This information applies to entering LL.M and J.S.D. students for the 2025-2026 academic year only.
LL.M & J.S.D. Students (2025-2026)
- Read about costs
- Read about available financial aid resources to LL.M and J.S.D students.
- Student loan borrowers, please contact the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office to determine if you will qualify for federal student loans in a given semester, determined by your citizenship status, enrollment track and required units for your degree.
- Payment options for those who are not borrowing student loans:
- Third-Party Contract/Sponsorship (TPC) – If you are sponsored by a third party, review the overview of TPCs for more details.
- Foreign Currency Payments – Learn more about foreign payments by visiting International Payments.
- Other payment options – If you are not utilizing student loans, a third-party sponsor, or foreign funds (e.g., you plan to pay tuition out of a U.S. bank account), you can pay your tuition via credit card, electronic check, or check. Detailed information on these payment methods is available on the Payments and Billing page.
- Please note: Paying more than the due amount will cause over-funding, and those funds will be subject to a 2-3 week hold before they can be returned to the student. It is strongly encouraged to pay only the due amount, and not any amount over the due amount.
- If you are receiving a partial scholarship, please only pay the amount due minus the amount of your scholarship, leaving enough of a balance for your scholarship to apply toward. Scholarships are meant for tuition and fees, and may not refund if there is a $0 balance due.
- Federal student loan borrowers:
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Be certain to list “UC Berkeley” and include our school code: #001312
- LL.M. traditional track, and J.S.D. students: Submit one FAFSA application for the academic year. For example, if you will attend Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, submit the 2025-2026 FAFSA.
- LL.M. executive track: Submit two FAFSA applications. For example, if you will be attending for spring 2025, summer 2025, and fall 2025, submit the 2024-25 FAFSA for spring and summer financial aid eligibility and the 2025-26 FAFSA for fall 2025 eligibility. *PLEASE NOTE: You must be enrolled at least half-time (defined by Berkeley as 6 credit units) to qualify for federal student loans. Also, these courses must go toward your degree completion requirements. Therefore, please plan accordingly for the fall semester, as you may not qualify for federal student loans during this semester. It is highly recommended that you schedule an appointment with the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office to discuss further.
- If you are in the LL.M. Executive Track Remote + Summer option and you are enrolled in at least half-time in the fall semester, notify the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office after you have completed the FAFSA by emailing financial-aid-law@berkeley.edu.
- While Federal student loan offers will not appear on CalCentral until approximately one month prior to the start of your first semester, students who submit the FAFSA and are eligible for federal student loans can typically expect to be offered student loans up to the cost of attendance.
- Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
- Private educational loan borrowers:
- Notify the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office that you have applied, or will be applying, for a private loan by emailing financial-aid-law@berkeley.edu.
- Most lenders require the school to certify the loan prior to sending funds to the school, so please allow 5-8 weeks for processing.
- Private loans cannot be certified for an amount greater than the estimated Cost of Attendance for the term minus other gift aid/scholarships.
- Payment options for those who are not borrowing student loans:
- Third-Party Contract/Sponsorship (TPC) – If you are sponsored by a third party, review the overview of TPCs for more details.
- Foreign Currency Payments – Learn more about foreign payments by visiting International Payments.
- Other payment options – If you are not utilizing student loans, a third-party sponsor, or foreign funds (e.g., you plan to pay tuition out of a U.S. bank account), you can pay your tuition via credit card, electronic check, or check. Detailed information on these payment methods is available on the Payments and Billing page.
- Please note: Paying more than the due amount will cause over-funding, and those funds will be subject to a 2-3 week hold before they can be returned to the student. It is strongly encouraged to pay only the due amount, and not any amount over the due amount.
- If you are receiving a partial scholarship, please only pay the amount due minus the amount of your scholarship, leaving enough of a balance for your scholarship to apply toward. Scholarships are meant for tuition and fees, and may not refund if there is a $0 balance due.
- Work Opportunities: International students interested in working while in the U.S. during or after your program, please reach out to BIO to find more information.
- Federal work-study is not available to international students unless you are eligible to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – meaning you are a U.S. Citizen or eligible non-citizen.
- Federal student loan borrowers:
- Check your CalCentral account 1-2 weeks after submitting the FAFSA.
- You may be asked to provide proof of eligibility for federal student aid, including but not limited to, proof of US citizenship or permanent residency.
- Submit the requested information as soon as possible and allow 2-3 weeks for processing.
- Accept any loans you wish to borrow
- On CalCentral, you will be able to indicate how much you want to accept. Be sure to consider the origination fees (processing fee) for federal loans in your calculations. For example, if you want $10,000 applied to your balance, you will want to accept over $10,000 because the origination fee is deducted from the loan before it’s applied to your account.
