Area of Study/Track (*Required)

In your Master of Journalism application, you will be asked: “Which track would you like to study?” Please select both a First Choice and a Backup Option from the following list:

• Audio Reporting
• Documentary
• Multimedia-Web Video
• Narrative Writing
• Photojournalism

Please note: your chosen area of study/track dictates your first-semester introductory course and serves as the platform for your second-year Master’s Project (a major piece of original reporting completed under faculty supervision). Throughout your two years, you can explore other media platforms through electives to further customize your skillset and professional goals.

For Documentary Applicants ONLY: If you wish to be considered for the Documentary track, you must select "Documentary" as your First Choice. Due to capacity limits, Documentary cannot be selected as a secondary option. Additionally, Documentary elective courses are reserved exclusively for students admitted directly into this track.

Please note that prior technical and hands-on video experience is required for admission to the Documentary Track. If interested in yet new to video production, we encourage you to explore our Multimedia-Web Video Track. You can also check out some of the Master's Projects completed through the Multimedia track to see examples of what you can build and why it's a great place to start your journey.

Topical Areas

Additionally, outside of the sequence of courses needed for your select track, you can take an array of courses exploring various other topical areas to further tailor your studies at Berkeley Journalism:

• Business Reporting
• Climate Reporting
• Data Reporting
• Health & Science Reporting
• International Reporting
• Investigative Reporting
• Reporting on Incarceration

And more!

Please note: You do not need to outrightly apply for such topical areas, but please feel free to indicate in the application if you have any interest and/or experience in these areas.

Statements: 2 (*Required)

Word Limit: Maximum 500 words each

For Berkeley Journalism, we require two statements of up to 500 words each. Furthermore, we recommend addressing the following in your statements.

1. Statement of Purpose (maximum of 500 words)

Please describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in journalism, including your journalistic preparation, what specific skills you hope to learn through the Berkeley Journalism curriculum, and your future career goals in the field of journalism and how it aligns with the program. Please also include specific reasons you would like to attend Berkeley Journalism at this point in your career.

For Documentary Track Applicants ONLY:

If you are applying to the Documentary track, please include the required additional essay of up to 300 words in the same document as your Statement of Purpose, clearly labeled: "Additional Essay for the Documentary Program."

For more details on these additional requirements, see the Documentary Program Applicants tab on this page. 

2. Personal History Statement (maximum of 500 words)

Please describe how your background and life experiences have influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree in journalism at this time. This may include formative experiences, values, or motivations that have influenced your academic and/or professional path in journalism.

In this section, you may also include any relevant information on the following:

• Ways in which your background, perspective, experiences, or aspirations have aligned with UC Berkeley’s Principles of Community
• 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

The Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose.

For writing tips on your statements, please check the Graduate Admissions Writing Your Statements page.

Optional Supplemental Essay (*Optional)

Word Limit: Maximum 300 words

For Berkeley Journalism, this essay of maximum 300 words is optional, and is for anyone who wishes to expand on hardships or unusual life circumstances that may have impacted their opportunities, achievements, and impact.

It can be helpful to use this space to provide context for things such as a low GPA, a lack of related work experience, or any other part of the application that you feel might need some additional context.

Departmental Need-Based Funding (*Optional)

Word Limit: Maximum 300 words

All admitted students are automatically considered for merit-based departmental funding. However, to be considered for need-based departmental funding, you must complete the "Departmental Grant Application" section of the application and submit the Departmental Need-Based Funding essay.

The purpose of the Departmental Need-Based Funding essay is to help determine your relative financial need compared to other applicants. Special consideration is given to applicants whose backgrounds and life experiences enhance educational diversity. This includes, but is not limited to, applicants who:

• Have had limited access to educational resources.
• Represent geographic diversity.
• Have persevered over economic disadvantage.
• Have shown exceptional fortitude by working significant hours to support themselves during their education.
• Bring a unique perspective that is not widely represented within the program.

How to Apply

1. Complete the FAFSA: Submit the Free Application for Federal Student AID (domestic applicants only).
2. Fill Out All Sections: Complete every section of the Departmental Grant Application, including the Agreement, the Need-Based Funding Essay, and all financial questions.
3. Be Precise with Numbers: Declare all amounts over $10.00 USD. If you have no funds in a specific category, you must enter $0.00 (zero).

Important: Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please be prepared to provide documentation to verify the numbers you submit, if requested.

