following:
Any educational, familial, cultural, economic or social experiences or opportunities that have shaped your academic journey
Challenges or responsibilities you have navigated in pursuit of your educational goals, and how you responded to or overcame them
Significant barriers or hardships you have faced, and how they have contributed to your growth and shaped your perspective
Leadership experiences, community outreach, service initiatives, or research projects you have participated in or plan to pursue that aim to positively impact others or the broader community
Ways in which your perspectives, experiences, or aspirations have aligned with UC Berkeley’s Principles of Community
Statements should follow general APA Style Guidelines. They should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. Please use a clear font that is highly readable; APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Statements should not exceed the 500-word limit, and should be free from spelling, grammar and punctuation errors.
Upload your Personal History Statement as a single PDF file to the corresponding page in your online application. Before submitting your application, double-check that you have uploaded the correct file.
Please upload a current copy of your résumé/CV highlighting your relevant social work experience to the Supporting Materials section of your online application.
Review your résumé to confirm that your total hours of experience meet the minimum requirements for admission into the program as of the date you will submit your online application. The résumé must include all of the following information for all entries you wish to be counted towards satisfying the minimum experience requirement:
Do not exceed the page limit guideline of one to three total pages. See Experience and Résumé Guidelines for MSW Applicants.
In 500 words or less, please address the following questions in the Social Welfare Program Page portion of the application:
Statements should follow general APA Style Guidelines.(link is external) They should be typed, double-spaced on standard-sized paper (8.5" x 11") with 1" margins on all sides. Please use a clear font that is highly readable; APA recommends using 12 pt. Times New Roman font. Statements should not exceed the 500-word limit, and should be free from spelling, grammar and punctuation errors. Before submitting your application, double-check that you have uploaded the correct file.
Applicants to the Social Welfare MSW Program who wish to be considered for participation in the Child Welfare Scholars (CWS) stipend-based training program must upload an Application for the Child Welfare Scholars Program as a PDF file to the Supplemental Materials section of the online admission application.
For CWS program eligibility requirements and application instructions please see the Child Welfare Scholars Program departmental website.
For U.S. citizens or current permanent residents, the application fee is $135. For all others, the fee is $155. The application fee is nonrefundable.
For your application to be considered complete, you must pay the required fee with a major credit card, or apply for a fee waiver from Berkeley Graduate Admissions, in the Payment/Fee Waiver section of your online application.
U.S. citizens or current permanent residents may be eligible to apply for a graduate admissions application fee waiver if they meet certain qualifications. For eligibility requirements please see the Berkeley Graduate Admissions Requesting an Application Fee Waiver website.
The form to request a fee waiver is included in the Payment/Fee Waiver section of the online application. To be considered, applicants need to select the waiver payment option and upload any required supporting documents before submitting the online application.
Applicants to established concurrent degree programs must meet all eligibility requirements and admissions standards of both UC Berkeley Social Welfare and those of the respective concurrent degree program, including any examination requirements of other programs (GRE, etc.). The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is not required for the MSW-only Program.
The SOPHAS application is not required for applicants to the Social Welfare & Public Health MSW/MPH Concurrent Degree program. There are no additional materials required for the MSW/MPH Concurrent Degree application.
Applicants to the Social Welfare & Public Policy MSW/MPP Concurrent Degree program are required to submit a Statement of Purpose for both programs. For instructions for the Goldman School of Public Policy (GSPP) Policy Statement of Purpose, please see the GSPP Applying for Concurrent Degree Programs departmental website.
A criminal conviction history does not automatically disqualify you for admission to the MSW program, nor is a background check required as part of the admissions application process. However, before you apply to graduate study in social work at UC Berkeley, you should be aware that all students accepted into the MSW program must be eligible for social work practicum placement, and for required coverage under the School's professional liability insurance policy. For this reason, students must disclose all relevant ethical violations or legal convictions upon admission as part of the first-year practicum placement process.
A criminal history may limit or possibly prevent a student's eligibility for a social work practicum placement, which is required in order to successfully complete the MSW degree. Many agencies used for practicum placement do require a background check and/or drug screening as a condition of placement or employment. It is possible that some agencies may not accept for social work practicum placement a student with certain criminal history backgrounds or positive drug screen. Applicants to the MSW program who have concerns about a previous criminal history are encouraged to discuss their concerns with the graduate admissions staff prior to submitting their online application.
It is also possible that a criminal history could limit or prohibit a student's or graduate's ability to obtain social work licensure, a specialized credential (such as school social work), or employment in social work. The California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS), which licenses social workers in California, evaluates all social work license applications with a prior conviction history on a case-by-case basis to determine the applicant's ability to practice with safety to the public. For more information, please visit California BBS Criminal Convictions.
University of California programs for professions that require licensure or certification are intended to prepare the student for California licensure and certification requirements. Admission into programs for professions that require licensure and certification does not guarantee that students will obtain a license or certificate. Licensure and certification requirements are set by agencies that are not controlled by or affiliated with the University of California and licensure and certification requirements can change at any time.
The University of California has not determined whether its programs meet other states’ educational or professional requirements for licensure and certification. Students planning to pursue licensure or certification in other states are responsible for determining whether, if they complete a University of California program, they will meet their state’s requirements for licensure or certification. This disclosure is made pursuant to 34 CFR §668.43(a)(5)(v)(C).
For information regarding social work licensure in California, please visit the Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS).
