Graduate Student Orientation
Congratulations on your acceptance to UC Berkeley!
BIO is excited to welcome you into the UC Berkeley international student community! We look forward to helping you start the semester off strong.
This year's orientation will be in a hybrid format, with both virtual informational sessions and an in-person Welcome Day with a variety events and activities. Our virtual sessions will share information, resources, and support that will help set you up for success at Cal.
During the in-person Welcome Day, you will have an opportunity to meet and connect with other new international graduate students, participate in Q&A's with current students, and make new friends!
Virtual Orientation Sessions - August 19
Zoom Link
Use this Zoom link to attend Virtual Orientation Sessions on August 19.
Details
Date: Wednesday, August 19, 2026
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. PDT
Location: Zoom
Schedule
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1:00 - 1:10 p.m. | Welcome (recording) |
| 1:10 - 1:40 p.m. | Navigating Campus (slides, recording) |
| 1:40 - 3:00 p.m. | Immigration Essentials: Maintaining Your Status (slides, recording) |
| 3:00 - 3:10 p.m. | Break |
| 3:10 - 3:40 p.m. | Health & Safety in the U.S. (slides, recording) |
| 3:40 - 4:00 p.m. | Working in the U.S. slides, recording) |
| 4:00 - 4:30 p.m. | Student & Staff Q&A |
| 4:30 - 5:00 p.m. | Overview of Taxes and GLACIER (slides, recording) |
BIO at NGSO! - August 25
Details
BIO will be at the New Graduate Student Orientation to welcome you and support your introduction to life on campus!
NGSO provides a full day of programming, which will include events hosted by BIO for our incoming class of international grad students. The schedule below is for BIO's only. Please see the NGSO page for a full schedule of events.
Date: Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM PDT
Location: Dwinelle Plaza / Classrooms TBD
Schedule (BIO-related events only)
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:30 - 9:00 a.m. | BMO Coffee Hour (NGSO) |
| 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | International Student & Staff Panel |
|
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. 11:45 a.m. - 1:15 p.m. |
International Student & Staff Panel* Resource Fair |
| 1:15 - 2:15 p.m. | ITIN Drop-Off Event |
| 2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. | ITIN Drop-Off Event* |
* Both the International Student and Staff Panel and ITIN Drop-Off Events are offered in two time slots so that you can attend other sessions without missing this content
Bring to Welcome Day:
- Comfortable clothes and shoes
- Note-taking devices
- Water bottle
- Questions for staff or students
- Your "Go Bears!" spirit