The Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship is the most prestigious scholarship offered by UC Berkeley to entering undergraduate students.
The scholarship is extended to a select cohort of Berkeley undergraduates who stand out for their creativity, leadership, service, and strong convictions. Candidates reflect one of the highest principles of this institution: commitment to excellence.
“The award allows recipients a rare opportunity: to focus one hundred percent of their time at Cal on their academics and university life. As an “Independent” student, I didn’t have a mother and father to ask for financial support. The Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship gave me the opportunity to enter higher education and provided a support system to help me navigate the university.”
Michael P.
Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholar, Film and Ethnic Studies major, Education minor
The scholarship provides exclusive opportunities to connect with a network of faculty, current scholars, and alumni, and to create enduring relationships that support academic success and seed future endeavors.
The program actively involves more than 200 Berkeley faculty and is unique in that faculty members interview candidates and serve as mentors. It is the largest program in the University of California system, with a community of more than 700 scholars enrolled.
Regents’ and Chancellor’s Scholarship recipients shine brightly at Berkeley. Discover a scholarship program offering a wealth of support, community, and enrichment that opens doors to a lifelong pursuit of excellence and service.
While at Berkeley, recent scholars have served in such notable positions as Student Regent on the University of California Board of Regents, ASUC President, and Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Californian. Scholars have been chosen as University Medalist and have earned such prestigious awards as the Rhodes, Truman, and Marshall Scholarships. Many have gone on to become faculty at prestigious universities, CEOs of global corporations, and innovators and leaders in their chosen fields.
Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship Benefits
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Priority Class Enrollment: Regents' and Chancellor's Scholars are among a very select group of students who receive priority enrollment for classes.
Peer Mentorship: Incoming scholars are mentored by experienced Regents' and Chancellor's scholars for support as they navigate their first year at Berkeley.
Faculty Mentorship: Scholars receive guidance from Berkeley faculty on academic and professional endeavors.
Research Fellowship: Scholars have the opportunity to apply for funding of up to $1,000 in support of current research projects.
Guaranteed Housing: Scholars receive guaranteed placement in on-campus housing for the duration of their scholarship tenure.
Financial Aid Advising: Scholars have a dedicated coordinator to assist with questions about the scholarship and financial aid.
Financial Literacy Counseling: Scholars are offered exclusive workshops and counseling on money and expenses management through Bears for Financial Success (BFFS), Berkeley's peer-to-peer financial literacy program.
Monetary Award and Scholarship Tenure: Scholar awards vary based on financial need as assessed by the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office. Minimum award amount is $2,500 per year. Awards are renewable annually for a maximum of eight semesters for freshmen and four semesters for transfer students.
Alumni Network: Scholars network with Regents' and Chancellor's alumni at annual events and become part of a vibrant and world-changing cohort when they graduate.
Consideration Process
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All students who apply to UC Berkeley are automatically considered for scholarship candidacy - there is no separate application. Candidates are selected from the top applicants to UC Berkeley through a holistic review process determined by the Academic Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Honors, and Financial Aid. Incoming California residents, domestic non-residents, and international students are eligible for consideration.
Faculty interviews and scholarship consideration for incoming freshman candidates takes place late February to early March.
Scholarship award decisions for incoming freshmen are released in late March.
Advanced standing (transfer) candidates are considered for the award in early May via admissions file review by the Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Honors, and Financial Aid.
Scholarship award notifications are sent to transfer recipients in mid-May.
Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Do I need to submit an application to be considered for the Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship?
All students who apply to UC Berkeley are automatically considered for the scholarship. This includes California resident, out-of-state, and international students entering from high school as well as transfer students. If you are not selected as a candidate, there are many other university scholarships for which you will be considered. Remember to apply for financial aid by filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you are eligible for any university scholarships, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will notify you in April.
2. When and how will I be notified about receiving the Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship?
Scholarship award notifications are sent to students the day the Office of Undergraduate Admissions releases acceptance announcements at the end of March. You will also see your scholarship award under My Finances on CalCentral. Transfer students are notified of scholarship awarding in mid-May. If you do not see a message in the student applicant portal, it is likely you were not awarded the scholarship.
3. How do I accept the scholarship?
To accept your Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship, start by accepting your offer of admission and locating your scholarship award online under My Finances on CalCentral. To accept your scholarship, review and agree to the Terms and Conditions, which will be listed as a Task in your Cal Central portal.
4. When do I begin receiving the priority enrollment benefit?
New Regents' and Chancellor's Scholars will receive priority enrollment through My Academics on CalCentral beginning their second semester at UC Berkeley.
5. Will there be an adjustment to my Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship if I receive any outside scholarships?
Possibly. Outside agency awards are applied toward your gross financial need and may require that the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office reduce the amount of your Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship.
6. Does the housing guarantee benefit mean I get my first choice of accommodation?
No. The benefit guarantees that you will receive placement in a University residence provided you submit the housing application by the posted deadline. The Housing Office does its best to accommodate students' housing preferences, but this depends on the availability of space as well as other factors in their process. Please note that if you submit the housing application after the deadline, we can no longer guarantee that you will receive a University housing offer.
7. Will I lose my Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship if I need to take time away from school?
Scholars are eligible to take up to two semesters of leave from the scholarship program. Scholars must attend at least one semester at UC Berkeley before requesting a leave of absence. A leave of absence may not be requested for any semester in which the scholarship has already been disbursed. If you are planning on taking time away from school, please contact the Regents' and Chancellor's Scholarship Coordinator.
Looking to help move the Regent’s & Chancellor’s mission forward? You can do so by contributing to the Regent’s & Chancellor’s Scholarship Fund. With each donation, you help the next generation of Berkeley students shine brighter and enrich our ever growing campus community. Donate today.
