1. Quality of Programme of study.

Does the candidate’s writing give evidence of higher-order thinking skills and the ability to express thoughts clearly and without jargon?

2. Knowledge of Proposed Courses and Supervisors.

Has the candidate established the relevance of the proposed academic programme to his or her scholarly and career plans and, in the case of a research proposal, provided evidence of substantive engagement with the proposed supervisor(s)? Is there a compelling academic rationale for doing the work at a UC Berkeley with UCLite support?

3. Evidence of Academic Background that is Strong and Relevant.

Does the transcript show evidence of high academic achievement? Does this coursework prepare the candidate for the planned field of study? Is there other evidence of high-level performance (e.g. merit scholarships, academic prizes, research results, artistic creations, publications)?