ARCHIVED SITE (last updated Fall 2005)
For current information, please visit http://www.ischool.berkeley.edu
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ARCHIVED SITE (last updated Fall 2005) |
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| SIMS > Admissions > Applying to SIMS > Admissions FAQ > International Students | |||||||
International Student Resources |
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Who is an "international applicant"? "International applicants" are individuals who need a visa in order to study or live in the United States. Individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., no matter where in the world they live or go to school, are not considered "international applicants." What are the admission requirements for International Applicants? UC Berkeley's Graduate Division has specific admission criteria for international applicants, e.g. TOEFL, financial statement, etc. See the following link for details Admission Criteria: International Students. Do I have to take the TOEFL? Applicants whose country’s official language is not English are required to receive a score of at least 570 (paper based) or 230 (computer based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language. Most students accepted to SIMS achieve scores that are much higher than the minimum requirement. Do I have to take the TSE? Only applicants wishing to become Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) must also take the Test of Spoken English. SIMS does not have any GSI positions. However, students are able to work for other departments at UC Berkeley. It is best to take the test prior to the semester for which you are applying. What about Visas? There are two different student visas that are used for international students in the U.S.: F-1 and the J-1. While both visas allow a foreign national to study in the U.S., they do have different criteria for eligibility and regulations governing them. Once a student has been admitted, SISS will provide assistance in choosing the appropriate visa. See the following link for more details: Passports and Visas. How much are Tuition and Fees? International students will need approximately $35,000 to cover expenses for one year at UC Berkeley. Tuition and fees are about $15,000 and living expenses are approximately $20,000. Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. Some helpful information can be found at the following website: Financial Assistance for International Students. International students must show that they have the funds necessary for their first year of graduate school ($35,102, plus additional fee surcharges of $6,000 per year for professional programs, estimated for the academic year 2001-2002) in order to obtain a nonimmigrant visa to come to the United States. This figure is based on required tuition and fees for two semesters, plus $20,400 for basic living expenses, books, and other school supplies. Married students must add another $5,000 per year for their spouses and $3,000 per year for each child. Surveys by the Financial Aid Office and the Graduate Division show this to be a realistic sum for basic expenses. Most students find it very difficult to live on less. The following link offers additional information on Finances. Is there any Financial Aid available? UC Berkeley does not have scholarships for international students, and U.S. federal financial aid is not available to students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. We encourage international applicants to explore scholarship opportunities from private sources. International graduate students should contact academic departments after acceptance to program about positions as graduate student instructors (GSI), researchers (GSR), or reader/tutor, which provide some relief in tuition costs as well as a monthly stipend to cover living expenses. SIMS does offer a number of fellowships to assist international students during their first year. Can I work as a Student? All F-1 and J-1 international students enrolled in a full-time degree program who are sponsored by UC Berkeley may work on-campus part time during the academic year and full time in summer. For F-1 students, permission to work off-campus is possible only after nine months and is severely limited. Off-campus work permission for J-1 students may be granted by the program sponsors in cases of economic hardship or for employment opportunities that are related to the students' degree programs. Can I be classified a California Resident? International students with F-1 visas cannot be classified as California residents for tuition purposes. Students who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents will find helpful information on the following website: Office of Registrar. Will I need Health Insurance? Yes! The following link provides details: Health Care and Insurance. What about Housing? Housing at Berkeley is expensive and difficult to find. As soon as you decide to apply to UC Berkeley, find out about available housing. Contact the housing office at Berkeley Housing. Another option is the International House.
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