Students from outside California, who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S., can establish residency status at the end of their first year in Berkeley. Hence, for most students the cost of graduate work at the University of California drops significantly at the beginning of the second year. In addition to financial support, they offer opportunities for mastery of basic subject matter, for invaluable teaching experience and training, and for close association with a member of the faculty. Every effort is made to assure each graduate student two semesters of teaching during his or her period of graduate study. Many teach four or five semesters, or more.
Many students also serve as research interns with department faculty or in research units on campus.
These positions are arranged directly with the professor and are undertaken, for the most part, by students after they have completed their first year in the graduate program. First year students are often employed as readers, helping professors grade large undergraduate courses. Readers are compensated on an hourly basis, and approximately 30 students serve in that capacity each semester. In addition to the departmental assistance described above, the University of California offers a wide variety of financial aid programs to help students meet their educational expenses. Among the types of aid offered are loans, work-study awards, grants and fellowships.