In the first three weeks of school, it's essential for international students to finalize their course selections, considering factors like class capacity and credit transfer. This period can be challenging, requiring strategic planning and early engagement with professors and teaching assistants to secure suitable courses. Luckily, SAF China Global Ambassador, Jiang Zhiyao (江芝瑶) who goes by "Little J" shares her experience and tips for future students studying abroad at University of California, Berkeley below. Enjoy!
Course Selection Stage
The most important thing to do in the first three weeks of school is to confirm courses you want to select. Most visiting students not only need to consider the number of students allowed to attend a course, but also the credit transfer. Besides, they also hope to choose the courses and teachers they are interested in and achieve better academic results. In the meantime, we'll have to wait until Berkeley students finish their course selection before we know whether we choose a course successfully. I have to say that this period of time posed the biggest challenge I’ve ever faced apart from my final exams. At the beginning of course selection, I signed up for a total of 15 courses, and finally I successfully confirmed 4 courses which were relatively suitable for me. In this process, I have also accumulated some experience and strategies, which I hope will be helpful for you guys who are about to embark on your journey of studying abroad:
Overview of the First Day of Class
Usually, in the first class, the professor will introduce the teaching content of the whole semester, the class rules, the office hours, and the relevant arrangements for the visiting students. In addition to further understanding whether you are interested in the course content and whether the teacher's teaching style is suitable for you, you should also pay attention to relevant suggestions for course selection. If the professor mentions that there are too many students who want to select the course and that there are hundreds of people on the waiting list, or that the possibility to allow extra students to enroll in the course is low, then it means it’s very difficult to select the course successfully. Then it is recommended to adjust your course selection plan as early as possible and to look for alternative courses, and to spend more time and energy on the courses that are more possible to be selected successfully.
Working with the Professor and Course Assistants
Each course at Berkeley has its own course number and a separate course website with contact information for professors and teaching assistants. After confirming you have may select the course successfully, it is recommended to contact the professor or teaching assistant in time to get the corresponding assignment website. As for many courses, our class attendance and homework submission in the previous weeks will be taken into account when the professors finally consider who will be admitted into the course. At the same time, important notices will also be posted on these websites, and so it’s helpful for us to keep track of course selection if we join as early as possible. If you are unfortunately rejected, you can also try to continue to communicate with the professor or teaching assistant to express your strong intentions about taking the class, and they will do their best to provide help according to the situation you described.
Don't Forget!
In addition to the exclusive course website, there are also some course selection forums, campus websites and off-campus websites, on which you can see the evaluation of previous students on the professors, and you can also understand the specific information about the task amount and difficulty degree of the course.
Elements of a typical UC Berkeley Computer Course
A course is basically divided into three different forms:
The Lecture is a traditional form of teaching by professors, taking about 3 hours per week, and the time is tight and the content is rich, but there will be a small amount of time for answering questions in class. Discussion is guided by the teaching assistant who will lead the students to complete the exercises related to the class content, so to make the class atmosphere more relaxed and active and provide more opportunities for interaction and question answering. Lab is like our computer practice course, which is also guided by the teaching assistant to carry out practical operations.
In addition, each course has abundant online and offline Q&A opportunities. The professors and teaching assistants will arrange weekly offline Q&A time, and each course also has a special online Q&A website for everyone to learn by discussing.
The time of learning always flies by, and the experience of studying here is really worth it. I hope you can choose the most suitable overseas exchange program according to your actual situation and spend the most precious period of time in your life.
FAQs
Berkeley Summer Abroad and Global Internship programs, are UC Berkeley courses which offer a diverse collection of programs that combine international travel with academic coursework in nearly 20 countries.
Can I study abroad after I graduate from UC Berkeley? ›
All students can study abroad up to and including their last term at Berkeley, even the summer after walking in a graduation ceremony! The “right” term to study abroad depends on your personal and academic needs. The earlier you start planning, the more options you will have.
How many classes do you take on study abroad? ›
Your class schedule abroad
Due to visa regulations, students on our semester-long programs take a full course load (typically four to five 3-credit classes). On our summer programs, the course load is usually one or two 3-credit classes, but it can be more depending on your program's length.
How much does UC Berkeley charge for international students? ›
Individual Costs for Continuing Students
| Fees & Tuition (2 semesters) | Undergraduates | Graduates |
|---|
| Resident Tuition + Fees | $19,695 | $21,652 |
| Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition | $32,574 | $15,102 |
| Professional Fees* | NA | See Fee Schedule |
| Total All Fees and Tuition | $52,269 | $36,754 *Does not include professional fees |
Since its inaugural 1990 reputational survey, Times Higher Education has considered Berkeley to be one of the world's "six super brands" along with the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, Harvard University, MIT, and Stanford University.
How hard is it to get into UC Berkeley as an international student? ›
For example, UC Berkeley had an overall acceptance rate of 11.6% in 2023, but when California residents are excluded the acceptance rate was 6.9%, and when we only look at international applicants the acceptance rate was 5.3%. And the acceptance rates vary widely between campuses.
Does UC Berkeley give full ride to international students? ›
BIO need-based financial aid is intended only for international students who have the most financial need and who have experienced a significant and unexpected change in their financial situation. Awards are not intended to provide ongoing support and will not cover full tuition and fees.
Can UC transfer students study abroad? ›
Provided you meet the program's eligibility requirements and submit your application by the deadline, you should be participating on the selected program. Can I study abroad if I'm a transfer student? Yes, it is possible for transfer students to study abroad!
Can I study abroad if I already graduated? ›
Since you've already completed your degree, you have the freedom to choose between an overseas internship, work study, volunteer, research, or service learning opportunities abroad.
What year do most students study abroad? ›
Historically, most students have studied abroad during their junior year, but study abroad during the sophom*ore and senior years is also an option. You can go as early as the summer after your freshman year. Ultimately, your major and curriculum will dictate the best time for you to study abroad.
The average semester abroad costs between $7,000 and $15,000 in total, while a one-month summer program runs from $3,500 to $6,000, according to the University of Louisville. The cost of your study abroad program could be higher or lower than that, depending on factors like location, length and program type.
What semester should I study abroad? ›
If your college operates on a quarter system, it might make more sense to study abroad during the fall if you want your program to line up with your fall quarter. Alternatively, if you wish to spend two quarters abroad, choosing a spring start date would benefit you.
Is UC Berkeley in the Ivy League? ›
UC Berkeley is not an Ivy League school. There are only eight Ivy League schools: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale.
Is UC Berkeley an expensive school? ›
University of California, Berkeley's tuition is $15,891 for in-state and $48,465 for out-of-state students. Compared with the national average cost of in-state tuition of $11,560, University of California, Berkeley is more expensive.
What percentage of Berkeley students are international? ›
Roughly 15 percent of the student body is international, and tuition and fees are higher for out-of-state students. Around 3,000 international scholars come to Berkeley each year in temporary teaching or research positions.
Does UC have study abroad programs? ›
Study Abroad Programs Around the World
There are programs that last for 1-3 weeks, a summer, a semester or an entire year, and opportunities are available for all UC majors. Search for programs at the links below and make plans to meet with a study abroad advisor.
Is UC Berkeley a good school for International Relations? ›
University of California - Berkeley
#41 Best Colleges for International Relations in America.
Is there a study abroad program at Stanford? ›
The Bing Overseas Studies Program (BOSP) provides opportunities for Stanford students to broaden their undergraduate education through study away and exposure to other cultures.
