University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) GRE Accepting Score 2026: Program Policies, Deadlines, Codes & Score Strategy

University of California

UC Berkeley does accept GRE scores in 2026—but (just like many top U.S. universities now) the GRE is mostly a program-level decision, not a campus-wide rule. In fact, UC Berkeley has publicly stated that the GRE test requirement has been eliminated for the vast majority of graduate programs, while some programs still require it, and a few departments do not require or even accept GRE scores.

This 2026 guide gives you the latest official UC Berkeley GRE policies, real deadlines, ETS score reporting codes, and a practical plan for deciding whether you should submit GRE—especially if your program lists GRE as “optional,” “not required,” or “not accepted.”

What “UC Berkeley GRE Accepting Score” Means in 2026

When students search UC Berkeley GRE accepting score, they usually want 5 things:

1. Does UC Berkeley accept GRE at all?

2. Is GRE required for my department/program?

3. What GRE score is competitive for UC Berkeley?

4. What are the real deadlines (Fall 2026 cycle)?

5. What is the correct ETS code and score submission method?

Here’s the accurate 2026 answer:

• UC Berkeley Graduate Division provides GRE score reporting instructions (ETS code + matching rules) and clarifies that GRE is a departmental requirement (meaning your program decides whether it’s required/optional/not used).

• UC Berkeley also announced the GRE requirement was removed for the vast majority of graduate programs.

• Some departments clearly say GRE not required for Fall 2026 (example: Mechanical Engineering).

• Some departments clearly say GRE required with a specific score receipt deadline (example: Chemistry requires GRE and states scores must be received by December 1, 2025).

• Some departments clearly state they do not accept GRE scores (example: EECS says it no longer requires nor accepts GRE).

• Professional programs like Berkeley Haas MBA require GMAT/GMAT Focus or GRE and publish round deadlines and test update cutoffs.

UC Berkeley GRE Accepting Score: Official Rules for Sending GRE Scores (2026)

If your program accepts/requests GRE, UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division lists the core score reporting details:

Official ETS Institution Code (UC Berkeley Graduate Programs)

• ETS Institution Code: 4833 (UC Berkeley – Graduate Organizations)

• Department code: usually not required, unless your program explicitly asks for one.

GRE Score Validity (Official)

• UC Berkeley notes that ETS does not report GRE scores older than 5 years, and the Graduate Division FAQ also confirms scores are reported for 5 years.

Important: Even if scores are valid, your program may still define its own acceptable test-date window, so always read your department’s “Admissions” page carefully.

Real 2026 Deadlines & GRE Policies: Verified Examples (With Official Sources)

Because UC Berkeley is decentralized, the most user-friendly way to understand GRE policy is to look at real program pages. Below are verified examples that show how different the GRE rule can be even within the same university.

Program-level GRE policy examples for Fall 2026

UC Berkeley Program (Example)	GRE Policy for 2026	Real Date / Detail from Official Page
Mechanical Engineering (Grad programs)	GRE not required	States GRE (General Test) is not required in the Fall 2026 application period.
Chemistry (Graduate)	GRE required	States GRE General Test required and must be received by December 1, 2025.
EECS (Graduate Research: MS/PhD)	GRE not accepted	States EECS no longer requires, nor accepts, GRE scores.
IEOR – Master of Engineering (How to Apply)	GRE referenced; no minimum	Mentions sending scores to ETS code 4833 and notes no minimum score. (Always confirm if your track requires GRE.)
Berkeley Haas Full-time MBA	GMAT/GMAT Focus/GRE required	Haas says all candidates are required to take GMAT/GMAT Focus/GRE; provides test score update deadlines (e.g., Nov 27, 2025 for R1).

Berkeley Haas MBA 2025–2026 round deadlines (Fall 2026 intake)

These deadlines are published on the official Haas admissions page:

Round	Application Deadline	Decision Date
Round 1	September 11, 2025	December 11, 2025
Round 2	January 8, 2026	March 26, 2026
Round 3	March 31, 2026	May 7, 2026

Haas also lists test score update cutoffs (helpful if you’re retaking GRE after you apply):

• Nov 27, 2025 (Round 1)

• Mar 12, 2026 (Round 2)

• Apr 23, 2026 (Round 3)

How to Check If Your UC Berkeley Program Requires GRE (Fast Method)

Because “UC Berkeley GRE accepting score” depends on program rules, use this 3-step check:

1. Go to the Graduate Division “Our Programs” directory and search your program. It often shows whether GRE is required and the application deadline.

2. Open your department’s admissions page and look for “GRE required/optional/not required/not accepted.”

3. If there’s a conflict, trust the department page (it’s the admissions decision-maker), and use Graduate Division pages for general score-submission mechanics.

What GRE Score Is “Good” for UC Berkeley in 2026?

The honest answer

UC Berkeley generally does not provide a university-wide “minimum GRE score,” and many programs have moved away from using GRE as a deciding filter.

