Alumni/Returnees

Back from your study abroad program and not sure about your next steps? Or how your coursework affects your UC Berkeley record? Then check out these resources! As requirements vary, please seek guidance from your specific major, college, or minor academic adviser.

UCEAP

All courses, units, and grades from UCEAP are guaranteed to transfer to UC Berkeley, which is different from satisfying degree requirements. If you plan to satisfy UC Berkeley degree requirements with UCEAP courses abroad, please refer to both Berkeley Study Abroad College Advising and Major Advising pages. We highly recommend consulting with your academic adviser(s), as well.

Depending on the host institution, UCEAP will transmit your UCEAP courses, units, and grades to Berkeley up to 90 days after your program officially ends. You cannot be administratively graduated until your UCEAP grades are reported to Berkeley, are posted to your transcript, and a degree audit is conducted.

The Berkeley Office of the Registrar only administratively graduates students (degrees are “posted” to transcripts) three times per year:

• October for students with a summer anticipated graduation date
• February for students with a fall anticipated graduation date
• July for students with a spring anticipated graduation date

If your UCEAP grades arrive after degrees are posted for your term of participation, your degree will be processed and posted to your transcript with the next term’s degree list.

Consult with your BSA campus adviser and/or UCEAP academics specialist to find out the projected date of when your EAP grades will be transmitted to the Berkeley Office of the Registrar.

Factoring in a 1- to 4-week delay for grades to appear on your Berkeley transcript, determine when your degree is likely to be posted by the Berkeley Office of the Registrar (October, July, or February).

If you determine that your grades are likely to arrive later than the term you need to graduate from Berkeley and stay eligible for your graduate program or another post-graduation opportunity, contact the program/employer you are applying to as early as possible. Ask about their policy on delayed graduation due to study abroad participation. Find out how long they can wait for UCEAP grades to be recorded on your official Berkeley transcript and for your degree to be posted by the Berkeley Office of the Registrar.

Ask your graduate program or employer if you can provide some academic information while waiting for your UCEAP grades or UC Berkeley diploma.

• If courses and grades do not yet appear on your Berkeley transcript, ask the program/employer if they will accept an official "Verification of UCEAP Coursework." This is a letter from UCEAP verifying dates of UCEAP attendance and giving the estimated dates of arrival for course titles, units, and grades. You can get this letter from your program’s BSA campus adviser or UCEAP academic specialist.
• If your UCEAP grades already appear on your Berkeley transcript but you are waiting for your degree to be posted, you can also request a Certificate of Completion. Read more about transcripts on the Office of the Registrar website.

Berkeley Global Internships 

All courses and grades will appear on your UC Berkeley transcript. Completion of the Berkeley Global Internships program in international locations with a C-/P or better in all of your courses will satisfy the L&S International Studies breadth requirement. The onsite course may also fulfill an additional breadth requirement.

Please consult with your college/major adviser to confirm if your Global Internships coursework satisfies additional degree requirements.

Berkeley Summer Abroad

All courses and grades will appear on your UC Berkeley transcript. Completion of the Summer Abroad program with a C-/P or better in all of your courses will satisfy the L&S International Studies breadth requirement. Your program courses may also fulfill an additional breadth requirement. Check the individual program webpages for more information.

Please consult with your college/major adviser to confirm if your Summer Abroad coursework satisfies additional degree requirements.

Independent Study Abroad

If you would like to use any courses from an independent study abroad program for major, minor, or breadth requirements, contact your major and/or college adviser for information regarding their approval process.

Transfer credit (unit credit) is determined by the UC Berkeley Central Evaluation Unit (CEU), while “content-credit” (using coursework from abroad to satisfy departmental/college requirements) is determined by your department or college. No grades from independent study abroad will appear on the Berkeley transcript, nor will such grades factor into the UC GPA.

Transfer credit will appear on the CalCentral Transfer Credit Report. Please follow the “Upon Return” instructions in the Independent Study Abroad Guide to learn more about ordering transcripts and requesting major credit. 

Self-Care

One of the recommended ways to diffuse feelings of confusion and loneliness upon reentry is to stay in touch with your new friends abroad and to seek out others in the Berkeley community who can relate to your experience.

Hopefully, you will consider us among these peers. We are happy to meet with you and hear your study abroad stories or assist with your reentry, so please do reach out and schedule an appointment. We would also be happy to put you in touch with other study abroad alumni.

