Five Year Handbook

Please refer to the following chapters in the MechE Graduate Student Handbook: Chapter 14. Department & Campus Services, & Student Resources Chapter 15. Student Life

Course Scheduling Form/Class Confirmation Form Fall:  ~August 15th Spring:  ~January 25th Change of Schedule Form Changes to Schedule can be requested up until the last day of instruction, but it is absolutely not recommended that you wait that long.  Changes after the 5th week can affect things like Financial Aid. Backdating Graduate Standing Form Please…

You must arrange for your Comprehensive Oral Examination when you Advance to Candidacy for the MS Degree during the beginning of your second semester. On the form, please list the date, time, and location of the Comprehensive Examination (top right). At least one of the members of your Examination Committee has to be from the…

You are subject to the policies of the Graduate Division.  The 5th Year Masters is considered a Plan II program.

The Graduate Adviser (your Head and also Major Field Adviser) for this program is the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies.  The staff academic adviser for this program is the Undergraduate Student Services Advisor in 6193 Etcheverry Hall.  The Director of Student Services may also be helpful. You can find contact information for all of them…

This program requires 24 semester units. 12 of the 24 must come from MechE-Sponsored courses (restrictions apply).  The remaining 12 units can come from the following (but can also be from MechE if the student chooses): College of Engineering Courses Department of Mathematics Department of Statistics Biological Sciences Physical Sciences School of Information School of…

Program Requirements You are also subject to the policies of the Graduate Division.  The 5th Year Masters is considered a Plan II program.

We hope to have all of our admissions decisions made by mid-March.

Application: http://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/apply/ Application Requirements Applications with incomplete documents will be automatically rejected. Item Required Application Instructions Yes Program Information Yes Biographical Information Yes Personal Information Yes Educational Background Yes Academic History Yes – Please include transcripts for all higher institutions (Community Colleges, 4 Year Universities, study-abroad, etc.) Languages Optional Recommendations Yes.  We require three (3). …

Applicants must be UC Berkeley undergraduates who have majored in Mechanical Engineering, the Mechanical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering Joint Program, or the Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Engineering Joint Program. Strong preference is given to applicants with a 3.5 cumulative GPA or higher. Junior transfers who are applying should combine their transfer school GPA (the courses that are…

The Mechanical Engineering department usually holds an informational session on graduate admissions in the Fall.  The date will be determined in September and will be announced to students via email.

Application deadline: January 8, 2024 Please complete an application for the 5th year MS program in January. The application deadline is January 6, 2023. Please submit your application after FALL grades are posted, include an unofficial transcript with FALL 21 grades, include calculations for GPAs that reflect FALL 21 grades during your submission to the…

Students in this program are generally not allowed to take semesters off to do internships.  Admission deferrals due to internships are also rare and are subject to approval by the Vice Chair of Graduate Studies. It is preferred that applicants have a minimum 3.5 GPA at the time of the application. As part of the…

This is a terminal, full-time Master’s degree program. This is a coursework and comprehensive oral exam only degree. This is a two-semester program.  Extensions are only granted on extenuating circumstances or through DSP accommodations. Admission to the program is highly competitive. Graduates earn a Master of Science degree. Students in this program are generally not…

The Graduate Division oversees graduate admissions, fellowships, grants, academic employment, preparation for teaching, mentoring activities, professional development, academic progress, and degree milestones.  You can find more information about them at. General resources Graduate Student Policies

5th Year Masters of Science Degree Requirements You are also subject to the policies of the Graduate Division.  The 5th Year Masters is considered a Plan II program. Please see: Degree Requirements PDF

Current costs for the program: under “Graduate: Academic” UC Berkeley’s Student Budget: under “Graduate Student Budget”. This is a self-funded program and the department does not offer any financial support for 5th Years.  Students are also not allowed to serve as GSIs or Readers in MechE.  Students who do choose to serve as GSI/Readers for…

The program is not “professional” in that it does not have professional curricular content.  It is industry-driven in that you have the freedom to shape it to provide you more knowledge for your future career trajectory.  Those who are looking for professional content specifically should consider the M.Eng Program.

Some schools do not distinguish between the undergraduate and graduate components for their 5th Year Masters programs.  UC Berkeley does, so it is very important to keep in mind that once you are enrolled in the 5th Year Program, you are, for all intents and purposes, treated as graduate student by the campus and the…

5th Year MS Program M. Eng Standard MS Program* Normative Time:  Two semesters Normative Time:  Two semesters Normative Time:  Three semesters Coursework Only Coursework + Capstone Project Coursework + Research Oral Exam Oral Exam Written Report + Presentation Only current UCB MechEs can apply Anyone can apply Anyone can apply Terminal Degree Terminal Degree Better…

The 5th Year MS program is a one year (two semester program) geared toward students who would like to spend additional time at UC Berkeley to gain more specific knowledge for their chosen career in industry. It is meant to be a terminal degree, meaning that is it not meant to be undertaken in preparation…

The 5th Year Masters Program is open only to UC Berkeley undergraduates who have majored in Mechanical Engineering, the Mechanical Engineering/Nuclear Engineering Joint Program, or the Mechanical Engineering/Materials Science & Engineering Joint Program.  Graduates earn a Master of Science degree. The program allows students to broaden their educational experiences at Berkeley by allowing them to…