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PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

United States of America, Berkeley

University Rank:#17

The East Asian Languages & Cultures is a PhD degree offered by University of California, Berkeley at its main campus in Berkeley , United States of America. The program is delivered on campus as a Full Time course in English and requires approximately 4 years to complete. Students study at the university's main campus while gaining the knowledge and practical experience expected for this area of study. The next intake is available from August 16, 2027.

About PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures

The Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures offers a PhD program in Chinese Language. The department only admits students into the PhD program.

As a rule, students wishing to enter the graduate program should have completed an undergraduate program comparable to the undergraduate major in this department. Students who do not have BA or MA degrees in East Asian Languages and Cultures, Chinese, or in similar fields can be considered for admission. If admitted, these students are often required to make up deficiencies in their course work. This can result in a lengthening of the normative time to degree (seven years).

The department only admits students into the PhD program. You must indicate that a PhD is your degree goal on the application materials. Students who have not completed an MA degree before beginning study at Berkeley will have to complete the requirements for the MA before proceeding to the PhD program. After completion of the MA requirements (coursework and thesis), students are evaluated for permission to proceed to the PhD portion of the program. Students who have completed an MA degree before beginning study at Berkeley may apply for admission directly to the PhD program. After one year in the PhD program, such students will be evaluated before being permitted to continue in the program.

UC Berkeley graduate students from other disciplines who are considering transferring into the degree program in Chinese language undergo the same faculty review as first-time applicants. Students in this category should contact the department graduate assistant (opens in a new tab) for instructions.

The length of time needed to complete an advanced degree in the department depends on financial considerations, the extent of the student's earlier preparation, and other factors. Under optimum conditions, the MA can be earned in two years and the PhD in an additional four to five years.

Step by Step

To learn how best to prepare for study at the graduate level in the humanities and the social sciences, current undergraduates may find Step by Step (opens in a new tab) useful, a resource for UC Berkeley students to enrich their undergraduate academic experience and to prepare for graduate school.

Source: Berkeley Academic Guide (opens in a new tab)

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures at University of California, Berkeley

Entry Requirements

A bachelor’s degree or recognized equivalent from an accredited institution;
A satisfactory scholastic average, usually a minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) on a 4.0 scale; and
Enough undergraduate training to do graduate work in your chosen field.

Academic Requirements

English Requirements

IELTSMin 7
TOEFLMin 90

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures at University of California, Berkeley

Application Fee 155

How to Apply for PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures at University of California, Berkeley

When to do it: September to December, but as late as February depending on the program

Ready to apply? You can submit your application for Fall admission beginning in September, and the majority of deadlines are in December but check the programs list.

The online application will ask you for specific information such as your academic and professional history, transcripts, and potentially your CV, resume or links to your portfolio. You’ll also need to provide the contact information for your recommenders who will be invited to submit their recommendation.

You’ll need to have a major credit card to pay the non-refundable application fee. If you are a U.S. Citizen or current Permanent Resident, the application fee is $135 (Application Fee Waiver Information); for all others, the fee is $155.

PhD in East Asian Languages & Cultures at University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

United States of America, Berkeley