Startup Semester at Berkeley - UC Berkeley Sutardja Center
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Startup Semester at Berkeley
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Become an entrepreneur at UC Berkeley.
PROGRAM DATES
DEADLINE
LOCATION
August 19 - December 18, 2026
March 31, 2026
UC Berkeley Main Campus
PROGRAM DATES
August 19 - December 18, 2026
DEADLINE
March 31, 2026
LOCATION
UC Berkeley Main Campus
Questions? Contact Us
Join the Silicon Valley Innovation Ecosystem
Join the world’s #1 Global Innovation Ecosystem!
Startup Semester is built on the belief that entrepreneurial skills are universally valuable. The program is designed for aspiring entrepreneurs, technologists, and innovators.
Study abroad at the world’s #1 public university
Immerse yourself in the Silicon Valley ecosystem
Develop the mindset & behaviors required to succeed
Practice hands-on venture-building
Learn how to innovate within established companies
Be a part of a global network of technology enthusiasts
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Startup Semester allowed me to meet people from all over the world and make new connections as I developed my startup project in the Bay Area ecosystem."
James Wu, Fall semester of 2023
Choose Your Track
TRACK 1
TRACK 2
TRACK 1
Venture Discovery
Designed for
undergraduates
, our Venture Discovery Track is designed to inspire students who want to explore different technologies, industries, and opportunities for new ventures.
Explore emerging technologies
Create social impact through technology
Innovate and lead from within
Future proof a family-owned business
Join a global network of entrepreneurs
Requirements:
Venture Discovery requires an F1 visa and 12 academic units with at least 8 units of SCET coursework.
TRACK 2
Venture Validation
Designed for
graduate
-level students, our Venture Validation track is for early-stage founders preparing for eventual acceleration.
Know your team & talent
Understand your customer
Validate your market
Prepare a world-class pitch
Prioritize and execute
Expand your global network
Requirements:
Venture Validation requires a J1 visa and 9 academic units with at least 7 units of SCET coursework. Students must be sponsored.
Curriculum
A. Richard Newton Lecture Series (ENGIN 183A - 1 unit)
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This lecture series recognizes the entrepreneurial vision of A. Richard Newton, Dean of UC Berkeley’s College of Engineering from 2000 to 2007, by inviting distinguished innovators to share lessons from their own successes and failures.
Challenge Lab (ENGIN 183C - 4 units)
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Student teams will navigate realistic startup challenges. From team-building to ideation, customer discovery, prototyping, and business modeling. Challenge Labs are organized by topic or theme and students learn by doing.. This is a required course for Startup Semester.
SCET Course Electives (3 units, one course)
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Please note that not all courses are available every semester!
ENGIN 183:
Technology Firm Leadership
(3 units).
ENGIN 183:
Future of Technology
(3 units).
ENGIN 183D:
Product Management
(3 units).
ENGIN 183:
Deplastify the Planet
(3 units).
ENGIN 183E:
Technology Entrepreneurship
(3 units).
ENGIN 198:
Startup Acceleration
(3 units)
You can find detailed descriptions at
classes.berkeley.edu
Startup Semester students will receive a course registration form to prioritize their elective course choices. We will make every effort to register students in their first choice of elective, however, some courses might limit the number of students.
Additional UC Berkeley Course Electives (4 units, one course)
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Through Cal Central, the university enrollment system, students may select an elective not offered by SCET. Within the system, students can see if courses are available and join if the course is not full. Please be aware that some courses have prerequisites.
It is advised that students plan ahead in case their first choice of elective is not available.
If an Elective Lab has a fee, this must be covered by the student.
The Student Experience
Hear what students are saying about the program and how it helped accelerate their startup projects.
