Information for International Transfer Applicants
Prospective transfer international students should read the information provided for all students on our website and in our Transfer Admissions flier (go to our Online Publications page and click on Transfer Admissions flier.) in addition to the special topics included below. Much of our admissions information is the same for foreign as well as for U.S. students.
Who is an International Applicant?
You are considered an international applicant if you need a visa in order to reside and study in the United States. If you are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, refugee or asylee, you will be considered a domestic applicant even if you currently reside outside the U.S.
Applying as a Transfer Student
Who is a Transfer Student?You are a transfer applicant if you have completed secondary school and enrolled in a college or university. You may not disregard your college record and apply as a freshman.
Junior Transfer Eligibility:To be eligible for admission as junior transfer (third-year student), you must complete the equivalent of at least 60 UC-transferable units by the end of the spring semester before you begin study at UC Berkeley. This usually equates to two years of full-time post-secondary study.
Each school or college sets its own maximum transfer unit limitation; most programs will not offer admission to students who have accumulated more than 80 UC-transferable semester units before enrollment. EXCEPTION: If all course work was completed at a two-year college, this maximum unit policy does not apply.
Courses to Complete: Transfer applicants must complete courses that fulfill the specific breadth requirements of the College or School to which they wish to apply. Check the home page of each College or School for details, using links on the UC Berkeley home page. Transfer applicants must also complete courses that fulfill the prerequisites for their desired major at UC Berkeley. Check the home page of each Department for details, using links on the UC Berkeley home page.
Education Outside the U.S.: Transfer applicants with education outside the U.S. are encouraged to have available legible photocopies of their official foreign academic records. An official translation of any documents not in English may also be acceptable. Do not send transcripts along with your application form. After you submit your application you may be requested to send these copies to the Office of Admissions at each campus you have applied to. Official transcripts will be required at the campus you elect to attend.
Personal Statement
The Personal Statement is an important part of your application for admission and is required of all applicants. The University uses your statement to learn more about you as an individual—your talents, experiences, achievements and points of view. You may use the Personal Sltatement to discuss your recent interest and goals, significant experiences in your life, or unusual circumstances, challenges or hardships you have faced. Transfer students should discuss their interest in the intended major and how this interest in the field developed. See our Transfer Admission flier for further details: Go to our Online Publications page and click on the Transfer Admissions flier.
Application Procedure and Notification
UC Berkeley accepts applications for the fall semester only. Applications are available from late September until late November for the following fall semester. Applications are available in paper format and on-line. For information on requesting an application or using the on-line application, see How to Apply.
The application filing period is November 1 through November 30 for the following fall semester. Applications must be postmarked or received by November 30. The application review and selection process begins in January. Admission decisions are mailed at the end of March for freshmen and on April 30 for transfers.
California Residency for Tuition Purposes
International students with F-1 visas cannot be classified as California residents for tuition purposes. Information for students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents is available at http://registrar.berkeley.edu/Residency/non-citizen.html.
UC Berkeley does not defer admission to a later semester.If you choose not to enroll for the semester you are admitted to, you must re-apply for admission to a later fall semester. If you are from a country that requires military service upon the completion of secondary education, you should not apply until that obligation has been met.
Tuition, Fees, and F-1 Student Visa Information
Please consult our website or the Registrar website for complete budget costs. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice.
All international students who are admitted will be required to complete a Non-immigrant Information Form (NIF) which requires a guarantee by the applicant's financial sponsor that sufficient funds will be available for the first year of study. The NIF is located in myBerkeleyApplication for admitted students. Upon receipt of the completed NIF, Berkeley International Office will issue the document required to apply for a student visa.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
In general, UC Berkeley does not have scholarships or financial aid available to entering undergraduate students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. International applicants are encouraged to explore scholarship opportunities from private sources, including the Ministry of Education in your home country.
Housing
The University offers a variety of housing choices, and guarantees one year of housing in the campus residence halls to new students admitted to the fall term who meet the housing application deadline. Housing information is sent to all applicants who are offered admission. The Housing and Dining Services Web site is.
Second Bachelor’s Degree Applicants
Applicants who have already earned a degree that is equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree are not accepted by the College of Letters and Science, the College of Environmental Design, the College of Natural Resources, or the Haas School of Business; and they are rarely accepted by the College of Engineering or the College of Chemistry. To be considered by the College of Engineering or the College of Chemistry, applicants who have a bachelor's degree must meet the lower division prerequisites for admission to these colleges.
Summer Session
Students who would like to have the experience of studying at Berkeley on a short term basis should consider attending Summer Session. Formal admission to the University is not required. The Summer Session offers five sessions between May and August. Inquiries should be directed to the Summer Session Office, 1995 University Ave., Berkeley, CA 94720, or check their website.
How to Apply
UC Berkeley accepts applications for the fall semester only. The fall term begins in late August.
The Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarships is available on the Internet at the University of California Application website. The University of California Admissions website includes comprehensive information for prospective UC students about undergraduate education and admission.
The application filing period is November 1-30. Applications must be postmarked or received by November 30. Paper applications should be sent to the address below:
University of California Undergraduate Application Processing Service
P.O. Box 4010
Concord, CA 94524-4010
USA
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