Top 50 UNIVERSITIES in the World – No.28

28. University of California, Berkeley (UCB)
Location: University of California, Berkeley

History

The University of California was chartered in 1868 and its flagship campus -- envisioned as a "City of Learning" -- was established at Berkeley, on San Francisco Bay. This California institution became a catalyst of economic growth and social innovation -- the place where vitamin E was discovered, a lost Scarlatti opera found, the flu virus identified, and the nation's first no-fault divorce law drafted. Scholars at Berkeley have conducted groundbreaking research on urban street gangs and on basic human nutritional requirements, identified why wartime supply ships were failing at sea, invented technologies to build faster and cheaper computer chips, and imaged the infant universe.

Today the world's premier public university and a wellspring of innovation, UC Berkeley occupies a 1,232 acre campus with a sylvan 178-acre central core. From this home its academic community makes key contributions to the economic and social well-being of the Bay Area, California, and the nation.

Courses offered

UC Berkeley's academic enterprise includes 14 colleges and schools, most of which are subdivided into departments. There is a huge variety of undergraduate and graduate programs.

Admission procedure/cycle (month/date)

The admission process at Berkeley is detailed -- it is best to refer to the university's website for guidance.

Tentative cost of courses

The university puts up a student budget on its website every year -- refer to it for a detailed break-up of cost estimates.

Scholarships offered

About three-quarters of Berkeley undergraduates receive financial aid, which is primarily need-based. Applicants apply for university-sponsored scholarships automatically when they apply for admission. A separate form, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for grants, loans and work study.

Information about financial aid for prospective students for the graduate division is summarized on the Financial Aid page of the university's website. You may also want to visit the Financial Aid Office website for additional information.