UPDATED May 2024
The total cost of BISP will depend on the number of course units taken and personal living expenses. Keep in mind that the F-1 student visa requires enrollment of at least 12 units, though students may be required by their university, program-specific agreement or learning agreement to take more than the 12-unit minimum. All figures are in U.S. dollars for one semester.
Tuition and Fees
| Program Application fee | $100 |
| International Services fee | $125 |
| Registration fee | $250 |
| Total fees | $475 |
| Tuition | $750 per unit |
| Course Materials and Services Fee (if applicable) | $100 per lab course |
| Total | $475 + tuition |
Living in Berkeley
| Living expenses in City of Berkeley* | $11,250 |
| Required health insurance | $900 |
*Living expenses can vary greatly. Most visiting students live in apartments surrounding UC Berkeley.
All fees are invoiced and paid online. Fees include:
- Courses
- Visa support
- Housing advice and support
- Orientation to Berkeley
- Social and cultural integration activities
- International student services
- Cal services (i.e. campus library access, recreational sports, gym, campus shuttles, local bus service, and discounts on campus events)
- Mandatory U.S. medical insurance
- Personal academic advising
- Tutoring and student learning center resources
The above fees do not include miscellaneous costs such as textbooks, supplies, daily expenses, travel and entertainment. All fees are subject to change. In total, the average BISP student can expect to spend between $21,625 - $23,875.
Financial Support
Our university and BISP do not have scholarships for visiting international students. We understand that the fees and expenses may be more than what you are used to at your home university. Tuition is very common in the United States, and living expenses can be quite high in popular urban areas such as the San Francisco Bay Area. Many of our students are able to obtain scholarships and loans from their home country’s government, university, local organizations, or financial institutions. We encourage you to search for these opportunities or talk to an International Coordinator or Advisor at your university for ideas. Many of our students also provide their own private funds to offset some or all of the expenses and value the opportunity to come to Berkeley so much that they work and save up to make this dream possible. We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you to come spend a semester, or maybe two, with us at Berkeley. We are sure you will find it to be an incredible academic and cultural experience.