Berkeley is committed to supporting policies, programs, and services to help student parents meet their family care obligations while they pursue their academic goals.
The Graduate Council of the Academic Senate has approved academic accommodation policies designed to be supportive of graduate students with substantial parenting responsibilities, and we’ve listed grants, resources, and programs designed to meet the needs of our student parents.
These policies govern accommodations that all faculty, departments, and academic programs must extend to graduate students. These Student Parent Policies are included in the Guide to Graduate Policy, the document governing all policies related to graduate education at UC Berkeley.
Financial Support
Graduate Student Parent Grants
Registered graduate student parents who live with dependent children and demonstrate financial need are eligible for a grant that may be applied toward housing/living expenses, dependent health insurance, child care, and/or tuition.
- To review the complete eligibility requirements and required application components, please visit the Parent Grant application. The 2026-2027 Student Parent Grant application will open after 7/1/2026 Award notifications will begin in early August and continue on a rolling basis as applications are received.
- Questions can be directed to the Graduate Division Fellowships Unit at [email protected].
International students may apply for a need-based parent grant administered by the Berkeley International Office
Graduate Student Caregiver Grant
The Graduate Division has added a companion program to the Student Parent Grant, designed to provide assistance to graduate students who are the primary live-in caregiver for an adult individual. Examples of those eligible for this grant include graduate students who live with and serve as the primary caregiver for an elderly parent or other individual that may qualify as a dependent adult.
Read about the Graduate Student Caregiver Grant.
These grants may be applied toward housing and living expenses, dependent health insurance, and/or tuition. If funding permits, awards of up to $12,000.00 per year ($6,000.00 per academic term) will be made to eligible applicants. To be eligible for the 2026-2027 academic year, a graduate student must:
- Live with and be the primary caregiver for a qualifying adult
- File a 2026-2027 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need
- Be making satisfactory progress in their academic program
- Remain registered during each term of funding.
Note: Students in self-supporting programs are not eligible for this program.
The 2026-2027 Student Caregiver Grant application will open after 7/1/2026.
To apply, submit your FAFSA, then complete the Student Caregiver Grant Application.
Academic Student Employees: Funding, Reimbursements, and Support
Family and Childbearing Leaves for ASEs / GSRs
Academic Student Employees (ASEs) and Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) are eligible for certain types of leave. Policies are governed by the UAW contract.
For more information, see the Graduate Student Academic Appointment Handbook. Further information can also be found in the Leaves section of the current ASE UAW contract and GSR UAW contract.
Child Care Reimbursement for ASEs and GSRs
Academic Student Employees and GSRs may be eligible for reimbursement for certain childcare expenses.
Please review the ASE & GSR Child Care Reimbursement Program Fact Sheet for a program overview, eligibility requirements, process details and frequently asked questions. Also use the Reimbursement Request Form, and submit it to your hiring department’s personnel office.
More information can be found in the Graduate Student Academic Appointment Handbook and in the Childcare section of the current ASE UAW contract and GSR UAW contract.
Child Dependent SHIP Reimbursement Care Reimbursement
The University of California’s Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs or BR) and Academic Student Employees (ASEs or BX) represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) are eligible for a remission for their child dependents through a program established in the BX and BR collective bargaining agreements between UC and the UAW.
Further information regarding eligibility and submitting reimbursement requests can be found in the Graduate Student Academic Appointment Handbook and in the Health Benefits Section of the current ASE UAW contract and GSR UAW contract
DEADLINE: The request must be submitted within ten (10) days of enrolling the child(ren) in SHIP, or within 10 days of beginning an eligible ASE/GSR appointment (whichever date is later).
Breastfeeding Support Program
Sponsored by University Health Services, the program includes access to lactation rooms across campus and no-cost breastfeeding classes. Personal breast pumps and kits are sold at cost. For more information including room reservations and maps visit the Breastfeeding Support Program.
Backup Childcare
UC Berkeley’s Backup Childcare program provides students with 80 hours of highly subsidized childcare per year through Bright Horizons. Please review the location, hours, and cost. Registered students with dependent children can submit an application to begin the enrollment process.
More Resources for Student Parents
- Student Parent Center
- Student Family Housing at University Village
- Early Childhood Education Program (high-quality early childhood services to more than 200 infants, toddlers, and pre-school children of students, faculty, and staff at several centers in Berkeley and Albany)
- Berkeley Parents Network (a parent-to-parent email network, initiated by UC Berkeley graduate students for parents in the East Bay)
- UC Berkeley Parents Slack Channel (an open Slack channel slack designed to help parents at UC Berkeley share advice and make connections)
- The Pregnant Scholar This website helps ensure the success of student parents and seeks to advance women’s representation in STEM fields by providing user-friendly information and resources on Title IX for pregnant students and postdocs, as well as faculty and administrators. The site includes a wide range of tools, from introductory videos to in-depth best-practice guides.