The University of California, Berkeley, commonly referred to as UC Berekely, is a public research university. Founded in 1868, the UC Berkeley campus is the oldest of all ten UC campuses. The university saw an increase in the application no. of international students by 12%. A total of 946 Indian students got admission to UC Berkeley 436 in UG programs and 507 in PG programs.
The most enrolled program at UC Berkeley is MBA and Master of Laws with an enrollment of 400 students and 329 students respectively. To get admission in UC Berkeley, international applicants will need an average high school GPA of 3.8 which is equivalent to 90% for an Indian student. International students are also required to submit language scores with a minimum TOEFL iBT score of 80 for UG and 90 for PG programs.
The tuition Fee at UC Berkeley for an Indian student is 36.53 lakhs for a UG program and 27.03 lakhs for PG programs. The cost of accommodation at UCB declined from USD 38,924 to USD 37,890 in 2021. Living on campus for Indian students can still be very expensive. Most Indian students go for off-campus accommodation, as it is more affordable at USD 34,134 per annum.
Likes
- Best Public University: UC Berkeley is known for being the #1 public university in the world. It is widely known for STEM courses.
- Climate: California's best feature is, without a doubt, its weather. Year-round, students enjoy a pleasant climate. Summers in Berkeley are long, comfortable, arid, and mainly clear, while winters are short, cold, damp, and partially cloudy.x
- Natural Attractions: Strawberry Creek flows through the campus of UC Berkeley. There are also a number of other natural attractions for nature enthusiasts, such as Founder's Rock, Faculty Glade, Grinner Natural Area, and so on.
- Safe for International Students: California, also known as the Golden State of US, is an excellent place for international students to study. The National Council for Home Safety and Security named UCB the safest college campus in the United States.
Dislikes
- Expensive Rent: Accommodation Rents are quite expensive at UCB or the area around it. Also Check: Accommodation at UC Berkeley.
- Financial Aid: UC Berkeley saves the majority of its UG Scholarships for its domestic students.
UC Berkeley Ranking
The University of California, Berkeley is a top-ranked public university in California. It is ranked #27 in the QS Global World Rankings 2023 and #4 in the QS Ranking 2022 of US Universities.
- #8 World University Rankings by Times Higher Education, 2022.
- #36 in US College Rankings by Times Higher Education, 2022.
- #22 in National Universities US News and World Report 2022.
- #2 in Top Public Schools by US News and World Report 2022.
- #160 in Best Value Schools by US News and World Report 2022
UC Berkeley Campus
University of California Berkeley campus is home to over 32,000 undergraduate students and 10,000 graduate students. The university is among the top universities for best campus life. Student accommodation at the university is available in three options, living on-campus housing with or without a roommate, living in university-owned, off-campus housing, and living off-campus.
- According to the university’s report, 96% of the students live in college-owned, college-operated, or college-affiliated housing and the rest 4% live off-campus or commute.
- Berkeley’s theme of blue and gold is inspired by - Berkeley Blue and California Gold - blue representing graduates from Yale University who played a crucial part in founding the university, and gold mirroring the “Golden State” of California.
- All UC schools refer to the same application but decide independently whether to accept a candidate.
- The highlighted concept of liberty at the university has its origin in the 1960s when outraged by one of the Chancellor’s policies regarding the Vietnam War, students protested which led to the creation of a liberal college campus.
UC Berkeley Admissions
The University of California Berkeley houses over 40,000 students every year. The university has an acceptance rate (2022) of 17.5%, which makes it a very competitive university. For admissions to, all international applicants must complete the following process:
Application Portal: UC Application
Application Fee: UG- 80 USD | PG- 140 USD
Admission Requirement for UG:
- Academic transcripts with a 3.4 GPA
- Medical Records
- Health Insurance
- CV/ Resume
- Standardized exam scores
- Letters of Recommendation
- Work Experience
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal Statement
- Interview
- English Proficiency Requirements
- TOEFL iBT: 80
- IELTS: 6.5
Application Portal: UC Application
Application Fee:
Admission Requirement for PG:
- Degree equivalent to a US bachelor’s degree
- Official transcripts (With Min. of 3.0 GPA )
- Statement of Purpose
- English Language Proficiency
- GMAT, GRE Subject Test, GRE General, or MCAT scores
- Letters of recommendation
- English Proficiency Requirements
- TOEFL iBT: 90
- IELTS: 7
UC Berkeley Scholarships
Scholarships at UC Berkeley available for international students. Most of the undergraduate scholarships are only available to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, However, graduate students may have an easier time finding fellowships.
A regular student enrolled in a degree or a certificate program, with a valid Social Security Number is eligible for financial aid at the university. Applying for Scholarships to Study in the USA can be overwhelming due to their extensive application filing process. Here’s a brief list of research scholarship opportunities from private organizations both within the U.S. and India.
- The Indian Trust Fellowship
- Stanford Reliance Dhirubhai Fellowships for Indian Students
- Fulbright-Nehru Research Fellowship
- Inlaks Scholarship
With an average of 27,981 USD of financial aid, 83% of the financial needs of international students are met. Approximately 65% of the students receive grants and scholarships, the money which does not need to be repaid. The university prides itself on providing affordable education. Estimates suggest that only 34% of graduates have taken out a loan. Thankfully, 57% of Cal undergraduates pay no tuition fee.
Also Check: Education loans to study in the USA
Work While Study At UC Berkeley
Work-Study opportunities like Cal Housing Assistant, Food Service Worker and Library Student Employee are available at theUniversity of California- Berkeley to enhance valuable job skills and experiences among the students. Working part-time while studying will help students earn part of their college costs and decline the debt they graduate with.
Als Check Part time jobs in the USA.
UC Berkeley Placements
Career Center at the University of California Berkeley helps students to find a job or internship. Besides, students can learn about internships and externships, write a resume or cover letter, improve interviewing skills, develop a career plan, learn about different careers, become career ready, go to graduate or professional school, and career fairs. The average salary offered to graduates & alumni of UC Berkeley according to functions are mentioned below:
UC Berkeley Alumni
Founded by the original graduates of the University of California in 1872, The Cal Alumni Association (CAA) provides all Cal graduates with rewarding connections to the university. Its mission is to connect alumni with each other and with their alma mater in order to advance and promote the interests of the University of California, Berkeley.
Notable Alumni:
- Leroy Chiao- Astronaut
- Alex Morgan- Olympian
- Barbara Lee- U.S. Representative
UC Berkeley is one of the top universities offering a variety of programs to international students. With a humongous number of enrollments, the university creates an excellent opportunity for international students willing to study abroad. There is an abundance of scholarships for international students offered by the university which fulfills their financial needs. The most important feature of the university captivating international students from across the world is its high employment rate of graduates across their preferred fields with lucrative salaries offered.