This information applies to entering LL.M and J.S.D. students for the 2023-2024 academic year only.
Entering 1L J.D. students should follow the 1L J.D. Student Checklist. Incoming transfer students should use the Checklist for Transfer J.D. Students. Continuing JD students should use the Continuing J.D. Student Checklist.
LL.M & J.S.D. Students (2023-2024)
- Read about costs
- Read about financial aid options available to LL.M and J.S.D students.
- Student loan borrowers, please see the information below:
- Educational Loans: If in need of educational loans, research options including federal student loans and private educational loans.
- Federal student loans are loans made by the U.S. federal government to citizens or eligible non-citizens of the United States.
- CONTACT THE BERKELEY LAW FINANCIAL AID OFFICE TO DETERMINE IF YOU WILL QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL STUDENT LOANS IN A GIVEN SEMESTER, DETERMINED BY YOUR ENROLLMENT TRACK AND REQUIRED UNITS FOR YOUR DEGREE.
- Private educational loans, also known as alternative loans, are loans made by a private bank or lending agency for educational purposes. International students will need a US co-signer in most, but not all, cases.
- Educational Loans: If in need of educational loans, research options including federal student loans and private educational loans.
- Payment options for those who are not borrowing student loans:
- Third-Party Sponsorship – If you are being sponsored by a third party, please see more information here
- Foreign Currency/Western Union Wire Transfer – See more information here on foreign payment and utilizing wire transfer through Western Union (a.k.a International Funds Transfer)
- Other payment options – If you are not utilizing student loans, a third-party sponsor, or foreign funds, you can pay your tuition directly in three ways: credit card, electronic check, or check. It is strongly encouraged to pay only the due amount, and not any amount over the due amount. 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.
- 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 2023 and Spring 2024, submit the 2023-24 FAFSA.
- LL.M. executive track: Submit two FAFSA applications. For example, if you will be attending for spring 2024, summer 2024, and fall 2024, submit the 2023-24 FAFSA for spring and summer financial aid eligibility and the 2024-25 FAFSA for fall 2024 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.
- If you are in the LL.M. executive track 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.
- 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.
- I-94: For more information on your I-94, please contact BIO (Berkeley International Office). Their contact information can be found here.
- Work Opportunities: If you’re interested in working while in the U.S. during or after your program, please reach out to BIO and find more information here. 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 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. Visit our FAQ page for more information.
- 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? Visit our FAQ page for guidance.
- 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 below). If you are on the hybrid track, the loans are paid out over the course of two terms only (spring and summer). Therefore, you will receive funds for the fall within your spring and summer disbursements, and it will be your responsibility to ensure a plan for the fall bill.
- 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.
- Complete Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Note(s) if borrowing the Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford 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. On the other hand, Master Promissory Notes must be completed for each loan type.
- Allow 1-2 weeks for processing After finishing your academic year, please complete the Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov.
- You will receive an email reminder for this. If you are in a two-summer LL.M. program, you will need to complete this twice (after your first summer and after your second summer).
- Loan repayment: See information on when repayment begins here for the Direct PLUS Loan and here for the Unsubsidized Loan. Generally, repayment begins six months after you leave school, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment. *Executive LL.M students, keep in mind that your fall semester may fall below half-time enrollment; therefore, your six-month grace period begins after the summer semester finishes. For the most up-to-date information, you can contact us or your student loan lender (which you can find at studentaid.gov).
- 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 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 below)
- Check your CalCentral account 1-2 weeks after your lender sends Berkeley the loan certification request
- Sign up for Electronic Funds Transfer to get your 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, about a 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.
- Need help viewing your bill? See detailed instructions on our FAQ page.
- 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.