Why Berkeley?

2 students walking under sather gate

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 200 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
  • 270+ Founders of Companies

What Sets Berkeley Apart

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.

Berkeley graduate students chatting.

A Diverse and 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.

Finding Community

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 is a network of modern biotech labs, where entrepreneurs can lay the foundations for new industries, all with the help of faculty. Berkeley Skydeck 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.

Meet our students

Berkeley Graduate Student Profile

Our passion for critical inquiry, debate, discovery and innovation is informed by a deep commitment to contributing to a better world. Nearly all first-year students cite the outstanding reputation and quality of their graduate program as important in their decision to enroll at Berkeley. Typically, half of admitted applicants choose Berkeley over other offers.

Ready to Join?

Explore our application process to discover how you can become part of a vibrant academic community!

Learn About Berkeley’s Graduate Application Process