Tuition & Fees

Required Tuition and Fees, 2018-19

Visit the Office of the Registrar’s website for current fee information. All tuition and fees are subject to change.

Financial Aid

Education is life-changing...and students worldwide dream of attending Berkeley for the opportunity to change their life. To make these dreams reality, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office (FASO) works with students to identify and obtain scholarships, grants and many other resources available. FASO provides critical financial literacy so students can worry less about how to pay for college expenses and focus more on obtaining an excellent education.

Through strategic partnerships and rigorous planning, our dedicated team:

• Counsels students and their families on empowering options to manage their financial wellness.
• Provides funding: grants, scholarships, research stipends, work-study, and loans.
• Advocates on behalf of students at the campus, state, and federal level.
• Recruits, retains, and graduates students, paving the way for success.
• Encourages community with alumni and donors to give the gift of access to the next generation of students.
  

To see what’s new and access detailed information about the various types of financial aid available at Berkeley, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office website. 

Students apply for financial aid by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), or if a Dream Act student, by submitting a California Dream Act Application. The priority deadline for applying is March 2. 

Financial aid is granted on the basis of financial need. (Some exceptions are: fellowships, honorary scholarships, teaching and research appointments, and prizes.) Financial need is the difference between your cost of attendance for the academic year and the amount you and your family are expected to contribute toward those costs. Prizes are determined through competitive processes or in recognition of an outstanding ability in some area of creative/ scholarly endeavor. Most scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic performance and financial need.

Typically, funding for graduate students derives from sources outside of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. Additionally, fellowships are awarded through the Graduate Division, 318 Sproul Hall.

---

Reserve Officers Training Corps

The University of California, as a land-grant institution established by the Morrill Act of 1862, offers courses and programs in military training. This training is voluntary and affords you the opportunity to qualify for a commission as an officer in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps while completing your college education. Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) courses are offered by three departments: Aerospace Studies (Air Force), Military Science (Army), and Naval Science (Navy and Marine Corps). Scholarship programs are available; they carry a monthly stipend and pay for tuition, books, and most fees for qualified students. Individual programs are described under Military Officers Education Program in the Courses and Curricula section of this Guide.

---

Veterans’ Educational Benefits

UC Berkeley’s Veteran Services unit in the Office of the Registrar provides veterans and their dependents the information and assistance required to seamlessly receive veterans’ educational benefits while pursuing their academic careers at Berkeley.

The Veteran Services unit serves as a liaison between the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and UC Berkeley students eligible for federal veterans’ educational benefits, and assists students eligible for the California Department of Veterans Affairs College Fee Waiver (Cal Vet) program.

The Veteran Benefits unit in the Office of the Registrar also serves as the liaison between the University and the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE), which is responsible for oversight and approval of California institutions offering education programs that elect to participate in GI Bill education and training. The VA publishes approved institutions and programs on their Web Enabled Approval Management System (WEAMS). Applications for approval/renewal of programs are submitted to CSAAVE annually in June for the next academic year beginning in August.  Complete program and course information must be published in the Berkeley Academic Guide when it’s first released in June to be considered for approval by CSAAVE.

If you have questions regarding Veterans Educational benefits, please visit or contact Veteran Services at:

Office of the Registrar
120 Sproul Hall #5404
University of California
Berkeley, CA 94720
Fax: 510-643-4222
Phone: 510-642-1592
Email: veteranservices@berkeley.edu

Cal Veteran Services Center

The Cal Veteran Services Center, located at 102 Hearst Gym, is a great resource for veterans seeking academic counseling, admissions help, assistance regarding financial aid, or a place to socialize or study with other veteran and dependent students. The Cal Veteran Services Center can be reached by phone at 510-642-0083, or by email at cvsc@berkeley.edu.

---

Fellowships, Graduate Scholarships, and Academic Appointments for Graduate Students

Numerous programs — from fellowships, grants-in-aid, and loans to assistantships, subsidized housing, and child care programs — can help students reduce the costs of graduate school. Some programs are need-based and are administered through the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. Others are merit-based and are administered through the Graduate Fellowships Office and the academic departments. For detailed information, consult the Graduate Application for Admission or the Graduate Fellowships Office.

Fellowships and Graduate Scholarships

Applications for University fellowships and graduate scholarships are considered only once a year as part of the admission process. Awards are made for the academic year beginning with the fall semester. U.S. citizens and permanent residents should complete the “Free Application for Federal Student Aid” (FAFSA) for determination of financial need.

Fellowship Application Procedure

Students applying for admission/fellowship, must file the Graduate Application for Admission, according to instructions included in the application. 

Students applying for admission for the spring semester must contact the academic department.

Continuing or returning graduate students at Berkeley may obtain the necessary fellowship application materials from the department or graduate group. For a list of funding opportunities throughout the year, visit the Graduate Fellowships website.

