FAQ
Program details
- Distinguished Berkeley Faculty: Our MAS-E program boasts faculty who are trailblazers in their respective domains, offering cutting-edge insights and teachings.
- Learner-Centric Approach: Innovative Structure: 22 succinct yet rigorous one-unit micro-courses paired with a comprehensive two-unit capstone, culminating in the coveted MAS-E degree.
- Designed for Working Professionals: Tailored for those with demanding schedules, our part-time format ensures seamless integration into your busy routine.
- Flexibility and Global Reach: Learn at your own pace with asynchronous delivery, complemented by live office hours. Enjoy the freedom to craft your learning journey with our diverse course selection. Attend classes from anywhere in the world.
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 approximately two years 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.
Admissions
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.
We expect students to begin the MAS-E program in the cohort to which they applied. There are some extenuating circumstances for which the College of Engineering might consider allowing you to defer your start date to a future term.
These include:
- Medical emergency (yourself or family members)
- Significant job change
- Financial emergency
- Need for additional foundational skills preparation
- Other significant personal or professional changes that affect your ability to begin the program
If any of the above circumstances apply to you, please contact your admissions counselor as soon as possible — and before the deadlines below — to discuss next steps. Students who request to defer after the deadlines below will be asked to reapply.
Deferral request deadlines:
- Fall 2025 cohort: June 2, 2025
- Spring 2026 cohort: November 3, 2025
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.
See Graduate Division site for additional admissions FAQs
Course delivery
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.
Fees and financial support
Tuition is $1,750 per unit for a total of $42,000 for 24 units. Additional per-semester campus fees are required. Campus fees are approximately $910 for the 2024-2025 Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction.
At this time, students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid to finance this program.
The majority of our part-time engineering master’s degree students receive some form of employer support to help with tuition and fees. Students should be prepared to cover the majority of the cost of the program through employer support, private loans, or other personal means.
For additional information, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office Cost of Attendance site.
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:
- Economic Background section
- Personal History Statement
- Personal Information
Ready for the MAS-E program?
The Master of Advanced Study in Engineering degree is unique, it’s specifically designed so that you can make progress without putting your business, your career, or your life on hold.
If you need disability accommodations to assist you with the admissions process, please contact eng-ada@berkeley.edu.