How to Apply

IMPORTANT: Please do NOT send application checks or documents via mail. Please send all documents via e-mail and instead of paying by check follow the instructions to pay via wire on the UC Berkeley Controller's Office website. After initiating any wire payment please notify us via email at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.

Introduction

Thank you for your interest in affiliating with CKS as a Visiting Scholar at UC Berkeley! This page provides all the information needed in order to apply. Before applying, we recomend that you also review the information on visas, insurance, and housing on the Before You Arrive page in addition to the scholar responsibilities and services on the During Your Visit page. This will give you an idea of what else you need to prepare before coming to Berkeley and what will be expected of you while you are here.

Please note that CKS Visiting Scholars are self-supporting, either by their personal funds, financial support from their home institutions, or other grants. Affiliation as a Visiting Scholar also requires payment of multiple fees to both CKS and other university departments (see the detailed explanation of fees below).

All questions about the application process should be emailed to the CKS Visiting Scholar Program Coordinator, Dianne-Enpa Cho (cks-vs@berkeley.edu(link sends e-mail)). Please take a moment to thoroughly read the information provided here before contacting her, as the process is explained in detail. Do not email questions directly to the CKS Faculty Chair as these will be ignored

Important Application Information

The application and approval process (see below) can take up to four months, so it is best to submit your application as early as possible.

Please keep the following important points in mind:

  1. CKS can only host a limited number of Visiting Scholars per semester and spots fill up quickly. Check the Application Deadlines to see if space is still available.
  2. Applicants must submit all required documentation, forms, and fees in order to be considered. Incomplete or incorrectly submitted applications can be significantly delayed. No application will be considered if we have not received the $200 application fee.
  3. Remember to factor in the time it will take for you to obtain your visa from the U.S. Embassy. Also allow for unexpected delays.

Affiliation Categories

CKS accepts affiliations under the following categories:

Affiliation Category Affilliation Requirements
Visiting Research Scholar Academic Must have a Ph.D. conferred more than five years ago and hold a teaching position at a university. If your Ph.D. was not conferred more than five years ago, please contact cks-vs@berkeley.edu to discuss eligibility.
Non-Academic We accept many applications from researchers from government and private institutes, in addition to journalists and (in limited cases) government officials.
Visiting Student Researcher Accepted on a limited basis. Must possess a bachelor's degree or foreign equivalent, and must be currently working on a degree goal. The proposed visit should be to conduct research for the purpose of meeting degree requirements for another university.

For a more detailed description of the two affiliation types, visit the VSPA Visiting Scholar & Visiting Student Researcher page.

List of Required Application Materials

IMPORTANT: Please do NOT send application checks or documents via mail. Please send all documents via e-mail and instead of paying by check follow the instructions to pay via wire on the UC Berkeley Controller's Office website. After initiating any wire payment please notify us via email at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.

Please submit the following items by e-mail to cks-vs@berkeley.edu except for the application fee, which must be paid via wire payment. No application is complete until we have received all of these items.

# Item Submission Method Description
1 Application Fee (non-refundable) Wire Payment IMPORTANT: During the COVID-19 pandemic this fee must be paid via wire transfer. After sending the wire payment, you MUST notify CKS at cks-vs@berkeley.edu.

The $200 application fee 
must be paid to CKS via wire.No application will be considered if this fee is not paid. This fee is non-refundable once submitted. (신청비 200 불을보내지 않으시면신청서를 심사하지 않습니다.)
2 Curriculum Vitae E-mail. Word Doc or PDF only. A CV or resume in English. It should include the highest academic degree earned, major academic or professional activities, and relevant publications. (본인 소개서—영어로 작성하여주십시요.)
3 Research Plan

E-mail.

Word Doc or PDF only.

A detailed explanation in English of your plan of research while at CKS. (연구계획서—영어로 작성하여 주십시요.)
4 J Scholar Information Request E-mail. Word Doc or PDF only. This form and instructions for filling it out are available below in the Application Forms section on this page.
5 Copy of Passport E-mail. Word Doc or PDF only. A copy of the front (picture) page of your passport AND passports of any dependents (spouse or children under 21 years old) who will be joining you in the U.S. (오시는 동반자 모두의 여권 복사가 필요합니다.)
6 Proof of Funding E-mail. Word Doc or PDF only. The U.S. government requires proof that you have enough funds to live in the United States ($2,000 per month, plus $600 per month if you are accompanied by your spouse, plus $400 per month per accompanying child). (재정 증명서는 영어로 제시 되어야 하며 액수는 본인 $2,000, 부인 $600 그리고 자녀분 $400불을 더하여 12 개월로 곱한 액수이거나 그이상이어야 합니다.) The list of acceptable funding documentation is provided on BIO's Financial Requirements page. Sample Proof of Funding Letter: (Word Document|PDF Document)
7 Proof of English Language Proficiency E-mail. Word Doc or PDF only. TOEIC scores are not permitted. As of January 5th, 2015, all applicants are required to submit proof of English language proficiency in compliance with Federal regulations for the J-1 visa. Visa recipients must have adequate English language proficiency for the proposed activity (Reg.22 CFR 62.10 (a)(2)). Please submit ONE of the following options, but note that these recommendations do not guarantee visa approval from the U.S. embassy. CKS only accepts the below options for fulfilling this requirement and does not conduct interviews.
  1. Your most recent scores from a recognized English language test (TOEFL or IELTS only). This option is strongly preferred. TOEFL iBT minimum score is 80. PBT is 550 for the paper-based test, or 213 for the computer-based test. IELTS is 6.5. The scores must be no older than 5 years at the time you submit your application to CKS.
  2. A signed letter from an academic institution or English language school on institutional letterhead. Please consult with the Visiting Scholar Program Coordinator for details. Sample Proof of English Proficiency Letter: (Word Document|PDF Document)

Downloadable Application Materials

Note: Do not use the Sample Forms for your own application.