The fellowship application deadlines for new students range from early December to late January, depending on the department; see the Graduate Application for Admission for deadlines. Continuing students should consult their departments about departmental funding application processes and deadlines.

Announcement of Awards

University Awards are announced by March 1 and must be accepted or declined, in writing, by April 15.

Fellowship Supplementation

Fellows receiving stipends of $16,000 plus payment of fees (the latter from either fellowship or academic appointments) may be subject to an employment restriction: students may work up to 25 percent during the academic year (25 percent each term or 50 percent for one term only). There is no work restriction for the Summer term. Fellowship opportunities are announced monthly in GradNews, the online newsletter of the Graduate Division. All continuing graduate students receive GradNews each month; others may sign up for GradNews by sending an email to gradpub@berkeley.edu with  "GradNews mailing list" in the subject line.

Office for Graduate Diversity

The Office for Graduate Diversity provides active support to students historically underrepresented in graduate education, through a number of services:

• Outreach visits throughout the country
• Academic advising/mentoring throughout the student’s academic career
• Undergraduate research opportunities
• Advice on applying to graduate school
• Monthly seminars on professional development
• Career advice/planning
• Networking opportunities on campus

Underrepresented students will find social and academic support in numerous student organizations on campus, such as those listed on the Graduate Minority Students’ Project website. In addition, the University maintains discipline-based student diversity programs in engineering, the humanities, public health, and the biological, physical, and social sciences. For information regarding opportunities and support on behalf of diversity, contact the Office for Graduate Diversity, 327 Sproul, #5900; 510-642-7294 or see grad.diversity@berkeley.edu.

Graduate Student Academic Appointments

Academic appointments are an important source of financial support and pedagogical development for Berkeley graduate students. Their availability varies from department to department. As part of an offer of admission, departments may propose a combination of teaching and research appointments as part of a financial support package. Other departments may expect graduate students to arrange for appointments once they have been admitted. Some departments have a teaching requirement as part of their academic program. Admitted students should clarify with their department's opportunities and obligations regarding academic appointments.

Graduate students appointed by the University to most academic titles must meet minimum academic requirements, such as a minimum GPA and a limit on incomplete grades, and be registered and enrolled in at least 12 units per semester. Most graduate student academic appointments are eligible for tuition and fee remissions in addition to a salary. For more information on eligibility requirements and the availability of appointments, students should contact the department for which they wish to work.

Graduate students are restricted to working no more than half time regardless of the positions they hold. To ensure proper academic progress, the University may not appoint candidates for higher degrees in any capacity at more than half time during the academic year without the express consent of the Dean of the Graduate Division. Summer appointments may be full time.

Graduate student instructors (GSIs), acting instructors (AI-GS), readers, tutors, nursery school assistants, and community teaching fellows are covered by a collective bargaining agreement with the United Automobile Workers (UAW). Under the language of the contract, students hired in those titles are referred to as ASEs (academic student employees), an acronym used in the contract and in some campus communications. ASEs should familiarize themselves with the contract; see the Labor Relations website. Information on anticipated appointments for the next academic year can be found on the Labor Relations website.

Teaching Appointments

Many departments make GSI positions available to qualified graduate students. GSIs must be registered full-time students and are limited to working half-time or less. They are chosen for scholarly achievement and promise as teachers, and they serve under active supervision of the regular faculty. Some departments require their students to complete a specified minimum period of teaching as part of their PhD programs.

Graduate students who do not speak English as a native language and do not hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution in the United States must pass a test of spoken English before they can be appointed as graduate student instructors. For students who have taken the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Internet-Based Test (iBT), the speaking section score will be used to determine proficiency. Students who have not taken the TOEFL iBT, and who need to demonstrate oral English proficiency, should take the Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) at Berkeley.

For further information on the Language Proficiency Program (testing and courses), visit the GSI Teaching and Resource Center website. 

Research Appointments

Qualified registered full-time graduate students may seek a research appointment in the departments, centers, and institutes of the University. Graduate student researchers (GSRs) perform research broadly related to their degree programs in an academic department or research unit under the direction of a faculty member or authorized principal investigator. The duration and extent of such an appointment may vary. Students should apply directly to the department, center, or institute in which they wish to work.

Stipends and Tuition and Fee Remissions

Stipends are subject to U.S. income tax deductions. For teaching appointments, salary is typically paid in five equal installments per semester. Since payment for work performed is later than the deadline for payment of tuition and registration fees, students should obtain information about payment schedules and deadlines.

Some appointments carry a benefit called a tuition and fee remission, which offsets either a portion or all of your assessed tuition and fees. Students should check with their department to determine specific eligibility, and review the basic requirements in the Fee Remission Bulletin.

More information about being a graduate student instructor, graduate student researcher, reader, or tutor is available from the Graduate Services Appointment Guide.