What matters in reality (especially in 2026)

If your program still accepts or requires GRE, your score is usually evaluated like this:

• Quant score matters more for STEM, analytics, engineering, economics, data-focused programs.

• Verbal score matters more for humanities, social sciences, policy, communication-heavy programs.

• AWA (Analytical Writing) can matter if the program explicitly requires it (Haas notes AWA is required for GMAT and GRE in its evaluation context).

A practical “competitive” approach (without fake cutoffs)

Because official minimums are often not published, use GRE as a supporting strength:

• If you already have a strong GPA + strong quantitative coursework + strong research/work evidence, GRE may not add much (especially if optional).

• If you are changing fields, have a weaker GPA, or come from a grading system the committee may not easily interpret, a strong GRE can help show readiness—if your program accepts it.

Do not rely on third-party “330+ required” style claims unless they are backed by official departmental guidance (most are not).

GRE Strategy by Policy Type (Required vs Optional vs Not Accepted)

1) If GRE is REQUIRED

Do these three things:

• Take GRE early enough to ensure score receipt before the department deadline (example: Chemistry requires scores received by Dec 1, 2025).

• Send scores using ETS code 4833 unless your department specifies otherwise.

• Keep a cushion of 3–6 weeks (especially if you’re applying from India, managing retakes, or multiple score reports).

  
  

2) If GRE is OPTIONAL / Not Required

Use GRE only if it strengthens your case:

• Submit if it improves your profile (quant readiness, academic strength, scholarship support).

• Skip it if you already have strong evidence and want to save time/money.

Example: Mechanical Engineering explicitly states GRE is not required for Fall 2026.

3) If GRE is NOT ACCEPTED

Do not send it. Do not mention it.Example: EECS states it no longer requires nor accepts GRE scores.

Common Mistakes Applicants Make (And How to Avoid Them)

1. Assuming UC Berkeley has one GRE rule (it doesn’t—department decides).

2. Sending GRE to a program that doesn’t accept it (wasted money + ignored scores).

3. Missing “scores must be received by…” deadlines (not just “application submitted by…”).

4. Using the wrong ETS code (use 4833 unless your program says otherwise).

5. Over-focusing on GRE and ignoring core documents (SOP, LORs, CV, research alignment often matter more).

FAQ: UC Berkeley GRE Accepting Score (2026)

1) Is UC Berkeley GRE accepting score applicable for all graduate programs in 2026?

No. UC Berkeley GRE accepting score depends on the specific program/department. UC Berkeley has removed the GRE requirement for the vast majority of programs, but some still require it, and some departments do not accept it at all.

2) What is the ETS code to send GRE scores to UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division lists ETS Institution Code 4833 (Graduate Organizations) for GRE score reporting. Department codes are usually not required unless your program specifies.

3) How long are GRE scores valid for UC Berkeley applications?

UC Berkeley’s admissions guidance indicates GRE scores are reported for 5 years, consistent with ETS reporting rules referenced in their Graduate Division materials.

4) Does Berkeley Haas MBA require GRE for the 2025–2026 cycle?

Yes. Berkeley Haas states all candidates must take GMAT/GMAT Focus or GRE before the deadline for the round they are applying to, and it lists round deadlines and score update cutoffs.

5) Can I submit GRE if my department says it is “not required”?

Often yes (if it is optional), but many departments prefer you not to submit unless it adds value. Always follow your program’s instructions—some departments explicitly do not accept GRE at all (example: EECS).

CTA: Apply to UC Berkeley 2026 the Right Way (Official Links)

Use these official pages to confirm your exact program’s GRE policy and deadlines.

UC Berkeley Graduate Division – Admissions Requirements (GRE reporting, ETS code 4833):
https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/application-process/requirements/

UC Berkeley Graduate Division – Admissions FAQ (GRE validity, matching scores):
https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/application-process/faq/

UC Berkeley Graduate Division – Our Programs directory (deadlines + GRE requirement field shown for many programs):
https://grad.berkeley.edu/admissions/our-programs/

Berkeley News – GRE eliminated for vast majority of programs (official announcement):
https://grad.berkeley.edu/news/announcements/uc-berkeley-eliminates-gre-test-requirement-for-vast-majority-of-graduate-programs/

Berkeley Haas MBA – Admissions deadlines (2025–2026 cycle):
https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions

Berkeley Haas MBA – GMAT & GRE policy + score update deadlines:
https://mba.haas.berkeley.edu/admissions/gmat-and-gre

Example department pages (verify GRE status directly):
Mechanical Engineering admissions (Fall 2026 GRE not required):
https://me.berkeley.edu/graduate/admissions/

Chemistry grad admissions (GRE required + Dec 1, 2025 receipt deadline):
https://chemistry.berkeley.edu/grad/chem/apply

EECS graduate admissions (GRE not required and not accepted):
https://eecs.berkeley.edu/academics/graduate/research-programs/admissions/