After You Are Accepted
- F-1 Visa Application Process
- Program Fee Payments
- Transfer Students
- Cancellation Policy
- Housing Options
- When to Arrive in Berkeley
- Orientation
- Academic Calendar
F-1 Visa Application Process
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States, you must obtain an F-1 student visa to be able to attend the International Diploma Programs. Non-U.S. citizens entering the country with a visitor visa (B-1, B-2) or under the visa waiver program are not permitted to engage in full-time study. IDPs are full-time programs.
Your acceptance packet includes the Certificate of Eligibility (I-20), from UC Berkeley Extension, verifying that you have been admitted into a full-time course of study. To apply for an F-1 student visa, take your acceptance documents, passport and your most current financial statement to the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. If your family will be accompanying you to the U.S., you will need to apply for an F-2 dependent visa for each family member. Each family member will also need a dependent I-20.
Get more information about applying for your student visa.
Program Fee Payments
Payment of the $13,500 program fee for a 4-Month IDP or $6,900 for the 2-Month IDP is due 30 days before the first day of class. Fees for the Management and Business Track (MBT) should be paid in three installments: The first two installments of $13,500 and $12,600 are due 30 days before the start of the first and second terms, respectively; the third installment of $2,900 is due five weeks into the start of the second term.
Payments must be made directly to UC Berkeley Extension in U.S. dollars. Four payment options are available:
1. Western Union Business Solutions
The preferred method of payment, the Western Union Business Solutions payment portal allows you to pay your account balance in the currency of your choice and provides a simple, secure way of initiating a payment electronically. Get detailed payment instructions.
2. Bank Wire Transfers
They must be made in U.S. dollars and sent to:
Bank of America
1655 Grant St.
Concord, CA 94520 USA
Account number: 0175380001
Account name: UC Regents of the University of California, Berkeley, Extension, International Student Services
Routing number: 0260-0959-3
Swift Code: BOFAUS3N
After you have wired the funds, email a copy of your bank receipt to intl_students@unex.berkeley.edu or fax it to +1-510-643-0216.
All wire fees charged by the bank are the sender's sole responsibility. You are not officially enrolled until International Student Administrative Services is able to successfully track and identify your wire transfer. You must fax a copy of the confirmation receipt directly to +1-510-643-0216. The wire-tracking process may take 10–15 business days. No wire transfers will be accepted once the term has commenced.
3. Credit Card
MasterCard,
Visa, American Express and Diners Club are accepted.
4. Bank Draft
Bank drafts must be in U.S. dollars and payable to UC Regents. The draft must be drawn on an account held at a U.S. bank or a U.S. branch of an international bank.
Transfer Students
If you are an international student already residing in the United States and want to transfer to IDP, please contact the International Student Administrative Services office at
+1-510-642-2564 or intl_students@unex.berkeley.edu.
If your visa status is not F-1, please contact International Student Administrative Services about your eligibility. If you are interested in changing your status within the United States, the change of status must be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (U.S. CIS) prior to the expiration of your current status (or, for H-1 visa holders, prior to the termination of employment). Note: A visa stamp in your passport cannot be obtained within the United States.
Cancellation Policy
If your cancellation is received in writing via mail, fax or email prior to the start of the program, you will receive a refund less a $100 cancellation fee. The $150 application fee is nonrefundable. Given the special nature of the program, requests for refunds after the start of the term will not be granted. If UC Berkeley Extension expects to cancel a program, you will be notified at least 15 days before the scheduled start date and offered alternative study arrangements, if available; otherwise, you will be given a full refund. If your F-1 visa application is denied after you have been accepted to the program, you will receive a full refund of your program fee.
Housing Options
Get details about securing housing in Berkeley and San Francisco.
UC Berkeley Extension works with several area housing providers to help you locate housing, including private or shared apartments, dormitories and homestays. You may arrange housing before you arrive in Berkeley by submitting the Housing Interest Form to housing@unex.berkeley.edu.
The International Student Administrative Services office will forward your Housing Interest Form to the appropriate provider. The housing provider will contact you with information about the housing and payment details. Please do not send any housing payments to UC Berkeley Extension. The housing provider will send you a final confirmation once you have made the required deposit.
When to Arrive in Berkeley
To adjust to the local time, you should plan to arrive in Berkeley three to five days before the start of your program. If you have not already arranged housing, you should arrive seven days before the start of your program and visit the International Student Administrative Services office. The earliest you can arrive in the United States is 30 days before the start of your program.
Orientation
Your attendance at orientation is mandatory. The date and time for your orientation are included in your acceptance packet. At the orientation, you will hear about your program requirements, receive your class schedule, and meet the academic staff and other personnel. In addition, the International Student Administrative Services staff will provide details of our medical insurance policy, basic legal responsibilities, understanding your visa documents, traveling and other items to make your stay in the United States successful. Failure to attend the orientation may result in the cancellation of your admission.
Academic Calendar
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Aug. 30, 2012 |
| First Day of Instruction | Aug. 31, 2012 |
| Welcome Reception | Sept. 7, 2012 |
| Holiday (no class) | Sept. 3, 2012 |
| Holiday (no class) | Nov. 12, 2012 |
| Holiday (no class) | Nov. 22, 2012 |
| Holiday (no class) | Nov. 23, 2012 |
| Last Day of Instruction | Dec. 11, 2012 |
| Graduation | Dec. 13, 2012 |
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Jan. 7, 2013 |
| First Day of Instruction | Jan. 8, 2013 |
| Welcome Reception | Jan. 11, 2013 |
| Holiday (no class) | Jan. 21, 2013 |
| Holiday (no class) | Feb. 18, 2013 |
| Holiday (no class) | March 29, 2013 |
| Last Day of Instruction | April 16, 2013 |
| Graduation | April 18, 2014 |
Participating in this educational program does not in itself provide preference in admission to the University of California. Students interested in applying to UC should refer to the UC Admissions website or the admissions office of the UC campus they wish to attend for details about the admissions process.
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