Student Budgets

Undergraduate Student Budgets 2019–20

Our 2019–20 Cost of Attendance, or budgets, are available online for all students. Your budget is the estimated average and reasonable cost of completing an academic year at UC Berkeley based on your living arrangement. Your budget serves as the foundation for determining your financial need as well as the amount of qualified aid that can be offered to you (this includes grants and scholarships amounts). Cost of Attendance figures are established through student surveys, other research, and may include the following components:

• Tuition and fees (assuming full-time attendance)
• Books and supplies
• Room and board
• Personal costs
• Transportation
• Health insurance (this amount may be waived if you can demonstrate equivalent coverage)

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office may adjust the cost of attendance for students on a case-by-case basis to address individual circumstances.

The Student Budget is subject to change. These amounts are the most recent estimates available as of March 29, 2018. For the most up-to-date budgets, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office website.

Please note: UC Berkeley reserves the right to adjust awards to correct any awarding errors. Changes to qualifying information or revisions of federal, state, or institutional policy may result in updates to aid eligibility and adjustments of financial aid awards. Information is subject to change.

Undergraduate Residence Halls
Direct Costs Charged by UC Berkeley
Tuition & Fees	$14,184
Room and Board	$17,110*
Total Direct Costs	$31,294
Other Estimated Costs
Food	$1,644
Books & Supplies	$870
Personal	$1,876
Transportation	$400
Total Cost of Attendance	$36,084*
*Students living in Bowles Hall add $3,790. New undergraduate students entering in fall 2019 or spring 2020 add $380 for housing during orientation, if you plan on living in a residence hall or university apartment in the fall term.
Optional Student Health Insurance Plan: Add $3,286
Nonresidents of California: Add $28,992 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition and Fees
Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in state funding or other developments.

Undergraduate On-Campus Apartment
Direct Costs Charged by UC Berkeley
Tuition & Fees	$14,184
Room and Board*	$13,692
Total Direct Costs	$27,876
Other Estimated Costs
Food	$3,668
Books & Supplies	$870
Personal	$1,876
Transportation	$400
Total Cost of Attendance	$34,690
*Students living in Bowles Hall add $3,790. New undergraduate students entering in fall 2019 or spring 2020 add $380 for housing during orientation, if you plan on living in a residence hall or university apartment in the fall term.
Optional Student Health Insurance Plan: Add $3,286
Nonresidents of California: Add $28,992 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition and Fees
Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in state funding or other developments.

Undergraduate Off-Campus
Direct Costs Charged by UC Berkeley
Tuition & Fees	$14,184
Total Direct Costs	$14,184
Other Estimated Costs
Housing & Utilities	$9,916
Food	$4,488
Books & Supplies	$870
Personal	$1,872
Transportation	$570
Total Cost of Attendance	$31,900
*Students living in Bowles Hall add $3,790. New undergraduate students entering in fall 2019 or spring 2020 add $380 for housing during orientation, if you plan on living in a residence hall or university apartment in the fall term.
Optional Student Health Insurance Plan: Add $3,286
Nonresidents of California: Add $28,992 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition and Fees
Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in state funding or other developments.

Undergraduate Commuter (living with relatives)
Direct Costs Charged by UC Berkeley
Tuition & Fees	$14,184
Total Direct Costs	$14,184
Other Estimated Costs
Housing & Utilities	$2,884
Food	$3,342
Books & Supplies	$870
Personal	$1,992
Transportation	$1,510
Total Cost of Attendance	$24,782
*Students living in Bowles Hall add $3,790. New undergraduate students entering in fall 2019 or spring 2020 add $380 for housing during orientation, if you plan on living in a residence hall or university apartment in the fall term.
Optional Student Health Insurance Plan: Add $3,286
Nonresidents of California: Add $28,992 in Nonresident Supplemental Tuition and Fees
Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by increases or reductions in state funding or other developments.

Graduate Student Budgets 2018–19

The Cost of Attendance, or budgets, are available online for all students. Your budget is the estimated average and reasonable cost of completing an academic year at UC Berkeley. Your budget serves as the foundation for determining your financial need as well as the amount of qualified aid that can be offered to you. This includes fellowships, block grants, fee remissions, outside scholarships, etc. Cost-of-attendance figures are established through student surveys, other research, and may include the following components:

• Tuition and fees (assuming full-time attendance)

• Books and supplies

• Room and board

• Personal costs

• Transportation

• Health insurance

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office only awards federal loan and work-study to graduate students. We may adjust the cost of attendance for students on a case-by-case basis to address individual circumstances.

Student Budgets are subject to change. For the most up-to-date budgets, please visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office website.

Please note: UC Berkeley reserves the right to adjust awards to correct any awarding errors. Changes to qualifying information or revisions of federal, state, or institutional policy may result in updates to aid eligibility and adjustments of financial aid awards. Information is subject to change.