Introduction

The University of California—Berkeley is situated roughly 15 miles from San Francisco in what is known as the Bay Area. The public university, Berkeley or Cal, was founded in 1868. More than 70 percent of Berkeley students study at the undergraduate level. The university is divided into 14 colleges and schools, including the highly ranked Haas School of Business, College of Chemistry, College of Engineering, School of Public Health, and School of Law. The academic calendar is semester-based, and English is the language of instruction.

Berkeley offers students around 350 degree programs. Some of the most popular majors for Berkeley undergraduates have included electrical engineering and computer science, economics, political science, business administration, and psychology. Around a quarter of undergraduate students live on campus, including some 95 percent of first-year students. Many graduate students live off campus, but they have the option to live in university-owned accommodations. Roughly 15 percent of the student body is international, and tuition and fees are higher for out-of-state students. Around 3,000 international scholars come to Berkeley annually in temporary teaching or research positions. Berkeley research is conducted within academic department labs, research centers, and some of the school’s museums and university-managed biological field stations. Botany, zoology, ecosystems, and forestry research are undertaken at the remote field station sites. Berkeley researchers discovered several elements on the periodic table, including californium and berkelium.

University Data

Total number of students: 40,921

Number of international students: 9,668

Total number of academic staff: 2,227

Number of international teams: 562

Number of undergraduate degrees awarded: 9,094

Number of master’s degrees awarded: 3,315

Number of doctoral degrees awarded: 1,203

Number of research-only staff: 1,228

Number of new undergraduate students: 9,075

Number of new master’s students: 2,760

Number of new postgraduate students: 1,288

Rankings

University of California Berkeley is ranked #4 in Best Global Universities. Schools are rated according to their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence. Read more about how we rank schools.

Global Universities Rankings

#4 in Best Global Universities

Subject Rankings

#131 in Agricultural Sciences

#19 in Artificial Intelligence

#10 in Arts and Humanities (tie)

#4 in Biology and Biochemistry 

#9 in Biotechnology and Applied Microbiology

#38 in Cell Biology

#88 in Chemical Engineering

#4 in Chemistry

#28 in Civil Engineering

#144 in Clinical Medicine

#5 in Computer Science

#26 in Condensed Matter Physics

#4 in Economics and Business

#18 in Education and Educational Research

#50 in Electrical and Electronic Engineering (tie)

#36 in Energy and Fuels

#11 in Engineering (link)

#6 in Environment/Ecology

#21 in Geosciences

#69 in Immunology (tie)

#95 in Infectious Diseases

#12 in Materials Science

#6 in Mathematics

#92 in Mechanical Engineering

#41 in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences

#25 in Microbiology

#24 in Molecular Biology and Genetics

#29 in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

#18 in Neuroscience and Behavior

#16 in Optics

#31 in Physical Chemistry

#4 in Physics

#5 in Plant and Animal Science

#29 in Psychiatry/Psychology

#30 in Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health (tie)

#78 in Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Medical Imaging (tie)

#17 in Social Sciences and Public Health

#3 in Space Science

#44 in Water Resources

Overview of the University of California—Berkeley

• Location: Situated approximately 15 miles from San Francisco in the Bay Area.
• Founded: Established in 1868, commonly known as Berkeley or Cal.
• Academic Structure: Divided into 14 colleges and schools, including the highly ranked Haas School of Business, College of Chemistry, College of Engineering, School of Public Health, and School of Law.
• Undergraduate Focus: More than 70 percent of Berkeley students study at the undergraduate level.
• Academic Calendar: Semester-based system with English as the language of instruction.
• Degree Programs: Offers around 350 degree programs for students.

Popular Majors and Student Life

• Popular Majors: Electrical engineering and computer science, economics, political science, business administration, and psychology.
• On-Campus Living: Around a quarter of undergraduate students live on campus, including 95 percent of first-year students.
• International Presence: Roughly 15 percent of the student body is global, with higher tuition and fees for out-of-state students.
• Graduate Student Accommodations: Many graduate students live off campus, with the option to live in university-owned accommodations.
• Global Research Impact: Berkeley conducts research within academic department labs, museums, and biological field stations.

Research Achievements and Contributions

• Elements Discovery: Berkeley researchers discovered elements on the periodic table, including californium and berkelium.
• Research Diversity: Research spans botany, zoology, ecosystems, and forestry and is conducted in remote field station sites.
• International Scholars: Approximately 3,000 international scholars come to Berkeley annually for temporary teaching or research positions.

University Data

• Total Students: 40,921
• International Students: 9,668
• Academic Staff: 2,227
• International Staff: 562
• Degrees Awarded: 9,094 undergraduate, 3,315 master’s, 1,203 doctoral
• Research Staff: 1,228
• New Students: 9,075 undergraduates, 2,760 master’s, 1,288 doc

Conclusion:

The University of California—Berkeley is a beacon of academic excellence and global impact. With a rich history from 1868, Berkeley has evolved into a prestigious institution known for its diverse educational programs and groundbreaking research.

The university’s commitment to undergraduate education is evident, with over 70 percent of students studying at this level. The 14 colleges and schools, including the esteemed Haas School of Business and College of Engineering, contribute to Berkeley’s academic prowess.

Berkeley’s global influence is reflected in its international student body, comprising 15 percent of the total population. The research conducted at Berkeley is not confined to traditional academic settings but extends to museums and field stations, showcasing a commitment to diverse and impactful exploration.

The university’s research contributions, including discovering elements on the periodic table, underscore its significant role in advancing knowledge. Moreover, Berkeley’s consistently high rankings in global university assessments, including being ranked #4 overall, further solidifies its academic standing.

In conclusion, the University of California—Berkeley is a powerhouse in education and research, shaping the future through its dedication to excellence, innovation, and global collaboration. As a hub for diverse disciplines and a generator of knowledge, Berkeley remains at the forefront of academic achievement on a global