Letters of Recommendation: 2 (*Required)

For Berkeley Journalism, please note that we only require two letters of recommendation. Ideally, these letters should come from academic or professional supervisors that know you well and be no more than 2 pages in length. Ideal letters of recommendation should be between 400 to 800 words in length.

Important: Your recommender will receive an email indicating that their letter of recommendation is due by our final, Round 2 deadline regardless of your actual intended Round deadline, given the system automatically populates the program’s final admissions deadline.

We, therefore, recommend that you communicate your intended deadline (Round 1 - December 1, 2026 or Round 2 - January 14, 2027) to your recommenders to avoid having an incomplete application for consideration.

Work Samples (*Required): Minimum of 2, Maximum of 3

Berkeley Journalism requires a minimum of two and a maximum of three total work samples. Please do not submit more than three work samples, and please ensure that at least one submission is nonfiction writing regardless of your indicated track in the application, (i.e. Audio, Documentary, Multimedia-Web Video, Narrative Writing, Photojournalism).

Upload any audio or video work samples—including your Personal Statement Video—to the "Audio/Visual Uploads" section of the application.

Please provide context to guide our review, such as specifying which parts to focus on. Each work sample is limited to a maximum of 5 pages, except for Documentary track-specific samples, which may be up to 10 minutes.

Selecting Work Samples

We strongly encourage you to submit work samples—published or unpublished—that demonstrate your storytelling ability and potential as a journalist.

Ideally, your samples should be from the past 2–3 years (and no older than 5) to reflect your current skills. You are also welcome to create a new piece specifically for your application.

1. Required Written Sample (One Required)

Submit one nonfiction writing work sample. While academic, research-based, writing is accepted, journalistic writing is preferred.

• Examples of such Journalistic Writing: local or campus news stories, feature articles, investigative or enterprise pieces, beat reporting samples, etc.
• Length: Maximum of 5 pages (or 5 minutes for audio/video files).
• Longer Work Samples: If submitting a longer piece, submit the full document and clearly highlight the 5-page or 5-minute section you want the admissions committee to review.

2. Additional Samples (1–2 Required)

Submit 1 or 2 additional samples in any medium beyond your required nonfiction writing sample.

• Accepted Media: Audio/podcasts, photo essays, data-driven graphics, VR/apps, or multimedia projects.
• Documentary Track Applicants: Your additional samples must include at least one and up to two video work samples, preferrably documentary or documentary-style pieces.

Language & Translation Requirements

• All work samples must be in English, or include English captions, transcripts, or translations.
• Please ensure all translations are grammatically accurate.
• If applicable, you may provide a link to the original non-English publication alongside your translated submission.

Instructions for Submitting Transcripts (*Required)

Berkeley Journalism requires all applicants to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. You must submit transcripts for all completed college-level coursework.

What To Submit:

• All Coursework: Upload separate transcripts for community college courses and study abroad programs, ensuring that grades for all courses are clearly visible.
• Degree Verification: If you have already earned a bachelor's and/or other master's degree, please upload your diploma or degree certificate(s) along with your transcripts.

Transcript Format & Guidelines

Please aim to submit copies of your official transcripts. To be considered complete, your uploads must meet the following criteria:

• Format: Must be uploaded as legible PDFs.
• Required Information: Must clearly show the institution’s name, your full name, and your degree conferral date (if graduated, or the date it is expected in the future).
• Translations (if needed): English translations of transcripts are required for all languages except Spanish. Academic records should be issued in the original language and accompanied by English translations (usually prepared by your university or Ministry of Education, unless the institution issues original documents in English). If your home institution does not issue documents in English, you may submit translations prepared by certified translators from the American Translators Association.

In general, records or transcripts must be issued by the school and include the school’s stamp or embossed seal and the signature of the authorizing official. For more detailed information on acceptable documents, please review the Graduate Admissions website.

Note on Official Transcripts: While copies are acceptable for the application process, if you are offered admission, you will be required to have official transcripts sent directly from your institution(s) to UC Berkeley.

Instructions for Calculating Your GPA

Note on Required GPAs: UC Berkeley Journalism requires only an "Advanced GPA" for degrees earned inside the U.S. We do not require a "Major Field GPA" or "Intended Field of Study GPA."

1. Bachelor’s Degree Earned INSIDE the U.S. (Applies to both domestic and international applicants who studied in the U.S.)

If you completed your undergraduate degree within the U.S., you must calculate your "Advanced GPA" and upload your completed GPA Calculation Worksheet to your application.

