Transfer Edge is a specially designed program for those who have been admitted as transfer students to UC Berkeley for the coming fall. This program gives you an early start on your Berkeley experience by offering the opportunity
- to take popular required courses, as well as courses in your major ahead of most incoming students
- learn about the campus and its many resources before fall semester through our orientations and workshops
- build community with your peers through socials and programming events.
Transfer Edge participants not only get a head start on their Berkeley careers but also save money by paying a more affordable per-unit summer rate for their courses.
Eligible students who have been admitted to UC Berkeley can register for Transfer Edge through their CalCentral My Dashboard page Tasks section.
"I am so grateful to have gained a much broader knowledge of the resources offered by UC Berkeley. Initially, I felt like it would be difficult to find a community and to find help when needed, but I now feel more confident in knowing that there is plenty of support out there."
-Transfer Edge Participant
Have a question?
- Email us at [email protected]
- Virtual advising options
- FAQ Help Center
Students who opt-in to Transfer Edge will be able to browse and choose from hundreds of courses in the Berkeley Class Schedule, taking place in any of the summer sessions (A-F). Using the Class Schedule, students can sort summer courses by breadth requirements, session, course level, and much more to narrow down course options. Transfer students are able to take lower division and upper division courses; just note that for upper division courses students must meet any necessary prerequisite requirements. Courses will be predominantly in-person, however there are roughly 100 online courses available as well. Students may enroll in any summer session, however, programming activities and workshops for Transfer Edge students will primarily take place during Sessions C and D. Note: Enrollment in Summer Sessions courses is on a first-come, first-served basis.
After opting-in to Transfer Edge through your CalCentral task, your summer enrollment card in CalCentral will be activated within 12 hours. To check if your summer enrollment has been activated, log on to the My Academics page of your CalCentral account and see if the summer term appears. Once the summer term populates, you are able to enroll in courses via CalCentral. We recommend that students enroll in no more than two courses during Transfer Edge. Summer courses are the equivalent of semester length courses, generally condensed into a 6 or 8 week session. Students can expect these courses to run at a quick pace and cover the same amount of material they would in a full semester.To be eligible for summer financial aid, you are required to enroll in a minimum of six units (typically two courses). Please check with the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office for more information).
When considering which classes to take, it may be helpful to review the general undergraduate graduation requirements. Each college and school within UC Berkeley has its own requirements. Check with your specific college, school, and/or major for further details. If you are enrolling in a course for your intended major, you must take that course for a letter grade.
Once you have opted into the Transfer Edge Program, you can go to the Cal Student Store website and follow the appropriate links for the summer term and courses in which you are enrolled to access a list of both required and recommended books for your class/es. Information regarding textbooks for your summer courses can also be found by clicking on the course title in the My Academics tab of your CalCentral account.
Through Transfer Edge, students can also begin taking coursework toward a Summer Minor! Summer Minors allow students the opportunity to pursue a unique subject of interest as a complement to their primary focus of study. Upon completion of the five courses, they will earn a minor on their transcript and be able to demonstrate a breadth of knowledge that can help them stand out from the crowd. The majority of these exciting programs also offer a $1,500 scholarship to all UC Berkeley students who complete the minor in one or two summers.
"The Transfer Edge program gave me the chance to become more acclimated with the demanding coursework at Cal. I believe the transition can be rigorous for most when going from a Community College to a four year university. The program gave me the opportunity to flourish in my summer class and become prepared for the Fall classes I'm taking now."
-Transfer Edge Participant
Transfer Specific Programs
Haas PreCore Students: Transfer students who have accepted their offer of admission to Haas are invited to participate in the Haas Summer PreCore Program. Your first step is to opt-in to Transfer Edge. After your registration with Transfer Edge is processed (24-48 hours), you will need to visit the Haas New Transfer Website for next steps regarding Haas Summer Pre-Core enrollment. This website will be sent to you directly by Haas Undergraduate Admissions. Please reach out to a Haas Academic Counselor at [email protected] with any questions regarding enrollment.
