Funding Your MIMS Education

Numerous programs — from fellowships and loans, to teaching and research assistantships, subsidized housing, and child care — provide ways to help you finance the cost of graduate school. Some of the programs are administered through the Graduate Division Fellowships Office; others are administered through the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office. By tapping these and other resources, you can plan a program of financial support.

Estimated Expenses

The student budget chart displays estimated living costs and tuition and fees for the 2022–23 academic year, based on student surveys and other research.

Student Annual Budget 2022–23
California Resident
Non-Resident
UC Berkeley Tuition & Fees
Tuition & Fees
$14,688
 $14,688
Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition
$8,678
 $8,678
Non-resident Tuition
—
$12,245
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) $6,372 $6,372
Total Tuition & Fees $29,738 $41,983
Other Estimated Expenses
Rent & Utilities
$17,838
$17,838
Food
$8,578
$8,578
Personal
$2,908
$2,908
Transportation
$3,376
$3,376
Books
$672
$672
Total living expenses
$33,372
$33,372
Total graduate student budget
$63,110
$75,355

Tuition & Fees

MIMS students are assessed the following fees each semester. The Document Management Fee is a one-time fee charged in the first semester of enrollment.

2022–2023 MIMS Tuition/Fees per Semester California Residents Non-Residents
Tuition $5,850 $5,850
Student Services Fee $576 $576
Berkeley Campus Fee $717 $717
Class Pass Fee (Transit) $95 $95
Instructional Resilience and Enhancement Fee $106 $106
Professional Degree Supplemental Tuition $4,339 $4,339
Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) * $3,186 $3,186
Non-resident Supplemental Tuition — $6,122.50
Continuing Student Total (per semester) $14,869 $20,991.50
Document Management Fee $102 $102
New Student Total (first semester only) $14,971 $21,093.50

Tuition and fees listed reflect currently approved amounts; these figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change. Students should expect fees to increase moderately each fall term.

* Students have the option to waive the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) if they have other major medical health insurance that meet the SHIP waiver criteria and don't wish to have dual coverage. For waiver qualifications, instructions, forms, and FAQs, please see Waiving SHIP.

More information: Office of the Registrar Fee Schedule

Residency

California residents, for purposes of registration, are those who have been legal residents of California for at least one year immediately before the opening day of the semester for which they register. Legal residence is a combination of physical presence and the intention of making the state one’s permanent home, coupled with the relinquishment of legal residence in any other state.

International students with F-1 visas cannot be classified as California residents for tuition purposes.

More Information:

Financial Aid

Graduate students may apply for need-based loans and work-study through the Financial Aid Office. The programs are based on demonstrated financial need and require a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Only U.S. citizens and eligible non-citizens (those holding permanent resident cards) may apply for funds administered by the Financial Aid Office. Financial aid can include work-study, loans, the Native American Opportunity Plan, and other sources of financial aid.

If you are employed by a U.S. federal, state, local, or tribal government or not-for-profit organization, you may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Learn more here.

Fellowships

The I School strives to create a supportive, diverse, and inclusive environment and to enroll a diverse student body, as the unique perspectives that students from varied backgrounds are able to contribute are of tremendous benefit to our culture, community, and learning experience. We are committed to supporting students from all backgrounds, especially those from underrepresented groups, in their academic, personal and professional journeys.

Fellowship packages will be awarded to students with outstanding achievement and potential and who contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion at the I School.

All MIMS applicants will automatically be considered for the below applicable fellowship package opportunities. Fellowship packages range from $5,000 to $65,000 and are awarded to a limited number of admitted MIMS students.

I School and California Promise Fellowship Packages

I School and California Promise fellowship packages support outstanding MIMS candidates who:

  • Have overcome significant challenges in pursuing higher education;
  • Plan to research diversity and inequality;
  • Provide leadership in equity and inclusion;
  • Demonstrate financial need to be able to pursue graduate education; and/or
  • Show promise for exceptional achievement in their future careers.

In addition, our California Promise Fellowship packages support students who show potential as future leaders in technology and information science in California.

i3 Fellowship Package

As part of the I School’s ongoing commitment to recruiting and supporting underrepresented students, the I School is a proud partner of the iSchool Inclusion Institute (i3), an undergraduate research and leadership development program that prepares students from underrepresented populations for graduate study and careers in the information sciences. All i3 scholars and alumni will be automatically considered for the i3 Fellowship Package; please be sure to specify in your application materials that you are an i3 scholar.

GEM Fellowship Package

UC Berkeley is a university member of The National GEM Consortium. The mission of The National GEM Consortium is to enhance the value of the nation's human capital by increasing the participation of underrepresented groups (African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanic Americans) at the master’s and doctoral levels in engineering and science. Applicants must apply online for the GEM fellowship and be admitted to the MIMS program to be considered. Learn more about the GEM Fellowship application process.

I School Graduate Scholars (ISGS) Program

The ISGS Program is an I School initiative, supported by a Graduate Diversity Pilot Program Grant, which provides financial and non-financial support in order to establish supportive community for students from backgrounds historically underrepresented in higher education. ISGS fellowship packages are awarded as part of the admissions process.

Other MIMS Fellowship Opportunities

The Curtis B. Smith Fellowship supports high-achieving students enrolled in any degree program at the UC Berkeley School of Information who have an interest in the field of cybersecurity or a research focus on cybersecurity.

The Paul Fasana LGBTQ Studies Fellowship supports UC Berkeley School of Information graduate students whose research interests or studies are related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer studies in any field or discipline.

The Quigley/Heffernan Family Environmental Fellowship supports I School students using their skills in data science or other information management disciplines to aid in the reduction of greenhouse emissions or other climate mitigation efforts.

Additionally, UC Berkeley awards through competition a limited number of fellowships each year. See University Fellowships for further details.

Working on Campus

At Berkeley, student instructional positions are graduate student instructor (GSI), tutor, or reader. Students may also work as a graduate student researcher (GSR). In addition to wages, students may also receive a tuition waiver, depending on the hours worked during the course of the semester. I School graduate students are eligible to work in any department on campus.

Nonprofit Internship Grants

Grants in amounts up to $8,000 will be available to a limited number of MIMS students serving in internships with nonprofits, government agencies, or non-governmental agencies (NGOs) in the U.S. or abroad, during the summer between their first and second year in the program.

Past grant recipients have held internships at Code for America, the National Parks Conservation Association, National Public Radio, Pivot Learning, Plan Benin, Root Capital, and UC Berkeley.

A selection committee of faculty and staff determine awards based on funding availability and fit with the mission of the grant program.

Fees and Expenses for International Students

International students should plan carefully for their financial support while attending UC Berkeley, as local living expenses are relatively high. Students should plan for fee increases for each year of study. For the 2023–2023 academic year, students accompanied by a spouse will need an additional $7,970 per academic year plus $6,984 per academic year for each accompanying child (this estimate is subject to change). Opportunities for employment are severely limited. Spouses and children on dependents’ visas (F-2) are not permitted to accept employment.

More information: International student expenses

Budget Requirement for Visa Documents

To receive a U.S. student visa, international students are required to document their financial support for their studies in the U.S. After being admitted to the university, you will be informed of your required minimum annual budget for visa purposes and must be prepared to document financial resources equal to or greater than this budget. (This process is not part of the application for admission.) For all matters concerning visas, consult with the Berkeley International Office, 2150 Shattuck Ave, Suite 500, Berkeley, CA 94704, call 510-642-2818 or email internationaloffice@berkeley.edu.

Programs

Last updated:

August 16, 2022