Information for Prospective Visiting Scholars
The School of Law at the University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) is able to accommodate a limited number of visiting scholars each year to engage in significant independent legal research projects. Prospective scholars may apply to the program under one of two categories of visiting scholars: 1) Senior Visiting Scholars – professors, government and law professionals; 2) Visiting Researchers – graduate and Ph.D students working under the supervision of a Boalt faculty member.
Fees:
Please note fee changes for both the DS-2019 assessment fee (effective April 2, 2007) and the Boalt Residence Fee (effective August 15, 2007).
Berkeley Campus Fee: Each visiting scholar is required to pay a $200 registration fee to the UC Berkeley campus to obtain a campus ID card and to have access to the university's facilities. Please read the facilities section below.
Boalt Residence Fee: The law school fee for senior visiting scholars is $ 2,000/semester or $ 4,000/year . The fee for visiting researchers is $500 /semester or $1,000 /year.
DS-2019 Fee: There is an assessment of $425 charged for the application processing of a DS-2019 document needed to secure a J-1 visa. Please read the J-1 visa section below.
Application Process
The visiting scholar application process consists of three parts: Boalt Halll approval, UC Berkeley Graduate Division (VSPA) approval, and J-1 Scholar visa approval.
Law School Approval Prospective visiting scholars must first submit an application to the School of Law using this application form, available for download in Adobe PDF format. The completed Boalt Hall application should include a one-page Research Statement with a description of the applicant's research plans and an explanation of the importance of conducting research at Boalt Hall.
All applicants accepted into the visiting scholars program are considered “in residence” scholars and are expected to conduct their proposed research at Boalt Hall and the UC Berkeley campus. Any exceptions must be approved by the faculty committee. The deadline for submitting applications is April 15, 2008 for proposed visits beginning after August 1, 2008; and September 15, 2008 for proposed visits beginning after January 1, 2009 . Completed applications should be mailed to:
Boalt Visiting Scholars
University of California, Berkeley
School of Law
353A Boalt Hall
Berkeley, CA 94720-7200
Email: visitingscholars@law.berkeley.edu
Phone: 510-642-1367
The number of applications far exceeds the number of scholars the law school can accommodate. A faculty committee reviews each application and takes into account each applicant's academic background, research interests, scholarly achievements and English-language proficiency. The committee normally makes its decisions shortly after the application deadline.
Graduate Division Approval Applicants who are approved by the law school committee will then receive the Visiting Scholars and Postdoctoral Affairs (VSPA) application which is administered through the Office of the Dean of the Graduate Division of UC Berkeley. The VSPA application includes the application form itself, and a patent agreement. This application is NOT complete unless applicants include a copy of their latest degree certificate and curriculum vitae.
Graduate Division approval is required before a J-1 visa can be issued. Please note that graduate division approval can take up to six weeks. Therefore, visiting scholars are urged to complete and return the VSPA application as quickly as possible to avoid delays.
J-1 Visas Most foreign visiting scholars will need to obtain a J-1 visa to pursue their research at Boalt Hall. J-1 visas are obtained by the issuance of a DS-2019 document. Applicants who obtain law school approval will receive a DS-2019 application along with the VSPA application. DS-2019 applications are processed after applicants secure VSPA approval. Processing of the DS-2019 application takes from 4 - 6 weeks.
Additional Information
Research
Upon payment of the Boalt Residence and UC Berkeley campus fees and the receipt of a campus CalNet ID card visiting scholars have access to a wealth of research services on the Berkeley campus using their CalNet ID and passphrase. Most important, they have full use of the law library's extensive collection of legal material, which includes US and other common law jurisdictions as well as the law of more than 100 jurisdictions of the world, and an extensive collection of international, comparative and human rights law. Visiting scholars may use the library any time the library is open. They may borrow any regularly circulating material from the law library and from most other campus libraries as well. In addition, visiting scholars can obtain passwords to both Lexis and Westlaw, the two most important legal research databases in the United States. With these passwords visiting scholars will have access to extensive collections of US primary legal materials, journals and reviews, treatises and practice material, as well as to international law, newspapers, and other periodicals. Visiting scholars also can print from Lexis and Westlaw for free.
