Berkeley Journalism is committed to helping prospective students fund their graduate education sustainably.

 

Changing the face of journalism requires empowering a new generation of diverse, talented voices to tell stories that make an impact.

Through our Campaign for Berkeley Journalism, major donors have pledged significant support to help us reach our $54.4 million goal over the next five years. Their commitment brings us closer to enabling students to graduate debt-free while expanding opportunities for student awards, travel reporting grants, emergency funds, funding for unpaid internships, and more.

This generous support opens doors for current and future students, reducing financial barriers for those who are curious, brave, bold, and are passionately dedicated to pursuing and advancing a career in journalism.

Funding your Graduate Education

A myriad of options are available to you to help offset the costs of your graduate education. Many students are eligible for aid and 90% of all graduate students at Berkeley receive some form of financial support, including:

  • Graduate Fellowships, Grants, and Awards
    We recommend exploring such opportunities within our department, across the larger UC Berkeley campus, and beyond.
  • Need-based loans
    We also recommend applying as early as possible for FAFSA if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident or for the CA Dream Act as a prospective undocumented student to explore additional financial support options.
  • Academic Student Employment
    UC Berkeley provides some of the most competitive compensation and benefit packages available when it comes to academic student employment.

You’ll want to explore and apply for as many options as possible that match your needs, eligibility, and area of study.

Berkeley Journalism Departmental (Merit & Need-Based) Funding

 

All applicants who apply by the Round 1 (priority) deadline of December 1, 2025 will receive priority consideration and be automatically considered for Berkeley Journalism departmental funding. All domestic, undocumented, and international students are considered.

Last year, more than 50 percent of students received some sort of departmental funding, although it varies from year to year and is not guaranteed. Funding packages may range from about $5,000 to fully-funded fellowships.

We encourage all interested candidates to apply regardless of financial means.

Merit-based Funding

As with the application, our review process is holistic. We consider merit in the context of academic opportunities, journalism experience, commitment to the field, relevant skills (both direct and transferable), alignment with our mission, overall journalistic abilities, and reference letters.

Need-based Funding

  • In order to be considered for need-based departmental funding, applicants must complete the "Departmental Grant" section of their online application.
  • Additionally, domestic applicants must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for need-based funding. This is to determine need relative to the greater applicant pool.

Please note: Departmental need-based funding is separate from any financial loan offers the university may provide. Completing the FAFSA does not mean you are required to take out a loan—it simply helps determine your eligibility for financial aid. However, UC Berkeley’s Financial Aid & Scholarships Office uses FAFSA information to ascertain eligibility for federal and other financial awards.

Additional Berkeley Journalism Departmental Scholarships

 

By submitting your Master of Journalism application by the Round 1 (priority) deadline, you will also be invited to apply for additional scholarship opportunities, such as those listed below. (*Please note that this list is subject to change as opportunities vary per year.)

Major Scholarship Opportunities

By submitting your Master of Journalism application by the Round 1 (priority) deadline, you will automatically be considered for the below major scholarship opportunities, with the Dean's Fellowship requiring an additional application. These highly competitive awards are based on merit or a combination of merit and need.

  • Fiat Lux Fellowship (Established in 2024) - Awarded based on merit
  • Jubilee Fellowship (Established in 2024) - Awarded based on merit and need
  • Dean's Fellowship (Established in 2021) - Awarded to first-generation students based on merit and need

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

To be considered for the additional scholarships listed below, a separate application is required, same as required of the Dean's Fellowship listed above. If you apply by the Round 1 (priority) deadline of December 1, you’ll receive an invitation by mid December from the Berkeley Journalism admissions team to apply.

Reporting on China Fellowship

The Reporting on China Fellowship, established in 2022, is a scholarship of $14,000 annually for two years offered to an incoming Berkeley Journalism student with a demonstrated interest in becoming a journalist specializing in coverage of China. The goal is to ensure journalists covering China gain proficiency in understanding the region's culture, history and languages so they can cover the country in a nuanced way.

Litke Fellowship in International Reporting

The Litke Fellowship in International Reporting, established in 2022, is a $10,000 scholarship offered to an incoming Berkeley Journalism student with a demonstrated interest in becoming a journalist specializing in international reporting in broadcast or visual journalism.

The 11th Hour Food and Farming Journalism Scholarship

The 11th Hour Food and Farming Journalism Scholarship is funded by The 11th Hour Project, a program of The Schmidt Family Foundation. This one-year $10k scholarship is for an incoming Master of Journalism student with an interest in reporting on food systems including agricultural and nutritional policy; food security and hunger; the food industry, food science, technology and culture; rural and urban farming; agriculture and the environment; food and climate change; global trade and supply chains; labor issues in the food sector; consolidation of the food system; and public health as it relates to food and agriculture.

