University of California, Berkeley

Overview

Acronyms: UC Berkeley

Founded: 1868

Control Type: Public

Entity Type: Non-profit

World Rank: #41

Rank in United States: #10

Motto: Fiat Lux

Colours: Yale blue and California gold

Mascot: Golden bear

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Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the small city of Berkeley (population range of 50,000-249,999 inhabitants), California.

This institution also has branch campuses in Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and Santa Cruz. Officially accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) is a very large-sized coeducational US higher education institution.

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor's degrees, master's degrees and doctorate degrees in several areas of study. This 155-year-old US higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic records and grades.

The acceptance rate range is 10-19% making this US higher education organization an extremely selective institution.

International students are welcome to apply for enrollment. UC Berkeley also provides several academic and non-academic facilities and services to students including a library, housing, sports facilities, financial aids and/or scholarships, study abroad and exchange programs, online courses and distance learning opportunities, as well as administrative services.

Location & Contact

Below are University of California, Berkeley's address, location data, and primary contact channels. These are the basics you'll want before scheduling a campus visit or sending a formal admissions enquiry.

Academic Details

University of California, Berkeley's academic profile in numbers — useful for sizing the institution against your shortlist. Each figure links to a different facet of how the institution operates day to day.

Academic Structures

University of California, Berkeley's organisational chart for teaching: faculties, schools, institutes, and constituent units. Research-intensive universities often add institutes or centres alongside teaching faculties.

Programs Offered

Find a programme at University of California, Berkeley by filter, or browse by degree level. Online and on-campus delivery modes differ in tuition, time commitment, and credential recognition — confirm which mode each programme runs in.

How to apply to University of California, Berkeley

A practical five-step guide to applying to University of California, Berkeley, from programme research through submission and follow-up.

1. 1
   Identify the right programme

   Use the programme finder to browse University of California, Berkeley's 285 active programmes. Filter by keyword or scan by degree level. Read curriculum details on each programme's dedicated page if available.

2. 2
   Check entry requirements

   Programme-level requirements at University of California, Berkeley typically include academic transcripts, language proficiency proof, identity documents, and a personal statement or interview. Confirm specific requirements with the admissions office.

3. 3
   Prepare your application documents

   Prepare academic transcripts, ID/passport copies, language proficiency proof, a personal statement, and reference letters. International candidates may need apostilled or notarised translations — start early to avoid deadline pressure.

4. 4
   Submit via the institution

   University of California, Berkeley processes applications through www.berkeley.edu. Create an account, fill out the application form, and submit your documents. Note application deadlines, which vary by intake and programme.

5. 5
   Get in touch with admissions

   Confirm receipt of your application with the admissions office and keep an eye on your portal for status changes. Reach the institution by phone at +1 (510) 642 6000. Quick responses to any follow-up requests keep your application moving smoothly through the review process.

Frequently Asked Questions about University of California, Berkeley

Common questions students ask about University of California, Berkeley — answers pulled straight from the institution's published profile.

Top-Ranked Universities in the United States

The leading universities in the United States are listed below — useful for sizing University of California, Berkeley against the country's top tier. Top-tier institutions in the United States typically set admissions standards that downstream universities track.

Harvard University

Cambridge · Private · Rank #1

Stanford University

Stanford · Private · Rank #8

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore · Private · Rank #13

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge · Private · Rank #16

University of Washington

Seattle · Public · Rank #19

Members of Open Education Consortium (OEC)

Faculty mobility within Open Education Consortium (OEC) networks often signals shared standards. Faculty members frequently move between University of California, Berkeley and the institutions below over the course of careers.

Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Shanghai · Public · Rank #5

Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich

Zürich · Public · Rank #57

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Leuven · Public · Rank #78

Yonsei University

Seoul · Private · Rank #102

Korea University

Seoul · Private · Rank #117

Faculties at Nearby Universities

If you're weighing University of California, Berkeley against other institutions in the area, these neighbouring universities offer overlapping faculties and similar admissions cycles. They are useful for shortlisting based on travel distance or campus environment.

Dominican School of Philosophy & Theology

Berkeley · Private · Est. 1932

Wright Institute

Berkeley · Private · Est. 1969

Church Divinity School of the Pacific

Berkeley · Private · Est. 1895

Acupuncture & Integrative Medicine College

Berkeley · Est. 1990

Berkeley City College

Berkeley · Public · Est. 1974

Where Else to Study Linguistics & Language Studies

Faculty publication output for Linguistics & Language Studies researchers at each the United States institution signals research-active culture. Active publication usually correlates with funded supervision capacity.

Cornell University

Ithaca · Private · Rank #25

Duke University

Durham · Private · Rank #48

New York University

New York City · Private · Rank #49

University of Chicago

Chicago · Private · Rank #53

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill · Public · Rank #60

Universities Often Compared with University of California, Berkeley

Peer universities to University of California, Berkeley by academic scale and prestige are listed below. These often share comparable faculty depth, research output, and graduate outcomes, making the comparison more meaningful than ranking alone.

Adler University

Chicago · Private · Rank #32

Shippensburg University

Shippensburg · Public · Rank #21

Zaytuna College

Berkeley · Est. 2008

Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology

Berkeley · Private · Est. 1932

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis · Private · Rank #89