University of California, Berkeley

The flagship public university of California and a powerhouse in research.

What It Costs

Tuition, living and the total in rupees.

Tuition a year

$15,000 – $45,000 / year

Living

$1,000 – $1,800 / month

Per year, in rupees

Rs 76 lakh – Rs 1.9 crore

Typical ranges for the USA; University of California, Berkeley’s fees vary by course. Rupee figures are rough, at about Rs 280 per US dollar.

How To Apply

Route, timeline and the next deadlines.

Master’s & PhDUndergraduate

Route: Apply to each graduate school directly: statement of purpose, recommendations, GRE/GMAT where required. Most deadlines fall between December and February; funded PhDs earliest.

1. 12–15 months beforeShortlist, GRE/IELTS and refereesStep 1
2. 9–12 monthsSOP, CV and research proposalStep 2
3. 6–10 monthsApply (scholarship rounds first)Step 3
4. 3–6 monthsOffers, funding and acceptanceStep 4
5. 1–3 monthsVisa and travelStep 5

Your F-1 student visa

Demanding: The interview decides it: you must show funds, purpose and ties to Pakistan.

1. 1I-20 from your universityIssued once you prove funds for the first year.
2. 2SEVIS feePay the I-901 SEVIS fee online.
3. 3DS-160 formComplete the online visa form and pay the fee.
4. 4Book the interviewAt the US Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate in Karachi. Wait times vary, so book early.
5. 5InterviewShort and direct: why this course, how you will pay, what you will do after.
6. 6Passport and travelYou can enter up to 30 days before your programme starts.

Watch out: Interviews are short. Students who cannot explain their funding or plans clearly in two sentences are often refused.