Greater UC Berkeley Campus Resources

UC Berkeley Graduate Division Fellowship and Grants

It can be overwhelming to research what funding opportunities you may be eligible for and are right for you. Hence, the Graduate Division has put together their own comprehensive Guide to Fellowships and Grants to help direct you to potential funding opportunities.

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship

Please submit your application by our Round 1 deadline for consideration. The application for the FLAS Fellowship is part of the graduate application under the "Languages" section.

Students interested in pursuing studies in a foreign language as part of their graduate work at Berkeley may apply for a FLAS Academic Year Fellowship. Visit the FLAS page for information on eligibility and requirements for this competitive university fellowship. This is one of the most comprehensive funding packages.

The deadline to apply last year was February 10, 2025 (this opportunity will be confirmed in fall 2025 for 2026).

Academic Student Employment (ASE)

Berkeley offers some of the most competitive compensation and benefits packages among public institutions. We encourage you to explore and apply for options that align with your needs, eligibility, and field of study.

A range of Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) and Academic Student Employment (ASE) opportunities are available to current and incoming students, many of which include tuition fee remission and a salary for work completed in the semester.

Graduate students may apply for the following Academic Student Employment roles:

  • Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) - work under the supervision of a faculty member, grading papers and exams, holding office hours, and assisting with instruction
  • Reader - primarily support in grading papers and exams, holding office hours, and assisting course instructors
  • Tutor - offer individual or group tutoring sessions to students

Once admitted and formally enrolled as a UC Berkeley student (typically from April onward), you may begin applying for these positions. Availability is based on departmental needs across campus with compensation packages, including tuition fee remission eligibility, varying by department, role, and time commitment.

For more details, please check the Graduate Student Academic Appointments Handbook.

Federal Aid Loans: FAFSA, CADAA

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and California Dream Act (CADAA) form is available from July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. It is in your best interest to submit as early as possible to receive full consideration.

UC Berkeley’s institution code for the FAFSA is 001312.

Please learn more on our UC Berkeley Financial Aid & Scholarships website and the Federal Student Aid website.

Additional Funding Resources for International Students

The Berkeley International Office (BIO)

The Berkeley International Office is the one-stop resource for international students. The BIO counselors can answer many questions about the international students’ experience, logistics and resources.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a comprehensive scholarship opportunity specific to citizens of an African country.

For consideration, you must 1) meet the eligibility criteria for this scholarship and 2) submit your online application for the Master of Journalism by the Round 1 (priority) deadline. Please find an approximate timeline for consideration, review and notification for the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program below:

  • December 1, 2025: Deadline to submit your online Master of Journalism application for Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program consideration.

  • Early to Mid-February 2026: A select group of admitted applicants who meet eligibility criteria will be invited by the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program team to submit a separate scholarship application.

  • Mid-February to March 2026: The Scholars Program team will conduct a separate review to determine finalists.

  • By March 31, 2026: Scholarship awardees will be announced.

Please note: you must also be admitted to Berkeley Journalism to be selected. Gaining admission to Berkeley Journalism is a separate process, and doesn't imply automatic funding.

For questions about eligibility or about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, please contact their team directly at mcfs.programinfo@berkeley.edu.

External Funding Opportunities

Many organizations offer scholarships for graduate study. Here are some funding opportunities to explore outside of UC Berkeley and the Journalism School. This is a resource guide compiled by Berkeley Journalism to support you in looking for external scholarships. Please make sure to check with the awarding entity to determine your eligibility, deadlines, award amounts and more.

Tuition & Cost Breakdown

For up-to-date tuition and fees, visit the UC Berkeley Registrar website.

Scroll down on the Registrar’s website to find the Journalism School fee table under the list of professional schools. Please note: all fees are listed per semester.

Please note: the displayed tuition and fees reflect those of the current academic year and will be finalized for the following academic year (Fall 2026 + Spring 2027) closer to the start of the academic year, typically by mid July.

We also encourage you to review the Graduate Student Budget as outlined on the The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office website.

Miscellaneous Costs

There are also anticipated additional miscellaneous costs per semester, some of which are estimated as follows:

  • Transportation for Reporting Classes: $200 - $2,000
  • Documentary Production (for documentary students only): $2,000 - $10,000
  • Equipment Costs: Variable
  • Estimated Loan Fees: $244
  • Course Material Fees (varies by course): $40 - $200

Upon arrival, students should also plan to have a recent, quality Apple laptop, estimated at $1,800 - $3,600.

 

Establishing California Residency

Many out-of-state students begin establishing California residency during their first year at the School in order to be eligible for in-state tuition in their second year. The Legal Residence Office website explains the steps you need to take to establish residency.

Only U.S. citizens are permitted to establish residency for in-state tuition in their second year. International students do not qualify.