International Students

Thank you for your interest in our program! As an international student there are additional admissions requirements. In addition to the items listed on the How to Apply page you will need to satisfy the following...

Evidence of English Language Proficiency

All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. This requirement applies to applicants from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Latin America, the Middle East, Israel, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, most European countries, and non-English-speaking countries in Africa.

Tests taken before June 1, 2022 will not be accepted.

For more information about university policies related to the English language proficiency requirement, please visit UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division website.

Graduate Division Website

Funding

Our students are supported by an NIH Training Grant. Federal government policy dictates that only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for NIH funding. This means in order to gain admissions you will need to have your own funding or have a faculty sponsor. While this may seem like a deterrent, we have had many successful applicants gain admissions through fellowships programs (such as Fulbright), funding from their home university or country, or through faculty sponsorship.

While it is not required that you have your own funding at the time of admissions, if you do have funding, please be sure to indicate that on your application.

Faculty Mentorship

Finding the right research and mentor fit is crucial for a successful PhD experience. Please take the time to research our faculty and reach out to them. If there is only one or two faculty that seem like a good fit, it’s important to know whether they plan to take on new students. Occasionally, they may have a full lab or be retiring, and this is important information to have when deciding to apply. This is also a good time to inform them that you are an international student seeking a sponsor.

Faculty Directory

Have Questions?

If you have any questions please feel free to email us. We're always happy to hear from prospective students!

vision@berkeley.edu