UC Berkeley Scholarships for International Students 2026: Eligibility, Tips & How to Apply

Getting into University of California, Berkeley is already competitive. Finding scholarships as an international student can feel even harder. This guide breaks down UC Berkeley scholarships available for international students. Along with eligibility, funding coverage, application process and practical tips, Indian students should know before applying.

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley or Berkeley) is one of the top public universities in the US. Annually, Berkeley receives thousands of admission applications. However, unlike other public universities in the US, UC Berkeley offers limited institutional financial aid to non-US students. This does not mean that UC Berkeley does not give scholarships at all. They do, but students need to understand where the real opportunities are. For many international students, especially applicants from India, the biggest challenge at UC Berkeley is not just admission. It is affordability.

Undergraduate international applicants at UC Berkeley usually compete for selective merit-based scholarships. But for postgraduate students, there are fellowships, assistantships or department-based awards. Some scholarships require separate applications, whereas others automatically consider students during admission review.

One important point students often miss is that Berkeley itself clearly states international students are generally not eligible for federal or state financial aid in the US. That makes official Berkeley scholarships and departmental funding especially important for Indian applicants planning their cost of studying in US budgets carefully.  

If you are an international student planning to study at UC Berkeley, then check out the scholarships you can avail. Also know about the eligibility criteria, application process and tips to maximise getting a scholarship.

UC Berkeley Scholarships for International Students Highlights

Does UC Berkeley Offer Scholarships for International Students?

Yes, UC Berkeley offers scholarships for international students, but the funding structure differs significantly from universities that follow a fully need-blind model.

According to Berkeley’s official Financial Aid Office, international students are not eligible for US federal aid, California state aid, or most institutional need-based financial aid programs. Still, international applicants can access:

• Merit-based scholarships

• Departmental awards

• Graduate fellowships

• Teaching assistantships

• Research assistantships

• External scholarship partnerships

• Emergency funding in limited cases

Graduate students generally have better funding opportunities than undergraduate students. The reason being research and teaching positions are more common at the postgraduate level. Berkeley’s International Student Financial Aid also mentions that graduate students often find more fellowship opportunities than undergraduate students.

UC Berkeley Scholarships for International Students

At UC Berkeley, admitted undergraduate international students are automatically considered for select scholarship opportunities. This is one of the biggest advantages for applicants because students usually assume they must complete separate scholarship forms for every funding option. Unlike others, who require FAFSA for Indian Students.

Berkeley mentions that scholarship selection is based on a holistic review process. That means the university evaluates much more than grades alone. Academic performance, leadership, initiative, extracurricular involvement, community contribution, and personal background can all influence scholarship consideration.

For international undergraduate applicants, Berkeley currently highlights a few major scholarship opportunities officially:

These scholarships are highly selective and may include significant financial support. Some even cover a large portion of attendance costs for selected students.  

One important thing students should understand here is that Berkeley’s scholarships for international students are mostly merit-focused. Unlike some private universities in the US, Berkeley does not broadly provide need-based institutional aid to international applicants. That makes profile quality extremely important during admission review.

Graduate Scholarships at UC Berkeley for International Students

Graduate students usually have better funding opportunities at Berkeley compared to undergraduate applicants. Graduate funding at Berkeley generally comes through:

• Fellowships

• Types of Assistantships: Research Assistantships (RA) and Teaching Assistantships (TA)

• Department grants

• Dissertation funding

• Research awards

Technically, there are no scholarships for postgraduate international students studying at Berkeley. The above-mentioned options are available for them. To be eligible to get any of the above financial aid at Berkeley, international students must have a:

• Strong academic background

• Research potential

• Faculty recommendations

• Graduate admission offer

• Statement of purpose quality

• Academic achievements

Some fellowships are department-nominated, meaning students are automatically considered after applying to their academic program. Eligibility varies by program and department, but these are common factors.

How to Apply for Scholarships at UC Berkeley

In some cases, UCB automatically considers international students for scholarships. In other cases, a separate UC Berkeley scholarship application is needed. Here is how to apply for scholarships at UC Berkeley if a separate application is needed:

Step 1: Apply for Admission First

Most Berkeley scholarships begin with the admission application itself. Students who are preparing for UC Berkeley admissions should prepare:

• Academic transcripts

• SOP/essays

• Recommendation letters

• IELTS, TOEFL or PTE scores

• Extracurricular profile

• Resume or CV

Step 2: Check Scholarship Eligibility

Different scholarships have different rules. International students applying for scholarships at UCB should verify their:

• Citizenship eligibility

• Program eligibility

• GPA requirements

• Department restrictions

• Additional application requirements

Step 3: Monitor Department Emails

Many graduate funding opportunities are communicated directly by departments after admission review. Do not ignore department emails and miss Berkeley scholarship deadlines. Sometimes additional documents or information may be requested via mail.

Step 4: Apply for External Scholarships

It is not always necessary that international students get scholarships at Berkeley. Because Berkeley funding is competitive, international students should also apply for external scholarships. As a backup, consider the following external scholarships:

• Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships

• Inlaks Scholarships

• Tata Scholarships

• JN Tata Endowment

• MPOWER Financing Scholarships

Reality Check for Indian Students Before Applying for UC Berkeley Scholarships

One common misconception is that all top US universities provide generous scholarships automatically. That is not fully true for Berkeley. Since Berkeley is a public university, international tuition is significantly higher than in-state tuition. UC Berkeley fees for international students in 2026 are as follows:

For graduate admissions, courses at UC Berkeley may have a different fee structure. So check before applying.

Even students receiving scholarships may still need substantial personal or family funding. For 2026, international students should prepare for:

• Tuition expenses

• Housing costs in California

• Health insurance

• Books and supplies

• Living expenses in the Bay Area

Scholarships can reduce costs, but full funding at undergraduate level remains rare and extremely competitive.

Tips to Maximise Scholarship Chances at UC Berkeley

Getting a scholarship at Berkeley is not only about being academically strong. It is because of other factors too. A few things can genuinely help students during scholarship review along with UC Berkeley admission application:

• Good grades matter, but consistency matters more. A student who has performed steadily over the years usually looks stronger than someone with only a few standout scores.

• Berkeley pays attention to what students do outside academics as well. School clubs, volunteering, projects, internships, competitions, or even small initiatives started independently can strengthen an application.

• Leadership does not always have to mean becoming head boy or club president. Taking responsibility for something meaningful often leaves a stronger impression.

• Your essays should sound personal. Students sometimes try to make scholarship essays sound extremely formal, but overly polished answers can start feeling generic. Honest experiences usually connect better.

• Activities with real involvement carry more value than a long list of certificates. Depth is often more important than quantity.

• Students applying for graduate programs should spend time researching faculty and departments properly. At Berkeley, research alignment can sometimes influence funding opportunities.

• Applying early is always safer. Some scholarships and departmental funding reviews happen alongside admission evaluation itself.

• It is also practical to keep external scholarships as backup options. Since Berkeley is a public university, international funding can be competitive, especially at the undergraduate level.

While funding at UC Berkeley is limited, it offers scholarships for international students, but they are competitive. This applies to both UG and PG international applicants.

Undergraduate applicants mostly compete for selective merit scholarships like the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship, while graduate students often benefit more from fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research funding opportunities.

UC Berkeley Scholarships for International Students FAQs