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Program Components

All students who take part in Global Edge are required to participate in each of the following program components:

Date Component
June 16, 2024 Program Welcome & Residence Hall Move-in (UC Berkeley Campus)
June 17-August 9, 2024 Berkeley Summer Session C (UC Berkeley Campus)
August 9, 2024 Group departure to London
August 10, 2024 Arrival to London & Program Housing Move-In (London, UK)
August 10-November 30, 2024 UC London Center (London, UK)
TBD mid-January, 2025 Golden Bear Orientation (UC Berkeley Campus)

By registering for Global Edge, you are agreeing to participate in each of these program components.

Eligibility

New freshmen admitted into the Global Management Program who meet the following criteria:

To be eligible to participate in the program you must be 18 years of age by August 9, 2024, and hold a valid US or EU passport at the time of registration.

International students are eligible only if their citizenship grants them eligibility to obtain a UK Student Visa

If you do not have a US or EU passport, please contact globaledge@berkeley.edu regarding your eligibility.

Exclusivity

Non-enrolled family members and others accompanying participants, faculty or staff of Global Edge cannot be accommodated in program lodging, courses or activities held in conjunction with the program. Program classes, excursions, guest lectures, dinners, receptions, program-provided transportation, and all other program-related activities and events are open only to those officially enrolled in the program. Summer Sessions & Study Abroad will not provide support services or assume any responsibility for those not enrolled in the program.

Registration and Confirmation

Students who have applied to Fall 2024 UC Berkeley admission by the November 30 UC application deadline receive an email from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions containing information on how to submit your registration for the Global Edge program.

Please Note: If you are an admit to the Global Management Program, attending Global Edge London is a condition of your admission. Not submitting your Global Edge registration can result in your Berkeley admission being revoked.

Eligible students will receive admission to UC Berkeley through the student application portal (MAP@Berkeley) and must first accept their offer of admission for UC Berkeley before registering for Global Edge. You can register by selecting Global Edge on your First Year Pathways Form. Once you have selected Global Edge, you will receive an email from admissions, which includes a link to complete your electronic signature and upload the required documents for review.

Each student's complete documents will be reviewed in the order received. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed for consideration and will jeopardize a student's registration in Global Edge.

Students will receive confirmation of their participation in the Global Edge program on a rolling basis via email from Global Edge program staff.

If a student chooses Global Edge and decides not to participate in the program, a Program Enrollment Change Form must be submitted; nonrefundable program expenses will be incurred if cancellation is submitted after the May 9, 2024 deadline.

Waitlist

The Global Edge program will accept a limited number of students on a waitlist. Students will be notified no later than June 1, 2024, if space becomes available. Admitted waitlist students who select Global Edge are subject to the same cancellation fee deadlines. Admitted waitlist students who register for Global Edge after the May 9, 2024 deadline should be aware that canceling from Global Edge will incur the full $6,000 cancellation fee.

Courses

All program courses are taken for Berkeley credit and will appear automatically on your Berkeley transcript. Students are advised to review the program eligibility criteria and coursework prior to registering for Global Edge to ensure all programmatic components align with their academic background and educational goals.

Global Edge students will be enrolled in their courses on a Letter grade basis by default. If students wish to select the Pass/Not Pass option, they can change their grading option via CalCentral by the set Summer Sessions and fall semester deadlines. If a deadline has passed, students should contact their college adviser regarding the process to submit a late petition for enrollment changes.

You are expected to remain at the host institution location and attend classes regularly during all academic sessions. Expect classes to be held Monday-Friday.

Academic and Other Accommodations

Global Edge participants are encouraged to disclose any accommodations (physical, academic, etc.) they may need as early as possible. Program staff will work with you through the interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations to the extent possible given the realities of the country to which you will be traveling and the time at which the accommodation request is made. It is recommended that you reach out to the program staff and to the Disabled Students Program as accommodations are determined by an individual assessment of each student.

