Academic Support
Transitioning to UC Berkeley can be difficult, but you are not expected to do this alone. Berkeley provides an array of academic support and resources to help you thrive.
At UC Berkeley, our goal is to challenge our students academically and to provide the support to help them succeed. Below are a few resources and services available to support students through their transition to college.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND COLLABORATIVE STUDENT LEARNING CENTER
The primary academic support unit on campus serves over 10,000 undergraduates annually in twelve academic and discovery-oriented programs provided by 20 learning specialists and 300+ peer tutors with discipline-specific expertise.
Learn more about the Student Learning Center.
CENTERS FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE
The Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3) are here to support non-traditional students at UC Berkeley. From the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which supports underrepresented, first-generation, and low-income students, to the Transfer Student Center, to Undocumented Student Program (USP), CE3 is an excellent resource for students who don’t know where else to turn.
Learn more about the CE3 services and programs.
DISABILITY SERVICES
UC Berkeley offers some of the most comprehensive services and assistance in higher education for students with disabilities. Approximately 2,700 of UC Berkeley students (around 6%) utilizes services in the Disabled Students Program (DSP).
Learn more about the Disabled Students Program.
FIRST-GEN RESOURCES
First-generation college students are well supported at UC Berkeley. Still, the transition for some can be difficult, especially if you don’t have a parent who pursued a degree. At Berkeley, we provide resources to ensure that all students thrive both inside and outside of the classroom. With 26% of our students being the first in their family to obtain a 4-year college degree, Berkeley puts a lot of time and effort towards addressing the needs of students.
Learn more about resources for first-generation students.
FACULTY
Berkeley’s faculty members are among the most accessible at a premier university. They designate time to help students outside of class, aid students with research, and are even accessible in certain residence halls through the Resident Faculty Program. The faculty are dedicated to the success of students and often serve as mentors and friends to students.
Quick Facts:
- 90% of all undergraduate classes are taught by tenured faculty
- Student-to-faculty ratio: 18 to 1
- 70% of all undergraduate classes have fewer than 30 students
Learn more about some of our UC Berkeley faculty.
LIBRARIES
Berkeley's excellence is founded on its Library. From a collection of one thousand books in 1868—the year the University of California was established—the Library has grown into one of the world's great research collections, with over ten million volumes. It is ranked as the top public research university library in the country.
Recent undertakings include hosting workshops with the Oral History Center, digitizing thousands of works for Public Domain Day, and the Library Undergraduate Fellowship program, where librarians mentor undergraduate fellows on the ins and outs of library services, and the undergrads in turn teach the librarians about student life, and how to make the library’s resources more accessible and student-friendly.
Learn more about UC Berkeley Libraries and events.