Scholarship
Deadline in 38 days
Deadline: November 30, 2026
The UC Berkeley Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. International undergraduate students are automatically considered for Berkeley’s prestigious Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship and several dedicated international awards, with selected scholarships providing need-based support for up to four years and, in some cases, funding up to the full cost of attendance. African students applying for eligible master’s programmes can compete for the fully funded Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which covers tuition, living expenses, housing, travel, visa costs, and other study expenses.
Eligibility: Criteria for UC Berkeley Scholarships Undergraduate Scholarship Eligibility International undergraduate students seeking Berkeley scholarships must first satisfy the university’s admission requirements. International first-year applicants must: Complete secondary school Earn a qualification that allows university admission in their country Meet the University of California subject requirements Meet Berkeley’s academic requirements Demonstrate English proficiency where required Submit a complete UC application
How to apply: for UC Berkeley Scholarships? for Undergraduate Scholarships? (1) Review the UC Berkeley international student requirements and confirm that your secondary-school qualification meets Berkeley’s admission requirements. Do not convert your international grades into US grades yourself. Berkeley instructs international applicants to report their academic records using the original grading system shown by their school.
A quick overview based on the listing. Review the full details below before applying.
Application link provided with this listing — verify the destination and requirements before submitting.
The UC Berkeley Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes at the University of California, Berkeley in the United States. International undergraduate students are automatically considered for Berkeley’s prestigious Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship and several dedicated international awards, with selected scholarships providing need-based support for up to four years and, in some cases, funding up to the full cost of attendance. African students applying for eligible master’s programmes can compete for the fully funded Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which covers tuition, living expenses, housing, travel, visa costs, and other study expenses. At the doctoral level, Berkeley departments offer funding packages combining fellowships, research or teaching appointments, tuition and fee remission, and health benefits. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about UC Berkeley Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
International undergraduate students should understand that they are generally ineligible for federal, state, and Berkeley’s regular need-based university financial aid. However, Berkeley now offers specific institutional scholarship programmes for international undergraduates, including the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship, International Leaders Scholarship, Robinson International Scholars Program, and Swaniker Scholars Program.
UC Berkeley offers undergraduate and graduate study across engineering, computing, biological sciences, physical sciences, business, economics, social sciences, architecture, environmental studies, public health, public policy, journalism, law, education, and many other disciplines. Berkeley Graduate Division currently lists more than 200 graduate programmes.
For students applying for undergraduate admission in Fall 2027, UC Berkeley follows this application schedule:
UC Berkeley does not offer Early Action or Early Decision. All undergraduate applicants use the regular University of California application process.
There is no separate application deadline for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship or Berkeley’s main international undergraduate scholarships because eligible international applicants are considered automatically through their admission application.
For the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, eligible master’s applications generally run from September through early January, with most programme deadlines falling in December. Applicants to programmes with multiple admission rounds must normally apply in the first round to remain eligible for the scholarship.
For Fall 2027 graduate admission, Berkeley’s graduate application opens on September 24, 2026. Graduate deadlines are set separately by each programme and generally fall between September and early January, with many programmes closing in December.
Berkeley now lists several institutional scholarships specifically available to international undergraduate students. No separate scholarship application is required; admitted international students are automatically considered for awards for which they qualify.
The Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship is Berkeley’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship.
All applicants to Berkeley, including international first-year and transfer students, are automatically considered. The university selects candidates through holistic review based on qualities such as academic excellence, creativity, leadership, service, and commitment.
International recipients may also qualify for one of Berkeley’s dedicated international scholarship funds.
The scholarship provides need-based financial support for up to four years. Recipients also receive all benefits associated with the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship.
Berkeley gives priority consideration to students residing in Peru, although the scholarship is presented as an international student award rather than being restricted only to Peruvians.
The Robinson International Scholars Program supports high-achieving international students who are:
Students who graduated from secondary school in a Sub-Saharan African or developing country.
Recipients should also demonstrate resilience and a commitment to serving their community, country, or continent.
The programme provides a need-based scholarship for up to four years, together with the full benefits of the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship.
There is no separate application. Candidates are selected from students eligible for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship.
A limited number of participants from the ALX Pathway and graduates of the African Leadership Academy are nominated for consideration.
This is one of Berkeley’s most comprehensive undergraduate scholarship opportunities for eligible African students.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UC Berkeley is a fully funded scholarship for academically talented students from African countries who want to pursue an eligible master’s degree.
Berkeley and the Mastercard Foundation are working through a long-term partnership that will support more than 200 master’s students through 2030. Berkeley expects to recruit new Mastercard Foundation Scholars through Fall 2028, meaning the programme remains available for the 2027 intake.
