Registration FAQs

What classes are offered during Summer Sessions?

The courses offered are located on the on-line schedule of classes. Use the menu to select your department of interest, course title or keyword, course classification, or days and times and then click on the prompt for "Begin Search".

How much do Summer Sessions courses cost?

Summer Session's cost depends on the type of student you are and the number of units you are taking. Visit our Fees page for specific information.

Who can attend Berkeley Summer Sessions?

UC Berkeley utilizes open enrollment during the summer, which means anyone from the general public, who has completed the 10th grade, can attend courses provided that you have fulfilled any published course prerequisites.

Application Form Errors?
The form accepts the following characters:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz
0123456789
- and space

The fields affected are:
Given Name
Middle Name
Surname
Street
Street
City
State
Transcript Street 1
Transcript Street 2
Transcript City
Transcript State
These fields will not accept any accent marks or punctuation marks (other than hyphen or dash).

Can I pay my registration and course fees in installments?
No. Students must make full payment of all fees at the time of registration.

Having Credit Card Processing Issues?
There are generally two actions that need to occur for a credit card to be charged:

1. Authorization: When you submit your credit card information, our payment processor submits a request to your bank to verify your information (credit card number, cardholder name, billing address, phone number, etc.) and authorize that there is enough credit on your card for the requested charge. If the cardholder name and number matches, and you have enough available credit, your bank will usually authorize the charge. Sometimes, your bank may even do this even if some of the information you have supplied to be verified does not match.

2. Settlement: Once authorized, your bank will place a hold for the requested amount and then wait for a "settlement" transaction from our payment processor. If we submit a settlement request to your bank, they will then transfer funds to us. If we do not send a settlement request to your bank, the hold on your credit may still show for 3-5 business days even though there has been no transaction made.

Our payment processor has strict rules regarding the address verification portion of the authorization. If your bank returns a code that the address entered does not match, that means we haven't and never will send a settlement request to collect the charges. However, because your bank has authorized the charges, this hold will appear as if the money has been debited from your account. Many banks will release this hold on your credit after 3-5 business days without a settlement. We have no control over the amount of time your bank with hold the transaction.

How do I add a course after I submit the on-line registration form?
Students can submit a Record Change Form after they have been issued a student identification number (SID). Students must submit a valid credit card number to pay for additional course fees.

Why is TeleBEARS saying I have exceeded my "Transaction Limit"?
TeleBEARS will only allow 11 transactions during the Summer term. This includes adds, drops, grading option changes, and cancellations. If you have completed 11 transactions and wish to process additional changes to your schedule, please use our Record Change Form. This form will need to be printed, signed and submitted. You can fax the form to 510-642-2877. You may also deliver the form in person to the Office of the Registrar (120 Sproul) or the Summer Sessions Office (1995 University Avenue, Suite 117).

Can I be wait-listed for a course?
Students can be wait listed for a course, provided there is room on the posted wait-list. Students are waitlisted when the course they try to enroll in is full. Students are moved off of the waitlist and enrolled in the course, in the chronological order of their waitlist position, as space becomes available.

International students who travel on an F-1 visa must be enrolled full time - wait-listed courses do not count towards full time status.

What if My Course is Cancelled?
Although very few courses are cancelled, summer courses are offered
contingent on adequate enrollment. Summer Sessions reserves the right to cancel a course if it has not enrolled to an adequate level prior to the beginning of the course's instruction. Courses may also be canceled by the sponsoring academic department based on their internal criteria. Adequate course enrollment is determined by UC Summer Sessions' sole judgement.

If a course, in which you are enrolled, is canceled you will be notified by email and given a full refund of the course fee or credit towards another course. If the canceled course is your only course, and you do not want to take another course in its place, you must cancel your registration by the course session's cancellation deadline. YOUR REGISTRATION IS NOT AUTOMATICALLY CANCELLED BECAUSE YOUR COURSE IS CANCELLED. If you cancel your registration by Tele-BEARS please notify us a day or so later and the $100.00 Cancellation Fee will be waived. If you do not have access to Tele-Bears, please submit a Record Change Form requesting cancellation and indicate that your course was cancelled so the cancellation fee can be waived.

Contact our student services staff if you have further questions about submitting a cancellation and receiving a refund of your fees.

Am I a UCB student if I enroll in Berkeley Summer Sessions?
Only students who have been formally admitted to the University may attend UC Berkeley during the regular academic year. If you are interested in applying for regular admission, contact the appropriate admissions office listed in the directory section of the Berkeley Summer Sessions 2008 Catalog.

Are classes at UC Berkeley Extension the same as Berkeley Summer Sessions?
No. UC Berkeley Extension is geared to continuing education at the college level for adult students. Enrollment in Extension does not constitute enrollment in UC Berkeley, and Extension courses do not appear on your UC Berkeley official transcript, although many of the classes will transfer for credit.