Transfer Transition Program Students: Students notified of their acceptance to the Transfer Transition Program (TTP) should subsequently opt-in to Transfer Edge and enroll in their 6 units of TTP coursework as detailed here. If you have any further questions regarding TTP coursework, please contact TTP Coordinator, Luisa Giulianetti ([email protected]).
Physics Pre-Core Transfer Summer Program Students: The Physics Pre-Core Transfer Summer Program is designed specifically to help prospective and newly admitted transfer students strengthen their skills to transition successfully into physics, astrophysics, and earth and planetary science (EPS) majors at UC Berkeley. To participate in the program, you will first need to opt-in to Transfer Edge. After your registration with Transfer Edge is processed (24-48 hours), please log onto the Berkeley Pre-Core Transfer Summer Program website and follow the enrollment directions. If you have any further questions regarding Pre-Core coursework, please contact [email protected].
Transfer Connect – Mentorship Program
All Transfer Edge students are invited and encouraged to enroll in Transfer Connect, a one-unit course that will help you build community and confidence as you begin your time at Cal. Transfer Connect is a version of the popular Berkeley Connect mentoring program, specially designed just for Transfer Edge students. Through Transfer Connect, you will be matched with a UC Berkeley graduate student who will be your mentor for the summer and placed in a small group of transfer student peers who will meet weekly for discussions facilitated by your mentor. Through one-on-one and group mentoring, you will start to build your support network and chart your path at Berkeley. Students report that Berkeley Connect mentoring helps them connect with other students and with professors increases their understanding of the research university and their awareness of resources available on campus, and boosts their sense of belonging at UC Berkeley. To sign up for Transfer Connect, log into CalCentral and enroll in any section of English 198BC during Summer Session D (be aware that two sections of Transfer Connect will be held remotely). For questions about Transfer Connect, email [email protected].
"The best part of Transfer Connect was getting to know people who are transferring in just like me with the same anxieties and fears that I have. It's good to know I'm not alone!" - Transfer Connect 2021 Participant
"I enjoyed Transfer Connect, as it allowed us to access the expertise of a great mentor. We were able to meet other students and learn from their unique perspectives. I had a great time learning about how to better transition to Berkeley." - Transfer Connect 2020 Participant
In addition to the academic component, Transfer Edge is a great opportunity for new Berkeley transfer students to gain a better understanding of various campus resources ahead of most students and get a head start on building their Berkeley community, making the most of their time at Berkeley. The program offers online pre-program and welcome webinars designed to orient students, provide academic and mental health resources, access academic advising and share tips on course selection. Participants also have access to a series of online workshops designed to familiarize students with various campus resources and opportunities, and a variety of in-person socials where students can connect with their peers and program alumni.
"My favorite part of the Transfer Edge program was finding community, and getting to know the campus and the resources it offers. It has brought reassurance and an incredible support system." - Transfer Connect 2020 Participant
Summer 2024 Housing Update
Cal Housing is happy to announce that all students who would like to live in Berkeley over the summer during their Transfer Edge Program are welcome to reside in on-campus residence halls. Cal Housing encourages all interested Transfer Edge students to apply in early 2024!
COVID-19 Policies: If you live in campus housing during the summer, you will be required to adhere to public health policies designed to reduce transmission of COVID-19.
University HousingNothing compares to living on campus to help you fully experience University life. You will have the option of living in Blackwell Hall or your own accommodations during summer. Space in Blackwell Hall is being held especially for Transfer Edge students, but you must apply for housing individually through the online Summer Housing Application Portal. Because space is limited, we recommend that you apply for housing early in order to ensure the best chance to secure a housing offer.
Blackwell Hall offers double-occupancy rooms, in a large, secure housing complex conveniently located just one block from campus. The entire building is equipped with wireless internet and amenities, including central bathrooms and lounges on every floor, an Academic Center, Fitness Center, and a main lounge with comfortable furnishings for relaxing. Live-in Residential Life staff will also provide community development activities and social programs.
