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Finances

Financing Graduate Education at Berkeley

 

PhD Funding

The Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering requires faculty advisors and PhD students to map out funding plans that meet the targets below. These funding streams can be through any combination of internal/external fellowships, research grants, scholarships, internal employment, or external employment positions. This financial support plan should consists of an annual income for 12 months, full tuition and fees for Fall and Spring semesters, and health/dental insurance coverage. This level of support will be provided for up to 5 years, or until completion of the PhD, whichever comes first, and is contingent upon successful academic and research progress.

As of the 2023-2024 academic year, CEE has agreed to the following funding targets (50% fall/spring + 100% summer) for CEE PhD students:. 

Year 1* - 12 months - $40000 

Year 2* - 12 months - $43500 

Year 3* and beyond - 12 months - $46500

*Years of experience are calculated from the first year a student is officially admitted to the PhD program. This is independent from employment steps which are based on work experience. As of Fall 2023, The department no longer increases salary based on academic achievements.

Masters Funding

CEE strives to support Master's students where possible. In most cases, any student financial support awarded would be listed in the admissions letter. Students with additional financial needs should consider employment opportunities on this page or speak with their advisor to explore other financial resources, such as the basic needs center, financial aid office, and annual fellowship or grant opportunities. 

 

GRADUATE STUDENT EMPLOYMENT

For all official campus resources, policies, salary tables, and process for student employment please see the Graduate Divisions' Academic Student Employment Website. 

  • Students may apply to ASE positions in any department.  
  • Students on F-1 or J-1 visas may not be appointed for more than 50% (or 20 hours) total for all of their combined appointments on campus. This includes any and ALL reader, TA and GSR appointments.
  • Domestic students are also limited to 50% (or 20 hours) total for all of their combined appointments on campus. Rare exceptions can be made for Domestic PhD students who have advanced to candidacy.
  • Students in GSR, TA, or reader roles of 25% or more are eligible for residential tuition & fee remission.

 

Teaching Assistants (TA)

Teaching Assistants, formerly known as Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) are chosen for their excellence in scholarship and for their promise as a teacher. GSIs (Graduate Student Instructors) are registered UC Berkeley graduate students who lead discussion sections and/or serve as an assistant instructor during lecture. Duties include teaching, grading, proctoring, holding office hours, and meeting with the instructor to consult on the class throughout the term. As GSIs provide instruction, they are required to attend trainings and must be included in the Instructor Evaluation Process. 

  • Students may not serve as a TA in courses in which they are currently enrolled.
  • Students cannot serve as a TA and a Reader at the same time for the same course. 
  • TA's cannot work more than 50% in a fall or spring semester.  
  • Students with full fellowships may not work more than 50% during an academic year.  
  • Only PhD students who have advanced to candidacy may TA for 200 level courses. 

GSI applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • No more than 2 Incomplete grades
  • Must not be on probation or in lapsed candidacy status
  • Enrolled in 12 units
  • Fully registered by the end of the third week of classes
  • Must confirm English Language Proficiency 
  • First time TA's:
    • Must be enrolled or have taken CIVENG 375 or an equivalent 375 course on campus.
    • Have attended the Teaching Conference for First Time GSI's and if applicable the Teaching in the US Classroom conference for F-1 and J-1 students. 

Appointment period: 

  • Fall: August 1 and end December 31. 
  • Spring: January 1 and end on May 31.
  • Summer: Varies by Summer session schedule
Reader

Readers assist with grading homework assignments and examinations. Specific duties may include attendance at lectures, holding office hours and meetings with GSIs and instructor(s) to discuss the class throughout the term. Readers CANNOT be assigned teaching duties.

  • Students may not serve as a Reader in courses in which they are currently enrolled.
  • Students cannot serve as a TA and a Reader at the same time for the same course. 
  • Readers cannot work more than 50% in a fall or spring semester.  
  • Students with full fellowships may not work more than 50% during an academic year.  
  • Only PhD students who have advanced to candidacy may be a reader for 200 level courses. 

