The University of California, Berkeley, commonly referred as UC Berekely, is a public research university. Founded in 1868, 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 are 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. 

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.

UC Berkeley Highlights

UC Berkeley Highlights

UC Berkeley Likes and Dislikes

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

According to QS Ranking, UCB scores 96.2 in Academic Reputation. Mentioned below are QS subject rankings of the top 10 master's programs enrolled by international students at UCB, UCLA and Caltech : 

Program Name UC Berkeley Rank UC Los Angeles Rank Caltech Rank
Business Administration #12 #34 #201
Master of Law  #9 #25 -
Industrial Engineering & Operations Research #6 #17 -
Mechanical Engineering #6 #29 #15
Electrical Engineering & Computer Science #3 #18 #39
Civil & Environmental Engineering #4 #28 #51
Architecture #8 #18 -
Financial Engineering #9 #16 -
Information Management & Systems #7 #36 #201
Development Practice #8 #27 -

Also Check: 

UC Berkeley Popular Programs

Berkeley’s academic enterprise is organized into 14 schools and colleges offering over 350-degree programs. Graduate programs at the University of California- Berkeley are presented in 103 schools and departments. Following are some of the top programs offered by the university:

Top 10 MS Programs at UC Berkeley

Business Administration and Law are the two of the most applied courses at UC Berkeley. Mentioned below are the percentage of international students enrolled in the top 10 master's programs at UC Berkeley

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.

 Want to know more about UCB? Watch the video below and get a detailed description about University of California

UC Berkeley Accommodation

Mentioned below are the prices of some of the standard living option for international students at UCB:

Residence Type Housing Annual Rent (in INR)
Single 12.54 lakhs
Double 10.84 lakhs
Triple 8.83 lakhs
Large Triple* (Designed Triple) 9.09 lakhs
Quad 7.89 lakhs

Also Check: Student accommodation in USA

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

Application Portal: UC Application
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

UC Berkeley Cost of Attendance

The average tuition fee at University of California Berkeley is USD 47,768 for UG and USD 35,350 for UG programs. For an Indian student it is 36.53 lakhs for a UG program and 27.03 lakhs for PG programs. Mentioned below are the Annual tuition fee of some of the professional schools of UCB

The estimated average annual cost of education in the USA for undergraduate programs is given below:

Cost Breakdown  Cost for UG (in INR) Cost for PG (in INR)
Room and board 12.96 lakhs 11.62 lakhs
Student Health Insurance Plan 2.88 lakhs 4.64 lakhs
Food 1.25 lakhs 1.25 lakhs
Books and supplies 0.65 lakhs 0.26 lakhs
Personal Expense 1.41 lakhs 1.66 lakhs
Transportation 0.30 lakhs 1.96 lakhs

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.

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 USA

Work While Study At UC Berkeley

Work-Study opportunities like Cal Housing Assistant, Food Service Worker, and Library Student Employee are available at University 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.
Also Check
: Part time jobs in 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:

Explore! High Paying jobs in USA.

Employers seek out UC Berkeley MBA students not only for their quantitative and management tools, but also for their solid understanding of best practises for the changing technological, global, and human dimensions of business. The most recent graduates' career trends, hiring trends, and salaries are highlighted in UC Berkeley's employment report.

Employment Report of MBA Graduates of UCB

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.

FAQs

Ques. Is UC Berkeley an Ivy League school?

Ans. Although the university is a highly regarded university with numerous opportunities for students, it is not an Ivy League institution.

Ques. What is UC Berkeley known for?

Ans. The university is well-known for the rigorous academic standards of its undergraduate programs. The five colleges and one school are home to more than 130 academic departments and 80 interdisciplinary research units.

Ques. What are admission requirements at UC Berkeley? 

Ans. The general admission requirements for admission at UCB are mentioned below: 

  • Official Transcripts
  • SOP
  • Standardized Test Scores
  • Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20), issued by the campus
  • Letter of Recommendation
  • Proof of adequate financial support
  • Additional Requirements – Resume; Proof of financial support
  • English Proficiency Requirements

Ques. What is University of California Berkeley tuition deposit?

Ans. The USD 250 deposit is included in the first-semester registration fees; it is not an additional charge. The money is a deposit. We, like many other schools, require a nonrefundable "down payment" to ensure the student's commitment. The deposit will be reflected on your first billing statement as paid.

Ques. What is TOEFL requirement at UC Berkeley?

Ans. To prove English proficiency, international students are required to submit TOEFL-iBT. Mentioned below are the minimum scores required for UG and PG programs: 

Test Minimum score for UG Minimum score for PG
IELTS  6.5 7.0
Duolingo 115 -
TOEFL iBT 80 90