Bachelor of Science [BS] (Mechanical Engineering)
Field of Study:
$15,588 /Yr
University of California, Berkeley Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering is a four-year, full-time, on-campus degree in Berkeley. Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished; 2026-27 tuition and mandatory fees were US$62,800 (INR 59.91 Lakhs), as a prior-cycle reference.
The programme connects mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, controls and mechatronics through laboratories and design work. It best suits applicants prepared for calculus and physics who want broad mechanical foundations before choosing technical electives.
- The 120-unit curriculum includes 15 technical-elective units, with at least 12 at upper-division level.
- Required work progresses from three-dimensional modelling and programming to experimentation, feedback systems and mechatronics design.
- Students can direct electives toward robotics, energy, manufacturing, biomechanics or microelectromechanical systems.
Current Admission Status
Applications for the Fall 2027 intake are Not Yet Open. International student deadline: 30 November 2026.
The application opened for preparation on 1 August 2026, while submission begins on 1 October 2026. Indian applicants should map their secondary subjects and draft four Personal Insight Question responses before filing starts.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering Fees 2027
Fall 2027 tuition is unpublished after checking Berkeley’s live programme, fee and cost pages. The latest readable official schedule is 2026-27, so its figures are prior-cycle planning references rather than confirmed Fall 2027 charges.
2026-27 prior-cycle fee basis: The table uses the international undergraduate tier for a new nonresident, including the one-time document fee and required health insurance.
| Fee component | Annual amount | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | US$14,202 | INR 13.55 Lakhs |
| Student Services Fee | US$1,386 | INR 1.32 Lakhs |
| Berkeley Campus Fee | US$1,872 | INR 1.79 Lakhs |
| Transit Fee | US$472 | INR 45,029 |
| Nonresident Supplemental Tuition | US$39,270 | INR 37.46 Lakhs |
| Instructional Resilience and Enhancement Fee | US$282 | INR 26,903 |
| Student Health Insurance Plan | US$5,066 | INR 4.83 Lakhs |
| One-time Document Management Fee | US$250 | INR 23,850 |
| Calculated first-year total | US$62,800 | INR 59.91 Lakhs |
Source: UC Berkeley Office of the Registrar 2026-27 undergraduate fee schedule.
All INR conversions in the article use a conversion rate of USD 1 = INR 95.4007 as of 5 August 2026. Rates fluctuate daily, verify before applying.
The components total US$62,800 (INR 59.91 Lakhs) for the first year. A four-year prior-cycle planning illustration is US$251,200 (INR 2.40 Crore), calculated without fee increases and therefore not a Fall 2027 university quote.
Cost of Living in Berkeley for Mechanical Engineering Students
Berkeley’s 2026-27 student budget estimates living expenses across a nine-month academic year. These amounts exclude tuition and remain separate from the financial evidence required for an F-1 student document.
| Expense | Monthly amount | Monthly INR | Annual total | Annual INR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campus residence hall living expenses | US$2,626.67 | INR 2.51 Lakhs | US$23,640 | INR 22.55 Lakhs |
| On-campus apartment living expenses | US$2,277.78 | INR 2.17 Lakhs | US$20,500 | INR 19.56 Lakhs |
Combining residence-hall living with prior-cycle international charges gives a calculated first-year budget of US$86,440 (INR 82.46 Lakhs). Travel and personal expenses remain outside this illustration, while the official broader cost-of-attendance budget includes additional indirect costs.
Read More: Cost of Living in the USA
Target-fee limitation
Verify the target fee on the official fee page. Do not convert the 2026-27 illustration into a Fall 2027 funding certificate until Berkeley publishes the new cohort schedule.
ROI reality: The prior-cycle first-year illustration reaches INR 82.46 Lakhs before travel and personal costs. An affordable plan must withstand a new fee schedule and exchange-rate movement.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering Admission 2027
UC Berkeley admits first-year Mechanical Engineering students only for Fall 2027 and applicants select the major when applying to the College of Engineering. The course requires direct entry, making the original major choice important.
