New Student Orientation and Onboarding

Getting Started

Please read the information below on how to have a smooth onboarding process. If you encounter any issues, please email your program manager. Before you can officially start with us, there are a few steps to complete:

  • Step 1: Create a CalNet ID

    To create your CalNet ID, go to the CalNet Account Manager website.

    You will need to provide your Student Identification (SID) number, which was emailed to you upon accepting your admissions offer. We suggest using your first and last name when creating your ID. If you cannot find your Student Identification number, please contact gradadm@berkeley.edu.

    After you create your CalNet ID and Passphrase, please log in to CalCentral using your CalNet ID and Passphrase.

    Note: Your SID may take up to three days to be recognized in our system. If you are having problems creating a CalNet ID, please wait and try again. Contact us if you are still having problems three days after accepting your offer of admission.

  • Step 2: Create a Berkeley Email

    Beginning on June 1, all future program-related communications will be conducted through your Berkeley email address, which is fire-walled to protect student confidentiality and program-related information, so be sure to establish one as soon as possible.

    To create your Berkeley email address, please go to Berkeley bConnected. On the right hand side under “Getting Started”, click on “Create accounts and lists”.

    Note: You will need your CalNet ID and Passphrase. The bConnected home-page provides help desk contact information. Should you encounter any technical difficulties, please contact the help desk directly.

    You will receive information from your program manager about how to enroll in courses prior to the start of the semester.

  • Step 3*: Submit Your Official Transcript with Degree Conferral

    *This step is only for:

    • students who did not submit a SOPHAS application (all MSW/MPH, Biostatistics MA or PhD, Epidemiology PhD, Infectious Diseases PhD, Environment Health Sciences PhD, and Health Policy PhD students)
    • students who submitted a SOPHAS application before their bachelors degree was conferred

    Until the Graduate Division receives your official transcript(s), you will not be recognized as an admitted student. If you were still in your undergraduate program at the time you applied, you will need to submit an updated transcript showing your degree conferral and confer date.

    For students with a bachelor’s degree from a United States Institution e-transcripts are preferred and can be sent directly to gradadm@berkeley.edu by the issuing school.

    For all other students, please have the official academic record/transcript mailed in a sealed envelope bearing the institution’s stamp or seal to:

    The Graduate Admissions Office
    318 Sproul Hall #5900
    University of California, Berkeley
    Berkeley, CA 94720-5900

    Note: You will not be able to register until we receive the official documents. Contact the Graduate Admissions office at 510-642-7405 or email gradadm@berkeley.edu if you have questions about submitting official transcripts.

Setting Up Your Cal 1 Card

As a student with our school you will receive a Cal1Card, which is a required UC Berkeley Student ID. The Cal1Card provides building access, entrance to the Recreational Sports Facility, University Health Services, transportation (i.e. AC Transit/Clipper Card) and other important campus resources.

If you have not already, please log into your CalCentral account using your CalNet ID and Passphrase. Follow the instructions to upload your photo through your account. You can use the photo guidelines provided by the Cal 1 Card office on selecting or taking your photo ID.

Cal1Cards will be distributed by your Program Manager. You do not need to set up an appointment with the Cal1Card office to pick up your card, they will not have it.

Dates, Deadlines, and Other Helpful Information

  • Deferrals

    We understand that some of you may be considering a deferral. Please note that deferral policies vary by program and not all programs allow deferrals. If you would like to defer your start date to next year, please let us know as soon as possible by reaching out to your program manager and cc’ing sphadmit@berkeley.edu with a request stating your reason for deferral.

    Note: the deadline to request a deferral was April 1 for summer admits and June 1 for fall admits.

  • Course Enrollment

    We know many of you are eager to start enrolling in courses. You will receive information from your program manager about how to enroll and which courses to enroll in prior to the start of the semester. As a reminder, you will be able to see registration information in CalCentral once you are matriculated into our student system this summer.