Program Preparation

All participants are required to attend the program orientation and other preparatory workshops conducted by UC Berkeley faculty, staff, and student services. If the student is unable to attend for any reason, it is the student's responsibility to notify program staff.

Summer

Shortly before your arrival in Berkeley, you will attend our virtual Global Edge Pre-Arrival webinar. This virtual orientation will serve as an introduction to UC Berkeley and the Global Edge program for incoming students. All participants and their families will also be invited to our on-campus Program Welcome event, our formal kickoff to the program, during which students can meet fellow members of their Global Edge- London Program cohort, each other’s families, and UC Berkeley staff. Throughout the summer at UC Berkeley, you will also attend additional pre-departure workshops conducted on-campus. Important topics include academic advising, course registration, financial aid, living in London, housing, spring schedule planning, and much more.

Fall

Students will receive an in-depth orientation when they arrive abroad. During this mandatory orientation, you will meet the UC London Center Director and staff and receive extensive information about health, safety, and emergency procedures; program academics and housing; the local area and transportation; and take part in a cultural excursion.

Housing

In summer, living in the Berkeley Residence Halls is recommended but not mandatory. Housing for the summer semester is not guaranteed and will be granted based on availability. Space in the dormitory is held especially for Global Edge students, but space is limited, and students must apply for Summer Sessions Housing no later than mid-May, 2024 to receive priority housing. Note: Summer housing is not guaranteed and the cancellation policy is applicable regardless of your summer housing status.

During the fall semester abroad, you are required to live in program housing arranged by Global Edge staff.

To apply for on-campus spring semester housing, Global Edge students will have until October 1st to submit their on-campus housing application. Like all incoming first-year students, Global Edge students are similarly guaranteed a housing offer, provided they meet all deadlines and eligibility conditions as noted below.

  1. Meet all UC Berkeley and Cal Housing deadlines.
  2. Have flexible housing preferences (choose “any room size, any location” as one of your housing preferences). The Housing Guarantee does not ensure any specific room type, location, or amenity.
  3. Adhere to all Terms and Conditions of the housing contract and residential policies.

It is your responsibility to manage all belongings that you bring on-campus and abroad. Global Edge does not provide storage and is not responsible for storing student's belongings while on-campus and abroad.

Passport

You must hold a valid passport in order to submit your registration for the Global Edge program. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end date of the program. Students that submit an invalid passport will be deemed incomplete for review and be ineligible for the Global Edge program.

Visa

Depending on your citizenship status you may need to obtain a visa. There may be different requirements for U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens. It is your responsibility to prepare any visa documents that are necessary to enter the country based on your citizenship status. You will receive visa instructions upon confirmation to the program and during your pre-departure orientation. Global Edge staff will provide you with key documentation necessary for UK Border Entry. Staff will also instruct you about additional documentation that you will need in advance of departure. It is ultimately the student's responsibility to ensure they have all necessary visa documentation before departure.

Group Flight

During the summer in Berkeley, students will receive important group flight reservation instructions from our partner, Advantage Travel. It is your responsibility to read and follow the instructions very carefully for completing and submitting your flight reservation form.

You are required to travel on the group flight from San Francisco to London. On the return flight, you may change your reservation to return on a later date or fly into a city other than San Francisco. You will be responsible for any change fees and costs associated with changing your reservation.

Insurance

For your fall semester abroad, you will automatically be enrolled in the Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) from Berkeley. Berkeley SHIP is an affordable health insurance plan, providing medical, counseling, prescription, vision and dental services.

If you wish to waive out of SHIP insurance for the fall semester, you must complete an online opt- out waiver. For more information, please visit the UHS Website, contact the UHS office via phone at (510) 642-5700, or email ship@berkeley.edu.

If an emergency situation should arise in Berkeley or abroad, you should contact local authorities and medical staff. Whenever possible, local program staff should be kept informed regarding safety concerns or issues. Information about what to do in an emergency while abroad, including emergency contact details, will be available in your Student Handbook and will also be discussed during the program pre-departure and on-site orientations.