- You can accept less than the offered amount, which is your maximum current eligibility. If you accept less than the maximum amount offered to you, you have until the end of the term to accept an additional amount. For LL.M traditional track and J.S.D students, loans accepted are split evenly between the fall and spring semesters.
- Not sure how many loans you need?
- Federal student loans are paid out on a term basis directly to your fees bill, typically a week prior to the start of the term. If you do not have a remaining balance, you may be eligible for a refund (see “All Students” below).
- Processing of the Graduate PLUS Loan, including the credit check, typically occurs a few weeks prior to the start of the term. If not approved for the Graduate PLUS loan due to adverse credit history you will be notified via email and have the option of seeking an endorser/appealing.
- Please note that the Graduate PLUS Loan will be eliminated on July 1, 2026.
- Complete Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note(s) if borrowing the Federal Direct Unsubsidized or Graduate PLUS Loans
- Must be completed online at studentaid.gov before the loans can disburse and pay towards your bill or be refunded to you.
- Entrance counseling only needs to be completed once for both the Unsubsidized and Graduate PLUS Loans.
- Master Promissory Notes must be completed separately for each loan type.
- Upon LL.M. Program completion, please complete the Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov.
- Federal loans can be reduced/returned within 120 days of the date of disbursement. If returned within this timeframe, origination fees and interest will be refunded on the amount returned. Simply submit a Loan Modification Request Form, and the Berkeley Law Financial Aid office will complete the request within approximately one week. You will have a balance due in your CalCentral account for the amount you want to reduce/return, and you will be required to make the payment to complete the return/reduction request. *Loan reductions/returns can take up to 6 months or more to reflect in your studentaid.gov account.
- Loan repayment: Generally, repayment begins six months after you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment.
- *Remote + Summer Executive LL.M students, keep in mind that if your fall semester enrollment falls below half-time, your six-month grace period will begin after the summer semester finishes. For the most up-to-date information, you can review loan repayment information on the studentaid.gov website, or contact your student loan lender (can be found by logging into your studentaid.gov account).
- Check your CalCentral account 1-2 weeks after submitting the FAFSA.
- Private educational loan borrowers:
- Check your CalCentral account 1-2 weeks after your lender sends Berkeley the loan certification request
- Certified loans should appear on CalCentral, under My Finances. Contact the Berkeley Law Financial Aid Office if you have any concerns.
- Allow 2-4 weeks for funds to reach the Berkeley Financial Aid Office after the loan has been certified.
- Loans are paid out on a term basis directly to your fees bill, typically a week prior to the start of the term. If you do not have a remaining balance, you may be eligible for a refund (see “All Students” below).
- Make sure to complete all Financial Aid Tasks on CalCentral. Uncompleted tasks may hold up loan disbursement.
- Check your CalCentral account 1-2 weeks after your lender sends Berkeley the loan certification request
- Berkeley Law Gift Aid Recipients:
- If you are receiving a partial scholarship, please only pay the amount due minus the amount of your scholarship, leaving enough of a balance for your scholarship to apply toward. Scholarships are meant for tuition and fees, and may not refund if there is a $0 balance due.
- Sign up for Direct Deposit, should you be receiving a refund
- After financial aid applies to your tuition, fees, and university charges, if there are funds left over, you may receive a refund to use for indirect expenses like books, rent, and travel.
- The earliest financial aid refunds are available in the first week of classes of each semester.
- If you do not sign up for Direct Deposit, your check will be mailed to you at the address you have in Cal Student Central.
- Direct Deposit is recommended to avoid delays in getting your refund at the beginning of the term.
- Refunds for international students
- International students expecting a refund must sign and complete the Foreign Bank Authorization Form and return it to mybill@berkeley.edu.
- Check your bill and refund status on CalCentral
- Official billing statements will be available online through CalCentral approximately one month before classes begin, if you are enrolled at that time.
- Detailed billing information can be found on CalCentral under the My Finances Tab. Click on “View Transactions” next to Billing Summary and change the filter to “Show All”. This is where you can view your charges and credits, like grants, scholarships, loans, tuition waivers, veterans benefits payments, third-party billing payments, etc.
- Make sure you’ve completed all of your tasks on CalCentral and don’t have any holds.
- After you’re enrolled in classes, accepted financial aid for that term will disburse directly to your fees bill around the first week of classes.
- Determine if you will be waiving SHIP and submit a waiver by the deadline. This fee will otherwise be automatically assessed and be part of your semester fees bill.