Financial support is available to graduate students in the form of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Each year a limited number of fellowships, based on academic merit, are awarded to members of the incoming class. Fellowships range from those offering full support, including stipend, tuition, and fees, to those paying tuition only.
Because the first year of study is so demanding, first-year students are not allowed to serve as either teaching assistants or research assistants. By exception, in the second semester of the first year, students who have already received a Masters degree in economics or who have otherwise mastered much of the first-year curriculum may be eligible for these positions.
The Department regrets that it is not able to support all its first-year students. It should be noted, however, that all U.S. citizens and permanent residents qualify for California residency after a year and thus can avoid paying Non-resident Tuition after their first year. Furthermore, the Department is able to support most of its students after the first year through fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Foreign students do not qualify for California residency and must have sufficient funds to cover Non-resident Tuition during their entire time at Berkeley.
For additional information regarding financial support please see the Prospective Students section of the Graduate Division Fellowships page.