Course: Berkeley Global Access

Studying at UC Berkeley will impact the rest of your life. In this visiting student program, you will have a great learning experience that will give you an advantage when applying to graduate school or a future job. Make sure your story involves one of the most renowned universities in the world!

For a semester or full academic year, you can choose the courses that most interest you—and fit with your academic goals. Study alongside other UC Berkeley students while taking new and innovative classes that you wouldn't find at your home university. Learn from UC Berkeley's distinguished professors—who are esteemed professionals in their academic and research fields—on a culturally diverse campus.

100-Percent Berkeley

• You are taking Berkeley classes on campus.
• You are learning from Berkeley faculty.
• You are in class with Berkeley students.

Imagine Yourself Studying in Berkeley

“For me, one of the experiences going into the Unforgettable memory box is my time at Berkeley, and I am fairly certain that it will stay there for as long as I walk this planet. If you want to go to a university that, in addition to being the Number 1 public university in the world (shout out!!), has people from all around the world gathered in one place, Berkeley's the deal.



“I have hands-down never seen such life, different cultures and unity in a more diverse group of people—ever. There is something and someone for everyone. If you engage in the social life of Berkeley, you will find what you’re looking for and never have an unwanted lonely moment.”
—Spring 2022 graduate Christian Johnsrud

Join a Diverse Academic Community

Study alongside other UC Berkeley and international students—build your community of global friendships.

Meet fellow students from all over the U.S. and from around the world!

119+—Number of countries our students come from

10,000+—International students each year

Make new friends: During your program, you will become part of an academic community. This community is a valuable resource—you can participate in study groups to prepare for exams and use the expertise of your fellow classmates to get feedback about class assignments. Other students are also a good source of advice and recommendations on local activities and making the most out of your time in Berkeley.

“Hey, I'm Sophie and I’m a computer science and finance major from Norway. After just a month at Berkeley, I have already felt positively uplifted by being part of such an energetic environment empowered by a diversity of wonderful students, passionate professors and the many opportunities that sunny California offers!”
—Spring 2022 graduate Sophie Bjertnaes

Being a Cal Bear

Outside of the classroom, join numerous activities being held on campus every day:

1,200 Student Clubs and Organizations: Join a pre-professional group. Or take part in one of our unique clubs, such as Hackers@Berkeley and Skateboarding Crew of Berkeley.

Museums, Film Archives and Concerts: Hosting famous musicians, artists and speakers is a daily occurrence at Berkeley.

34 Club Sports and Endless Intramural Teams: Join an intramural group, work out in one of four state-of-the-art recreational centers or enjoy off-campus sports like snowboarding or surfing.

Renowned Academics Fit Your Goals

Choose from thousands of courses—either those you can’t find at your home university or those that will provide transfer credit toward earning your degree.

During your semester or year-long visiting student experience, you'll take courses on the beautiful Berkeley campus. Each semester, you can enroll in a variety of UC Berkeley classes for a minimum of 12 units and a maximum of 18 units total of credit-bearing courses.

Take courses in your major with other Berkeley students in popular subject areas such as:

• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Mathematics
• Statistics
• Humanities
• Business
• Biology

Small Class Sizes

71% of undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students.

Campus Classes

To view available courses, select the academic term, then the subject you are interested in. If you're interested in taking a series of focused courses in a single subject area, you may be interested in our business, chemistry or physics tracks.

You will have the opportunity to take some graduate-level courses with the approval of the faculty and campus departments. You must meet the listed prerequisite requirements to be eligible for any course. The following graduate departments will not allow the enrollment of visiting students, which includes but is not limited to, Business, Economics, Data Science, Physics, Law and Environmental Design.

Transfer Courses!

Units earned in this program can be transferred back to your home university, or help prepare you for graduate and professional schools.