Financial Aid

Students must submit both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 FAFSA to determine aid eligibility for Summer 2024 and Fall 2024. Visit Financial Aid for additional details. You also can get an estimate of how much financial aid you might receive.

Summer

  1. Login to CalCentral (CalNet ID required) and click on the My Finances tab.
  2. Select 2023-2024 from the drop-down menu under Financial Aid and Scholarships and click View Awards.
  3. Your financial aid awards will appear on the right-hand side of the screen if you have been offered aid.

You will be awarded summer financial aid in the days following enrollment in your summer courses (if you meet all other summer aid eligibility requirements). Review your Communications and Tasks in CalCentral for any missing documents. If you experience any delays or have any questions about your disbursement, please contact the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office directly.

Summer financial aid differs from the academic year and is based on the actual number of units enrolled for summer. Your financial aid package will depend on your financial need, summer enrollment, and eligibility for grants and loans. Waitlisted units are not considered when evaluating eligibility for summer financial aid. See Summer Aid information for more details.

Fall Semester

  1. Login to CalCentral and click on the My Finances tab.
  2. Select 2024-2025 from the drop-down menu under Financial Aid and Scholarships and click View Awards.
  3. Under your Financial Aid and Scholarships Profile, you can estimate your awards for Global Edge by updating your housing type to Fall Global Edge and the appropriate housing status for when you return in Spring (i.e. Residence Hall, Off Campus, Living with Relatives, etc). This will update your Cost of Attendance and your aid package accordingly so you can see how your aid package would change if you participated in Global Edge this fall.
    Note: Any housing changes you report will only revise your Cost of Attendance and your Financial Aid Awards but will not release you from or commit you to a University housing contract or the Global Edge program. Note: If you are unable to revise your housing option in CalCentral, you can estimate your aid using our online calculator.

In some cases, you have been offered "conditional awards" and more information may be required. These awards are not official and are subject to change. Login to CalCentral (CalNet ID required) to review your Communications and Tasks and submit all required documents and information.

Fall semester aid does not cover summer. You will need to apply for summer financial aid separately by completing the 2023-2024 FAFSA.

Students should consult with Cal Student Central and review types of aid and eligibility for both summer and fall. When the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office calculates the amount of aid offered for participation in Global Edge, they consider not only the tuition and program fee charges but also any out-of-pocket expenses students may incur during the program. The charges posted directly to your CalCentral My Finances tab for the tuition and the program fee are part of the total expenses that will be incurred while abroad.

If a student requires financial aid to cover program costs, it is their responsibility to obtain confirmation in advance of any program deadlines. The inability to pay the program fee or tuition is not a valid reason to receive a refund of the fees associated with the Global Edge program.

Billing and Payment

You do not pay at the time that you apply for the program. You will receive a bill for your summer fees and a second bill for your fall fees that will appear on your CalCentral My Finances tab under Billing Summary.

Summer

Fees will be posted in June after you are enrolled in your Global Edge courses. For specific due dates, please check your CalCentral account My Finances tab.

Fall

Fees will be posted in July and due in August. For specific due dates, please check your CalCentral My Finances tab. Fees not paid within 30 days after the due date will begin to accrue late fees.

Financial aid is available for eligible students. Visit Financial Aid for additional details.

Program fees include tuition, pre-departure preparation, onsite orientation program, excursions, center activities, and 24/7 emergency support, as well as administrative, academic and programmatic support abroad.

Students are responsible for their meals and other out-of-pocket personal costs not covered by the program. Personal expenses (souvenirs, daily individual transportation, medical expenses, toiletries, etc.) are universally excluded from the program fee.

Student Conduct

Any violation of the Berkeley Code of Conduct occurring while participating in the Global Edge program may result in dismissal from the program, and will also be reported to the UC Berkeley Center for Student Conduct, which may lead to further sanctions as deemed appropriate by the University.

Withdrawal and Cancellation Protocol

To cancel your participation in Global Edge before departure or withdraw after you have begun the program, you must submit a Petition to Change Class Schedule Form, which must be obtained by submitting a written confirmation of your cancellation to Global Edge staff via email. Talking to program staff about your intention to cancel is not considered an official request. Requests must be submitted via email or in-person to:

Berkeley Summer Sessions & Study Abroad
1995 University Ave. Suite 130
Berkeley, CA 94704
globaledge@berkeley.edu

Please be sure to indicate that you are a Global Edge student and review the cancellation policy carefully for details on deadlines and fees.

If you are denied admission by Berkeley Summer Sessions and Study Abroad because you do not meet the eligibility criteria, you will be notified and removed from all your program courses and you will not be obligated to pay any program-related fees

If you are dropped or canceled from the Global Edge program, you will be dropped from your Global Edge required course(s). If you have additional Summer Sessions courses, it is your responsibility to drop these courses via CalCentral.

Withdrawal/Cancellation Fees and Policy

If you receive financial aid for the program and you cancel your participation, your aid will be reversed and you will receive a bill for the program tuition and fees.

For summer courses, visit the Summer Sessions website for more information regarding Summer Sessions deadlines.

For fall, you will be subject to the following cancellation fees should you choose to cancel your participation from the Global Edge program.

Deadlines for Global Edge Cancellation/Withdrawal

Fee Owed for Cancellation Dates
Cancel Registration - no fee owed March 31-May 9, 2024
Cancel Registration - $6,000 fee owed May 10-July 15, 2024
Cancel Registration or Withdraw - 100% of program fee owed* July 16, 2024, or after

*Program fee includes Student Activities and Services Fee, Participation Fee, Housing, Airfare, SHIP, and UC Travel Insurance. Campus rules and policies apply to tuition. To read more about cancellation and withdrawal, please visit Cancellation & Withdrawal on the Office of the Registrar website.

*Participants in Global Edge are required to enroll in Summer Sessions. If you withdraw or cancel from the Global Edge program during the summer, you are liable for the Global Edge Cancellation fee and any fees associated with Summer Sessions course 'withdrawal/cancellation deadlines'. Students admitted off the waitlist who register for Global Edge after the May 13th cancellation deadline will be subject to the full cancellation fee.

Refund

We understand situations occur that may prevent you from attending or completing the Global Edge program. If you need to withdraw from the program and your courses after the cancellation deadline, you may request an appeal to the refund policy. To appeal Global Edge cancellation fees, an appeal letter must be sent directly to Global Edge staff via email to globaledge@berkeley.edu for review.

All refund appeals require a signed letter of explanation and supporting documentation. You should state, as concisely and clearly as possible, the reason for this appeal. The appeal letter is limited to one page, not to exceed 500 words, and it must be written and signed by the student. The letter should also include the following:

  • Student Name
  • Student ID
  • Student's Current Postal Address
  • Student's Current Email Address

It is essential to disclose all information, reasons for the appeal, and all supporting documentation regarding your case in the initial appeal letter. Subsequent appeal letters providing new information, different reasons for the appeal, or new supporting documentation are not eligible for review.

Program Cancellation

Summer Sessions & Study Abroad reserves the right to cancel Global Edge. In the event that your program is canceled, you will be notified by a program advisor who will discuss your options with you. Summer Sessions & Study Abroad is not responsible for any costs incurred regarding air travel or personal expenses. We highly recommend that you do not proceed with making travel plans until you are confirmed as a participant.

Additional Information

In preparation for Global Edge, it is important that you actively research and ask appropriate questions to get the answers that you need. Additional program and general travel information can be obtained from some of the following resources:

Global Edge is part of the Summer Sessions, Study Abroad, and Lifelong Learning division, which is under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Undergraduate Education.

Schedule a virtual advising appointment