Students enrolled in programmes longer than two semesters are also expected to undertake an approved internship in Africa. The programme pays the round-trip airfare for this internship and provides a stipend toward living expenses.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholarship is available for selected master’s programmes lasting no more than two years.
Berkeley publishes the complete eligible programme list on the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program website. Bachelor’s and PhD programmes are not eligible.
MBA candidates follow an additional funding process because they must secure supplementary scholarship support from Berkeley Haas.
UC Berkeley does not offer one identical university-wide “PhD Scholarship.” Instead, doctoral departments create financial support packages for admitted students using several funding sources.
Applicants do not normally submit a separate central fellowship application. The academic department considers doctoral applicants for financial support as part of the admission process.
Most doctoral packages include some semesters of academic employment as a Graduate Student Instructor or Graduate Student Researcher. These appointments can include compensation as well as tuition and fee remission and health-care benefits.
For international PhD students, Berkeley states that Nonresident Supplemental Tuition is typically covered for additional years when required. The exact stipend, duration, fellowship components, and employment requirements depend on the department and are stated in the Financial Support and Employment Funding Letter sent after admission.
Because funding differs substantially between departments, applicants should not assume that a stipend amount published by one Berkeley PhD programme applies to every doctoral student.
International undergraduate students seeking Berkeley scholarships must first satisfy the university’s admission requirements.
The minimum UC GPA for non-resident first-year applicants is 3.4 in the required A–G subjects, although successful Berkeley applicants are normally considerably more competitive than the minimum requirement.
There is no separate GPA or scholarship form.
are automatically considered.
Intend to return to Africa after completing their education and permitted post-study training
Applicants with dual citizenship, asylum, refugee, or permanent-resident status in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or European Union are not eligible under the current rules.
Berkeley gives additional priority, where candidates are otherwise similarly qualified, to students who:
Students must first gain admission to an eligible Berkeley master’s programme before they can ultimately receive the scholarship.
Some departments impose more demanding academic requirements, prerequisite courses, portfolios, professional experience, or standardised tests.
International undergraduate students can satisfy Berkeley’s English requirement through several methods.
Eligible AP, IB, SAT or ACT English results can also satisfy the university’s English requirement in certain cases.
UC Berkeley is test-free for SAT and ACT admission purposes. SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarship review, although some scores may still be used for placement or subject credit after admission.
You can review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but Berkeley makes the final decision on whether an applicant meets its English proficiency requirement.
IELTS: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in Speaking and Writing for tests under the current requirements
Departments may set higher minimum scores.
Graduate applicants may qualify for a TOEFL or IELTS exemption through certain previous education completed in an eligible English-speaking academic environment.
Do not convert your international grades into US grades yourself. Berkeley instructs international applicants to report their academic records using the original grading system shown by their school.
The international application fee is currently US$95 per UC campus. International and non-immigrant applicants are generally not eligible for the standard UC application fee waiver available to qualifying US citizens, permanent residents, and AB540 students.
Berkeley uses holistic review, considering academic and non-academic achievements in the context of the opportunities and challenges available to the applicant.
Avoid repeating information already obvious from your academic record.
Applicants normally self-report their academic results rather than sending transcripts with the initial application. Berkeley requests official documents later from students who are admitted.
All admitted international undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for scholarships for which they qualify, including the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship and relevant international scholarship programmes.
Applicants selected for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship may be invited to a faculty interview.
Only eligible master’s programmes of two years or less can receive Mastercard Foundation funding.
The Mastercard Foundation does not replace Berkeley’s normal admission process. Applicants must first submit a competitive graduate application and be considered academically admissible by the relevant department.
Use our guides to prepare your academic CV, statement of purpose, and scholarship recommendation letters.
These criteria are central to scholarship selection.
There is no direct initial Mastercard Foundation scholarship application before the Berkeley degree application. Eligible applicants are reviewed by their graduate programmes, and selected candidates are nominated to the Scholars Program.
Nominated candidates receive instructions from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and may subsequently be invited to an online interview.
The final scholarship decision is separate from the underlying Berkeley admission decision.
Berkeley allows applicants to apply to only one graduate or concurrent degree programme in a single admission cycle.
Read recent publications from relevant Berkeley faculty and determine whether their research aligns with your proposed work.
Attach a focused academic CV.
The current application fee for applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents is US$155. Standard Berkeley graduate fee waivers based on financial need are primarily available to eligible US citizens and permanent residents, although some programmes may offer their own assistance.
