Application Process FAQ

I-House is not just for international students! Each year, approximately 75 percent of our residents are international students. The remaining 25 percent are residents from the U.S. who are interested in living in a community where international exchange and cultural sharing is part of the daily experience. This diversity of perspectives and experiences is an essential component of what makes I-House unique.

The following are eligible to live at International House during the Academic Year:

• Registered UC Berkeley students as well as those who are affiliated with the Wright Institute, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, LBNL, and the Graduate Theological Union. 

• Undergraduates who have attained a junior or senior class standing or will have completed at least 60 UC units prior to arrival at I-House.

• Registered graduate and postdoctoral students, visiting scholars and researchers, and Education Abroad Reciprocity students.

• International students who are attending UC Berkeley through University Extension.

• All occupants must be at least 18 years old.

Residents may reside at International House for a maximum of eight full Academic Year semesters. Summer Session residency is not counted toward this semester total, however, eligibility will end at the completion of the eighth Academic Year semester. Due to the high demand for housing at International House, this policy is in place to ensure we are able to provide as many students as possible with the opportunity to live at I-House and benefit from our unique offerings.

I-House does not have a waitlist. Rather, we conduct a rolling application process which means we will continue accepting applications and all eligible applicants are placed in a pool. As rooms become available, we will select applicants from this pool to fill these openings.

The Admissions team will reach out to you only if your application is not completed properly, if we need more information from you in order to process your application, if you do not qualify to live at I-House or if you are receiving an offer. Because we have a rolling admissions process and there is no specific date we stop making offers, we do not send out notices that you are not receiving an offer unless you do not qualify.

Once we are full, all remaining applicants with an "Acknowledged" application will remain in a pool. As we receive cancellations or if any beds open up, we will send an offer to someone in this pool of eligible applicants. 

I-House offers a very limited number of Fall-only contracts. To qualify, you must provide documentation that you will be attending UC Berkeley or are only eligible to live at I-House for the Fall semester.

If you apply for an Academic Year contract and later learn you will not be in Berkeley for the Spring, please reach out to Admissions@ihouseberkeley.org right away. If you already have a reservation, we will do our best to accommodate the change to Fall-only however due to the limited space available, your booking may have to be cancelled. *Cancellation fees may apply.

We realize that not all academic visits match our Academic Calendar, however we are not able to adjust contract dates. If you have extenuating circumstances, please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@ihouseberkeley.org

*Please note: Extenuating circumstances would not include your program dates not matching our contract dates.

I-House strives to be accessible and welcoming to all residents. Upon request, International House provides reasonable accommodations to those with disabilities. Requests for disability accommodations should be directed to Resident Support Services at RSS@ihouseberkeley.org

Such requests may be submitted here and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Please submit requests for accommodation as far in advance as possible, as review/implementation can take several weeks. 

No, we are only able to accept applications submitted online through our website.

• Visit https://ihouse.berkeley.edu/resident-life/apply-live-here

• Click on the green “Apply for Housing” box

• Register with our online system

• Select the application you wish to apply for

• Complete all steps of the application, including: 

1. Uploading all required documents 

2. Paying the $50.00 non-refundable application fee

3. Submitting your application

Please be sure to submit the correct required documents in their entirety. Failure to do so could result in a delay in your application processing or denial of your application.

Once you have submitted your application you will receive an automated response. If you have not received an email response, please return to your application and review the steps. 

Please see “How do you determine who will be offered housing” to learn about the next steps. 

**Please note that the process for Summer Session applications is slightly different. Additional details can be found on the Summer Housing page.

Toward the end of your application, prior to submission, you will be required to pay the $50 non-refundable application fee by Visa or Mastercard.

The best resource for any questions regarding visas, H-1s, and work eligibility for international students is the Berkeley International Office (BIO). You can learn more about their services on their website: http://internationaloffice.berkeley.edu/. You can also contact them directly by email at InternationalOffice@berkeley.edu or by phone at (510) 642-2818.

You may contact Admissions via email at admissions@ihouseberkeley.org.

I-House is committed to ensuring a safe and healthy experience for its residents, staff, and all associated with the House.