UC Berkeley International House Fellowship
The International House (I-House) Fellowships are a constellation of need-based and merit awards for Berkeley students — both international and domestic — accepted to live in the historic International House on Piedmont Avenue. Awards typically range from USD 2,000 to USD 6,000 per year, applied toward room and board fees. I-House houses around 600 residents from 70+ countries — for Sri Lankan students it is both a financial assist and an unmatched cross-cultural network.
University of California, Berkeley
University-funded
emoji_events Award Overview
Value
USD 2,000–6,000 Room & Board Award
Duration
One Academic Year (Renewable)
Community
600 Residents, 70+ Countries
fact_check Eligibility Criteria
Berkeley Student
You must be admitted to or currently enrolled in a UC Berkeley degree programme — undergraduate, master's, or PhD. Visiting scholars are also eligible for some I-House awards.
Accepted to Live at I-House
Apply and be accepted to the I-House residential community via the standard I-House housing application. The fellowship is conditional on living at I-House for the academic year.
Demonstrated Financial Need
Most awards are need-based — applicants submit a financial aid statement documenting family income, savings, and expected contributions. A few merit-only awards exist for specific cohorts.
Personal Statement
A 500–800 word essay explaining your goals, why I-House matters to you, and how you'll contribute to the cross-cultural mission of the community.
account_tree Application Process
Apply to UC Berkeley
Be admitted to a Berkeley degree programme via the standard admissions cycle. Berkeley's overall admit rates are competitive (~12% undergraduate, varying by graduate department).
Apply for I-House Residence
Submit the I-House residential application via ihouse.berkeley.edu — this is separate from your campus housing application.
Complete the Fellowship Application
Once accepted as an I-House resident, complete the dedicated fellowship application — financial aid statement, personal essay, and CV. Deadline typically June for the following academic year.
Selection and Award
I-House selects fellowship recipients in July, with awards applied as discounts to room and board fees. Renewal requires re-applying each year you live at I-House.
Why Berkeley I-House?
UC Berkeley is consistently ranked in the world's top 10 universities. International House, founded in 1930, is the longest-running coed international student residence in the US. Living at I-House provides Sri Lankan students with a built-in global network and access to programming with leaders from every region.
#12
QS World Ranking 2026
600
I-House Residents per Year
1930
I-House Founded
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Other curated opportunities for Sri Lankan students.
Harvard Financial Aid for International Students
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CMU Tepper Fellowship
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Columbia World Project Fellowship
Columbia University