French PhD Berkeley funding

[monkeybusiness13]

Hi, I am an international applicant, so I am not sure how funding etc works.

 

I am just been accepted to do a PhD in French at Berkeley and have received an official admissions letter from the graduate division. I have not yet heard from the department, but I have started worrying about the funding e.t.c as I can't get excited about going as it might not be financially viable.

 

Do any of you have any experience with Berkeley and their system of funding? their website gives very little away. Should I wait patiently until I heard from the department or should I email them now?

 

Thanks!

[iphi]

Do not email them yet, if they are waiting to tell you it usually means that they are not sure of the situation themselves. I have no idea what the French department is like, but I can assure you that as a university overall Berkeley supports many, many, international graduate students. So without knowing the French department, but knowing the university as a whole I'd say your chances are good. So relax and enjoy your acceptance for now! Don't worry too much yet.

 

FYI: San Francisco (of which Berkeley is sort of part - it's all the bay area) is the highest priced housing market in the U.S. So look very carefully at cost of living if you are accepted to more than one U.S. school! Berkeley's cost of living is at 225%, so 125% higher than average.

Edited February 1, 2014 by iphi