A degree in public health is an investment in your future. At Berkeley Public Health, we understand the important role funding opportunities play in the decision to pursue your degree.
Note: For fees and financial aid information for Online Program applicants and students, please go to the Online Program Fees and Financial Aid page.
For information about Berkeley Public Health’s tuition and fees, as well as residency requirements, please visit the tuition, fees and residency section of UC Berkeley’s Office of the Registrar website. Please note that all costs are subject to change.
Tuition, fees, and charges are included on the UC Berkeley’s Office of the Registrar’s website along with more details about fee definitions. To view fee rates, please scroll down to the tab labeled “Graduate: Academic” if you are an MA, MS, or PhD student, and “Graduate: Professional-School of Public Health” if you are an MPH or DrPH student. If you enroll in an MPH or DrPH program, you are required to pay professional degree supplemental tuition each semester. The total cost of your degree is based on the length of your program.
Tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by State funding reductions. Accordingly, they may differ from the amounts shown.
Students enrolled in the Berkeley Public Health Online Program should reference the Online Program Fees and Financial Aid page.
Your cost of attendance budget is the estimated average cost of completing an academic year at UC Berkeley. This estimate includes the cost of tuition and fees, room and board, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
Your budget also serves as a limit for the amount of grants, scholarships, fee remission, loans, and other forms of aid that can be offered to you. You may find the graduate student budget on UC Berkeley’s Financial Aid and Scholarships website.
Note: For general information about funding your undergraduate degree, please visit the UC Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office.
Each academic year, fellowships and scholarships are awarded to eligible students by Berkeley Public Health. Awards are given out by nomination only by each program’s respective admissions committee. There is no separate application process for these awards beyond completing the SOPHAS or UC Berkeley application by the priority deadline. Some of these opportunities include the Global Public Health Fellowship Program and Blue Shield of California Fellowship program.
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships provide funding to students to encourage the study of critical and less commonly taught foreign languages in combination with area studies, international studies or international aspects of professional studies.
In order for incoming students to be considered for this award, the FLAS portion of their admissions application must be completed and include a statement of purpose indicating the relevance the study of the language has to the preparation of their academic program, chosen career and/or future goals.
The APHA Kaiser Permanente Community Health Scholarship supports students who intend on pursuing an MPH or DrPH/PhD. This scholarship is part of the APHA KP Community Health Leadership Program. Apply directly here.
MPH Scholarship:
Awardees receive a $15,000 tuition award each year over the course of two years of full-time study.
DrPH/PhD Scholarship:
Awardees receive a $20,000 tuition award per year for three years. In the third and final year, the award can be given as a stipend or as a combination of stipend/tuition.
Eligibility
All applicants are required to:
- Be applying for a full-time MPH or a DrPH/PhD in public health at one of our partner universities (see below) for the upcoming academic year. Students do not need to be admitted by the scholarship deadline.
- Be U.S. citizens or hold a permanent residence visa (Green Card) in the U.S.
PhD candidates typically receive funding through a variety of sources such as soft-money grants, Graduate Division Fellowships, and fee remission from working as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or teaching as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI).
PhD programs are fully funded for up to 5 years. Full funding includes regular tuition, fees, SHIP, and a salary or stipend if you are in good academic standing. Please note that our funding packages do not include housing offers. Reach out to your program of interest for more details.
PhD candidates may also be AB 540 eligible for tuition purposes. Please see the University of California’s website for more information.
DrPH candidates are funded by departmental funding and are also eligible for fee remission from working as a Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) or teaching as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI). However, they are not guaranteed funding for the duration of their program or offered a living stipend as a part of their funding package.
The APHA KP Community Health Scholarship is now open for the 2023-2024 academic year. The deadline to apply is December 16 2022 (11:59 PM EST). This scholarship is part of the APHA KP Community Health Leadership Program and awards $20k each year over the course of three years of full-time study for DrPH/PhD students. Please note that being selected for this award does not guarantee acceptance into our program.
Students enrolled in Master’s programs (MA, MS and MPH) typically fund their education with a combination of student loans, GSI/GSR appointments, extramural scholarships and work-study opportunities.
AB540/DACA postgraduate program students are eligible for UC Berkeley and departmental funding.
Graduate students may apply for need-based loans and work-study through the UC Berkeley Financial Aid Office. The programs are based on demonstrated financial need and require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Questions about Financial Aid programs may be directed to Cal Student Central. In addition, please visit the UC Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships website for more information. Only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens (those holding permanent resident cards) may apply for funds administered by the UC Berkeley Financial Aid Office.
UC’s Native American Opportunity Plan ensures that in-state systemwide Tuition and Student Services Fees are fully covered for California students who are also enrolled in federally recognized Native American, American Indian, and Alaska Native tribes. This plan applies to undergraduate and graduate students.
To learn more about the eligibility requirements visit the Native American Opportunity Plan website.
Financial aid awards from the UC Berkeley International Office consist of individual grants applied directly to tuition and fees via the UC Berkeley student records system. Award amounts vary depending on the number of applicants and levels of need per semester. Grants do not need to be repaid.
International students are eligible for a number of departmental awards. There is no separate application process for these awards beyond completing the fellowships portion of the SOPHAS or UC Berkeley application.Students who are married and/or have children living with them in the Bay Area may also apply for the Supplemental Family Grant. A family grant can be applied directly to tuition and fees or can be disbursed in the form of a taxable stipend. Award amounts vary depending on the number of applicants and level of need. Family grants do not need to be repaid. See a complete list of financial aid options on the UC Berkeley International Office website.
The University of California offers a variety of services and resources for student families. Visit the UC Berkeley Graduate Division website to learn more about campus resources that aid student families in the search for affordable housing, child care, health insurance and more.
UC Berkeley Veteran Services offers information related to the types of benefits, certification of benefits, contact information for dedicated support, and campus resources for students who have served in the military.
Eligibility for veteran’s educational benefits is determined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), not by UC Berkeley. For more information on eligibility and to apply visit the VA’s “How to apply for the GI Bill and related benefits” page.
After you apply for benefits through the VA, please provide the following documentation to the Veterans Benefits Office at the Office of the Registrar.
Please visit the Cal Veteran Services Center website for more information.
In addition to Student Family Assistance, the UC Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office offers a variety of services and resources for student parents, disabled students, nonresidents of California and veterans.
Another resource is the ASUC Student Advocate’s Office, a student-run office that provides free and confidential advice and representation to students who experience issues or conflicts with the university. This office also offers support in completing an appeals process.
For information about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid website.
Students are also encouraged to independently seek funding from external sources. A number of scholarship search resources are available online, including: