🏅 QS World Rank #20
University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) — Full Profile & Ranking 2026
America’s premier public research university — QS World Rankings 2027 (joint #20)
The University of California, Berkeley is a public research university in Berkeley, California, founded in 1868. In the QS World University Rankings 2027 (published June 2026), it ranked joint 20th in the world, tied with Johns Hopkins University. This guide covers Berkeley’s programmes, undergraduate admission, the published acceptance data, tuition for non-California residents, how funding works for international students, advice for applicants from Pakistan, and the questions prospective students ask most. Every figure is labeled with its year or ranking edition.
UC Berkeley Overview
The University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley, or Cal) is a public research university in Berkeley, California, founded in 1868. It is the founding campus of the University of California system and is known for engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, business, law, and public policy.
As a public university, Berkeley treats California residents, other U.S. students, and international students differently for tuition and, in some cases, for financial aid. This matters a great deal for applicants from Pakistan.
UC Berkeley Rankings — QS World University Rankings 2027
UC Berkeley is ranked joint 20th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) in June 2026, tied with Johns Hopkins University.
QS ranks universities using academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, and measures of international faculty and students. This is a QS-specific result, not one universal ranking. Times Higher Education, U.S. News, and ARWU use different methods and can order the same universities differently.
Source: QS TopUniversities (QS World University Rankings 2027, 18 June 2026).
Key Strengths & Programs
Berkeley offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programmes, and it is known for:
- Computer science and engineering — the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society and the College of Engineering
- Physics, chemistry, and mathematics — a long record of Nobel Prize-winning research
- Business — the Haas School of Business
- Law and public policy — Berkeley Law and the Goldman School of Public Policy
- Life sciences and environmental sciences
- National laboratory ties — Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is managed by the University of California for the U.S. Department of Energy
For the full list, see Berkeley’s official website.
Explore Related Guides & Rankings
Admission Requirements
Undergraduate admission details can change each cycle. Confirm every point on Berkeley’s admissions site before applying.
Undergraduate Admissions (Freshmen)
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Application | University of California (UC) application, shared across UC campuses. Applicants choose a major or college when applying, and some programmes are harder to enter. |
| Filing period | The UC application’s filing period closes at the end of November for fall entry. Confirm the exact dates for your cycle on the UC admissions site. |
| Standardized tests | UC is test-blind. Berkeley does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission, even if you submit them. |
| English | Applicants whose first language is not English, and who have not studied in English long enough, normally submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo scores. UC sets benchmark scores, so check the current ones. |
| Other requirements | Personal insight questions, coursework record, and school documents. Berkeley uses a holistic review. |
Graduate and Professional Admissions
Graduate and professional programmes have their own applications, tests, and deadlines.
Official sources: Berkeley Undergraduate Admissions and UC Admissions.
UC Berkeley Acceptance Rate
For fall 2026, the University of California reported 133,154 first-year applicants to Berkeley and 13,967 admission offers, an admit rate of 10.5%.
For fall 2025, Berkeley reported 126,798 first-year applicants and about 14,500 offers. Of these, 24,040 were international applicants and 1,469 received offers, an international admit rate of about 6.1%.
These are overall figures, and rates differ a lot by major. Computer science and engineering are generally much harder to enter than the overall rate suggests.
Sources: UC admissions data and Berkeley News. Rates change each year.
Practical Application Checklist
- Choose your intended major carefully, because it affects your chance of admission
- Prepare the UC application, including the personal insight questions
- Book an English test if required
- Remember that SAT and ACT scores are not considered
- Plan funding in advance, because need-based aid for international undergraduates is limited
- Prepare proof of funds, which you need for your U.S. student visa
- Check U.S. student visa requirements
- Verify every date, fee, and requirement on Berkeley’s official website before submitting
Tuition & Costs
Berkeley lists undergraduate tuition and fees for non-California residents, which includes international students, at $31,275 per semester for the 2026–27 entering cohort. Over two semesters, that is about $62,550 a year (our calculation) for tuition and fees alone.
