The majority of UC Berkeley graduate students live in off-campus rental housing in Berkeley or one of the nearby communities. Below are some general tips to get you started on the housing hunt:
University-sponsored housing includes two apartment complexes; one community which is reserved exclusively for single graduate students, and the other community for graduate students with families.
Single Students
Manville Apartments
Located near downtown Berkeley. The building features 132 modern, unfurnished, single-occupancy studios reserved for graduate students only.
Ida Louise Jackson Graduate House Apartments
Located just one block from the south side of campus. The complex houses 120 graduate students in shared apartment spaces. All units feature furnished, single-occupancy bedrooms with shared bathroom, kitchen, and living/dining areas.
Intersection Apartments
Located in Emeryville, about three miles from campus. The Intersection Apartments are light-filled, airy and modern, with oversized windows in the heart of bustling, vibrant Emeryville. Studios and one-bedrooms are single occupancy; larger apartments have single-occupancy bedrooms and shared common areas.
Students with Families or Partners
University Village
1125 Jackson Street
Albany CA 94706
Located three miles west of the campus in Albany, University Village is our Family Housing option for ALL students and postdocs with families. The complex features its own recreational & community center, a café, laundry rooms, and child care support. Eligibility for each unit type is based on the size of your family, with one bedroom apartments available for couples or single parents with one child.
International Student Housing
International House
2299 Piedmont Avenue
Berkeley, California, 94720-2320
Phone: (510) 642-9490
Located just one block away from Haas. This multicultural residential space houses nearly 600 students and scholars from 70+ countries. The building features small rooms with shared (dorm–style) hallway bathrooms.
The most popular neighborhoods for Berkeley MBA students are North Berkeley, the Berkeley Hills, Elmwood, and Southside.
Berkeley Neighborhoods
In the North Berkeley area of north Shattuck Avenue you’ll find gourmet food shops and the famous restaurant, Chez Panisse, among others. Thousand Oaks continues the North Berkeley theme through the Solano Tunnel and down Solano Avenue with many restaurants, cafes, and bookstores frequented by local residents. This is a popular area for young and old. Walking distance to Haas: 10-30 minutes.
The Berkeley Hills, north of Northside and east of North Berkeley and Thousand Oaks, is an area of winding, hilly streets and stately homes with bay views. This is one of the most expensive areas for housing, and it is bordered by Tilden Park, an enormous stretch of regional park. Walking distance to Haas: 40+ minutes.
Southside Berkeley is a bustling, student-oriented, diverse area adjacent to south campus. Bookstores, record stores, cafes, and restaurants abound. Telegraph Avenue is a main feature with its colorful street vendors. Student housing is relatively plentiful in Southside. Many undergraduates make this economically diverse neighborhood their home. Walking distance to Haas: 10-20 minutes.
Just to the south of Southside is the Elmwood district, which can be found by following College Avenue away from campus. Elmwood is a charming mix of small apartment complexes and large homes. Gift shopping is a delight, and there are many restaurants featuring international cuisine. There is also a popular movie theater. Walking distance to Haas: 20-25 minutes.
A neighborhood consisting primarily of grand, expensive homes and few rentals sums up this area. The typical Claremont rental might be an "in-law" apartment in someone's house or a room in a private home. The Claremont community is generally characterized as the area surrounding the Claremont Resort and Hotel. Walking distance to Haas: 25-40 minutes.
West of the Southside, Elmwood, and Claremont districts and south of Dwight Way is an area generally known as South Berkeley. This area, in addition to West Berkeley and the Westbrae neighborhoods, is where the most affordable housing is likely to be found. Small, single family bungalows, duplexes, and fourplexes are featured on the tree-lined streets. Cute cafes, antique shops, and the Ashby BART station with its weekend flea market in the parking lot, are part of the South Berkeley scene. Walking distance to Haas: 40 minutes; but taking the BART between Ashby and Downtown Berkeley can make it much faster.
