Academic Opportunities
Exchange Programs
Graduate students in good standing who are not enrolled in self-supporting professional degree programs may participate in several campus exchange programs. These programs enable them to take advantage of research facilities, courses, and faculty expertise that might not be available at Berkeley. Applications and further information on all of the programs are available from the department’s Graduate Degrees Adviser in the Graduate Degrees Office or the Guide to Graduate Policy.
Berkeley students will not automatically receive credit for courses taken at schools that are not part of the University of California system. For information on transferring credit; see the Degree Requirements tab.
University of California Intercampus Exchange Program for Graduate Students
This program allows students to study at any of the other UC campuses. This opportunity is available to graduate students who would like to associate with fields of study not available on the home campus, or who seek the use of special facilities and collections. This opportunity will be granted where there is evidence of serious and high-quality scholarship.
The Berkeley registration fee entitles students to library, health service, and other services at the host campus. Students who participate in the intercampus exchange program can receive credit for courses they take at the host campus. Students in self-supporting programs at Berkeley cannot enroll in state-supported courses at another UC.
To be eligible for the Intercampus Exchange Program, a student must be registered at Berkeley by the semester deadline and have the approval of the Head Graduate Adviser, the Chair of the host department, and the Dean of the Graduate Division (or equivalent title) at both Berkeley and the host campus. Students must apply for this program at least three weeks before the beginning of the term of enrollment at the host campus (all other UC campuses except Merced are on the quarter system). Applications are available on the Graduate Division website. Students should make personal arrangements with faculty members on both campuses to ensure that the courses, seminars, and facilities will be available to them.
Stanford-California Exchange Program
Students may participate in this program if they want to take courses that are not offered at Berkeley. Their participation must be approved by the Graduate Division, their departments, and Stanford University. Students are not usually allowed to participate in the Stanford program until they have completed a year of graduate study at Berkeley. Participants register and pay the applicable fees at Berkeley and are exempt from tuition and fees at Stanford. Students who want to apply for this program must enroll in at least one course at Berkeley.
Exchange Scholar Program
This program permits doctoral students from Berkeley, Brown, the University of Chicago, Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale to study at one of the other participating universities. Berkeley registration entitles students to student privileges at the host campus for up to a year. Students are not usually eligible for this program until they have completed one year in a Berkeley graduate degree program. Students who wish to enter this program should review this form and familiarize themselves with its “Terms and Conditions” statement on page nine, which provides information on additional fees for which the student is responsible. For example, the host institution is responsible for assuring that hospitalization and health services are locally available. However, the host institution may charge the student additional fees for local health services.
Cross Registration Programs with Local Institutions
With the approval of the Graduate Division and the departments involved, students may attend any of the campuses of the California State University or the Community Colleges systems, as well as Dominican, Holy Names, Mills, and St. Mary’s Colleges, and John F. Kennedy University. Students may enroll for only one course per semester, and they must register and pay applicable fees at Berkeley. For more information, contact the Degrees Office.
Graduate Theological Union (GTU) Reciprocity Program
Students registered at either UC Berkeley or GTU may take courses at the other institution, subject to appropriate academic approvals. Contact your department’s Graduate Degrees Office Adviser for information.
Studying Abroad
Graduate students may be granted permission to study abroad. To be eligible, they must have completed at least one year in residence at Berkeley before departing for study abroad, and they must demonstrate appropriate language proficiency when required. Graduate students may be eligible to apply to most of the study centers under the University-wide Education Abroad Program (UCEAP). For more information, students should contact the program at 160 Stephens Hall, 510-642-1356, or consult Berkeley Study Abroad website Graduate students who study abroad must have the approval of their departments and the Graduate Division.
To avoid jeopardizing their immigration status, international students in F or J status intending to participate in any of the exchange programs described above must consult with an international student adviser at the Berkeley International Office (International House, 2299 Piedmont Avenue; 510-642-2818).
Teaching and Research Appointments
At Berkeley, graduate students can take advantage of employment in a teaching and/or research appointment. At Berkeley, for teaching appointments we use the terms Teaching Assistants or Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) interchangeably. Research Assistants are named Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs).
Many programs hire qualified graduate students as GSIs, Readers and Tutors as well as GSRs. Students should contact the department for more information, refer to the Graduate Division’s Graduate Student Academic Appointments page and see the Tuition, Fees, and Financial Aid section of the Berkeley Guide.
Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA)
Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs (VSPA) is the central UC Berkeley unit for administrative guidance, support, and resources for postdoc scholars and the visiting researcher community. Supporting thousands of scholars and students each year, the VSPA plans, implements, and evaluates training, professional development, and wellness initiatives that add value to the UC Berkeley research experience. Established in 1994, the VSPA is one of the first postdoc offices in the nation, and the first within the University of California.
Appointments at UC Berkeley are contingent upon the interest and ability of a campus department or organized research unit (ORU) to accommodate the affiliate for the period of time desired. A postdoc, visiting scholar, or visiting student researcher appointment must be sponsored by a UC Berkeley faculty member and approved by the VSPA.
Visiting scholars and visiting student researchers (but not postdoctoral appointees) are assessed an annual University Services Fee, which enables access to bConnected, University libraries, career and professional development, social, networking, and wellness programs, and other campus resources.
Access to campus work space is dependent on the sponsoring unit.
For more information, visit the VSPA website.