SELS Living in Berkeley (health insurance, housing, transportation)
Will I need a car in Berkeley? How can I get around?
It is definitely not necessary to have a car in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out the local public transit options(link is external), such as AC Transit(link is external), BART(link is external), MUNI(link is external), and Amtrak(link is external). The Bay Area also offers ride-sharing services such as Lyft(link is external) or Uber(link is external). There are so many options in the Bay Area to get around without having to use a car. Many students also decide to purchase bicycles during their time in Berkeley.
If you decide to invest in a bike, please remember to be careful and lock your bike up at all times, as bike theft is common in Berkeley.
In addition, depending on where your housing is during the summer term, all of your classes will be walking distance. Many students also decide to not invest in any car, bike, or other means of transportation and go on foot!
I’m having trouble finding housing for the summer in Berkeley. Where can I go?
Check out the Berkeley Summer Sessions housing website(link is external) to see compiled information on University residence halls, student cooperative housing, and other options. Many students in the Summer English Language Studies program decide to live in International House(link is external), housing that caters to international students from all over the world. If you have housing-specific questions and/or concerns, please contact summer@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail).
Do I need health insurance?
Yes!
This is very important. According to the Health services center on campus: “All students enrolled in UC Berkeley Summer Sessions may use the Tang Center for medical services. Students will have to pay for services at the time of service and submit a claim to their insurer for reimbursement.”
Some resources: