The US Capitol building in Washington DC viewed from the lawn.

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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.

Annual cycle — 2026/27 fellowship applications closed June 2026; 2027/28 opens spring 2027

University of California, Berkeley

University-funded

emoji_events Award Overview

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Value

USD 2,000–6,000 Room & Board Award

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Duration

One Academic Year (Renewable)

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Community

600 Residents, 70+ Countries

info How this award actually works

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Who awards it

University of California, Berkeley — not Lanka Scholar. We are not the awarding body and cannot grant, reserve or guarantee this award.

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How you are considered

Through your admission application. Awards like this are usually assessed automatically from the application you already submit — there is typically no separate scholarship form to fill in.

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What it covers

USD 2,000–6,000 Room/Board Award + Programming. This is a reduction in tuition, not a full ride. You still fund the remainder, plus living costs and the balance your visa requires you to show.

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Where we come in

We make the admission application strong enough to be competitive — course choice, documents, references and deadlines. The funder makes the decision.

fact_check Eligibility Criteria

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

Looking for a scholarship because of the cost?

Then start here instead. Scholarships are competitive, usually partial, and decided by someone else — they are the least reliable way to make studying abroad affordable. Your destination and course choice move the number far more, and both are entirely within your control.

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