Due to space and budget restrictions, the law school cannot provide offices or library carrels for visiting scholars. Visiting scholars may be able to consult with law school faculty members in their specialized field of study, and they may audit law school classes with the professor's permission. Be aware, however, that academic credit is not given for audited courses.
Computing and Other Support Services
There is wireless access throughout the law school, including the law library. Once visiting scholars have their CalNet ID and passphrase they may use their laptop computers anywhere in the law school and in many locations throughout the Berkeley campus. In addition, the law library has a number of computers that can be used to gain access to all databases licensed by the campus, as well as to .edu . .gov and .org sites. The law library’s computer labs and printers are for law students only and are not available for use by visiting scholars. There are, however, other computing labs on campus for use by visiting scholars.
A commercial, fee-based copying service is available in the law library. Visiting scholars should be aware that they may not use the law school's office photocopiers, nor do they have access to secretarial services, private telephones, fax or express mail services at the law school.
Living Expenses
Living costs for an individual scholar are at a minimum $1,600 per month. A married couple should expect to incur expenses of at least $2,100 per month, plus $200 per child. Proof of source funding, based on these amounts, are required for VSPA and J-1 visa approval.
Financial Aid
The law school does not have funds to assist visiting scholars with their living expenses. Nor does it have sufficient staff to aid visitors in securing outside funding. Positions as lecturers or faculty research assistants are limited to visiting scholars in extremely rare circumstances.
Housing
Visiting scholars may not occupy university-owned housing. Because of Berkeley's large student population and the limited supply of apartments and houses, it is extremely difficult to locate suitable housing after the school year begins. Renting a house or apartment for less than 10 or 12 months is often difficult. Visiting scholars, especially those who intend to bring families, should make housing arrangements in advance of their arrival. Local hotel accommodations are relatively expensive.
Visiting scholars may use the University Housing Office, located at 2401 Bowditch St. Berkeley. The office maintains lists of privately owned housing available in the Berkeley area. These lists are updated daily and may be consulted at the housing office after a visitor's arrival in Berkeley. The housing office charges a fee to use its lists. For more information, visit the office's website: www.housing.berkeley.edu or call (510) 642-3642. Private rental agencies also exist in Berkeley.
Health Insurance
Visiting scholars must either have adequate health insurance of their own or purchase health insurance through the university. For a detailed statement of the university's regulations, contact the health advisor at the Tang Center, 2222 Bancroft Way, 3rd Floor, (510) 642-8640. Website: http://www.uhs.berkeley.edu/vspd/visitingscholar.shtml Most often in the case of nonimmigrant aliens, health insurance is adequate only if: it covers at least $50,000 of medical services per accident or illness; it covers at least 75 percent of hospital and doctor's fees; and any deductible payable by the insured does not exceed $500. (See “Proof of Coverage Through Another Plan” on the above linked webpage for comprehensive requirements.) Visiting scholar's dependents must also be insured. Health insurance is available through the university at prices ranging from $55 - $141 per month for a single individual.
Parking
Visiting scholars may obtain a permit to use certain university parking lots at the parking office, located at 2535 Channing Way, Berkeley, (510) 642-4283, email: prktrans@uclink4.berkeley.edu. The cost is presently $36 for the permit itself, plus $5 per day or $53.50 per month to park.
Athletic Privileges
Visiting scholars may purchase a faculty/staff membership at the Recreational Sports Facility, located at 2301 Bancroft Way, (510) 642-7796. The cost is presently $123 per semester or $285 for an annual membership including summer. Monthly memberships are also available. Scholars may purchase a faculty/staff discount card to attend football or basketball games at the Athletic Ticket Office, located at 2223 Fulton Street.
Questions?
Please address all questions regarding the Visiting Scholars Program to the program’s email at visitingscholars@law.berkeley.edu.
