International Students

Funding an education as an international student at a university in the United States can be challenging. International students are not eligible for University, state, or federal financial aid. Only students who are U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are eligible for financial aid.

We urge International students to research scholarship opportunities from private organizations both within the U.S. and in your home country.  As a suggestion to get started, consider your background, your future or current field of study, and possible career paths. Use these topics to search for organizations that may have some connection to your interests and background, then apply for available grants and scholarships.

Another recommendation is to research the specific department you are interested in by doing a search on the main Berkeley website (www.berkeley.edu) for their name, then looking for awards or scholarships they may have for incoming students.

We encourage graduate students to seek financial assistance from their departments, including Graduate Student Researcher and Graduate Student Instructorships, which are under the direct control of each department.  For graduate fellowships or outside sources of financial assistance, contact the Graduate Fellowships Office.

Helpful Resources

• Research websites, such as UC Berkeley's Scholarship Connection, www.finaid.org, www.fastweb.com, or the Cal Alumni Association to search for grants or scholarships.
• Look for internships on the Career Center website.
• Visit the Berkeley International Office website.
• See the Berkeley International Office web page on money matters.
• Find UC Berkeley research opportunities for undergraduate students.
• Enter prize contests for undergraduate or graduate students.