The University of California, Berkeley offers over 70 scholarships and fellowship programmes, with 15+ opportunities accessible to Indian applicants. Awards range from the USD 2,500 Regents’ merit stipend to PhD funding packages worth over USD 250,000.
Indian applicants should check each scholarship’s eligibility and award conditions before planning their budget. While undergraduate merit awards may cover only part of tuition, eligible PhD funding can substantially reduce study costs. Graduate applicants should confirm deadlines directly with their chosen department.
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 USD = INR 94.50 as of September 2026.
Also check, University of California, Berkeley: 2026-27 Admission, Fees, Courses and Scholarships
Table of Contents
UC Berkeley automatically considers admitted Indian undergraduates for its main merit scholarship pool. However, only three campus-administered awards are generally accessible to Indian students, as many donor-funded scholarships and the California-only Middle Class Scholarship exclude international applicants.
| Scholarship | Annual Amount | Eligibility (Indian applicants) | Deadline for Fall 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship | From $2,500 (INR 2.36 Lakhs); renewable up to 8 semesters | Admitted international first-years and transfers; automatic consideration, no separate essay | Attached to UC application: November 30, 2026 |
| Berkeley Undergraduate Scholarship (donor pool) | Varies; typical range $1,000 to $10,000 (INR 94,500 to 9.45 Lakhs) | Enrolled UC Berkeley undergraduates; some funds open to international students by major or background | Rolling internal review after admission |
| Fiat Lux Scholarship | Varies by donor cycle | Enrolled UC Berkeley undergraduates; select donor sub-funds accept international applicants | Varies (tentative March 2027 for continuing students) |
The Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship is UC Berkeley’s flagship undergraduate merit award, based on academics, leadership and community service. Scholarship decisions are expected by the end of March 2027. As the award may cover only a small portion of the USD 63,050 tuition fee, Indian students should plan for additional funding.
Also check, University of California, Berkeley Admissions 2027
UC Berkeley’s master’s programmes, including MS, MEng, MBA, MPP and LLM, are largely self-funded for international students. Financial support is limited, with some students receiving departmental fellowships or securing GSI and GSR positions, often from the second year.
| Scholarship / Award | Amount | Eligibility (Indian applicants) | Deadline for Fall 2027 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Departmental Master’s Fellowships | $5,000 to $20,000 (INR 4.73 to 18.90 Lakhs) | Awarded at admission by the hosting department; competitive across all admits including Indians | Attached to program admission: December 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 |
| International House Gateway Fellowship | $5,000 (INR 4.73 Lakhs) plus room and board at I-House | Graduate students, including Indians, admitted to I-House residency | Tentative December 2026 (annual cycle) |
| Graduate Division Conference Travel Grant | Up to $2,300 (INR 2.17 Lakhs) | Enrolled master’s students presenting at an academic conference | Rolling; apply once conference is accepted |
| GSI or GSR appointment (from Year 2) | Full tuition and NRST waiver plus roughly $3,000 to $3,500 monthly (INR 2.84 to 3.31 Lakhs) | Enrolled master’s students who clear the TOEFL or on-campus Oral Proficiency Test | Apply after arrival, each semester |
Reddit Insight: Indian MS students on Berkeley graduate forums report that funding opportunities often begin in Year 2 through Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) or Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) roles. GSI positions may require passing the Oral Proficiency Test. Reported monthly stipends range from USD 3,000–3,500 (INR 2.84–3.31 lakh), which can help cover living expenses in Berkeley.
