Prospective students are invited to attend an in-person LEAD demonstration class on Sat., October 24, 2026, 9:00 a.m. to Noon at Berkeley Way West building, 2121 Berkeley Way. Registration is required.
Prospective students may also attend a LEAD virtual information session: Thurs., August 27, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific; or Wed., October 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Registration is required.
Online Application
- Application deadline: The LEAD program offers admission biennially.
- The next application cycle will open in September 2026 with courses starting in July 2027.
- The online application for admission can be found at the Graduate Division website.
- Select Term: Summer; Degree objective: Education EdD.
- All uploaded documents should be in PDF format only.
All materials are due by the application deadline.
All application materials become property of the University of California. Materials can neither be returned to you nor released to any other party.
Application Fee
- When you apply for graduate admission, you will be required to submit the application fee using a major credit card.
- If you are a U.S. citizen or current permanent resident, the application fee is $135; for all others, the fee is $155.
- The application fee is non-refundable.
- You may qualify for an application fee waiver. To check eligibility, visit the Graduate Division website.
Essays
You are required to submit two essays: a Statement of Purpose, and a Personal History. There is no minimum or maximum length. We recommend one to three pages; 12-point font; and single-spaced, for each essay.
Statement of Purpose
Describe your aptitude and motivation for graduate study in your area of specialization, including your preparation for this field of study, your academic plans or research interests in your chosen area of study, and your future career goals. Please be specific about why UC Berkeley would be a good intellectual fit for you.
Personal History
Describe how your personal background and experiences inform your decision to pursue a graduate degree. In this section, you may also include any relevant information on how you have overcome barriers to access higher education; evidence of how you have come to understand the barriers faced by others; evidence of your academic service to advance equitable access to higher education for women, racial minorities, and individuals from other groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education; evidence of your research focusing on underserved populations or related issues of inequality; or evidence of your leadership among such groups.
GPA Worksheet
You must calculate your Advanced GPA, which is defined as all coursework after the first two years of your bachelor's degree.
For applicants whose undergraduate trajectory was not a standard 4 years at one institution, simply use your last two years of your Undergraduate degree.
If you need a GPA calculator, we recommend this online resource.
If you have a graduate degree, there is a separate box for you to enter your graduate degree GPA.
If your GPA is not on a 4.0 scale there is no need to convert it. Enter it as is, in the appropriate GPA box.
Transcripts
- Scan and upload PDF copies of all transcripts.
- Unofficial transcripts should include all information an official transcript would:
- Student information (i.e., first/last name)
- Institution information
- Degree conferral date(s) when applicable
- All coursework information
- Unofficial transcripts should include all information an official transcript would:
- Hard copies are not accepted.
- Upload transcripts from every post-secondary school you have attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs.
- Upload PDF scans of your final transcripts from institutions where you did not receive a degree (e.g., community college) if you received credit that was later applied toward your degree, or if credit from that institution is listed on your bachelor's degree transcript.
- Official transcripts will be required if you are accepted into our program; please do not send transcripts before official acceptance.
Letters of Recommendation
You are required to submit three (3) letters of recommendation.
- Letters may be from professional and/or academic recommenders.
You will add the recommenders' information to the online application. Each recommender is then responsible for uploading their letter directly into the online portal.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae (CV)
You are required to submit a resume that includes education and professional work history; other professional activities (e.g., professional organizations); professional productivity (e.g., professional publications or professional development); and other major professional, vocational, community, or recreational activities, interests, and pursuits.
Submit via the online Graduate Division application, Resume/CV section.
English Language Proficiency
- All applicants who have completed a basic degree in a country/region in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency.
- Use recipient code 4833 for UC Berkeley.
- For current information regarding this requirement, visit the Graduate Division website.
LEAD Supplemental Materials
Supplemental materials will be submitted via the online application.
Be sure to download information about supplemental materials for the Ed.D. (LEAD) program, which are also listed below.
Part A: Essay Questions
On a separate document, please respond to the following two questions and attach them to your online application:
- Whose research or scholarship has influenced your development as a leader to date and prepared you to examine systems more closely? Please name two to three scholars and explain their impact on your understanding of and approach to leadership. (Response limited to two pages, double-spaced, using 12-point font.)
- A key aspect of student research in LEAD focuses on investigating how inequitable systems can be transformed into systems that create belonging and liberation. What is an example of an educational inequity you have observed that you would potentially be interested in studying? What dimensions would you look at and what insights would you hope to uplift? Of course, we understand that your focus might change as a result of your participation in the program. (Response limited to one page, double-spaced, using 12-point font.)
Part B: Employer Acknowledgement Statement
In the online application, please upload the signed employer acknowledgment statement from your current employer, even if you anticipate a change in employer in the future. This statement can be found on the LEAD Supplemental document.
Review Process
A faculty admissions committee will review all completed application files for their relevant area of study. In accordance with students' active participation in School of Education governance, duly appointed students may also participate in reviewing applicant files. Since the LEAD is a program designed for scholar-practitioners with existing leadership experience, in addition to grades and test scores, we will assess your application by noting achievements in leadership through employment; extracurricular and other voluntary activities that you describe in your statement of purpose; and supplemental application.
LEAD requires a comprehensive interview of top-ranked applicants, which consists of a personal interview and several performance assessments (some individual and some in a group setting with other applicants). We will notify all applicants who are selected for an interview and provide additional information.
Notification of Decision
The School of Education sends recommendations for admission to the Graduate Division between February and April for final approval. Notice from the Graduate Division constitutes official approval of admission. Communication or correspondence with the School of Education or an individual faculty member does not constitute approval of admission.
BSE Admissions Office
Questions about BSE's application process?
Sign up for our BSE Application Office Hours to speak with our Admissions & Fellowship Coordinator.
Questions about the academic program
Leaders for Equity and Democracy (LEAD) EdD
email: bse-lead@berkeley.edu