A Graduate-Level Physics Program for Visiting Students
Program Application Dates and Deadlines
Please Note:
All application materials must be submitted to the Physics department one month before the UC Berkeley Extension Deadline. (For example, if the UC Berkeley Extension Deadline for International Students is October 30, the BETA Physics deadline is one month prior: September 30.)
The Berkeley Experience and Training in Advanced Physics (BETA Physics) Program is a certificate non-degree program that hosts visiting students from around the country (and the world) to provide them with an opportunity to apply for physics research positions at UCB and study advanced graduate-level physics for one or two semesters.
Be A Part of A World-Famous Department
Our Physics Department, on the beautiful UC Berkeley campus, is one of the top-ranked graduate programs in the world. It is home to faculty and students who are devoted to scientific discovery, teaching, learning, and participation in cutting-edge research. Of the 22 Nobel Prizes awarded to UC Berkeley faculty, approximately one-third are from Physics! The UC Berkeley Physics Department is proud to have nine faculty members and seven alumni as Nobel Prize winners.
Select Your Track
We offer either the General Physics or Quantum Information Emphasis tracks. General Physics is designed for students who are exploring various graduate field options before applying to graduate school or for students who are already in graduate programs and looking to spend a semester or two at another university. Quantum Information Emphasis is designed for students who are interested in quantum computing.
Enroll in Graduate-Level Courses
Enroll in our coveted UC Berkeley graduate-level courses that may offer credit transferable to a student’s home university or toward their future graduate degree, upon approval. You may select from any physics graduate or specialized upper-division courses. We recommend three to four classes per semester.
Grow Your Professional Network
It's all about who you know... Make academic connections here at Berkeley that will help you uncover opportunities in the US and abroad for research, PhD programs, and more. Events include workshops, Career Exploration Panels, and exclusive faculty/visiting student lunches which allow students in our programs an opportunity to meet and hear from our faculty about their academic experience and research while enjoying lunch in a small and informal setting.
"There are infinite opportunities at Berkeley... But the connections are certainly the most obvious benefit." - Nils C.
Cost of the BETA Physics Program
$23,000 for one semester*
$46,000 for a full year*
Additional Fees
For a comprehensive review on Fees & Payment, including cost of living, please visit the UC Berkeley Extension Concurrent Enrollment webpage.
Proof of Funds
You must have enough to live on while you are in the US. $11,250 is the minimum to cover your cost of living. (This includes estimated housing expenses and miscellaneous expenses such as food, textbooks, transportation, etc.)
* Based on current rates through June 2026.
How To Apply
You Will Need to Provide
- A statement of purpose
- An official copy of your transcript
- Indicate length of study: one or two semesters
- A list of courses planned for each term (prerequisites are enforced)
- Two letters of recommendation (on official letterhead, when applicable)
- For international students: proof of English-Language Proficiency and a copy of your passport identification page
- If you are applying from our partner institution, Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), please indicate this in your application materials
Learn About Cutting-Edge Physics Research
Learn about cutting-edge physics research on our campus only offered to Berkeley Physics students and our BETA Physics visiting students.
Explore California
"Every time we made progress on research in the lab... When I made new connections in the get-togethers after seminars... And sometimes just when I grabbed lunch and sit on Faculty Glade seeing the Campanile in front of the clear blue Californian sky I thought... THIS is why I'm here." - Nils C.
Questions?
See You At Berkeley!
Credits:
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