International Student FAQs

Are there special admissions requirements for international students?

No. All students must demonstrate a serious intent to study and be at least 18 years old.

Will Berkeley Summer Sessions credits transfer to my home university?

The transferability of course credit is determined by the home school, not Berkeley Summer Sessions.

How do I obtain a visa for entering the U.S.?

You must apply during the registration process for an F-1 visa if you plan to attend Summer Sessions full-time. Visit our International Student - Visa Information page for more information.

Are TOEFL, IELTS or SAT scores required to apply Summer Sessions?

SAT scores are not required.
All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. English proficiency exam scores are required for record-keeping purposes only and are not criteria for admissions to Berkeley Summer Sessions. Students from institutional partners may be required to take an exam as part of the home school selection process. There is also a placement exam required if you are planning on taking ESL courses. For more information the placement exam visit the Summer English Language Institute.

Do I need health insurance for the summer?

Health insurance is suggested for all traveling summer students.
You can view your options on our International Student - Health Insurance page.

How early can I come to the U.S. before the session starts?

F-1 students may enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the first day of classes for their program of study.

Do I need to check-in or report to anyone upon arrival?
Yes. All international students are required to "check-in" with their passport, and visa documents and proof of health insurance at the beginning of the summer session. The check-in must be done before the end of the first week of classes and before a Cal student ID card is issued.

Can I arrive after the session has started?
No. The summer schedule condenses an entire semester in a few weeks. Each Summer Sessions class day is equivalent to at least a week of the regular semester. Students are not permitted to arrive late due to the missed class time.

Because the learning experience is accelerated and the work is intense, you should give yourself enough time to become settled in Berkeley in plenty of time. Remember, you'll be fighting jet lag, and you'll need to get settled in your living situation.

How long can I stay in the U.S. after Summer Sessions ends?
F-1 students who complete a full-time course load can remain in the U.S. for 60 days after the end of their program of study.

Does Berkeley Summer Sessions provide airport shuttle service?
No. Students are responsible for making their own airport transfer arrangements.

Is there tutorial assistance available for international students?
Yes. The Student Learning Center (SLC) offers peer tutoring and study groups to all enrolled Summer Sessions students. There is no fee for SLC services.

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENT

What if I have taken the TOEFL exam but will not have the results in time to finalize my Summer Sessions' application?
All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency. Applicants must submit an approved EPR score or waiver before the published deadline to receive an I-20. Applicants that do not submit an EPR before the deadline must cancel their application in order to receive a refund of fees (less cancellation fees). If you do not request a cancellation, all fees will be forfeit.

Do I have to re-take the TOEFL if I didn't score high enough?
No. While there is no minimum score required for admissions purposes, the TOEFL score published on the Summer Sessions' web site indicates the recommended level of proficiency to succeed in courses taught entirely in English.

Do I have to fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement (EPR) if I apply as a part-time student?
Yes.
The English Proficiency Requirement (EPR) is to evaluate the English proficiency of students whose native language is not English and who want to enroll in regular UC Berkeley Summer Sessions' courses. All applicants from countries in which the official language is not English are required to submit official evidence of English language proficiency, regardless of enrollment status.

Do I have to fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement (EPR) if I am currently studying in the U.S. or another English speaking country?
No.
If you are an international student who is currently studying in an English-speaking country (or has studied in an English-speaking country) for at least one academic year, you are not required to submit an EPR document. Instead, you will have to submit a transcript from the school where courses were taught in English. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. Please upload the transcript to the MySummer student portal.

Academic FAQs

What are the academic expectations for students?

Students are expected to be familiar with the course website and syllabus. It is advisable for visiting students to preview the summer session, academic department, and course websites prior to arrival in Berkeley.

Students are expected to attend class every day. Many classes have a score for "Class Participation"; if you are absent your grade will suffer. This is because we believe you learn from participating in the discussion in class in addition to the material formally tested on exams.

Students are expected to complete a high volume of reading and homework assignments.

You must keep up with the work. If you get behind on the reading, you won't understand the classes.

In most classes there is work due every day: homework, quiz or mid-term exam. You cannot succeed by "cramming" before the final exam.

Do I have to take an exam?

Yes, in most courses regular examinations are required, including a mid-term and final examination or project.

How do I determine the unit value of a course?

Most University courses are assigned a unit value. One unit represents three hours of work per week by the student, including both class attendance and preparation. Laboratory, discussion, quiz, or review sessions may or may not be given unit value.

Why can't I see my grades on Tele-Bears?
Only if you have created your pass phrase using your Cal-net ID number and PIN will your summer grades be available at the end of the complete summer term in early September at bearfacts.Berkeley.edu

How do I obtain an official transcript?
All visiting students will receive one complimentary Official Transcript of Grades mailed to the "Transcript Address" indicated at the time of registration.