Also check, University of California, Berkeley Fees and Costs
UC Berkeley offers two India-linked funding options worth exploring: the Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship, aimed at graduates of Punjab-region universities, and the Bhattacharya grants, which support research and conference travel related to contemporary India.
| Scholarship | Amount | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship | Approx. $30,000 (INR 28.35 Lakhs) | Graduates of universities in the Punjab region of India or Pakistan; enrolled in a UC graduate program; preference for master’s holders and dissertation-stage doctoral candidates; must commit to return home after the degree | Tentative May 2027 (annual cycle) |
| Bhattacharya Fellowship: Research Travel to India | Up to $2,500 (INR 2.36 Lakhs); two awards | Enrolled UC Berkeley graduate students conducting India-focused research | April 1, 2027 by 5 PM IST equivalent |
| Bhattacharya Fellowship: Conference Travel | Up to $1,000 (INR 94,500); four awards | Enrolled UC Berkeley graduate students presenting India-focused papers | April 1, 2027 by 5 PM IST equivalent |
Note the Robinson International Scholars Program is restricted to applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa or UN-designated developing nations, and is not open to Indian citizens. Indian applicants should route their planning through the three India-linked awards above plus the external funding pool covered further down.
Also check, Fulbright Scholarships for USA
UC Berkeley offers a five-year funding guarantee to entering PhD students, including eligible Indian applicants, subject to satisfactory academic progress. The university’s general policy sets a minimum funding package level of USD 34,000, while actual stipends and benefits vary by department. Some programmes offer higher funding, so the USD 46,000 yearly stipend is not universal.
The funding package may include:
The exact funding amount and duration are stated in the department’s funding offer.
| Fellowship | Value | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley PhD 5-Year Funding Package | ~$250,000+ (INR 236.25 Lakhs) total across five years | All admitted doctoral students, including Indian citizens; automatic on admission | Program deadlines: December 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027 |
| Chancellor’s Fellowship / Berkeley Fellowship for Graduate Study | Multi-year top-up stipend on the base package | Nominated by the admitting department based on academic distinction | Attached to PhD application |
| Doctoral Completion Fellowship (DCF) | $3,500 (INR 3.31 Lakhs) stipend | Advanced doctoral students in participating programs, including Indians | Rolling departmental nomination |
| Summer Dissertation Writing Grant | $6,000 (INR 5.67 Lakhs); $8,000 (INR 7.56 Lakhs) for student parents | Advanced humanities PhD candidates | Tentative March 2027 (annual cycle) |
Indian students can combine eligible Indian and US bilateral scholarships with funding offered by UC Berkeley. Four major external funding options are available for Indian applicants pursuing master’s, doctoral or postdoctoral programmes, subject to each award’s eligibility and funding conditions.
| Scholarship | Value | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship (USIEF) | Tuition and mandatory fees, J-1 visa support, accident and sickness cover, return airfare (effective value INR 40 Lakhs+ per year) | Indian citizens with a bachelor’s at 55%+ marks and 3+ years of full-time paid work experience relevant to the field; Government of India employees excluded | Tentative May 14, 2027 (2028-29 cycle) |
| Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship | Monthly stipend, tuition contribution up to $18,000, J-1 support, airfare | Indian doctoral scholars registered at an Indian institution; 6 to 9 months of research at a US host such as UC Berkeley | Tentative July 15, 2027 (2028-29 cycle) |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship | Up to $100,000 (INR 94.50 Lakhs) for the full cost of study | Indian citizens under 30 with a strong first degree from an Indian institution; admitted to a top overseas master’s, MPhil or PhD; MBA at US schools not funded | Tentative March 31, 2027 (annual cycle) |
| J.N. Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | Loan up to INR 20 Lakhs at 2% annual interest; gift up to INR 1 Lakh; travel grant up to INR 2 Lakhs | Indian citizens with 60%+ in the latest qualifying degree; under 45 years of age; any stream at a recognised overseas university | Tentative January to March 2027 (2027-28 cycle) |
Reddit Insight: Fulbright-Nehru recipients on r/gradadmissions report that funding for living expenses and travel may not fully cover Berkeley’s USD 41,175 (INR 38.91 lakh) master’s tuition. Eligible students may need additional support through departmental fellowships or Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) positions to cover the remaining costs.
Also check,
Ques. What is the highest scholarship stack an Indian applicant can secure at University of California, Berkeley?
