Below is a list of resources we have put together to help you get started. By no means is this a comprehensive list. Connect with your peers and the campus community to learn more about other resources available, and of course, recommendations of great places to grab some food!
[updated 07/03/2025]
Off-Campus Housing website for more information about rental search support offered through the UC Berkeley Housing Office
International House (I-House): I-House is a global residential community where students, scholars, and professionals from over 70 countries come together to live, learn, and connect.
Housing Swap Document for incoming and outgoing exchangers to post their interests in borrowing or lending an available space
Slack Channels are good for searching for housing posts from your peers or sharing your interests in finding housing at or close by Berkeley; check out these channels:
Zillow.com is where you can search for homes and apartments
Apartments.com is where you can search for apartments
Airbnb can be used as a temporary housing solution
CalRentals (UC Berkeley's housing & roommate search database)
Career Management Group (CMG) is your go-to resource for career-related questions. To connect with CMG, you can get in touch with Mark Friedfeld, one of the Career Coaches, at friedfel@berkeley.edu
UC Berkeley Professional Development Workshops is a program through which students can access professional development tools free of charge
CampusGroups is the platform students use to join clubs. We will create your official CampusGroups account at the beginning of the semester. Do not join clubs until we have added you to the system during the first week of classes.
If you’re curious, you can view a list of clubs here. There will be a club and center fair where you can learn more about each club, and interact with second-year club members.
*All exchange students should have access to CampusGroups to join clubs and sign up for events. Visit this web page to sign in - https://haas.campusgroups.com/home_login
The MBAA fee is usually waived for exchange students; club fees are not waived or reduced, however. Because each club has its own expenses to manage, joining members may need to pay a fee if it is a condition for club membership.
[updated 07/31/2025]
Check out the FTMBA's Health & Wellness document for more resources.
SHIP Health Insurance - learn more about your Berkeley health insurance plan
University Health Services - access health resources and medical services available at the university
Tang Center - online appointment booking tool
PATH to Care - provides holistic support, helping victims/survivors to access resources related to any aspect of life that is impacted by sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, or harassment. Services are provided free of charge
Recreational Sports Facility - University’s largest fitness center
Safety Reminders
Night Safety Services at UC Berkeley - UC Berkeley offers comprehensive free night safety services made up of Safewalk escort, night shuttle buses, and a door-to-door service.
Campus Safety - visit the university's safety webpage to learn more about tips and guides for enhancing your safety on campus and in the Berkeley community.
If you sense you are in danger, call 911 from any phone or 510.642.3333 from a mobile phone
Visit the Contact Us page for ways to connect with BIO for visa-related questions.
Money & Banking is a great source of information on best practices for accessing and managing your money during your stay in the U.S.
Emergency Support: Scams & Safety is a great source of information for best practices for safely navigating campus and the surrounding areas
Graduate Student Arrival Guide (from BIO)
MBA Tech Laptop Configuration
Haas Technology Solutions has created self-help instructions for configuring your laptop on this How Do I document: Self-Help Laptop Configuration.
Equipment Checkout
MBAs are eligible to check out Audio Visual equipment from Haas Teaching & Events Services and laptops from Haas Student Computing. To check out A/V Equipment, please make a reservation at our WebCheckout Patron Portal. You can log in with your Calnet ID and passphrase. See our How do I instructions here.
To check out a laptop or Chromebook, please email helpdesk@haas.berkeley.edu.
Printing
MBA students get $200 of print credit per semester. You can print at any of our network printers using Webprint. For more details and instructions please see the Printing section of our How do I page, including a list of printers for MBAs.
How do I?
For any IT-related issues, check out the How do I page. You will find answers to most IT questions here. If you need additional assistance, sign up for a drop-in appointment via Zoom, or email the Help Desk. Our Zoom virtual drop-in hours will be from Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm.
Cal Performances is the company through which you can purchase tickets for a variety of music, dance, and theater performances hosted at UC Berkeley.
Check out the Cal Bears Sports site for UC Berkeley football season
Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination - Resources & Reporting
Restorative Justice Center - Dialogue circles for addressing interpersonal conflict or harm
Supportal - Single entry point for all support services at Cal
Trader Joe’s is a mid-sized chain grocery store
Safeway is a major grocery store chain where you can get just about anything
Berkeley Bowl is an independent grocery store
CVS Pharmacy is a chain pharmacy store
Café Think is located at Haas in Chou Hall and has a variety of fresh breakfast and lunch options
Café Strada, a short walk away on Bancroft, offers beverages, pastries, and grab-and-go items
Café Zeb is located next to Haas at the Berkeley Law School, a great choice for paninis and salads
The Faculty Club is open to all and has cafeteria-style hot entrees, grill items, and a salad bar
Airport Transportation - how to get to campus from the airport
Driving
You are encouraged to apply for a California driver’s license if you plan to drive a motor vehicle
The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has the latest California Driver Handbook, forms, and instructions on how to apply for a California Driver License (remember to bring all required documents when visiting the DMV).
Getaround (Car Share) - a local car-share service through which you can rent cars by the hour or day
Public Transit (Berkeley and Beyond) - different transit systems you can use to travel around the Bay Area
Other Transportation Systems
Where you can use your Clipper card - a list of different Bay Area transit systems where you can use your Clipper card (remember to load enough money for your trips)
Biking - UC Berkeley is a biking-friendly campus. Check out the website for more information on where you can park your bikes and map routes.
Check out Bay Wheels on the biking web page above for more information about the bike share system