Study Abroad
CED encourages all its undergraduate students to study abroad.
Whether you are interested in fulfilling the seven course breadth requirements, taking electives, completing courses related to your major/career, or simply living and studying in a country that is of interest to you, we will work with you to make it happen.
Studying abroad is an adventure that builds self-confidence, valuable skills, and global perspectives on your major. There is no better time in life to travel, meet people from around the world who share your passions and goals, experience foreign cultures, taste new foods, and grow your understanding of the world.
Study abroad programs are offered for one semester, a full academic year, or a summer session. With careful planning and guidance from a CED academic advisor and a Berkeley Study Abroad advisor, you can complete a program without delaying graduation.
Types of Programs
| Berkeley Summer Study Abroad | UC Berkeley’s own study abroad program featuring intensive summer programs led by Berkeley faculty and lecturers. |
| Berkeley Global Internships | UC Berkeley academic internship program with placements in the San Francisco Bay Area and locations around the globe. |
| UCEAP | UC systemwide study abroad program offers summer, semester, and year options in 45 countries worldwide. |
| Other UC Summer Programs | UC Summer Abroad programs offer students short, intensive faculty-led academic courses taught by world-class UC faculty. |
| Independent Programs (typically minimal financial aid) | Study, internship, and volunteer programs from non-UC institutions and providers. |
For additional programs and more detailed information, visit the Berkeley Study Abroad website.
“Friendships and culture experience are the two most valuable things I took away from this trip. Interning/studying abroad expanded my horizon and gave me an insight into what is possible beyond the Berkeley bubble.”
CED’S RECOMMENDED STEPS TO STUDY ABROAD
- Step 1: Clarify Personal Goals
- Step 2: Explore Your Options
- Step 3: Meet with Advisors
- Step 4: Apply to a Program
- Step 5: Complete Graduation Plan and Pre-Program Requirements
- Step 6: Study Abroad
- Step 7: Meet with your CED Academic Advisor
Reflect on your personal, academic, and professional priorities and goals for your study abroad experience. When and where you wish to study abroad, the duration of your stay, whether or not you wish to satisfy degree requirements abroad, and financial needs are all important factors to consider before researching your options. Clarity in regards to these factors will help you narrow down your options and provide you focus while exploring the vast array of study abroad options available.
Explore your options using the Berkeley Study Abroad website. The Study Abroad Search Tool allows you to explore by term, location, language of instruction, and program provider. Each result includes a link to the corresponding program website for additional information. Be sure to review the detailed eligibility on each individual program listing. Program eligibility is determined by the program provider.
Interested in a UCEAP program? Filter by discipline using the UCEAP Search Tool.
Join the Berkeley Study Abroad mailing list to stay up to date on events and deadlines.
Attend events put on my the Berkeley Study Abroad Office including the Study Abroad Fair.
View this list of places where CED students have studied abroad.
Review the academic planning information below to view a sample of programs related to the built environment, lists of pre-approved courses for degree requirements, and CED’s policies regarding study abroad.
Visit 250 Bauer Wurster Hall to meet with a CED academic advisor and discuss your study abroad interests with an advisor. Together, you will create a graduation plan including the term you wish to study abroad. Ensure all degree requirements can be satisfied in time for graduation, including senior residency.
Visit 160 Stephens Hall and meet with a Berkeley Study Abroad advisor during drop-in hours to discuss your program interests, application requirements, applicable deadlines, and required paperwork.
Meet with a counselor from the Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to discuss and understand your funding options.
Application deadlines can be up to 10 months in advance of the program start date.
If you are accepted to a program, complete any next steps required by your program to complete the application process by the given deadlines.
Meet with a CED academic advisor to finalize your graduation plan and, if necessary, adjust your expected graduation date in Cal Central. Confirm you will meet senior residency requirements with your program plan.
Enjoy your time abroad!
Check in with a CED academic advisor about your remaining graduation plan.
