Startup Semester at Berkeley

Startup Semester runs each semester.  We follow the official University Calendar.

Students should plan to arrive one week before the instruction start date to attend orientation and complete other administrative tasks. Details on dates will be included in your acceptance letter.

All students must be in good academic standing (GPA of at least 3.0) and be proficient in English (TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5 or DuoLingo 115).

Venture Discovery students may be graduate or undergraduate students. For undergraduates, preference is given to third or fourth year students.

Venture Validation students are typically graduate students. We are looking for students with startup projects at any stage.

No. Students attending on F1 Visas are not allowed to work, paid or unpaid with the exception of certain campus employment opportunities. Please consult Student Services at UC Berkeley Extension if you have questions about campus employment. 

Please note, that for those that do qualify, campus employment opportunities are limited and highly competitive. Students should NOT expect to supplement income through campus work.

All students who successfully complete the programs requirements will receive a Certificate of Completion from SCET Berkeley that will be presented in-person on campus. Successful completion is defined as completing any enrolled SCET courses with a GPA of 2 (C average) or better.

As a Concurrent Enrollee on and F1 Visa you will receive a transcript with all of your grades once the semester is complete. Please note that the University will withhold transcripts if you have any outstanding fees due.

The University requires that every student have health insurance. Students have two options:

• Purchase an approved University healthcare plan through UC Berkeley Extension. (strongly recommended)
• Provide proof of an existing healthcare plan that meets University requirements and apply for a waiver. The waiver process is included in your application form.

Most universities will provide academic credit for your course work at UC Berkeley. However, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain approval from their home universities. Usually this requires the course description and syllabus. 

Due to the very high demand for housing, UC Berkeley and the SCET staff cannot assist with housing requests. Student housing (on campus housing) is extremely limited, so most students will find an apartment or house off campus to share with other students. You may find several housing tips and resources here.

The University provides an estimated cost of living that is used in the official calculation of funds required for your visa application. This amount may be adjusted annually and is set for the fiscal year that begins July 1 each year.  The current cost of living for 2022 - 2023 is $2,250 per month.

It is important to note that the official cost of living estimate provided by the University should be viewed as an estimate for housing and other living costs. Berkeley and the surrounding Bay Area has one of the highest costs of living in the U.S.

The biggest factor is your choice of housing.

Startup Semester is a one-semester program with no extensions. Students may apply for other programs at UC Berkeley or other universities.

Any questions regarding visa extensions or visa regulations and restrictions should be directed to the experts at UC Berkeley Extension.