Housing, food, books, health insurance, and personal costs are additional. The Bay Area is one of the most expensive regions in the United States, so check Berkeley’s official cost-of-attendance page for current figures before you plan your budget.
Source: Berkeley Financial Aid and Scholarships — cost of attendance. Charges change each year; verify on Berkeley’s website.
Scholarships & Financial Aid
Aid works very differently for international students at a public university:
- Need-based aid: international undergraduates generally cannot count on need-based aid from Berkeley. The 2026–27 position was not confirmed for this page, so check directly with Berkeley before applying.
- Proof of funds: you must show you can pay for your studies to get a student visa
- Outside scholarships: external and home-country scholarships may help; compare them with our fully funded scholarships for 2027 guide
- No guarantee: any scholarship is competitive and not guaranteed
Always confirm current aid rules on Berkeley’s financial aid website.
UC Berkeley for Pakistani Students
Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process. Practical points:
- Funding first: plan how you will pay about $62,550 a year in tuition and fees (2026–27 cohort) plus living costs, because need-based aid is limited for international students
- No test scores: UC is test-blind, so focus on your coursework record and personal insight questions
- English: if required, prepare TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo. Our IELTS preparation guides can help.
- Be realistic about odds: international admission is very competitive, so apply to a balanced list
- Visa: admitted students need a U.S. student visa (F-1). The U.S. government decides it, and rules can change, so check travel.state.gov.
- Agents: you apply directly to UC, so a paid agent is not required
Campus & Student Life
- The campus is in Berkeley, California, across the bay from San Francisco and reachable by train
- Berkeley has a large student body and a very wide range of student clubs, research groups, and activities
- Housing is expensive and limited around campus, so plan early
- The Bay Area is a major technology and start-up region
Research & Career Opportunities
- Berkeley is one of the leading public research universities in the world, with over 100 Nobel laureates affiliated with it, according to Berkeley’s own count
- Graduates work in technology, engineering, finance, law, public policy, and academia, and the Bay Area technology industry is close by
- International students on F-1 visas may be able to use Optional Practical Training (OPT), subject to current U.S. rules
- Berkeley does not guarantee employment, salary, or visa outcomes
Notable Alumni
- Gordon Moore, Intel co-founder and author of Moore’s Law, earned his chemistry degree at Berkeley
- Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder, completed his Berkeley degree in 1986
- Eric Schmidt, former Google CEO, earned his PhD in computer science at Berkeley
- Earl Warren, U.S. Chief Justice, studied at Berkeley
Contact & Location
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, California 94720, United States
Official website: berkeley.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
UC Berkeley holds joint 20th place in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, tied with Johns Hopkins University.
UC Berkeley is a public research university and the founding campus of the University of California system.
Berkeley is best known for engineering, computer science, and physics, alongside strong business, law, and public policy schools.
For fall 2026, Berkeley reported 133,154 first-year applicants and 13,967 offers, an admit rate of 10.5%. Rates differ a lot by major.
For fall 2025, Berkeley reported 24,040 international first-year applicants and 1,469 offers, about 6.1%.
Berkeley lists tuition and fees for non-California residents at $31,275 per semester for the 2026–27 entering cohort, about $62,550 a year, before housing and living costs.
No. The University of California is test-blind and does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission.
International undergraduates generally cannot count on need-based aid from Berkeley. Check Berkeley’s financial aid site for the current position.
Yes. Pakistani applicants follow the standard international process through the UC application. Plan funding in advance and expect strong competition.
Check Berkeley’s official website, admissions.berkeley.edu, and the UC admissions site. Deadlines, charges, and rules can change.
Compare UC Berkeley With Other Top Universities
Disclaimer: This page is based on the QS World University Rankings 2027, University of California admissions data, Berkeley’s official pages, and other publicly available sources, last checked in October 2026. Fees, rankings, deadlines, and admission rules change, and no admission, funding, visa, or employment outcome is guaranteed. Always verify current details directly with UC Berkeley before applying.