If you find yourself struggling with reverse culture shock or the reentry blues and really don’t know where to turn, consider speaking to someone at Counseling and Psychological Services for support.

UCEAP’s online Navigating Reentry course provides a private and pressure-free way to reflect on your time abroad and connect it to what’s most important to you. If you’re curious about how to discuss your experience professionally during interviews, highlight study abroad in applications, or identify new skills to add to your résumé, log into UCEAP learn with your campus credentials and click Reentry to get started. Make the most out of your study abroad experience! 

Reverse Culture Shock

As you may be noticing, the rewards and challenges of studying abroad do not necessarily end upon your return. All of us at Berkeley Study Abroad have studied or lived in an international setting and are keenly aware of the “reverse culture shock” we faced when re-adjusting to life back home. It is a powerful experience that has the potential to allow for personal growth, to provide mobility for social action and civic engagement, to enhance skills for your professional life, and to further your knowledge about the world and your place within it.

Check out how to stay globally connected when returning home.

Highlighting what you learned abroad and emphasizing your relevant skills and qualities in your résumé, cover letter, and interviews will help you market yourself effectively and stand out to employers.

Career Readiness Guide: Berkeley Career Engagement supports undergraduate and graduate students with career goals through expert staff, programs, and resources. They assist with career exploration, job and internship searches, and graduate school applications, as well as offer the Career Readiness Workbook to help in these efforts.

Career Engagement: Learn how to start your career exploration and prepare for success.

GoinGlobal: Via Handshake, this comprehensive online global career resource facilitates a satisfying international and domestic employment experience.

Berkeley Study Abroad Peer Advisers have also collected a list of International Opportunities for study abroad alumni who are researching graduate school or career opportunities abroad.

Berkeley Career Engagement has a team of professionals and peer advisers who are ready to guide you on your career journey. Through scheduled appointments and drop-ins, they can help you explore career options and translate your strengths and past experience to apply for future opportunities.

Note: Appointments may be offered in person, through video, or over the phone. When you sign up, please check the location so you’re prepared to connect with your Career Educator. You can login to Handshake to view your appointment and location.

Another way to engage and give back is to support Berkeley Study abroad by volunteering for events, information sessions, or presentations, such as:

• Pre-Departure Orientations and events
• Be an alumni guest on a panel at presentations or information session specific to your program country to share your study abroad experience in person and or via Zoom

If you are interested in any of the events above, please email studyabroad@berkeley.edu and a Berkeley Study Abroad adviser will contact you.

Join the LinkedIn Berkeley Study Abroad Alumni Network Group.

Discover rewarding career opportunities, scholarships, fellowships, and professional talks.

If you participated in a UCEAP program, check out the UCEAP Alumni Website for opportunities to get involved in the community of 130,000 UCEAP alumni. There are many ways for UCEAP alumni to stay connected.

• Keep your contact information up to date with UCEAP to stay informed on upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
• Join the UCEAP Alumni LinkedIn Group.
• Share your study abroad story and network with other alumni on UCEAP Connect.

Share your story! Has your study or intern abroad experience impacted your career trajectory? We’d love to share your story with students who are considering going abroad. Please fill out the Bears Abroad Profile form and include the year, location, and name of your study abroad program.

Tag us in your travels! Did your experience abroad spark your travel bug? Join other Bears Abroad by using #BerkeleyAroundTheWorld in your Instagram and X adventures. We’d love to follow along and share!

UCEAP Awards Highlights: Meet the exceptional UC students winning the UCEAP Research and Internship Awards.

The life-changing experience of study abroad has no substitute. By giving to Berkeley Study Abroad, you can ensure that this valuable opportunity is available to all Berkeley students.

Your gift enables us to invest in scholarships, programs, and advising that directly support students. Giving to Berkeley Study Abroad at the level that best reflects your financial ability upholds our outstanding programs and welcomes you into a community of donors who have found a way to do more.

These examples show how gifts may be used during the year:

• $100 covers the cost of applying for a passport
• $500 funds a student’s meals for a month
• $1,300 pays for round-trip airfare to a program destination
• $2,000 provides a one-semester scholarship
• $10,000 covers living expenses for an academic year abroad
• $50,000 creates an endowed scholarship in your name or matches your giving priorities with vital campus needs

How to Give

• Make a gift online.
• Make a gift by mail.
• Take advantage of your employer’s matching gift program.
• Give gifts of stock—make a planned gift.

Email studyabroad@berkeley.edu to explore giving options or setting up an endowment.