• How to Calculate Your Advanced GPA:

  • Timeframe: Include all coursework completed after your first two years of undergraduate study (typically your junior and senior years).

  • What to Exclude: Do not include Physical Education (PE) classes, non-transferable courses, or ungraded courses (e.g., Pass/No Pass, Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory).

  • Tools: You may use any standard online GPA calculator to determine grade-point conversions.

• File Format Requirement: Please upload your completed worksheet as an Excel spreadsheet (.xls / .xlsx) so our admissions team can verify your calculations.

2. Bachelor’s Degree Earned OUTSIDE the U.S.

If you completed your undergraduate degree outside the U.S., you do not need to calculate an "Advanced GPA" or submit a calculation worksheet, with one exception:

• When Calculation Worksheet is Required: If your official international transcript (undergraduate or graduate) does not display a Cumulative GPA, you must calculate your Cumulative GPA yourself and upload a completed GPA Calculation Worksheet.

(If your international transcript already lists a clear Cumulative GPA, no worksheet or calculation is needed.)

Resume (*Required)

Page Limit: One page

For Berkeley Journalism, we require an upload of your current resume as a PDF (ideally one page maximum).

This is a great opportunity to highlight your accomplishments, awards, and any journalism-relevant experience you may have.

Personal Video Statement (*Required)

Time Limit: 2-3 minutes

For Berkeley Journalism, we’d love to hear directly from you—your voice, your story, and your passion for journalism. Since this may serve in place of an interview, we encourage you to use this part of the application to showcase your personality, and your genuine, authentic voice.

In a video between 2 and 3 minutes long, please respond to the following prompt:

• Why do you want to be a journalist? In your video, tell us about your professional background, your areas of interest, and why you're drawn to Berkeley Journalism. What do you hope to gain from the program, and what impact do you hope to make in the field after graduation?

Feel free to record in whatever style or format feels natural to you, provided you are visible on camera.

Please upload your video file in the "Audio/Visual Uploads" section of the application, and label it as: [Your Full Name] – Personal Video

For Berkeley Journalism,

• We do not require the GRE in order to keep the application process accessible, recognizing that everyone’s circumstances are different.
• For international applicants who have completed their bachelor's degree equivalent in a country where the official language is NOT English, you should prepare to submit TOEFL or IETLS. Testing must be taken after June 1, 2025 to be valid for Fall 2027 graduate admission. 

To be most competitive, we encourage applicants to submit scores above the benchmark requirements listed on the Graduate Admissions website.

Interview (*May be required)

For Berkeley Journalism, a small number of applicants may be invited to a virtual interview, though this is decided on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that being offered—or not offered—an interview is not an indication of your admission status.

Our admissions office cannot share updates on individual application status. Final decisions will be emailed in early March.

Non-Refundable Application Fee

The application fee is:

• $135 for domestic applicants and
• $155 for international applicants

Note: A 4.22% credit card processing fee applies to all payments. 

Requesting an Application Fee Waiver

We understand that application fees can be a barrier, and aim to support applicants for whom this cost presents a hardship. There are a few possible ways to request a fee waiver:

1. UC Berkeley Graduate Division Fee Waiver (Applicable to U.S. citizens & permanent residents)

If you are a domestic applicant (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) or undocumented, please begin by reviewing your eligibility for a fee waiver through the Graduate Division Fee Waiver Eligibility webpage. Graduate Division offers unlimited fee waivers for those who qualify, making this the best first step. (*Please note: This option is not available to international applicants.)

2. Berkeley Journalism Departmental Fee Waiver (Applicable to all applicants)

If you do not meet the Graduate Division criteria (whether as an international or domestic applicant) but still experience financial need to apply, please email us at admissions@journalism.berkeley.edu to explore alternative fee waiver options.

3. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Fee Waiver (Applicable to eligible citizens of an African country)

If you are a citizen of an African country, you may be eligible for a fee waiver through the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.

To request consideration, follow these steps in your application portal:

1. Complete Demographics Section: Fill out the entire demographics section of your Master of Journalism (MJ) application.
2. Submit Recommendation Contacts: Enter the names and email addresses of two people who will provide recommendation letters for your application.
3. Respond to Notification Email: Once the demographics and reference requirements are completed, you should receive email notification regarding fee waiver eligibility and consideration.
4. Answer Screening Questions: Follow the prompt in the email to complete and submit the required set of questions.

Please note that these fee waivers are extremely limited given the high volume of applications received across campus for various degree programs.

You can review full eligibility details on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page.