Required Forms:

Sample Letters:

Questions about these materials can be emailed to Dianne-Enpa Cho (cks-vs@berkeley.edu). Do not contact her until you have read the instructions linked above.

Explanation of Fees

IMPORTANT: Please do NOT pay application fees via check. Please follow the instructions to pay via wire on the UC Berkeley Controller's Office website. After initiating any wire payment please notify us via email at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.

Affiliating with CKS involves a number of different fees. Many of these fees are not controlled by CKS, and all fees are subject to change over time. If you have questions about any of the fees listed below, contact the Visiting Scholar Coordinator.

Fee Type Amount of Fee Description
CKS Application Fee $200 IMPORTANT: During the COVID-19 pandemic this fee must be paid via wire transfer. After sending the wire payment, you MUST notify CKS at cks-vs@berkeley.edu.

This fee is non-refundable. Your application will not be considered if you have not paid this fee. This fee should be paid via wire payment. After initiating the wire payment you must notify CKS at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.
DS-2019 Processing Fee $650 IMPORTANT: During the COVID-19 pandemic this fee must be paid via wire transfer. After sending the wire payment, you MUST notify CKS at cks-vs@berkeley.edu.

This fee is non-refundable. This fee is for the Berkeley International Office (BIO), which produces your DS-2019 form. This form is required when you go to the U.S. Embassy to get your J-1 visa. This fee should only be paid AFTER a scholar is notified of their acceptance by CKS. The fee should be paid by wire payment. If for some reason you cannot move forward with your affiliation, this fee can be converted into a voucher that can be used for a future visit. In the event that the fee has increased by that time, you will still be responsible for paying the difference between the voucher amount and the new fee. After initiating the wire payment you must notify CKS at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.
VSPA Fee (Visiting Research Scholars) $750 This fee is for the Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs Office (VSPA) to secure access to campus resources. It should only be paid AFTER a scholar is notified of their acceptance by CKS. It is payable online by credit cardScholars cannot receive their university ID card and library access until after this fee has been paid.
VSPA Fee (Visiting Student Researchers) $1,000 This fee is for the Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs Office (VSPA) to secure access to campus resources. It should only be paid AFTER a scholar is notified of their acceptance by CKS. It is payable online by credit cardScholars cannot receive their university ID card and library access until after this fee has been paid.
CKS Affiliation Fee (Academic and Student Researchers) $2,300 This is the affiliation fee for Academic Visiting Research Scholars and Visiting Student Researchers. CKS does not prorate the fee for scholars who are staying less than one year.
CKS Affiliation Fee (Non-Academic) $10,000 This is the affiliation fee for Non-Academic Visiting Research Scholars. CKS does not prorate the fee for scholars who are staying less than one year.
Visa Fee $160 This is the fee charged by the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. You are responsible for paying this fee directly to the Embassy in order to receive your visa.
Starting Date Change Fee $150 The starting date entered in your application is considered to be a firm and final starting date for your affiliation. Approval of your application entails approval of this date. In the event that a change of starting date is required, all paperwork for the affiliation must be re-processed. For this reason, changes of affiliation starting date require this fee. The fee should be paid by wire payment. After initiating the wire payment you must notify CKS at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.
Appointment Extension and Early Departure Fees Various There are multiple fees involved in extending or shortening your stay. Please see the During Your Visit page for more information on these fees.

Submission of Application Materials

IMPORTANT: Please do NOT send application checks or documents via mail. Please send all documents via e-mail and instead of paying by check follow the instructions to pay via wire on the UC Berkeley Controller's Office website. After initiating any wire payment please notify us via email at cks-vs@berkeley.edu. Payments may not be properly received if we are not notified.

E-mail (All files must be Word Doc or PDF only):

cks-vs@berkeley.edu

Phone:

(510) 642-5674 or (510) 643-6326

Fax:

(510) 643-7062

Application Review Process

  1. Complete application emailed to Dianne-Enpa Cho and application fee sent to CKS via wire payment.
  2. Initial review by CKS Visiting Scholar Program Committee.
  3. Final CKS review by Faculty Chair. Applications will be either rejected or approved.
  4. Approved applications are sent to the Visiting Scholar and Postdoc Affairs Office for approval and registration.
  5. Approved applications are sent to the Berkeley International Office for DS-2019 processing.
  6. After receiving BIO approval and the completed DS-2019, prospective scholars must secure a visa through the U.S. Embassy.
  7. Full approval and appointment as a Visiting Scholar.

Applying for Extensions

To extend an existing appointment, follow the instructions on the During Your Visit page.

Application Deadlines

It is possible for our program to reach capacity before the listed deadline. Please apply early to ensure considertion. In the event that capacity for a given semester is reached, we will note this on our website and stop accepting new applications.

Semester Deadline Status
Fall 2023 May 15, 2023

Accepting applications.

Spring 2024 October 15, 2023

Accepting applications.

*Important Note*: The application process may take as long as four months to complete.