FAQ

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the average cost for one academic year. Each year the Haas Financial Aid Office provides an estimate of tuition and fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and personal expenses as the basis for determining financial aid eligibility during the 9-month academic year.

Yes, the COA includes allowances for housing, food, transportation and personal expenses in addition to allowances for tuition and fees, health insurance, books, and living expenses for the student.

The COA includes allowances for student expenses only. However, if you find that the estimates do not adequately reflect your living expenses, you may submit a COA Adjustment Request form to increase your budget. Costs related to dependents that may be considered for a COA Adjustment include the cost of childcare expenses.

Most awarding decisions will be released at the same time as admissions decisions. Students are encouraged to complete supplemental applications by the Priority Review Dates noted in the scholarships section of the admissions applications. Prioriy Decision dates are scheduled so that you will know the results of most scholarships prior to the program deposit deadline. Students who miss the deadline will still have their applications reviewed, however, decisions are rolling and not guaranteed in time for your deposit due date.

Yes, most of our scholarships for entering students are open to both international and domestic students.

Though this changes from year to year, historically approximately 50% of students entering the Full-Time MBA receive a scholarship. The criteria for each award varies. For example, some awards look at a student’s commitment to social impact, others entrepreneurial spirit or one’s proven ability to promote diversity.

Awards are given to students who best meet a scholarship’s criteria, some of which include supplemental steps. Berkeley Haas uses the admissions application as the primary source to determine merit awards. Need-based awards require additional action. .We provide a list of Outside Scholarships for opportunities outside of Haas.

We strongly encourage prospective students, for whom scholarships are a major decision factor, to apply for admission sooner rather than later. Funding for some scholarships is limited and will be fully awarded early in the financial aid cycle. While some opportunities may be closed after round 1, historically, round 2 has had a similar number of opportunities available. Fewer opportunities have been available for round 3.

While you cannot resubmit your application, your application remains available for review should additional funding becomes available. If you are later selected for an award, we will notify you via email.

Students can complete the FAFSA as early as October, but should do so no later than the following July prior to the start of classes. Doing so will ensure that funds are received by the University and applied towards fees by the fall due dates.

Yes, Haas has secured multiple loan options for international students that do not require a co-signer. These loans are referred to as “risk-share” loans. The current borrowing capacity for the risk-share loan options is $62,000 per academic year. The lending market has other non-Haas affiliated options that may have better rates and terms. Students are encouraged to shop for lenders that best suit their needs before making a decision.

Risk-share loans are intended for those unable to secure a financing option without the use of a co-signer or through international lenders such as Prodigy Finance. These lenders will have varying qualifications (e.g., credit check), loan terms and loan maximums and as such funding may be limited. If you are approved for a loan with one of these lenders you may not borrow a risk-share loan as the risk-share loans are intended for those unable to secure other financing options that meet their needs.

Both federal and private loan funds will disburse directly to the University approximately 10 days prior to the start of the term. Please note that half of the loan funds will disburse in fall and half in the spring.

You must first contact your local VA Office to obtain a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COA). We recommend students contact our office once they have accepted admission to begin the process.

Numerous Graduate Student Instructorships (GSI’s) are available to second-year students, however, you can apply for a GSI position in the spring of your fist year if you have significant training in a specialized area.

For the 2016-2017 academic year, the fee remission for a 25% appointment is $8,220 which covers the University Registration Fee, Educational Fee, and the Health Insurance Fee. If you have paid these fees in full using your own resources or loans, the $8,220 will be refunded to you. However, fee remissions will not be paid to students as a refund if fees are being covered by outside sources.

If your fees are paid by a government agency, foundation, employer, or other outside organization, it is your responsibility to ensure that payment of fees is properly credited. Please have the third party email the Billing Office at [email protected] with an authorization letter on company letterhead.

Alumni are eligible to participate at any point within 15 years of graduation. Our application cycle is semi annual with applications due January 15th and July 15th. Most May graduates submit an application July 15th of the following year, maximizing their six-month grace period. Please complete the Sign-Up form to receive a notification from the Haas Financial Aid Office when the application cycle becomes available.

Alumni who are employed by a foreign organization, or an international nonprofit organization can apply for participation in the Haas LRAP, however, eligibility is determined on a case by case basis.