For New MIMS Students: Next Steps After Accepting the Admissions Offer
Now that you’ve accepted your offer of admission, here are the next steps as you prepare to start the MIMS program.
Please bookmark this page and work through the items below to prepare for your start in the MIMS program.
Important Tasks and Action Items
- ASAP: International students: complete your NIF
- ASAP: Sign up for an I School account and email address. (See instructions below.)
- After your I School account is active, update your student profile.
- By June 1: California residents: submit Statement of Legal Residence
- July 17: Class registration opens
- August 26: Classes begin
- By October 1: Submit official transcripts and degree certificates (if applicable) to UC Berkeley Graduate Division or Admissions team.
See also: Events for New MIMS Students
What’s Next
International Students
In order to attend UC Berkeley as a F-1 or J-1 student, you must submit the online Non-Immigrant Information Form (NIF) to request the I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) documents for your visa. You can find this form under “Tasks” on My Dashboard in CalCentral after you accept admission. Learn more about this process here or contact the Berkeley International Office for more information.
Submit Statement of Legal Residence
June 1 is the deadline to submit your Statement of Legal Residence, in order for the Office of the Registrar to determine which fees to assess with your tuition. You can find this form under “Tasks” on My Dashboard in Cal Central. Learn more about this process here.
FAFSA
U.S. citizens and permanent residents are required to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Sign up for an I School Account and Email Address
Shortly after the SIR deadline, students who have completed the Statement of Intent to Register will receive an email inviting you to sign up for an I School account. That email has a personalized link to the account request form.
Your I School account will allow you to access our I School Intranet, which contains a great deal of useful information, resources, and the MIMS Handbook. We will also create an I School email address and a web profile page for you, to help you get to know other new students.
Update Your Profile
Browse the directory of incoming MIMS students (we will add your profile when your account is created) and current MIMS students. Update your profile with a photo and more information about yourself. Incoming student profiles are private until you begin classes; update your privacy settings if you would like this information to remain private.
Ask A Student
Reach out to MIMS students and alumni who have offered to connect with you and share more about life at the I School.
Academics
Fall Orientation
Orientation is mandatory for all incoming MIMS students. See the orientation page for more information.
Registration
Registration opens in July (your specific enrollment appointment day and time will be displayed in CalCentral). Students register for classes on the “My Academics” tab in CalCentral.
Classes Begin
Classes begin Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Refer to the Berkeley Academic Calendar for details.
MIMS Course Schedule
Fall 2026 Information Course Schedule
Required core courses taken during the first year of MIMS:
- Info 202. Information Organization and Retrieval
- Info 203. Social Issues of Information
- Info 205. Information Law and Policy
- Info 206A. Introduction to Programming and Computation *
- Info 206B. Introduction to Data Structures and Analytics
* Students may be eligible to waive out of Info 206A if they demonstrate sufficient prior competency in Python programming and related topics during the admissions process.
Computer Needs
I School students are required to own a computer; no particular configuration or platform is required. Current students use MacOS, Windows, and Unix/Linux. Most students use laptops, but some use primarily desktops.