International Students

Visiting International Students

Experience summer in the San Francisco Bay Area while studying at the #1 public university!

Berkeley Summer Sessions is one of the largest summer programs in the United States, hosting students from all over the world. In fact, about 3,000 of our 16,000 students are international visitors. Explore the Bay Area, experience American culture, and make friends from the US and around the world.

Berkeley Summer Sessions offers more than 600 courses, including Summer-only certificates, English As a Second Language, and online options.

Applications open in February

See Session Dates and Deadlines

Summer on Your Terms

Design a schedule that works for you! We offer online and in-person courses over 3-, 6-, 8-, or 12- week sessions so you can maximize your summer. Study alongside Berkeley students and other visiting students and make friends from all over the world.

SEARCH ALL SUMMER SESSION COURSES

Sort summer courses by session, subject, days offered, instruction type (eg. online, in-person), course units, and course level!

Full-time enrollment is required for visiting international students who have or wish to obtain an I-20 from Summer Sessions for an F-1 student visa. Please see this chart detailing full-time enrollment to determine full-time unit requirements per session. International students who wish to take online courses only from their home country do not need an F-1 visa.

Session A

Six Weeks:

May 20 - June 28

Focus:

Arts & Humanities

Apply by April 10, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley

Session B

Ten Weeks:

June 3 - August 9

Focus:

Intensive Languages

Apply by April 24, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley
Session C

Eight Weeks:

June 17 - August 9

Focus:

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Apply by May 8, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley
Session D

Six Weeks:

July 1 - August 9

Focus:

Social Science and Humanities

Apply by May 22, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley
Session E

Three Weeks:

July 22 - August 9

Focus:

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Apply by June 12, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley
Session F

Three Weeks:

July 1 - July 19

Focus:

ESL and Upper Division

Apply by May 22, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley
Session 12W

Twelve Weeks:

May 20 - August 9

Focus:

Special Topics

Apply by April 10, if I-20 is needed from Berkeley

*Application deadlines are different for international visiting students who do not need an I-20 from Berkeley.

What's so great about Berkeley in the summer?

Two students at a Fem Tech booth on UC Berkeley campus.

Participate in unique summer programs.

Take advantage of summer certificates, intensive language courses, field study options and other opportunities that are only available during Summer Sessions.

A cable car descends a San Francisco city street at sunset.

World-famous sights are just a short ride away.

Berkeley is just 25 minutes from downtown San Francisco and its most popular attractions. You can also hike around the redwoods in Muir Woods or explore the beauty of the coast and beyond to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe.

Pride flags waving during the annual SF Pride Parade.

Experience Bay Area summer festivals.

There’s Outside Lands, Bay to Breakers, San Francisco Pride festival, 4th of July celebrations, free concert series, and free outdoor movie festivals.

Two students at a Fstrong Tech booth on UC Berkeley campus.

The tech industry is in our backyard.

Pixar is in nearby Emeryville, while Silicon Valley is home to Google, Apple, Salesforce, Reddit, and Airbnb. Join a meetup and get to know those who are at the forefront of tech innovation.

Learn more about Summer Sessions

Summer Sessions Program Overview

View our information session to learn everything you need to know about Summer Sessions, including class schedules, academic culture, costs and student testimonials. Or, join an upcoming virtual information session to talk with an adviser and ask questions in real time.

How to Apply

Determine if you are an international student eligible for Summer Sessions, then apply through our application portal.

Once your application is processed, you will be sent an email with instructions on how to create your UC Berkeley login (CalNet ID). You will use this information to enroll in classes and pay fees.

View our International Student Checklist for a full list of everything you’ll need to keep in mind before starting Summer Sessions.

Applications open in February.

Visiting Student Visa

As a visiting international student, you may need an F-1 student visa to enter the United States to participate in Berkeley Summer Sessions. We will provide you with supporting documentation (I-20 form) to apply for this visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country. Determine if you need an I-20 form for your student visa.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STUDENT VISA PROCESS

International students who wish to only take Summer Sessions online courses from their home country do not need an F-1 visa.

Summer Sessions can neither advise nor assist students who choose to enter the United States using B1/B2 Visitor Visas or the Visa Waiver Program (VWP/ESTA). Study restrictions apply to both. All international visiting students are strongly encouraged to obtain F-1 student visa status.

English Proficiency Requirement

The English Proficiency Requirement (EPR) is to evaluate the English language proficiency of students whose native language is not English and who want to enroll in Berkeley Summer Sessions courses with subjects other than English as a Second Language (ESL).

All students from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency.

Learn more about the proficiency requirement.

2024 Tuition & Fees

Summer Sessions tuition is determined by the unit cost of a course. Each course has a certain number of units assigned based on the workload it requires. (One unit represents approximately three hours of work per week by the student, including both class attendance and preparation.)

To calculate the tuition cost, look for the number of units assigned to the course in the class schedule. Then multiply the unit number by the cost per unit, shown below.

Cost Type Amount
Tuition Cost per unit $595
Registration Fee $550
International Service Fee $500
Document Management Fee $68
Application Fee $25, nonrefundable

*Note that the fees listed above are assessed only once per summer, regardless of the number of sessions you attend. Visit our fees page for more information. 2025 tuition and fees will be published in December.

Housing

Choosing a place to live depends on your interests, preferences and budget. With options available in both Berkeley and San Francisco, you can live in the bustling atmosphere of a dormitory, enjoy the independence of a private or shared apartment, or get the personal attention of a homestay.

Check out all housing options.

Watch a Video from a Summer Sessions Student

Download the Summer Sessions Catalog

Summer Sessions Catalog

View and download the Summer Sessions Catalog.