Ans. A fully-funded Berkeley PhD offer is the biggest single stack open to Indians. It covers full tuition and Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition, campus fees, SHIP health insurance and a minimum yearly stipend of $46,000 (INR 43.47 Lakhs) for five years. Total package value crosses $250,000 (INR 236.25 Lakhs) and no separate scholarship application is needed after admission.
Ques. When do University of California, Berkeley scholarship results reach Indian applicants?
Ans. Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship notifications reach admitted undergraduates by end of March 2027, alongside admission decisions. Graduate fellowship offers arrive with the program admission letter between February and April 2027. Fulbright-Nehru shortlisted Indian candidates hear back around November 2027 for the 2028-29 cycle.
Ques. Do Indian students need to submit a separate scholarship application?
Ans. For Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship and most departmental graduate fellowships, no. UC Berkeley auto-reviews every admitted applicant. External Indian and US awards such as Fulbright-Nehru, Inlaks Shivdasani and J.N. Tata Endowment need separate applications on their own portals, each with its own deadline and document set.
Ques. How does the Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship work for Indian undergraduates at University of California, Berkeley?
Ans. UC Berkeley evaluates every admitted international first-year and transfer applicant, including Indians, for the award. Selection uses holistic review of academics, leadership and service. Minimum award is $2,500 (INR 2.36 Lakhs) yearly and renews for up to 8 semesters for first-years or 4 semesters for transfers if the recipient meets academic renewal conditions.
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11 Reviews Found
The University of California is one of the best universities in the world and also quite popular for its study programmes and the campus . The admission process is hard and can be confusing sometime but if you have good knowledge and have talked to any student of this college earler then you will not find any problem. Firstly you have to give the GMAT exam in which you have to score more than 720 marks out of 800 to get a seat there and then have to apply for admission online. You can apply for admission online yet you have any problem than instead of visiting any consultant you must go and talk to a alumni of the college.
No
Had a good course structure . Labs had good research going on , professor were great
No
UC Berkeley is ranked extremely highly. They have a great engineering program as well as Nuclear Engineering. The location was amazing in terms of weather as well as prospective internships in silicon valley. It also had many great programs so that I could take more classes, and as such I am minoring in Environmental Policy and Economics. Academics can be challenging as you are surrounded by some of the brightest people. However, studying hard as well as rounding yourself off as a person can be very easy if you put your mind to it. The university offers every chance possible to do so
No scholarship
I wanted to be close to the city. It was has a really good reputation academically.
No
I got into Cornell as well but I chose Berkeley because I wanted to be near a city and in warmer weather and a school which is more fun. I chose to major in Econ because Berkeley has very highly acclaimed economics professors. I have also taken many legal studies classes because Berkeley has a culture and history of activism and I really liked all the professors.
The reason I chose this particular college is that the location of this university is Ideal and ideal programs were provided for my major, ideally, I also admired the chill atmosphere of UC Berkley and indeed am proud of my decision.
I am basically getting a full ride to attend the school, both from financial aid given by the school, and government help. I have a few outside scholarships of around $1000 each. And I also receive help from disability programs at my school.
I chose UC Berkeley because of its location and ideal temperature. It is one of the more distinguished schools and more students are accepted into Medical school when applying with UC Berkeley as your alma mater.
I chose this particular college for many reasons. I would say that I mainly chose because I liked the weather in California and because and I felt it would be in a good state and city where I could further develop my dreams and goals.
I thought I would get the best education here because of its ranking and faculty. I also liked the variety of classes offered and the social climate. There was a good selection of different organizations I would be able to join.
I accepted the blue and gold opportunity plan (or something like that) which covered tuition and fees and gave a small housing stipend (think a month and a half). Sometime the financial aid will release late, but I did always get the money.
The English program is ranked very high and I was accepted. I received higher financial aid here than my other top choice, and the school has a great reputation. The housing is expensive, but if you look hard it won't break the bank. Professors have great reputations as well, great for letters of recommendation.
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