Financial support is available to graduate students in the form of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Each year a limited number of fellowships, based on academic merit, are awarded to members of the incoming class. Fellowships range from those offering full support, including stipend, tuition, and fees, to those paying tuition only.
Because the first year of study is so demanding, first-year students are not allowed to serve as either teaching assistants or research assistants. By exception, in the second semester of the first year, students who have already received a Masters degree in economics or who have otherwise mastered much of the first-year curriculum may be eligible for these positions.
The Department provides a 6-year funding package to its incoming students which includes a departmental academic student employment position (ASE, reader/tutor OR TA- previously known as GSI) for years 1-5, and fellowship support in year 6. The minimum funding is $32k+ with full fees (including non-resident for Econ PhD students with a departmental ASE appointment) and may differ by student. All U.S. citizens and permanent residents qualify for California residency after a year and thus can avoid paying Non-resident Tuition after their first year. Department support after the first year may consist of fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Foreign students do not qualify for California residency and must have sufficient funds to cover Non-resident Tuition during their entire time at Berkeley.
For additional information regarding financial support please see the Prospective Students section of the Graduate Division Fellowships page.