Before you Arrive at UC Berkeley 

2020-2021

UCEAP Reciprocity Information

Berkeley Study Abroad
160 Stephens Hall
Contact your advisor: Michelle Ayazi

UCEAP Reciprocity Students at Berkeley Facebook Group (You must have a UCB student e-mail address to join.)

Visa & Immigration Information

Berkeley International Office (BIO)
2150 Shattuck Ave. Suite 500
Contact BIO
International Student Resources
Reciprocity Student Resources
 

Get Started!

Reminders
  • Housing is not guaranteed.
  • Rental agreement last through the end of the academic year (June). If you leave your housing before the end of the agreement, you may be subject to a cancellation fee. Check all terms and conditions.
  • If you apply for more than one housing option, accept only one. You will be financially responsible for all agreements you accept.

BIO Resources

Find Housing through the Berkeley International Office (BIO). Explore a wide range of resources for new international students arriving at UC Berkeley. 

International House (UC Affiliated Housing)

(Undergraduates/Graduates)

 

Application notes: For "University role" select "EAP Undergraduate"; Print and submit a copy of your UCEAP letter from the dashboard in your account.

Residence Halls and University Apartments (UC Housing)

(Undergraduates/Graduates)

Explore Campus Housing
Contact Campus Housing

Application Deadline
Fall: Apply as soon as you create your CalNet ID and passphrase. 
Spring: October 22, 2020
 
Undergraduates, select "transfer-level" housing.

Consider giving priority to apartment living when ranking your choices. Improve your housing application success by choosing "any room type, any location" in your list of housing preferences. Few singles are available.

Student Housing Cooperatives (UC Affiliated Housing)

(Undergraduates/Graduates)

Berkeley Student Cooperative (BSC)
Explore BSC
Before you apply
Contact BSC

Application Deadline: No deadline but early application is encouraged. Students are added to the waiting list and placed as space becomes available. 
Identify yourself as a UCEAP Reciprocity student to benefit from priority status on the placement wait list. 

Featured Housing option: Cloyne Court - substance-free academic theme house.

Community Housing (Non-UC Housing)

(Undergraduates/Graduates)

Cal Rentals
Contact Cal Rentals for advising and a personalized listing of off-campus housing.
 
California Housing Board

Visit the Board

Dates

We strongly urge you to purchase airline tickets AFTER you have obtained your visa and confirmed travel conditions to the US from your home country. When you do purchase a ticket, purchase a refundable/changeable ticket.

When should I arrive?  

No later than

  • Fall: August 17, 2020 (not applicable)
  • Spring: mid-January 2021 (not applicable)

No earlier than

  • Fall: July 19, 2020 (not applicable)
  • Spring: December 13, 2020 (not applicable)

Arrive no more than 30 days prior to the date printed on your visa certificate of eligibility (DS-2019).

Start Date on Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019)

  • Fall: August  19, 2020
  • Spring: January 12, 2021

Golden Bear   

(Undergraduates Only)

Golden Bear arrival orientation
Fall:  August 19- 25, 2020- Join us online
Spring: mid-January 2021 - Join us online

Golden Bear Prep online orientation
Fall: July 21- August 14, 2020
Spring: mid-December 2020- -mid-January 2021

Fee: $320 

Berkeley International Office (BIO)

Orientation

(Undergraduates/Graduates)

Fall Orientation: August 18, 2020

Spring Orientation: To be announced 

Document Check
Follow instructions to update your address and to upload your I-94 arrival record. 
Deadline: Prior to the first day of class

iStart 101 for International Students 

(Graduates only)

Complete the online orientation course and short quizzes to prepare for your studies at Cal. Contact BIO if you do not receive an invitation by email. 
Deadline: Completion of iStart is a required part of the document check.

BIO Informational and Social Events

Take advantage of BIO events (campus, library, best coffee, best ice cream, botanical gardens, shopping tips, and more). Get involved with physical activities through Cal Recreation, hike to the Big C and even take a workshop on one of Cal’s favorite sports “American Football 101”.

iSTART Cal Edition

Get the App for your phone!

Move-In Dates

Residence Hall Move-In

I-House Move-In

Co-Op Move-In:  Day prior to the start of contract; To arrange an earlier date, check with your manager.

Temporary Accommodation (Non-UC Housing)

Ground Transport to Campus

Enrollment Resources

About ID Numbers at UC Berkeley 

Students must have a CalNet ID and PassPhrase to enroll. You will use the ID to create your CalNet ID and passphrase.

  • CalNet ID = your online identity at UC Berkeley. It does not have to be a number and will be your campus email address when combined with @berkeley.edu.  
  • PassPhrase = a secret phrase that you create that must be used together with your CalNet ID in order to access secure campus websites. You create your passphrase at the same time that you create your CalNet ID.
  • Student Identification number (ID) = 10-digit number that is assigned by UCB to every new student. This ID is used by UC as your unique identifying number.

Registering for Classes

Undergraduate Students

Enrollment

Fall: Begins July 14, 2020
Spring: Begins November 10, 2020

  • See your appointment dates and times on CalCentral's "My Academics" dashboard.
  • Enrollment limit is 17.5 semester units. This includes waitlisted units.

Adjustment Period

Fall: Begins August 17, 2020
Spring: Begins January 11, 2021 

  • Enrollment in 19.5-20.5 units is allowed (see the limit for your college), but enrollment in more than 17-18 units is not recommended. 

Enrollment Resources

Graduate Students

Graduate students usually register after consultation with the department’s graduate advisor. Check with your host department for registration advising.

Student Account

Check your account regularly to pay your fees and avoid late fees.  

Fees
  • Golden Bear Orientation: $320 fee will be added to your account and covers all activities in this comprehensive week-long orientation.
  • Document Management fee: $62 (subject to change) one-time fee eliminates charges for individual document requests and provides students with unlimited transcripts, petitions, verifications of enrollment and more.
  • Health Insurance Fees: Fees will be billed to your account each semester. See Health Insurance & Services information below.
Billing Questions Contact
120 Sproul Hall
Phone: +1510 664 9181

2020-2021 insurance costs and information are listed below.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

You will automatically be enrolled in your host university health insurance plan. No action is required.

Insurance information

  • Undergraduates: $1,768 each semester
  • Graduates: $2,841 each semester
Payment Deadlines
  • Fall: August 21, 2020
  • Spring: January 15, 2021
Effective Dates
  • Fall: August 1 - December 31, 2020
  • Spring: January 1 - July 31, 2021

* If you are a registered student during spring quarter or semester, your spring SHIP fee provides coverage through the end of summer.

Immunizations and TB Screening

Immunization requirements

Deadlines

  • Fall: July 31, 2020
  • Spring: December 31, 2020 * - To be announced for Spring 2021
  • A late fee of $50 will apply for submissions after the deadline.
    *The customer Service Center will be closed during the end of year holiday break.

Waiving SHIP

To waive SHIP, you must apply for waiver by submitting documentation of comparable health insurance. Waiver must be approved by your host UC.

Waiver for international students staying in their home country

  • If you are denied a waiver, submit a waiver appeal explaining that you will remain in your home country and study remotely.
  • See more information on waiver for internationals studying from outside the US.
Waiver Deadlines
  • Fall: May 1 - July 31, 2020
    • Waiver application $75 late fee will apply August 1 - August 15, 2020; No applications will be accepted after August 15.
  • Spring: December 1, 2020 - January 1, 2021
    • Waiver application $75 late fee will apply January 1 - January 15, 2021; No applications will be accepted after January 15.

NOTE: Recipients of a waiver in the fall do not need to re-apply for spring.

Questions?

Contact UC Berkeley SHIP
Phone: +1510 642 5700