A separate central funding application is normally unnecessary. The departmental admissions committee considers incoming doctoral applicants for fellowships and financial support.
Funding arrangements differ between programmes, so this letter is the authoritative source for your individual PhD package.
Applicants should not initially mail transcripts, certificates, recommendation letters, photographs, awards, or other unsolicited materials unless Berkeley specifically requests them.
Selected first-year applicants may later be invited to submit two recommendation letters. Berkeley does not accept unsolicited recommendations from applicants who have not received an invitation.
The graduate department first determines whether the applicant is competitive for admission before nomination to the Mastercard Foundation selection process.
Applicants with academic records issued in a language other than English or Spanish must provide acceptable translations according to Berkeley Graduate Division requirements.
Some are.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is fully funded and covers tuition, Berkeley fees, housing, food, living expenses, travel, visa and SEVIS costs, and additional programme support.
The Swaniker Scholars Program can provide undergraduate funding up to the full cost of attendance for selected eligible African students. Other international undergraduate awards vary according to financial need.
PhD packages can provide comprehensive funding through fellowships and academic employment, but the exact amount and duration depend on the department.
Yes. International first-year and transfer applicants are automatically considered for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship.
No separate scholarship application is required.
The minimum monetary award is US$2,500 per year.
Scholars with assessed financial need can receive additional grant and scholarship support up to their full need. International recipients may also receive funding through Berkeley’s dedicated international scholarship programmes.
No.
International students are generally ineligible for Berkeley’s ordinary federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid. Instead, Berkeley provides specific institutional scholarship opportunities for selected international students.
Yes.
It provides comprehensive support for tuition, fees, housing, food, living costs, travel, visa and SEVIS expenses, as well as leadership and professional development activities.
No.
Applicants must be citizens of African countries and meet the programme’s academic, leadership, financial-access, community contribution, and return-to-Africa criteria.
No.
Berkeley’s current Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports eligible master’s programmes only. Undergraduate and PhD programmes are not eligible.
Berkeley departments provide doctoral funding packages that can combine fellowships, teaching or research employment, tuition and fee remission, and benefits.
The precise funding package differs by programme and student, so applicants should rely on the Financial Support and Employment Funding Letter provided with their admission offer rather than assuming one university-wide stipend.
Normally no.
The departmental admissions committee considers doctoral applicants for funding when reviewing their graduate application.
No.
UC Berkeley is test-free and does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship selection. Scores submitted voluntarily may only be used for purposes such as placement or subject credit after admission.
Not always.
Undergraduate students can satisfy English proficiency through several accepted tests or academic qualifications. Graduate applicants may qualify for an exemption through certain previous education completed in an eligible English-language academic environment.
The current undergraduate application fee is US$95 per UC campus, while the graduate application fee for applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents is US$155.
International undergraduate students seeking Berkeley scholarships must first satisfy the university’s admission requirements.
The minimum UC GPA for non-resident first-year applicants is 3.4 in the required A–G subjects, although successful Berkeley applicants are normally considerably more competitive than the minimum requirement.
There is no separate GPA or scholarship form.
are automatically considered.
Intend to return to Africa after completing their education and permitted post-study training Applicants with dual citizenship, asylum, refugee, or permanent-resident status in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, or European Union are not eligible under the current rules. Berkeley gives additional priority, where candidates are otherwise similarly qualified, to students who:
Students must first gain admission to an eligible Berkeley master’s programme before they can ultimately receive the scholarship.
Some departments impose more demanding academic requirements, prerequisite courses, portfolios, professional experience, or standardised tests.
International undergraduate students can satisfy Berkeley’s English requirement through several methods.
Eligible AP, IB, SAT or ACT English results can also satisfy the university’s English requirement in certain cases. UC Berkeley is test-free for SAT and ACT admission purposes. SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarship review, although some scores may still be used for placement or subject credit after admission. You can review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but Berkeley makes the final decision on whether an applicant meets its English proficiency requirement.
IELTS: 7.0 overall, with at least 6.5 in Speaking and Writing for tests under the current requirements Departments may set higher minimum scores. Graduate applicants may qualify for a TOEFL or IELTS exemption through certain previous education completed in an eligible English-speaking academic environment.
Do not convert your international grades into US grades yourself. Berkeley instructs international applicants to report their academic records using the original grading system shown by their school.
The international application fee is currently US$95 per UC campus. International and non-immigrant applicants are generally not eligible for the standard UC application fee waiver available to qualifying US citizens, permanent residents, and AB540 students.
