Berkeley Pre-College Scholars is UC Berkeley's flagship residential summer program for high school students. Participants live on campus, take two credit-bearing Berkeley Summer Sessions courses taught by UC Berkeley faculty, and earn an official UC Berkeley transcript. The program runs in two back-to-back sessions each summer.
Sessions (2026): | Session | Dates | Duration | Cost | |---|---|---|---| | Session C | June 22 – August 14 | 8 weeks | $15,987 | | Session D | July 6 – August 14 | 6 weeks | $14,687 |
All-inclusive fees cover tuition, housing, meals, orientation, excursions and activities, basic health insurance, and on-site support.
Academics:
- Two lower-division (1000–2000 level) Berkeley Summer Sessions courses
- Students choose from a wide course catalog spanning sciences, humanities, social sciences, STEM, arts, and business
- Full-time enrollment required (6 units for Session C, 5 units for Session D)
- Official UC Berkeley transcript and personal letter of commendation from the Dean of Extended Education for passing grades
- Credit may be transferable to other institutions
Housing:
- Students live in Bowles Hall or Stern Hall with other Pre-College Scholars participants
- Under full-time supervision of residential program staff and resident assistant mentors (RAMs)
- Shared rooms (doubles or triples), walking distance from main campus
Scholarship: One media scholarship valued at $15,987 (covering full Session C cost including tuition and room and board) is awarded competitively to one student per year. Open to all domestic and international applicants. The recipient documents their program experience under supervision of program staff and the marketing team.
Other Berkeley Pre-College tracks (not included here):
- Virtual Track — online, credit-bearing, worldwide, per-unit pricing (~$635/unit + registration and document fees)
- Commuter Track — Bay Area students only, credit-bearing, on-campus courses
- Non-Credit Track (Summer CS Academy) — non-credit, short-term residential, computer science focus