View Student Profiles
Fall Semester 2025
Startup Semester
Michelle Anatsui
Ashesi University
Salome Mutemwa
Ashesi University
Agatha Suzie
Ashesi University
Favour Fri Fon
Ashesi University
Mabel Honu
Ashesi University
Antonio Marti Mora
Universitat Politècnica de València
Gabriel Sanchez Dos Santos
Universitat Politècnica de València
Germano Carvalho Rosa
Universitat Politècnica de València
Imad-Eddine Chaali
Universitat Politècnica de València
Jaime Fernandez Hernandez
Universitat Politècnica de València
Jose Antonio Gil Alhama
Universitat Politècnica de València
Victor Rodriguez Part
Universitat Politècnica de València
Jia Jun (Jayce) Lye
Singapore Management University
Chung-Yueh (Amanda) Wei
National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), Taiwan
Jannes Rehbock
Heilbronn University Graduate School
Arturo Mendoza Gutiérrez
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Bernardo Hidalgo Fraile
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Guadalupe Farina Galindo
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Isabela Valls Chávez
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Gustavo Ortiz Zepeda
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Lindsay Trejo Diaz
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Maria Pia Salas Albareda
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Juan Pablo Velarde Romo
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Lilia Castro Solís
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Natalia Tejado Gasca
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Sebastian Lasa Díaz
ITESM - Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey
Charles Kudelski
IE University
Entrepreneurship, Technology & Startup Management
Alexis Do Carmo
Skema Business School
Benjamin Kratiroff
Skema Business School
Erwan Gardelle
Skema Business School
Francois Pineau
Skema Business School
Gaspar Lacour-Couderc
Skema Business School
Helwan Merah
Skema Business School
Laura Le Maux-Gramaglia
Skema Business School
Rafaël Sanlis
Skema Business School
Roxane Laude
Skema Business School
Roxane Lambert
Skema Business School
The application for Fall 2026, is due on March 31st, 2026.
Apply
FAQs
What are the program start dates?
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Startup Semester runs each semester.  We follow the official
University Calendar.
Students should plan to arrive one week before the instruction start date to attend orientation and complete other administrative tasks. Details on dates will be included in your acceptance letter.
What are the academic requirements for Startup Semester?
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All students must be in good academic standing (GPA of at least 3.0) and be proficient in English (TOEFL 90, IELTS 6.5 or DuoLingo 115).
Venture Discovery students may be graduate or undergraduate students. For undergraduates, preference is given to third or fourth year students.
Venture Validation students are typically graduate students. We are looking for students with startup projects at any stage.
Can I get a job or work for a startup or do an internship while attending Startup Semester?
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No. Students attending on F1 Visas are not allowed to work, paid or unpaid with the exception of certain campus employment opportunities. Please consult Student Services at UC Berkeley Extension if you have questions about campus employment.
Please note, that for those that do qualify, campus employment opportunities are limited and highly competitive. Students should NOT expect to supplement income through campus work.
Are Startup Semester Students eligible for a certificate of completion?
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All students who successfully complete the programs requirements will receive a Certificate of Completion from SCET Berkeley that will be presented in-person on campus. Successful completion is defined as completing any enrolled SCET courses with a GPA of 2 (C average) or better.
Will I receive UC Berkeley Academic credit or an official transcript for Startup Semester?
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As a Concurrent Enrollee on and F1 Visa you will receive a transcript with all of your grades once the semester is complete. Please note that the University will withhold transcripts if you have any outstanding fees due.
Does the University provide healthcare insurance?
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The University requires that every student have health insurance. Students have two options:
Purchase an approved University healthcare plan through UC Berkeley Extension.
(strongly recommended)
Provide proof of an existing healthcare plan that meets University requirements and apply for a waiver. The waiver process is included in your application form.
Will my home university provide me academic credit for Startup Semester courses?
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Most universities will provide academic credit for your course work at UC Berkeley. However, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain approval from their home universities. Usually this requires the course description and syllabus.
Is student housing provided or available?
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Due to the very high demand for housing, UC Berkeley and the SCET staff cannot assist with housing requests. Student housing (on campus housing) is extremely limited, so most students will find an apartment or house off campus to share with other students. You may find several housing tips and resources
here.
What is the expected monthly cost of living?
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The University provides an estimated cost of living that is used in the official calculation of funds required for your visa application. This amount may be adjusted annually and is set for the fiscal year that begins July 1 each year.  The current cost of living for 2022 - 2023 is $2,250 per month.
It is important to note that the official cost of living estimate provided by the University should be viewed as an estimate for housing and other living costs. Berkeley and the surrounding Bay Area has one of the highest costs of living in the U.S.
The biggest factor is your choice of housing.
Can I extend my visa to stay longer in the U.S.?
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Startup Semester is a one-semester program with no extensions. Students may apply for other programs at UC Berkeley or other universities.
Any questions regarding visa extensions or visa regulations and restrictions should be directed to the experts at UC Berkeley Extension.
Ricardo Rodríguez
rrodriguezi@berkeley.edu