A Powerful Collection of Today's Top Students
Being a graduate student at Berkeley means being a part of an energetic, dynamic group of people who are passionate, curious and committed to their areas of study. And it shows. Berkeley has more recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships and the Ford Foundation Diversity Fellowships than any other public or private institution.
Berkeley is famed for the breadth, and depth of 120+ graduate programs in 15 schools and colleges, awarding more than 4,000 master’s and professional degrees each year and close to 800 doctoral degrees each year.
Berkeley graduate students go on to join an impressive collection of alumni. Among them are:
- 35 Nobel Prize winners
- 41 MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” Recipients
- 28 recipients of the National Medal of Science
- Founders of more than 270 companies.
But it’s not just the impressive list of accolades they carry — Berkeley graduate alumni are advancing knowledge in various areas of focus all over the world.
Why students choose Berkeley?
Nothing beats hearing why Berkeley graduate students decided to choose Berkeley. Their journeys to Berkeley and experiences with our programs inspire you.
A Location Like No Other
The entrepreneurial spirit our region is known for emanates across our campus. With ready access to top experts, national labs, Silicon Valley, and cutting-edge companies, Berkeley is a hub of innovation and exploration. And the view of the San Francisco Bay from our scenic, 1,200 acre campus doesn’t hurt either.
A Diverse, Welcoming, Collaborative Community
Our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation is informed by a deep commitment to contributing to a better world. We take great pride in ensuring that our graduate students, who represent 129 countries and all 50 U.S. states, have a full yet balanced experience during their time here. Berkeley is committed to encouraging and supporting students of all backgrounds on campus and fostering a welcoming climate that lets everyone thrive. And our family-friendly policies make our graduate experience attainable for all admitted students.
Multidisciplinary Labs, Research Centers, Museums and Institutes All on One Campus
To name a few:
- Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing (opens in a new tab)
- Institute of East Asian Studies (opens in a new tab)
- Institute of Human Development (opens in a new tab)
- Doreen B.Townsend Center for the Humanities (opens in a new tab)
- Space Sciences Laboratory (opens in a new tab)
- Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology (opens in a new tab)
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology (opens in a new tab)
- Berkeley Center for the Science of Psychedelics (opens in a new tab)
- Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) (opens in a new tab)
- Center for Smart Infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
- Center for Science, Technology, Medicine and Society (opens in a new tab)
Unparalleled Resources and Opportunities
The University Library system, with 23 libraries and 11 million volumes and electronic journals, is the top-ranked research collection among public universities in the country.
Our students conduct research in every corner of the world — literally. International study and research opportunities include the Gump Field Station in French Polynesia; archeological expeditions to Jordan, Peru, Greece, Turkey and Israel; city planning projects in China; and archival research in India and Pakistan.
The reach of our students’ work doesn’t end at the lab or field station. We offer extensive resources to help Berkeley graduate students transfer their inventions and ideas to the marketplace. The QB3 Garage@Berkeley (opens in a new tab) is a network of modern biotech labs, where entrepreneurs can lay the foundations for new industries, all with the help of faculty. Berkeley Skydeck (opens in a new tab) is a technology entrepreneurship center established to incubate, accelerate and expand the pipeline of start-ups. Every year, 10 to 20 companies are founded based on innovations and people from the Berkeley campus.
Only at Berkeley
Just a few things that make us #1
The Inclusive Excellence Hub – A New National Model for Graduate Inclusivity – Welcomes Students to its First Open House!
November 19, 2024
UC Berkeley’s Inclusive Excellence Hub supports graduate students with mentorship, workshops, and programs, fostering diversity, belonging, and academic growth.
Sixth Annual National First-Generation College Celebration Day
November 19, 2024
UC Berkeley’s First-Generation College Celebration Day honored First-Gen students, staff, and faculty with inspiring stories, community-building, and resources, strengthening support for an inclusive campus.
The Stern Health Sciences Fellows Celebrate 5 Years of Community Building
November 18, 2024
The Stern Health Sciences Fellowship, launched in 2020, supports graduate students in health sciences research. Fellows celebrated five years of collaboration, sharing research and building community.
UC Berkeley Alum David Baker Wins 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for Revolutionary Protein Design
October 14, 2024
David Baker, a UC Berkeley Ph.D. graduate, has won the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his revolutionary work in protein design. His discoveries have transformed the fields of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and nanomaterials.
UC Berkeley Reaffirms High Ranks as Graduate Applications Open
October 1, 2024
In a report released by US News on September 23, 2024, UC Berkeley has yet again ranked top amongst public universities in the nation. UC Berkeley has also been ranked #17 in all national universities.
Accept Your Offer of Admission
Complete your Statement of Intent to Register by April 15 to let us know you’ll be joining us in the Fall.
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