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Supporting student success

Regardless of your path to get here, we want you to succeed. From tutoring and mentoring to opportunities for leadership and international study, we’re ready to support you in your engineering journey.

At Berkeley Engineering, we believe that the best solutions are born of collaboration among a rich community of perspectives and inquiry. Here you’ll be encouraged to bring your authentic self, your craziest concepts, your own distinct upbringing and belief system.

Grad student attends NextProf Nexus Workshop

Graduate student programs

Ready for the next level? We’re here to help ensure your success as you pursue a graduate degree.

Enrichment programs

PREP students chatting
Jayne Anderson and ESS staff lead PREP students in a dinner etiquette workshop at UC Berkeley’s Faculty Club in Berkeley, Calif. on Aug. 6, 2019. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Masters degree graduates
Graduate Degree Ceremony Photo Copyright Noah Berger / 2018
New students taking a group selfie as part of Golden Bear Orientation
Golden Bear Orientation for new freshmen and transfer students to UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering in Berkeley, Calif. on August 16, 2018. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Newly accepted students at Cal Day
UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering hosts newly accepted high school seniors for Cal Day on the Northside of campus in Berkeley, Calif. on April 13, 2019. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)
Three female engineering students at New Student Orientation
New Student Orientation Photo by Noah Berger / 2014
New students on Memorial Glade
New students from all backgrounds come together to succeed at Berkeley Engineering. (Photo by Noah Berger)

We’re proud that a substantial number of our students are the first of their families to attend college, or come from underrepresented communities. Our signature retention programs are the Pre-Engineering Program (PREP) and Transfer Pre-Engineering Program (T-PREP), which benefit from substantial faculty, industry and community support. These are residential summer bridge programs for first-generation and low-income incoming freshman and transfer students. 

The Grand Challenges Scholars Program combines innovative curriculum and cutting-edge research experiences into a scholastic fusion that spans academic disciplines and includes entrepreneurial, global, and service learning opportunities.

Berkeley Engineering also offers a suite of Scholars Programs in EECS, Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Bioengineering aimed at supporting primarily first-generation students through critical first-year courses specific to their majors. Also check out Deep Dives, 1G and Transfer Mentor programs, or pair up with an Academic Success Coach.

Center for Access to Engineering

We offer a robust range of academic success programs and workshops on a variety of topics — such as time management, study skills, managing stress and anxiety, etc. The Center for Access to Engineering is a one-stop shop for academic support, from tutoring for 40+ courses to academic and professional workshops and our ES² program. You’ll also find study spaces with coffee and a snack pantry, and lending libraries for laptops, textbooks, and other materials.

Researchers with test sample in Healy Lab

Discovery experiences

Undergraduate research is critical for students on the academic track and for students intending to join industry. The skills and competencies you’ll learn are universally valuable: teamwork, collaboration, resourcefulness, resilience, innovation. We partner with industry and donors to fund and provide research opportunities. 

Internships can also offer invaluable experience to undergraduate students, offering coaching and guidance to ensure your success.

Global experiences are another way to expand your knowledge, acquire international experience, and deepen your educational engagement. 

Leadership development

Our mission is to educate well-rounded engineering leaders, so we offer a number of programs aimed at developing students’ leadership skills. Faculty actively engage with these programs in a number of capacities — as advisers, speakers and supporters.

LeaderShape participants
  • LeaderShape is a six-day retreat where students develop their mission and vision as engineers.
  • We offer workshops on topics such as LinkedIn, networking, interviewing, resume preparation, presence and confidence.
  • We work with industry partners to provide info sessions, tech talks, hackathons and networking events that connect students with opportunities in industry.
  • Once each semester, our Networking & Etiquette Dinners at the Faculty Club give students invaluable insights into professional networking and dining etiquette.

Student organizations

  • Berkeley Engineering provides funding and support for more than 80 student organizations, through which students can enhance their educational experience and leadership skills. We work closely with HES, BESSA, SWE, Phi Sigma Rho, and EnableTech.
  • We also partner with the Engineering Student Council to promote a diverse community through successful collaboration among the students, faculty, and societies within the College of Engineering.