Your housing includes a robust meal plan, and dining is offered nearby at the Cafe 3 dining hall facility featuring all-you-care-to-eat meals with a wide variety of cuisines. The meal points provided with your Summer Sessions Housing meal plan may also be used to purchase a la carte food items at any open retail location on campus.
You may find out more about the residence halls, including when and how to reserve a space, move-in dates, and cost on the Berkeley Summer housing website.
International House
International House (I-House) is located in the southeast foothills of the Berkeley campus. It is within walking distance of the central campus classrooms and libraries, recreational facilities, and Berkeley commercial areas. You will live with a diverse group of residents, including graduate students, teachers, visiting scholars, and exchange students from around the world.
I-House provides a variety of areas for work and recreation, including a library and computer center. There are study lounges on every floor, a dining commons which offers 19 meals per week, and a small café.
Other Housing Options
For information about other housing options, including off-campus opportunities, visit the University Housing website for information about Cal Rentals, and the Berkeley Student Cooperative to explore co-ops.
Summer housing is offered through the Summer Housing office, not through the Transfer Edge program. Please refer all questions regarding housing to the Summer Housing office ([email protected]).
Read FAQs about applying for Summer Housing as a Transfer Edge student.
Transfer Edge students pay UC Berkeley undergraduate tuition of $419 per unit. There are no registration fees or program fees, and there are no out-of-state or international fees for Transfer Edge participants.
In addition, all UC students pay a one-time only campus fee of $434, which covers the cost of ASUC and other student services.
All UC students not registered on the Berkeley campus for Spring 2024 also pay $52.50 for the 2024 Class Pass, which allows free access to all AC Transit buses and campus shuttles.
You do not pay at the time that you apply for the program. You will receive a bill for your summer fees and a second bill for your fall fees that will appear on your Cal Central My Finances page under Billing Summary. After you register for courses, you should log-in to CalCentral, and click on View Transaction under Billing Summary on the My Finances tab. There, you’ll see that your summer tuition and fees have been posted to your account following your registration, as well as the date the tuition and fees are due.
For more information about fees and the Summer Sessions refund policy please go to our Fees and/or Refund Policy page.
Financial aid is available for eligible students. Students must submit BOTH the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 FAFSA or the California Dream Act application to determine financial aid eligibility for Summer 2024. Visit Financial Aid for additional details.
Fees are subject to change.
Please Note: Eligible students that opt-in to Transfer Edge must remain matriculated at Berkeley to be eligible for the UC tuition and fee rates. If there is a change to your admission status, please contact the Office of the Registrar & Office of Undergraduate Admissions to understand how this may impact your summer tuition and fees, as well as other implications.
Apply for Financial Aid
To apply for financial aid, you will need to complete both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than June 1, 2024, and include UC Berkeley's federal school code (001312) on the applications. Dream Act students should complete both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 California Dream Act Application no later than June 1, 2024 and include UC Berkeley's federal school code (001312) on the applications.
Note: We strongly encourage families to use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool to ensure the accuracy of your application information. Please visit Financial Aid for more information.
To Apply for Summer Aid:
- Complete the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 FAFSA or Dream Act Application no later than June 1, 2024. Completing the FAFSA or Dream Act Application, along with your summer enrollment, allows the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office to determine your aid eligibility for the summer term on the UC Berkeley campus.
- Enroll in a minimum of six units for summer.
- Login to Cal Central (CalNet ID required) two to three business days after enrolling in your courses. Under My Finances, select 2023-24 from the drop down menu under Financial Aid and Scholarships and click View Awards.
- Review your Communications and Tasks to ensure that we have received your 2023-24 FAFSA or Dream Act Application and that you have submitted all required documents.
- You can also review your financial aid awards and Cost of Attendance for summer on this page as well.