While "downtown" can be found just a block from the West Entrance of campus, continue a few more blocks westward and you will find tree-lined streets with a mixture of apartments and houses. Many students live in this area and enjoy its convenience to downtown BART, movies, restaurants, and the campus. Downtown is the mass transit hub, center of civic life, and the locale of many basic necessities, entertainment, and restaurants. Apartments in this area tend to be a little more expensive than other areas, but the location makes it convenient to the entire Berkeley campus. Walking distance to Haas: 10-20 minutes.
South of University Avenue and west of Sacramento Street is the area known as West Berkeley. Modest single family homes are interspersed with apartment buildings, and the neighborhood is dotted with Victorian farmhouses that were the original dwellings in the area. Walking distance to Haas: 30 minutes.
A quiet, residential neighborhood just north and west of the North Berkeley BART station; the Westbrae area consists of small homes, duplexes, and fourplexes. One of the area's highlights is a specialty produce store that attracts shoppers from all over Berkeley. Easy access to BART and the campus makes this a popular area. Public tennis courts, a jogging track, a pool, and a playground are located nearby at the local middle school. Walking distance to Haas: 30-40 minutes.
The outlet stores, specialty shops, and restaurants along the popular 4th Street area turned this formerly sleepy place of small homes and light industry into a bustling, lively street scene. Walking distance to Haas: Not within walking distance.
This area directly north of campus is a contrast to the bustling Southside area. Quiet by comparison, Northside boasts several student co-ops and charming apartment buildings interspersed with large, single family homes. The main street is Euclid Avenue, which features a small grocery store, shops, and restaurants. Walking distance to Haas: 10-20 minutes.
Oakland: Popular neighborhoods for Students
This metropolis stretches to the south of Berkeley and offers a variety of neighborhoods that are extremely commutable to campus by bus, bike, or BART. Oakland features a major "Chinatown" area and an attractive waterfront with shops, restaurants, and a movie theatre in Jack London Square. There is also ferry service to San Francisco.
One of the most popular Oakland neighborhoods, Rockridge, features the convenience of a BART station with trains that go directly to San Francisco – as well as buses and bicycle routes that lead directly to the UC Berkeley campus. Bookstores, gourmet shops, flower stands, and bakeries characterize this neighborhood. Rent for houses and apartments tend to be expensive due to the desirability and accessibility of the area. Walking distance to Haas: 30-40 minutes.
These three popular areas contain quite a number of rental apartments and houses, as well as some of the most attractive and affordable housing in the East Bay Area. The Piedmont Avenue area is attractive, with its many shops, restaurants, and movie theaters. Lake Merritt is a gem in the middle of downtown Oakland, with its jogging paths and surrounding parks. Not within walking distance.
The Cities of Emeryville, Albany, Kensington & El Cerrito
These cities are located further away from Haas, and the commute to campus will involve some form of public transportation or driving.
Emeryville has recently emerged as a major area for shopping and entertainment. Outdoor shopping malls, a major cineplex, a jazz club, and new apartment housing have made Emeryville come alive in the past decade or so. The city runs free shuttle buses to BART stations and around town.
Albany is a small city to the north and west of Berkeley. This is a town of mostly owner-occupied, small, single-family houses and some rentals. It is also home to a large complex of University owned family student housing (call 510-642-4109 for information). Solano Avenue, with its movie theaters, many shops, and restaurants, travels through Albany and into the Thousand Oaks neighborhood of Berkeley. Albany is a quick bus or bicycle ride to campus.
Just to the north of the North Berkeley Hills lies the small community of Kensington, with its many homes similar to the homes in the Berkeley Hills. Students may find "in-law" type apartments, shared housing, or room rentals in Kensington. Much of Kensington is an easy commute by bus, either on the Arlington or Colusa Avenue buses. There is a small grocery store and other shops on Arlington.
El Cerrito is to the north of Albany and conveniently situated for commuting. El Cerrito South, with its focus around the El Cerrito Plaza and BART station, is two BART stops from campus. There are many affordable apartments in this quiet, clean, small town.