International academic context: Berkeley applies UC subject requirements and a nonresident eligibility floor, then evaluates achievement within each applicant’s school and national curriculum.
| Admission measure | Official requirement or profile | Indian applicant meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Nonresident minimum GPA | 3.4 in UC-defined A-G courses | Approximately 85% to 89%, or CGPA 8.5 to 9.0 on 10; Berkeley decides equivalency |
| 2024 admitted unweighted GPA | 3.89 to 4.00 middle 50% | Approximately 97% to 100%, or CGPA 9.7 to 10 on 10; contextual reference only |
| 2024 admitted weighted GPA | 4.31 to 4.65 middle 50% | No direct Indian conversion because UC weighting rewards approved advanced coursework |
| Secondary preparation | UC A-G subject pattern and school completion certificate | Report Class 9 through Class 12 subjects and board marks in their original form |
| Selection method | Holistic review without SAT or ACT consideration | Use activities and written responses to show design, analysis and responsibility beyond marks |
Berkeley’s 3.4 GPA is an eligibility floor, not a Mechanical Engineering selection benchmark. The 2024 university-wide profile is also not major-specific, but it shows why applicants should present the strongest available mathematics and laboratory science sequence.
English Language Proficiency Requirements
International first-year applicants must satisfy English proficiency by 31 January 2027. Berkeley’s current page publishes the revised TOEFL scale beside the older scale, so applicants should report the score format issued by the test provider.
| Test or route | Current published requirement |
|---|---|
| TOEFL | 90 on the older scale or 4.5 on the revised scale |
| IELTS | 6.5 overall |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 |
| English-medium instruction | Three or more years with English as the language of instruction |
| IB English Language A | 6 or 7 at Standard Level, or 5 to 7 at Higher Level |
- Do not self-convert TOEFL scales because Berkeley publishes 90 and 4.5 as separate accepted results.
- Keep school documentation showing three complete English-medium years when using the language-of-instruction route.
- Schedule testing early enough for an updated result to reach the application by 31 January 2027.
Tip for Indian students: Clearing 3.4 and the English requirement establishes eligibility, while course rigor and evidence of technical initiative determine whether the application fits Berkeley Engineering’s review.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering Application 2027
Fall 2027 applicants can prepare the UC application from 1 August 2026, submit from 1 October and meet Berkeley’s 30 November deadline. Berkeley publishes no separate spring intake for first-year Mechanical Engineering applicants.
Fall 2027 schedule: The official Berkeley application page gives calendar dates but no portal cutoff time or timezone, so no reliable IST time conversion is available.
| Stage | Official date | Applicant action |
|---|---|---|
| Application opens for preparation | 1 August 2026 | Enter courses, activities and draft responses |
| Submission period begins | 1 October 2026 | Audit subject entries against school records |
| International application deadline | 30 November 2026 | Submit earlier because no IST cutoff is published |
| English proficiency completion | 31 January 2027 | Update an accepted score or language-of-instruction evidence |
The international application fee is US$95 (INR 9,063) for each UC campus. Berkeley does not require a mechanical engineering supplement, while the UC application asks applicants to answer four of eight Personal Insight Questions.
- Use the academic-history fields to preserve Indian board names, subject levels and marks without informal conversion.
- Connect one response to a tested mechanical design, measurement problem or iterative build rather than listing technical interests.
- Show collaboration and responsibility elsewhere because Berkeley reviews the complete record rather than a standalone portfolio.
- Save a submitted copy because Berkeley may later request clarification through its applicant portal.
Check Out: Study in the United States
Portal timing
Complete the submission through the official Berkeley application page. Since Berkeley publishes no cutoff time, Indian applicants should avoid treating midnight IST as the deadline.
Application tip: The four written responses are the main space to connect calculus, physics and design preparation with the programme’s laboratory and mechatronics sequence.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering Scholarships 2027
UC Berkeley states that newly admitted nonresident and international undergraduates are ineligible for need-based University gift aid. Its current pages publish no Fall 2027 institutional award with a confirmed value and deadline for an Indian F-1 applicant.
