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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:

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

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