Graduate applications require transcripts of all previous college work, three letters of recommendation (preferably from instructors knowledgeable concerning the applicant's experience and ability in Scandinavian studies), an academic writing sample (again, preferably devoted to a Scandinavian or general literary topic), a statement of purpose and personal history. The department requires the GRE (Graduate Records Exam) for all applicants whose native language is English. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), with a minimum score of 570 for the paper test, 230 for the computer version and 68 for the internet based test, is required for non-native speakers of English who have not previously studied for a year or more in a U.S. institution of higher education.

The online application is usually available by the second week of September.

Students are accepted for graduate programs at the University of California, Berkeley, only through action of the Graduate Division. Admissions are recommended by the Department of Scandinavian to the Dean of the Graduate Division and are subject to limitations on the number of annual admissions to the Department set by the Division. The Dean is ultimately responsible for approving the applicant's credentials and for determining whether or not she or he shall be admitted.

Non-native speakers of English who wish to serve as Graduate Student Instructors (GSI's) at the university must also pass the Test of Spoken English (TSE) prior to enrolling or the SPEAK test at Berkeley. Exempted from the TSE or SPEAK tests are those who hold a B.A., B.S., or other bachelor's-level degree from an institution in the United States.