The department seeks a diverse pool of applicants who have been trained in a wide range of disciplines and preferably have had previous work experience in policy making or implementation. No specific background or undergraduate major is required. There are no citizenship requirements to be considered for admission. Admission is selective. Decisions will be based on a multifaceted evaluation of the applicant's overall academic record, applicable test scores, and potential for public policy as evidenced by work experience and community, extracurricular, or other relevant experience. An applicant's written statement of purpose, goals, and letters of recommendation also weigh heavily in the decision-making process.

Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission:

Hold a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
Establish eligibility for admission to graduate standing in the University of California
Obtain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B) in all upper division courses
Recommended but not required: submit results of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE).
IELTS - 7.0. TOEFL IBT - 100. TOEFL PBT - 600.
The University requires that an applicant hold a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor's degree from the University of California, with an overall scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better – or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used.