To order an additional transcript, visit the Office of the Registrar; click on the Transcripts link.
Once there you will need to review the registrar's transcript ordering policy and prices. Click the link for "Alumni, former students and summer only students". Then click the link for TranscriptsPlus and fill out the form to submit a transcript request. You may contact the Office of the Registrar if you have any questions 510-642-5990.
(Note: Orders must be placed between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. PST.)

Is there tutorial assistance available?
Yes. The Student Learning Center (SLC) offers peer tutoring and study groups to all enrolled Summer Sessions students. There is no fee for SLC services. Visit the SLC website or call 1-510-642-7332.

Can I use the libraries on campus?
Yes. Your Cal 1 card (student ID) is also your library card, usable at any of the more than 30 libraries on campus.

I paid for my child's Summer Sessions class. Why can't you talk to me about his/her account?
The Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects students' privacy, including their academic and financial accounts.

ADVISING ASSISTANCE

Who can I talk to if I have more questions when I arrive in Berkeley?
For routine course schedule changes you can go to 120 Sproul Hall or the Registrar's webpage.

For assistance with general matters you can make an appointment with the Summer Sessions Advisor; located in the Summer Sessions Office, 1995 University Avenue, Berkeley CA.

Billing/Refunds FAQs

Will I receive a billing statement?

Within four weeks of the date we receive your registration, a bill will be generated from the Campus Accounts Receivable System (CARS). CARS statements are produced monthly as long as there is an outstanding balance. The statement will list all charges and credits (including payments and financial aid awards) to the account, as well as any adjustments for adding or dropping a course or other incidental charges incurred while on campus, such as library fines, telephone charges, and unpaid University Health Center charges. Bills are presented online through Sallie Mae's Net.Pay application. A courtesy email will be sent to students when a new billing statement is generated. However, students are responsible for keeping their billing account current, whether or not they have received the email notification.

e-Bill is available via the BearFacts system. For more information about e-Bill, please visit the Billing & Payment Services website.

Who do I contact if I have a question concerning my bill?

Summary CARS account information is at BearFacts General billing information can be found at the Billing Services website.

Questions concerning CARS statements may be directed to the Billing and Payment Services Office: (510) 642-3190 mybill@berkeley.edu. In-person inquiries may be made at the Billing & Payment Services Office, 140 University Hall, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Please note that the Billing and Payment Services office cannot enter any adjustments to the account. If you are questioning a particular Summer Sessions' charge, please contact the Summer Sessions office directly, (510) 642-5612.

What is the penalty if I pay my CARS bill after the due date?

There is a $20 late fee assessed for the first month the balance is due, and $25 for each following month thereafter, applied to the unpaid balance of $50 or more.

What happens if there is an overpayment on my CARS account?
Any overpayments originating from a check or credit card payment will be applied to other outstanding charges on your CARS account. If the overpayment creates a credit balance, a CARS refund will be issued. CARS processes refunds several times each week. You may authorize for the refund to be directly deposited to your U.S. bank account via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). If you are not on EFT, a refund check will be held for you to pickup at 140 University Hall. An e-mail will be sent to you when a refund is processed.

Where is my refund?
If it has been longer than 60 business days since your refund-generating transaction was completed, you should have a check available for pick up at the Billing and Payment services office at 140 University Hall. They are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and their phone number is 510-642-3190. If you have created a CalNet passphrase you can also view any account information at bearfacts.Berkeley.edu

You may also e-mail the Billing and Payment services office at studentbilling.berkeley.edu/ebill/

General FAQs

Where is the Berkeley Summer Sessions office located?

1995 University Avenue, Suite 117
Berkeley CA 94704
Campus Map

Are textbooks included in the registration fee?

No. There are a variety of bookstores located in Berkeley. The majority of Summer Sessions students purchase books from the CAL Student Store, conveniently located on campus, 108 Martin Luther King Student Union Building, 510-642-0770; efollett.com; and Ned's Berkeley Bookstore, 2476 Bancroft Way, 510-204-0900.

How much does housing cost?

Housing costs depend upon the type of accommodations you select.
You can view your housing options at the housing web site.

What is there to do during my free time?
The recreational and tourist activities in the Bay Area are unparalleled. It's a wonderful place to be for the summer, but you really have to work hard on your class days in order to enjoy a carefree weekend.

The San Francisco Bay Area is a world-class tourist destination. Berkeley Summer Session students might be eligible for discounted sightseeing trips and tours through local agencies.

How do I get around town?
Once you receive your Cal 1 card (student ID) be sure to get a Class Pass sticker. That entitles you to free rides on local (AC Transit, all campus shuttles) bus service for the duration of your stay. The Downtown Berkeley BART (underground) station is just west of campus. For schedule information contact AC Transit, Campus Parking and Transportation, or BART.