Reader applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • No more than 2 Incomplete grades in upper division and graduate courses
  • Must not be on probation or in lapsed candidacy status
  • Minimum grade of "B" in the course for which they are reading or an equivalent course
  • Enrolled in 12 units by the third week of classes, or an exception would be required.

Appointment period: 

  • first day of the semester until the final day of the semester.
  • Summer: Varies by Summer session schedule

The Application

TA/Reader application process
  1. All GSI and Reader appointments are made at the department level.
  2. The application is posted in October and April, and should be completed within two weeks for optimal chances for employment. 
  3. All employment must be processed 30 days before the start date to ensure timely pay.
  4. If a faculty member promised you a TA/Reader position, you still must submit the online application. In this case, you should also indicate on the application which faculty member promised you the position, and the number of hours promised. Your communication with the faculty member and Program Leader will be confirmed and the the offer letter processed accordingly.  Verbal or email offers from hiring faculty or staff are not considered official offers.
  5. Faculty choose TAs and Readers from this pool of applicants. If you are chosen as a TA or a Reader, the Academic Affairs Office will e-mail to you the course name, hours, salary, etc.  If you accept the offer (via the online system), you will need to attend an Engineering Research Support Office (ERSO) Human Resources Orientation to fill out the necessary paperwork.  You are not officially hired and MAY NOT begin work until the Human Resources Unit processes the paperwork. 
  6. By submitting an application you agree that you meet the requirements for a TA or Reader position. If you submit an application and fail to meet these requirements, your application will be rejected.
  7. If you are receiving a fee remission, you are still responsible for paying your fees in a timely manner. Your funds will be reimbursed.
  8. Applications will be processed on an ongoing basis until all the appointments have been successfully filled. For payment in first salary cycle, you must have signed your hiring paperwork by July 31 for Fall and December 1 for Spring. 
Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) is often referred to as Research Assistant at other universities. Any graduate student at UC Berkeley is eligible to work as a GSR. GSR positions are usually prioritized for PhD students. 

  • A GSR, students cannot work more than 50% in the fall or spring semesters. During the winter, spring, and summer breaks, students may work up to 100% time.
  • A GSR performs research broadly related to the degree program in an academic department or research unit under the direction of a faculty member or authorized Principal Investigator. GSRs do not perform teaching, administrative, or general assistance duties.
  • All GSR appointments are made at the department or research unit level. Students should check with their faculty adviser about being appointed as a GSR. Students should also consider contacting other departments or research units allied with their field of study, or their previous education or teaching experience.

GSR applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  • Minimum 3.0 GPA
  • No more than 2 Incomplete grades
  • Must not be on probation or in lapsed candidacy status
  • Registered in the semester during which the GSR appointment is held
  • Enrolled in 12 units by the third week of classes

Application Process

  • Contact a faculty member directly for any open Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) positions.  
  • Once you have an agreement with a faculty member, who will then become your research adviser, you need to complete the GSR Appointment Request. 
  • Once your faculty advisor approves your appointment ERSO will contact you in order to complete hire paperwork.  

Fee Remission 

If the GSR appointment meets certain criteria, a portion, or all, of the student's fees will be paid for.  This benefit is called a fee remission. In addition, GSRs with appointments that are at least 45% time may be eligible for coverage of their non-resident tuition through tuition remission.  If you are eligible for fee remission, it takes 2 weeks to process after you sign the hiring paperwork.

Fellowships

Departmental Fellowships

  • The Department has over 100 endowments and fellowships that are used to fund graduate study. 
  • All CEE graduate students are consider for fellowships at the admissions process. 
  • Ad hoc nomination/application processes for current students are announced via the CEE Graduate Student Newsletter and through our listserv.

University Fellowships

  • A full list of University administered fellowships, including the NSFGRFP, can be found here.

External Fellowships

  • Coming Soon.