Applying as a Freshman
To be considered for admission to UC Berkeley, international applicants must:
• finish secondary school and
• earn a certificate of completion, which allows admission to a university in their home country or country of graduation
In addition:
Students who have completed the IGCSE or O-level exams have not yet met the requirements for admission evaluation at UC Berkeley. The university requires further study, either completion of the 2-year A-level program with a minimum of 3 academic exams, the IB diploma program, or another similar academic curriculum. (Most A-Level students who apply to UC Berkeley anticipate receiving A marks on their exams.)
Students from countries requiring entry into military service upon completion of secondary education should not submit an application until the obligation has been met. UC Berkeley cannot defer admission to a later term.
Students may have to meet additional admission requirements and follow certain guidelines for filling out the undergraduate application, depending on country or educational system.
China
If you are following the IGCSE/GCSE/GCE curriculum, you must do the following to be eligible for admission:
Complete at least 5 IGCSE/GCSE/GCE O-Levels, and at least 3 academic GCE A-Level exams
If your school offers both H1 and H2 A-Level exams, UC will only consider H2 A-Level exams.
If you are following the Chinese national curriculum, follow these instructions for the application:
List all courses and marks, from grade 9 (year 3 of lower middle school) through grade 12 (years 1 through 3 of upper middle school) exactly as they appear on your official academic records.
Be prepared to submit your Graduation Certificate from the upper middle school if you are accepted to UC.
If you are following the IB curriculum, follow these instructions for the application.
3. Take the ACT with Writing Test, SAT or SAT with Essay by December of your last year at secondary school
If you are currently residing or attending school in a country where the ACT with Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test is offered, you are required to take one of the tests, self-report your scores on your application and submit official test results to UC by the stated application deadlines.
We understand that students living in certain countries where these tests are not offered (e.g., the Islamic Republic of Iran) are challenged to fulfill this requirement. However, given the large number of applications we receive from students throughout the world, we very rarely make exceptions to the requirement.
4. Demonstrate English-language Proficiency
Proficiency in English is critical to success at UC Berkeley.
One of the following exams is:
required for any student whose language of instruction is not English for the last three academic years of secondary school
recommended for all international applicants from non-English-speaking countries
These exams are:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - a score of 6.5 or higher on the academic module or
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - a score of 80 or higher on the TOEFL iBT or 550 or higher on the paper-based exam
Language exam results must be received in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions no later than January prior to the fall semester in which the student wishes to enroll. Our code is 4833, same as the SAT. Please contact TOEFL to confirm when your test scores are mailed to campuses.
Financial Documentation
Before a U.S. consul will grant a visa, you must prove that you will have sufficient money to meet all your expenses while studying in the United States. You must explain the source of your funds and guarantee that you will receive them while at UC Berkeley.
Unless you are able to provide written evidence demonstrating you have adequate financial resources for the entire time needed to complete your degree program, the consul will not grant a student visa.
If your country's government limits the amount of money that may be sent to its students in the United States, you should make sure that funds will be available.
When you leave your country, you must have enough money to:
pay for traveling expenses to UC Berkeley
pay fees for the entire term
meet living expenses until more money reaches you
pay the return fare to your home
If your country's government requires verification of enrollment before money can be forwarded to you, you may request the campus International Student Advisor to provide verification after you have completed your UC registration. Some students assume, incorrectly, that additional financial assistance or part-time employment will be available. Each year many students find themselves in serious financial difficulties because they did not arrange for adequate support.
Student Visa Information
All admitted international students will be required to complete a Non-immigrant Information Form (NIF). A guarantee by the applicant's financial sponsor proving sufficient funds for the first year of study is required. Upon receipt of the completed NIF, the Berkeley International Office (BIO) will issue the document needed for student visa application.
