Berkeley International Study Program (BISP) STUDY ABROAD - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

Berkeley International Study Program (BISP)

Welcome to Berkeley

• Your Berkeley Experiences Are Awaiting…

BISP Study Abroad Agreem ent

• Study for one or two terms
• Take courses in Sociology only
• Must take at least 15 units which

equals 30 ECTS points

• Enrollment is on a space

availability basis, and we make space available for our visitors!

Study Plan - Courses

• Take 4 classes (each class with 3 or 4 units) for 15

units minimum = 30 ECTS points.

• Typical course load is 4 courses: 4+4+4+3
• Types of Sociology classes:

○ Relevant subjects for many majors: Social Sciences,

Business, Economics, Culture Studies, Health, and more

○ Writing practice: Writing Research, MA Writing course ○ Sociological Methods: Quantitative Methods, Research

Design, Interviewing Methods

What Classes are Like

• Medium to Large in Size (50 – as many as 300 students)
• In-Class experience may vary and depends on the

instructor’s teaching style

• Many topics to choose from
• Some have required discussion sections

○ Discussion sections are additional class sessions that are more

intimate due to smaller classroom size.

○ It is often taught by a Graduate Student Instructor.

• Different assignments may include, but are not limited to

exams, short reading memos, paper(s), group project(s), and presentations.

Berkeley International Study Program

UC Berkeley Extension (UNEX) International Concurrent Enrollm ent

• Main Contact: Rachel Marquez

bispinsoc@berkeley.edu

• Provides:

○

Invitation to study at Berkeley

○

Study Agreement

○

Courses and Instructor approval

○

Integration and orientation

• pportunities

○

Advising on courses, adjustment to life at Berkeley, special studies, personal issues affecting studies at Cal, activities.

○

Peer mentorship program for visiting students

• Main Contact: Olga Paly
• paly@berkeley.edu
• Provides:

○

Approval for foreign study at Berkeley and paperwork for VISA.

○

Fee payment processing

○

Health Insurance, unless waived

○

Registration website to enroll in courses

○

Verification of student status

○

Transcript of record with grades

○

Advising on: International CE application, student VISA, fee payments, course enrollment, CalNet ID and verification of student status

How it Works Two Offices Involved at UCB

Fees and Costs

Item Cost NOK

• 1. Course fees $750 per unit x 15

$11,250 96785

• 2. Fees to UC Extension

$575 4947

• 6. Estimated Living Cost

$10,500 90333

• 7. Additional Expenses (Travel, Books,

Shopping, etc.) $2000 17206 Total Estimate: $24,325 NOK 209270 Financial Assistance State loan organization, Laanekasse, provides loan to cover most of the living cost and almost all of the course fees. Provides additional stipend for UC Berkeley tuition, and adjustments for value of the NOK when converting to USD. Bachelor students have approximately 50% of costs converted to scholarship when passing all courses at Berkeley, and Master students have approximately 70% of costs converted to scholarship.

Where Should I Live?

• Different Types of Housing Available:

○ Shared Apartment

• Berkeley Apartments (http:/ / berkeleyapt.com/ )
• See housing options for completed list.

○ Dormitory Style

• International House (http:/ / ihouse.berkeley.edu)
• Telegraph Common (http:/ / www.telegraphcommons.com/ )

○ With a Family

• StudentLink International (www.istudentlink.com)
• USH (http:/ / www.ushstudent.com/ )

Craigslist & Facebook

• Craigslist

○ Sfbay.craigslist.org → Search under Housing → Select room

share, apartment, house, single, etc…

○ Area Select: East Bay → Berkeley ○ Put down maximum price ○ Click on Google Map to find the location.

• Facebook

○ For students who are looking for roommates, both Berkeley

and Visiting students in Sociology (https:/ / www.facebook.com/ groups/ 269983156445188/ )

Common Places Visiting Students Live

• Campanile Court
• Library Gardens
• Fine Arts Building
• I-House

Cultural Peer Mentors

• Provide guidance, resources, and support to help

international students

• Plan small/ large events throughout the semester.
• Provide new students with an “international buddy”
• r cultural informant to help them navigate the

nuances of American culture.

Events

• BISP Annual Scavenger Hunt
• BBQ’s in the fall and spring
• Oakland Museum of California
• Cal Football Tickets
• S.F. Bike Trip Across Golden Gate
• Hiking
• And More!
• You will be assigned a mentor at the beginning of the

semester & have the option to participate

Join Student Groups!

Making the Most of Your Experiences at Cal

• 1) What do you want to experience while in the U.S.

and at Berkeley?

• 2) What do you want to learn academically?
• 3) Integrating with Americans and other

international students.

• Questions and Answers

See You In January