The University of California, Berkeley, is renowned as one of the world’s premier research and teaching institutions — and our graduate students are a key element of the intellectual capital that drives such excellence. Many of the most brilliant minds and creative talents from throughout the state, the nation, and the world are drawn to our master’s and doctoral programs.
Once at Berkeley, graduate students provide an all important bridge between the faculty and undergraduates, bringing fresh approaches to both the research and teaching missions of the University. The best faculty want to work with the best students, so they play a key role in faculty retention. They also make a vital academic contribution as teachers and mentors to undergraduate students; the better they are, the better the education they pass on. The quality of Berkeley truly depends upon the excellence of its graduate student population.
Despite the caliber of its graduate programs, Berkeley faces increasing challenges in recruiting the most sought-after students. Too often we lose top applicants to competitor institutions such as Harvard, Princeton, MIT, and Stanford because we cannot match their level of financial support. Though graduate students choose a school for many reasons, funding is often the deciding factor.
Gifts to establish or add to graduate fellowships will enable Berkeley to compete effectively with both private and public peers for the nation’s top graduate students.
Learn more about supporting graduate education at Berkeley:
