Berkeley is located in the East Bay Area of San Francisco and have approximately 113,000 inhabitants. The University of California, Berkeley has 40,000 students. In 2023, UC Berkeley is ranked number 8 of the world’s best university in the Times Higher Education World University Ranking. Many former Nobel Prize winners have both conducted research and taught at UC Berkeley. The university is well-known in the US and internationally for having played an active political role and for its active, socially conscious, liberal students and staff.
The university is spread out over a large, green campus on the outskirts of the city and has a thriving student life!
Tuition
Tuition fees for the 2023-24 school year are approximately $750 per ‘unit’. A full semester for bachelor students from UiA is equivalent to 15 units. UC Berkeley is included in the list from Lånekassen for schools that can receive an additional stiped beyond the maximum stipend amount.
UiA students must take a minimum of 15 units per semester (bachelor level) which is equivalent to 30 ECTS at UiA. It is normal to take 16 units, but it is possible to take 15 by switching out a 4 unit course with a 3 credit writing course.
Sociology courses are the only courses available for UiA students to take at UC Berkeley. The courses are offered through the "concurrent enrollment program" at Berkeley extension at Department of Sociology". Courses are offered through the syllabus. Exam format and teaching form for all courses vary from semester to semester. You cannot expect to have access to a detailed course description prior to the first day of teaching. Here is the course overview for fall 2023.
Housing
It is recommended that all international students live at International House on campus. (IHouse). Students share a room with another international student. The rent includes 150 meals. If you wish to live off-campus in private housing, the easiest way to find housing is through Craigslist. You can either search for available rooms that are continuously updated or create a free announcement requesting a room. You will receive more information regarding housing at UC Berkely once you have been admitted as an exchange student.
Be aware that the rental expenses are extremely high in Berkeley and can cost 10,000 kroner or more a month.
UC Berkeley expects all exchange students to have a mastery of both written and spoken English. Students that cannot document English from Norwegian/Nordic High School must take the TOEFL test. For exchange during fall semester, you must complete this test within May. For exchange during spring semester, you must complete this test within October.
Additional Information
Insurance/health in USA:
The US requires that all international students can document that they have an approved American health insurance. All students that will go on exchange to a US university must be prepared to buy American health insurance that is recommended from each university. This will come in addition to other insurance students must have from their home country. American health insurance for 2023 is $900 and can vary from year to year.
Some universities my also require that students can document their vaccination status. You will receive more information if this is required.