This funding constraint matters because nonresident students generally continue paying supplemental tuition throughout the degree. Berkeley advises families to make a multi-year plan and notes that institutional funds do not cover the nonresident charge.
Funding Routes for International Applicants
Applicants can research external scholarships, but only an award letter with usable terms should reduce the amount reserved for enrollment. A scholarship percentage or general funding promise cannot be priced against unpublished Fall 2027 tuition.
- Filter external awards by Indian nationality, undergraduate study and unrestricted use at a United States institution.
- Check whether each award permits engineering study and remains renewable across four academic years.
- Keep award letters showing the exact amount and coverage period because Berkeley requires recent financial evidence for immigration documents.
- Use Berkeley’s five-installment semester payment plan only for cash-flow timing because it does not reduce the billed amount.
Read More: Cost of Studying in the USA
Funding evidence
Berkeley requires financial documents issued within six months that identify the student, exact amount and coverage period. Secure liquid first-year funding before treating an outside application as usable support.
Scholarship reality: With no confirmed Fall 2027 institutional award for this profile, admission and affordability are separate decisions that require a four-year nonresident funding plan.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering Salary 2027
UC Berkeley publishes no course-cohort salary, offer rate or sector distribution for this B.S. The closest official career evidence is a US$102,320 (INR 97.61 Lakhs) national occupational median, which is not a Berkeley graduate starting salary.
Evidence scope: Berkeley Engineering reports 227 Mechanical Engineering bachelor’s degrees in 2024-25, while the labour-market figure covers all United States mechanical engineers in May 2024.
| Evidence | Scope | Published measure | INR equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mechanical Engineering degrees | UC Berkeley 2024-25 cohort | 227 bachelor’s degrees | Not monetary |
| Mechanical engineer median wage | United States occupation, May 2024 | US$102,320 annually | INR 97.61 Lakhs |
| Projected employment growth | United States occupation, 2024 to 2034 | 9% | Not monetary |
| Projected annual openings | United States occupation, 2024 to 2034 | 18,100 | Not monetary |
Source: Berkeley Engineering facts and figures, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
The programme develops breadth across thermal systems, materials, controls and manufacturing, which can support several role families. However, the national median mixes experience levels and locations, so it cannot establish sponsorship access or first-job pay.
Return on Investment for Indian Applicants
The prior-cycle four-year fee illustration is US$251,200 (INR 2.40 Crore) before living costs. That exposure makes the degree financially defensible only with secure funding and a career plan that does not assume immediate median earnings.
- The 15 technical-elective units can build role-specific depth, so align them with one portfolio direction before senior year.
- The required experimentation and mechatronics courses create project evidence, so document design choices, testing and measured improvement.
- The US$102,320 median (INR 97.61 Lakhs) is gross occupational evidence, so compare actual offers through a government tax calculator.
- The 36-month potential OPT window depends on STEM eligibility and compliant employment, so do not model it as guaranteed income.
- An India return removes United States wage assumptions, so value the curriculum through target roles, technical depth and employer-recognised projects.
Employment evidence limit
Use the official mechanical engineering occupation data only as market context. Request course-level destinations before linking a financing decision to graduate outcomes.
ROI reality: The US$102,320 (INR 97.61 Lakhs) median cannot prove repayment because Berkeley publishes no course-level salary, offer rate or international sponsorship evidence.
US Visa for UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering Students 2027
Admitted international students normally use an F-1 student visa, followed by up to 12 months of OPT (Optional Practical Training). A qualifying mechanical engineering degree can support a 24-month STEM extension with an eligible employer.
- The F-1 application fee is US$185 (INR 17,649), while the separate SEVIS I-901 fee is US$350 (INR 33,390).
- STEM OPT requires degree-related work, an E-Verify employer and a completed Form I-983 training plan.
- The United States has no single skilled-worker salary threshold because H-1B pay depends on the role and applicable wage rules.
- An F-2 spouse cannot work, while permanent residence requires a separate qualifying route and has no automatic post-study timeline.