Berkeley uses holistic review, considering academic and non-academic achievements in the context of the opportunities and challenges available to the applicant.
Avoid repeating information already obvious from your academic record.
Applicants normally self-report their academic results rather than sending transcripts with the initial application. Berkeley requests official documents later from students who are admitted.
All admitted international undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for scholarships for which they qualify, including the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship and relevant international scholarship programmes. Applicants selected for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship may be invited to a faculty interview.
Only eligible master’s programmes of two years or less can receive Mastercard Foundation funding.
The Mastercard Foundation does not replace Berkeley’s normal admission process. Applicants must first submit a competitive graduate application and be considered academically admissible by the relevant department.
Use our guides to prepare your academic CV, statement of purpose, and scholarship recommendation letters.
These criteria are central to scholarship selection.
There is no direct initial Mastercard Foundation scholarship application before the Berkeley degree application. Eligible applicants are reviewed by their graduate programmes, and selected candidates are nominated to the Scholars Program.
Nominated candidates receive instructions from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program and may subsequently be invited to an online interview. The final scholarship decision is separate from the underlying Berkeley admission decision.
Berkeley allows applicants to apply to only one graduate or concurrent degree programme in a single admission cycle.
Read recent publications from relevant Berkeley faculty and determine whether their research aligns with your proposed work.
Attach a focused academic CV.
The current application fee for applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents is US$155. Standard Berkeley graduate fee waivers based on financial need are primarily available to eligible US citizens and permanent residents, although some programmes may offer their own assistance.
A separate central funding application is normally unnecessary. The departmental admissions committee considers incoming doctoral applicants for fellowships and financial support.
Funding arrangements differ between programmes, so this letter is the authoritative source for your individual PhD package.
Applicants should not initially mail transcripts, certificates, recommendation letters, photographs, awards, or other unsolicited materials unless Berkeley specifically requests them. Selected first-year applicants may later be invited to submit two recommendation letters. Berkeley does not accept unsolicited recommendations from applicants who have not received an invitation.
The graduate department first determines whether the applicant is competitive for admission before nomination to the Mastercard Foundation selection process.
Applicants with academic records issued in a language other than English or Spanish must provide acceptable translations according to Berkeley Graduate Division requirements.
Some are. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is fully funded and covers tuition, Berkeley fees, housing, food, living expenses, travel, visa and SEVIS costs, and additional programme support. The Swaniker Scholars Program can provide undergraduate funding up to the full cost of attendance for selected eligible African students. Other international undergraduate awards vary according to financial need. PhD packages can provide comprehensive funding through fellowships and academic employment, but the exact amount and duration depend on the department.
Yes. International first-year and transfer applicants are automatically considered for the Regents’ & Chancellor’s Scholarship. No separate scholarship application is required.
The minimum monetary award is US$2,500 per year. Scholars with assessed financial need can receive additional grant and scholarship support up to their full need. International recipients may also receive funding through Berkeley’s dedicated international scholarship programmes.
No. International students are generally ineligible for Berkeley’s ordinary federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid. Instead, Berkeley provides specific institutional scholarship opportunities for selected international students.
Yes. It provides comprehensive support for tuition, fees, housing, food, living costs, travel, visa and SEVIS expenses, as well as leadership and professional development activities.
No. Applicants must be citizens of African countries and meet the programme’s academic, leadership, financial-access, community contribution, and return-to-Africa criteria.
No. Berkeley’s current Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports eligible master’s programmes only. Undergraduate and PhD programmes are not eligible.
Berkeley departments provide doctoral funding packages that can combine fellowships, teaching or research employment, tuition and fee remission, and benefits. The precise funding package differs by programme and student, so applicants should rely on the Financial Support and Employment Funding Letter provided with their admission offer rather than assuming one university-wide stipend.
Normally no. The departmental admissions committee considers doctoral applicants for funding when reviewing their graduate application.
No. UC Berkeley is test-free and does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship selection. Scores submitted voluntarily may only be used for purposes such as placement or subject credit after admission.
Not always. Undergraduate students can satisfy English proficiency through several accepted tests or academic qualifications. Graduate applic
Temple University offers merit scholarships to international students with strong academic records. For first-year students, these awards range up to $20,0...
Temple University Sister City Scholarships welcomes you to apply for this $10,000 per academic year for four years. Click below to learn more about qualify...
Applications are open for the Boston University Presidential Scholarships in the USA 2027/28 for exception students who want to pursue an undergraduate cou...
Have you been looking for USA graduate opportunities to study in the USA? Also see: 20 Graduate Assistantships in the Middle East for International Studen...