  • New Student Orientation (NSO)

    Save the date for Monday, August 21! NSO will be your opportunity to meet (or re-meet) our BPH community members, learn about resources available to you, sign-up for student organizations, and network with your cohort. You will be receiving more communication from us about NSO closer to the event date.

  • Academic Calendar

    The Berkeley academic calendar is viewable here.

    Summer instruction begins July 3 for 11-month students. Fall instruction begins August 23 for all other students.

Funding, Billing, and Housing

Information for International Students

Questions regarding your I-20 or the visa process should be directed to the Berkeley International Office (BIO). A great place to start is to review their New Student website which includes a checklist of pre and post-arrival requirements, and a series of webinars that you can register for to learn about housing, applying for your visa, and preparing for your first year.

If you did not submit a SOPHAS application or if you submitted a SOPHAS application before you completed your bachelors degree, you need to submit a new official transcript and degree certificate with your degree conferral to the Graduate Division. Until the Graduate Division receives your official transcript(s), you will not be recognized as an admitted student.

Please mail the official academic record/transcript in a sealed envelope bearing the institution’s stamp or seal to:

The Graduate Admissions Office
318 Sproul Hall #5900
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720-5900

Note: You will not be able to register until we receive the official documents.

Contact the Graduate Admissions office at (510) 642-7405 or email gradadm@berkeley.edu if you have questions about submitting official transcripts.

Inclusive Resources for All Students

  • Community Resources

    Berkeley Public Health Student Groups

    Our student groups—engaged in interests as diverse as health policy and intramural sports—offer public health students the opportunity to attend events, build relationships with fellow students and faculty members, and gain hands-on public health experience within the community.

    Disabled Student Program

    The Disabled Student Program equips disabled students with appropriate accommodations and services to achieve their individual academic goals. We are dedicated to supporting disabled students and collaborating with the campus community to remove barriers to educational access and embrace the University’s values of equity and inclusion. We believe that an accessible environment universally benefits everyone.

    Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence

    The Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence ensure non-traditional students excel at the top public University in the world.

    Berkeley International Office

    The Berkeley International Office supports Cal’s international community by advising nonimmigrant students, scholars, staff, and faculty; visa document production for nonimmigrant students and scholars; with programs and workshops for international students and scholars.

    Centers for Educational Justice & Community Engagement

    Our community engagement approach enriches the academic success of students while fostering a campus climate that honors the dignity of all people. Each partner space is steeped in rich and vibrant legacies and established community-centered praxes of educational justice: leadership development, access, activism, academic excellence and social justice. The centers include:

    Counseling and Psychological Services

    University Health Services, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) supports the emotional, psychological, educational, social and cultural development of all UC Berkeley students through a wide range of multiculturally based counseling, psychiatric, career, consultation, training and educational services.

    UC Berkeley’s Summer Reading List

    UC Berkeley’s Summer Reading list includes recommendations from faculty, staff, and students on optional readings for this summer. Since 1985, the University has offered the Summer Reading List for new students as one of the welcomes to the incoming classes. This curated list is always centered around a specific theme. This year’s theme: Illuminating Communities.

  • Academic Resources

    D-Lab

    D-Lab assists the Berkeley community with the full range of research development, research design and data acquisition. We offer guidance in statistical methods and results to data visualization and communication.

    RISE: Berkeley Public Health Careers & Leadership Office

    As reflected in the definition for the verb “rise”, we remain deeply committed to bridging the gap between students’ academic training and professional interests and goals. We also aim to help elevate the impact that our community partners and leaders in the field are making as they address pressing public health priorities. Learn more about the RISE Office here.

    PHLEX

    Visit PHLEX to view employment and practicum opportunities for students.

    Graduate Writing Center

    The Graduate Writing Center assists graduate students in the development of academic skills necessary to successfully complete their graduate programs and prepare for future faculty and professional positions. This unit offers workshops on topics such as academic writing, grant writing, dissertation writing, editing, and preparing articles for publication, in addition to writing groups and individual consultations on these topics for graduate students.

    Student Technology Equity Program

    The Student Technology Equity Program Connecting laptops and other hardware to students with high COVID-related needs.

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