Check Out: Post-Study Work Options in the USA
Visa reality: A potential 12-month OPT plus 24-month STEM extension improves the work window, but employer eligibility, degree coding and immigration approval remain separate conditions.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering Ranking 2027
UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering holds a No. 2 undergraduate subject position in the 2026 U.S. News ranking reported by Berkeley Engineering. This is programme-specific evidence rather than an overall university rank.
Ranking context: Berkeley’s official report states that Mechanical Engineering rose from No. 4 in the preceding edition.
| Edition | Ranking body | Subject scope | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | U.S. News | Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering | 2 |
| 2025 | U.S. News | Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering | 4 |
The movement confirms external recognition of the subject, but it does not measure individual teaching fit, scholarship access or employment probability. Applicants should use the curriculum’s required design sequence and elective rules for the academic decision.
Honest take: The No. 2 subject position supports programme visibility, while affordability and preparation remain more consequential because ranking does not reduce nonresident tuition.
UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering fits applicants who want broad engineering fundamentals followed by controlled technical specialisation. Its laboratory, experimentation and mechatronics requirements reward evidence of building, testing and revising physical systems. The material tradeoff is an uncertain Fall 2027 price above an already substantial prior-cycle nonresident budget. Before submitting, secure a multi-year funding base and connect one application narrative to a specific design process.
UC Berkeley B.S. Mechanical Engineering FAQs
Ques. Is UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering suitable for an Indian applicant interested in robotics?
Ans. Yes, when the applicant also wants broad mechanical foundations. Required controls, electronics and mechatronics precede electives such as robotic locomotion, so robotics becomes a focused direction rather than the entire degree.
Ques. How should an Indian applicant judge competitiveness for UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering?
Ans. Treat the 3.4 nonresident GPA as eligibility only and compare course rigor with Berkeley’s 2024 university-wide 3.89 to 4.00 unweighted middle range. Then show technical initiative through specific outcomes.
Ques. What budget should a Fall 2027 Mechanical Engineering applicant use?
Ans. Use the 2026-27 calculated first-year reference of US$86,440 (INR 82.46 Lakhs) only for scenario planning. Add travel and personal costs, then replace every prior-cycle input when Berkeley publishes Fall 2027 charges.
Ques. Can an international student rely on a UC Berkeley scholarship?
Ans. No confirmed Fall 2027 institutional award is published for this profile, and international undergraduates cannot receive need-based University gift aid. Apply only with funding that does not depend on an unconfirmed award.
Ques. Does the degree support work in the United States after graduation?
Ans. The degree can support 12 months of OPT and a 24-month STEM extension when coding and employer conditions are satisfied. Neither period guarantees sponsorship, a salary or permanent residence.
Important Alert
- Final Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake - Nov 30, 2026
Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| Tuition Fees | $15588 |
Other Expenses
| Head | Avg Cost Per Year |
|---|---|
| Health Insurance | $2684 |
| Books and supply | $1750 |
Previous Year Tuition Fees
| Year | 1st Year Fees |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $13104 |
| 2022 | $45264 |
Important Dates
| Event | Application Date |
|---|---|
| Priority Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake | Aug 1, 2026 - Oct 1, 2026 |
| Final Application Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake | Nov 30, 2026 |
| Document Submission Deadline for Fall 2027 Intake | Jul 1, 2027 |
Scores Required
Required Document List
- Online Application
- Application Fee
- Official Transcripts and Degree Conferral (Proof of Degree)
- Academic Records
- English Language Proficiency Testing

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Scholarship Grants & Financial Aids
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Axol Science Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 2,000/Yr$2,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCompany-Sponsored | |
| VueVille Future Technology Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,000/Yr$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| R&D Systems Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 1,500/Yr$1,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| BL Mandhana Scholarships | Scholarship per student$ 10,000/Yr$10,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Go Clean Scholarship | Scholarship per student$ 3,500/Yr$3,500 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based |
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| Program | Important Date | Total Fees | Median Exams Score | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
-- | USD 49,104 /Yr |
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-- | USD 26,860 /Yr |
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