Known as the “Athens of the West”, Berkeley is an eclectic city on the east side of San Francisco Bay.

You can make your home in this unique Northern California city with off-campus housing from Student.com. We list affordable student accommodation in Berkeley with shared and private student apartments that are convenient and come equipped with modern amenities such as on-site laundry facilities. Many of the university housing options we list are located in the heart of downtown Berkeley.

If you want to know more about finding housing in Berkeley on Student.com, don’t hesitate to call us, or text us on our live chat in the bottom right corner of this page. We are always ready to help you.

Get to know Berkeley

While it is best known for its left-wing politics, protests, and activism in the 1960s, this free-spirited city is not stuck in the past.

Berkeley is now a bustling, attractive, and diverse city with a blend of yuppie, hippie, and student.

Located on the east side of the San Francisco Bay, Berkeley is a great combination of big and small. Berkeley itself is a cosy university town, but San Francisco, one of the most exciting cities in the world, is only a 20-minute drive away.

A raft of attractions to explore

Like other explorable cities and towns that decorate the California coastline, Berkeley draws visitors from all over the world to its premier attractions, acclaimed restaurants, museums, art, culture, and thrift stores.

And with a great Mediterranean climate and beautiful nature, many come to Berkeley to feast their eyes on its picture-perfect lakes, hiking trails, and sunsets.

Stroll downtown and discover Berkeley’s arts district where theaters, cinemas, and music venues fill tree-lined avenues, and poetry is embedded in the sidewalk. Head through Central and West Berkeley and choose between international eateries or rummage through eco-parks and thrift stores. Or simply walk to the University of California through Southside, where you will pass cool indie bookstores and sidewalk vendors selling hippy clothing. From there, you can escape into the surrounding nature reserves.

Student life in Berkeley

Berkeley celebrates diversity and is known for welcoming students from all nationalities. You’ll be studying in, and become a part of, a community that values where you’re from. So wherever in the world you are from, you’re likely to meet people from your culture, meet new people from others, and ultimately feel at home during your time in Berkeley.

Berkeley is home to diverse cultures, food, and traditions from around the world and possesses plenty of authentic experiences to share.

If you are cultural or artsy, you’ll enjoy Berkeley’s rich arts and culture scene. Catch a show in the Downtown Arts District or admire visual art at the Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive.

The heartbeat of student life in Berkeley

Telegraph Avenue is in many ways the soul of Berkeley and has traditionally been the throbbing heart of student life in the city. It’s a district filled with great shops, restaurants, cafes, budget eateries, and street stalls that cater to students.

The sidewalks are lined with throngs of vendors and buskers and are usually crowded with students and youthful shoppers.

A lot to see and do

The Northern California city brims with attractions and things to do that engage, entertain, and enthral.

The city’s festivals and special events fill the calendar with a variety of fun and memorable experiences.

The young college town also offers as varied and as fun a night out as anywhere else in the Bay Area.

Nightlife

There is a good mix of clubs including the vibrant and unique 924 Gillman, the music club that was a springboard for the ‘90s punk revival; the gothic Jupiter, which is housed in what was once a stable; the old-school Berkeley bar Nick’s Lounge that features some killer live music, an ample dance floor, and a very popular karaoke night; and Ashkenazi, a live music and dance venue that has kept its doors open for dancing feet since 1973.

Downtown Berkeley also offers cinemas, and live theaters, as well as other attractions.

But living in Berkeley means more than enjoying what it has to offer when the sun goes down.

Outdoor Activities

While missing the picturesque beaches and palm trees more characteristic of Southern California cities, Northern California cities like Berkeley, offer a more diverse terrain and climate.

With exceptional weather in every season, the sparkling San Francisco Bay, and its forested foothill terrain, Berkeley is a great place to enjoy the outdoors. It is a city where you can savour the sunset, tour a brewery or botanical garden, explore a 2,500-acre regional park, or enjoy a hike in the wooded Berkeley hills.

Visit the relaxing Lake Anza in Tilden Park, discover the 34 acres of plants from all over the world at The UC Botanical Garden, or ride the zip line at The Adventure Playground.

Where to study in Berkeley?

University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley)

Founded in 1868, the University of California, Berkeley (often known as simply Berkeley, UC Berkeley or just Cal) is a public research university with a rich history of academic excellence.

It’s considered one of the top universities in America and was ranked 32nd in the world in QS’s 2022 Global University Rankings. This made it the 14th best university in the United States and the 2nd best public university in the US, behind only the University of Michigan.

Berkeley is one of the 14 founding members of the Association of American Universities and is also the flagship institution of the ten research universities affiliated with the University of California system.

Some of Cal’s research institutes, including the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute and the Space Sciences Laboratory, are considered world-renowned.

The university has a long list of distinguished alumni, including 99 Nobel laureates, 23 Turing Award winners, and 14 Pulitzer Prize winners.

Haas School of Business

The second-oldest business school in the United States, the Haas School of Business at the University of California Berkeley is one of the world’s leading producers of knowledge and new ideas in all areas of business.

The institution offers outstanding management education to about 2,200 undergraduate and graduate students. Each year, it welcomes students from around the world to study in one of its six degree-granting programs.

The school has 40,000 alumni and is proud to have two of its faculty members (John Harsanyi in 1994 and Oliver Williamson in 2009) receive the Nobel Prize in Economics.

Berkeley College  

Berkeley College offers students diverse programs of study and a multi-cultural student body.

The university’s innovative combination of benefits, ‘The Berkeley Advantage,’ has been helping students from all over the world prepare for rewarding careers for more than 80 years.

Frequently asked questions about student apartments in Berkeley

How do I apply for off-campus housing in Berkeley on Student.com?

Use our website’s filter features and mapping tool to compare off-campus housing we list by things like price and location. After finding a student property you want to live in, go to the property page by clicking ‘View rooms’.

On the property page you’ll need to choose your preferred room type and the dates when you’d like to live there. Once you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’. One of our booking consultants will then contact you to answer any questions you may still have and explain the next steps of the booking process.

Do you list studio apartments in Berkeley?

Yes, we offer three types of student accommodation in Berkeley, including fully private studios:

Shared Rooms are student housing where multiple students (usually two) will share a bedroom. The bathroom and kitchen that are shared with other tenants from other rooms. This is usually the most affordable option we list.

Private Rooms are a student housing option where you’ll get a private bedroom. Depending on the property, the bathroom may be either private or shared. Kitchen and possible other facilities are shared with other students.

The Entire Place option is a completely self-contained student housing (a studio apartment) where all living facilities are fully private. You’ll have your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette, and won’t have to share with anyone.

Are bills included in the rent?

Bills are typically not included in the apartments we list in Berkeley. Many of the accommodation options we list offer free Wi-Fi though.

Are the apartments fully furnished?

Most of the apartments we list are fully furnished. However, check the property page of the property you’re interested in to see if it’s rented fully furnished or not. You can also use the filter feature on this page to only see the apartments that are rented furnished.

Do the properties you list have laundry facilities?

Yes, most of the apartments we list have card or coin-operated laundry facilities in the building.

Do you offer graduate housing as well?

Yes. As long as you are a full-time student, you can book any housing listed on Student.com.

Can I stay in my apartment over the summer?

Yes, most of the properties we list will allow you to book your accommodation for the whole year, including the summer months.