This page includes information regarding reduced fee or ways you can save money when you are doing fieldwork of the semester.

1. In Absentia Registration

In absentia registration is available to eligible academic and professional graduate students. Students registered in absentia are assessed full health insurance fees, and 15 percent of the combined University Tuition and Student Services Fees. If applicable, students are also assessed the full non-resident tuition and/or professional school fees. Students in self-supporting programs or exchange programs are not eligible for in absentia registration. For more information contact the Degrees Office. Law students should contact the School of Law.

Eligibility

Students must enroll full-time (that is, at least 12 units). To be eligible, students must be undertaking research or coursework approved by their program that takes them outside California. Students engaged in similar programs within California, at a distance sufficient that they will not use campus resources, may petition to be allowed in absentia registration.

2. Filing Fee

The Filing Fee is a reduced fee, one-half of the Student Services Fee (formerly the University Registration fee), for doctoral students who have completed all requirements for the degree except for filing the dissertation (Plans A and B) and presenting the Final Defense (Plan A). It is also available to master’s students with no requirements remaining except for filing the thesis (Plan I) or taking the final comprehensive examination (Plan II). Filing Fee is available for the fall and spring semesters only.

The Filing Fee is not a form of registration. If students wish to use University services that are supported by registration fees, they must pay those fees. Students on Filing Fee status are not eligible to receive university funding or hold academic appointments because they are not registered. The Filing Fee may be used only once during a student’s career.

If a student does not complete the final degree requirements (filing the dissertation or thesis, or passing the final comprehensive exam) during the semester for which the Filing Fee is approved, the student must apply for readmission and pay regular registration fees during a subsequent semester to complete the requirements.

Eligibility

Filing Fee status is only available for students registered in the immediately previous term: fall semester to be on Filing Fee in spring; spring semester or Summer Session (registered for at least three units) to be on Filing Fee in fall. Filing Fee status is not available for Summer Sessions. (Students are permitted to file a thesis or dissertation while registered for Summer Session.)

Duration of the Filing Fee

The Filing Fee applies for the length of the semester for which Filing Fee status has been approved, up to the last working day of the term, which is the deadline for filing a thesis or dissertation.

Filing Fee status and International Students

In most cases, Filing Fee status can satisfy the SEVIS registration requirement for F-1/J-1 international students. To avoid visa problems with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, international students must contact the Berkeley International Office well before the beginning of the semester during which they plan to use the Filing Fee.

Health Insurance for Students on Filing Fee

U.S. resident students may purchase Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) coverage for the semester they are on approved filing fee status if they have not already purchased SHIP during a period of withdrawal.