How can international students study in the USA for free?

International graduate students can study in the USA for free through Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA), and institutional fellowships. These awards provide a 100% full tuition waiver plus an annual living stipend ranging from $22,000 to $38,000 USD.

Do graduate assistantships cover health insurance and living expenses?

Yes, standard GTA/GRA appointments (typically 20 hours/week) at major US universities (such as Purdue, UIUC, Georgia Tech, and UC Berkeley) include comprehensive university health insurance coverage and bi-weekly living stipends.

Do I need a GRE score to get a fully funded scholarship in the USA?

Many US universities have made GRE scores optional or waived them entirely for Fall 2026 admissions. Check our Fall 2026 Fee Waiver and GRE Exemption directory for specific departmental policies.

Verified Institutional Funding Guide (2026)

University of California, Berkeley Fully Funded Assistantships & Scholarships

Complete statutory funding guide for international graduate students at University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley, California). Learn how to secure full tuition waivers, $32,000 - $44,000 / year living stipends, and application fee waivers.

Institutional Rank

#1 Public University in the United States

Average Stipend

$32,000 - $44,000 / year

International Cohort

33% of Grads

Funding Guarantee

100% PhD / STEM MS

Featured Fully Funded Programs & Fellowships

Masters & PhD

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR) & Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)

Annual Value

$2,800 - $3,700 / month ($33,600 - $44,400/year)

Coverage: 100% In-State & Non-Resident Tuition Remission + SHIP Health Insurance + Monthly Wage

Application Deadline: December 1 - December 15

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

Distinguished academic background in STEM or Humanities
GRE (department specific)
TOEFL iBT 90+ or IELTS 7.0+

Visit Department Admissions

Graduate Assistantship Types & Benefits (GTA / GRA)

Graduate Student Researcher (GSR)

20 hours/week

Conduct original research in world-renowned centers (BAIR - Berkeley AI Research, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab).

Statutory Benefits: 100% tuition coverage, Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) remission, and union-negotiated wage scale.

Application Fee Waiver Guide

Standard Fee: $140 for International Applicants

Fee waiver application available directly within the UC Berkeley online graduate application for eligible financial need.

View 20+ University Fee Waiver Codes

Frequently Asked Questions (UC Berkeley)

Does UC Berkeley cover Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) for international students?

Yes. For doctoral students working as Graduate Student Researchers (GSR), departments routinely provide 100% NRST remission covering all non-resident fees.

Local Living Cost Summary

San Francisco Bay Area cost of living is high. Berkeley GSR stipends are union-represented (UAW 2865) and provide competitive wage scales designed to offset Bay Area rent ($1,200 - $1,700/month).

💡 Tip: Half-time assistantship stipends at UC Berkeley are calibrated to cover housing, health insurance, and local living costs without personal loans.

Check Your Acceptance & Assistantship Odds

Use our free statutory predictor to evaluate your GPA, GRE, publications, and funding eligibility.

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Other Fully Funded Universities

Purdue University

$24,000 - $34,000 / year • West Lafayette, Indiana

Stanford University

$45,000 - $52,000 / year • Stanford, California

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

$42,000 - $48,000 / year • Cambridge, Massachusetts

Georgia Institute of Technology

$26,000 - $36,000 / year • Atlanta, Georgia