If you enjoyed your experience and would recommend your program and classes to other CED students.
“I learned a lot about European building practices and culture that shapes their eco-friendly cities. Europe is an amazing hub for startups and new eco-friendly ideas. Berlin, especially, is a must for anyone interested in living a more sustainable lifestyle”
Academic Planning for Study Abroad
- Where can I study abroad and take courses related to CED majors?
- What classes can I take?
- How do I get courses reviewed and approved?
- What are CED’s academic policies related to study abroad?
- When can I study abroad?
Many Berkeley Study Abroad partner universities have departments/programs related to architecture, landscape architecture, city planning, environmental design, and sustainability or offer relevant courses through other departments. Below is a sample of programs with courses related to the built environment. Please note, this is only a small, non-exhaustive sample.
You can take classes related to your personal interests outside of your major and degree requirements by studying abroad. Some students choose to use the opportunity to learn a new language or deepen their knowledge in areas they know they will not learn from their major. Alternatively, you can take courses for units towards graduation and/or to complete specific degree requirements such as CED’s seven course breadth, upper division college requirements, or major requirements.
The International Studies breadth is satisfied with a passing grade in any 3-unit course for any study abroad program as long as the units are transferable to UC Berkeley.
UCEAP
- Courses approved for CED breadth requirements
- Database of pre-approved courses for CED College & Major Requirements (not breadth)
- UCEAP Course Catalog
Non-UCEAP (Berkeley Summer Abroad, UC Davis Summer Abroad, Independent Programs)
Students interested in having study abroad courses reviewed to satisfy degree requirements must complete our CED Course Substitution and Curriculum Petition.
Students will hear of the decision via email, typically within two to four weeks. If you have questions about this process after reviewing the form, please meet with a CED academic advisor in 250 Bauer Wurster Hall.
Semester Limit
- Students admitted as freshmen must graduate within eight fall/spring semesters at UC Berkeley. Students admitted as transfer students must graduate within four fall/spring semesters at UC Berkeley. UCEAP study abroad programs count towards this semester limit; study abroad through non-UC programs do not. Students are allowed a ninth semester or fifth semester as a transfer student to study abroad, if they have an approved graduation plan signed by a CED Advisor.
Fulfilling Requirements with Transfer Coursework
Students may use transfer work, including courses taken via Study Abroad, to fulfill CED requirements, within the following limits:
- Upper Division Major Requirements: Up to two courses taken elsewhere may be applied, if deemed transferable by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and approved by the faculty adviser for your major.
- Upper Division CED Outside the Major: Up to two courses taken elsewhere may be applied, if deemed transferable by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and approved by CED’s Dean’s Conference.
- Upper Division CED Minor Requirements: Up to two courses taken elsewhere may be applied, if deemed transferable by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and approved by the faculty adviser for your minor.
- CED Breadth Requirements: All requirements can be potentially fulfilled by courses taken elsewhere, if deemed transferable by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and approved for breadth by the college (courses must be at least three units each).
Reading and Composition
- Students must complete both halves of R&C A and B by the end of their fourth semester. Students planning to study abroad in the spring of their sophomore year are required to complete these requirements prior to their departure. Students who do not complete both halves by this deadline will have an enrollment hold placed in CalCentral.
Senior Residency Requirements
- After reaching senior status (with 90 semester units earned), students must be registered in the College of Environmental Design and must complete at least 24 of the remaining 30 units in at least two semesters in residence at UC Berkeley as CED students. To count as residence, a semester must consist of at least six passed units. Study abroad programs do NOT count towards senior residency.
- Participants in the UC Education Abroad Program (UCEAP), Berkeley Summer Abroad, or the Berkeley Global Internship program may meet the Modified Senior Residence Requirement by completing 24 of their final 60 semester units (excluding EAP or UC Extension) in residence.
- Note that these programs must consist of at least six passed units to meet the requirement. At least 12 of the 24 units must be completed after senior status (90 units) is reached.
- Students should meet with a CED academic advisor to ensure they will meet senior residency requirements given when they plan to study abroad.
Honors Policy
- To graduate with distinction, students must meet the grade-point average (GPA) requirement and complete at least 50 units in residence at Berkeley. This may include UC Berkeley Extension XB units and up to 20 units from UCDC or EAP study abroad, of which 43 units must be letter-graded. Study abroad courses through non-UC programs are not included as units in residency or letter-graded units.
Graduating Seniors
Completing your Final Degree Requirements Elsewhere
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- Seniors who are completing course work for the degree at another institution should be aware that the term must officially end by:
- December 31 for fall graduates
- May 31 for spring graduates
- August 31 for summer graduates
- If the term ends later than the dates above, students will be added to the expected graduation list for the following term.
- Seniors who are completing course work for the degree at another institution should be aware that the term must officially end by:
Expected Graduation Date in CalCentral
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- Students are responsible for making sure their “Expected Graduation Date” in CalCentral is accurate. This can be found on a students dashboard under “Personal Summary, Terms Information.” Students are required to meet with a CED Academic Advisor if their study abroad term impacts their graduation date.
Transcript Deadline
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- The deadline for all transfer credit transcripts to be received for graduating seniors is the Friday of the sixth week after the end of each term. Students whose study abroad coursework is not received by this deadline are at risk for being pushed to the next graduation list.
- Summer is a great option for all CED majors for students looking to study abroad for a shorter period of time.
- Program plans for all CED majors to study abroad in the spring semester of sophomore year can be found in their major handbook.
- Studying abroad during a fall or spring semester junior or senior year for Sustainable Environmental Design and Urban Studies majors and staying on track for graduation is possible with careful planning. Students should meet with a CED academic advisor to create an individualized graduation plan.
Financial Resources for Study Abroad
There are many ways you can fund their study abroad experience.
The most popular option is to apply existing financial aid toward the cost and expenses of studying abroad. You must meet unit requirements in order to eligibly carry over financial aid packages.
Financial needs typically break down to two areas: tuition and program fees to sponsoring institutions and estimated out-of-pocket expenses such as housing, meals, and transportation.
You may also be eligible for special study abroad scholarships from program, campus, and extramural sponsors. Be sure to meet with a counselor and previous recipients from the Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office in 160 Stephens Hall. See advising schedule here.
Explore the links below and meet with a Berkeley Study Abroad Advisor for more comprehensive and detailed information.
Please note the following list is only meant to highlight a sample of financial resources and is not inclusive of all funding options.
Berkeley Summer Abroad, Berkeley Global Internships, UCEAP, and programs sponsored by UC campuses (issuing UC credit) are currently eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid. Counselors from the Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships Office are available during drop-in advising to answer financial-aid specific questions in 160 Stephens Hall.
Helpful links:
UC Berkeley Financial Aid
Berkeley Study Abroad: Finances
Drop-in Advising for Financial Aid
Michael Ho Memorial Travel Scholarship
The College of Environmental Design offers an annual travel scholarship of $1,200 to an undergraduate their junior year majoring in architecture at CED.
Judith Lee Stronach Undergraduate Travel Scholarship
The College of Environmental Design offers summer and winter scholarships to undergraduate students majoring in architecture, landscape architecture, urban studies, or sustainable environmental design in the College of Environmental Design.
Not all prizes and awards are offered on an annual basis. Please check the Awards, Scholarships, and Fellowships page for current opportunities and specific deadlines.
Berkeley Study Abroad offers a variety of scholarships to aid students in funding their study abroad opportunities.
Gilman Scholarship
Awards scholarships of up to $5,000 to U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding to participate in study or internship programs worldwide.
UCEAP Promise Awards
UCEAP offers over $1.5 million in scholarships for all categories of participants and for a comprehensive range of programs.
Helpful Links:
Berkeley Study Abroad Scholarships