Short-Term Emergency Loan

Spring 2023:    January 10 at 8 A.M. through May 12, 2023 at 5 P.M.

Summer 2023: May 22 at 8 A.M. through August 11, 2023 at 5 P.M.

Fall 2023:         August 21 at 8 A.M. through December 20, 2023 at 12 P.M.

Apply in Cal Central under the section of My Finances, then Financial Resources and click on "Emergency Loan|Apply for an Emergency Loan." Here is a step-by-step short term emergency loan guide to get you started. If you need more information about short-term emergency loans, please see the Cal Student Central website.

Types of Loans Available During the Fall and Spring Semesters

Co-payable Loan for Fees

A co-payable Loan for Fees is available if you have enrolled for the semester, but have not yet obtained official registration status. The loan is intended to help make partial payment toward fall or spring semester UC Berkeley registration fees to cover 20% of the registration fees in fall or spring semester so you can be considered a register student. The loan will directly pay your fees and will be reflected in your Student Account. Students requiring additional funding beyond the co-payable maximum are encouraged to secure alternate sources of funding to meet the minimum amount due in advance of the payment deadlines. To be eligible:

1. Students must be in a degree-seeking program;
2. Be enrolled in a minimum of 1.0 unit and have a non-registration status;
3. Do not have any active registration holds;
4. Do not have a past-due Co-Payable Loan for Fees and/or Living Expense Loan.

If you are eligible, you may receive up to $1,480. Only one Co-payable Loan for Fees will be granted per student per semester. Co-payable Loans for Fees are not available for UC Berkeley Summer Sessions, UC Berkeley Extension fees, UC Education Abroad programs, enrollment at other UC campuses, or enrollment at other educational institutions. To be considered officially registered at UC Berkeley, you must meet all criteria:

• You must be enrolled in at least one course;
• You must have at least 20% of your registration fees paid;
• You must have no holds against your registration (including any holds for a past due balance).

Living Expense Loans

Living Expense Loans are available to UC Berkeley registered students who have demonstrated financial need for funds essential to their attendance. To be eligible:

1. Students must be in a degree-seeking program;
2. Be officially registered at UC Berkeley for the current semester;
3. Do not have any active registration holds;
4. Do not have a past-due Living Expense Loan and/or Co-payable Loan for Fees.

If you are eligible, you may receive up to $1,600. The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office may, at its discretion and on a by-case basis, approve more than one loan per semester per student and/or approve a loan in excess of $1,600. Such approval requires authorization from an appropriate representative of the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, or a delegated official, and eligible students may be required to sign a revised promissory note. Students may receive these short-term, emergency funds via paper check at Cal Student Central or in their personal bank account via Direct Deposit. Note: If your Direct Deposit is not active, you can sign up for Direct Deposit. Loan disbursements will not be split across multiple payment methods.

Type of Loan Available During Summer Sessions

Living Expense Loan

A Living Expense Loan is available during Summer Sessions to eligible registered students. The maximum loan amount is $1,600. To be eligible:

1. Students must be in a degree-seeking program;
2. Be registered at UC Berkeley for the current Summer Sessions;
3. Be a continuing student who has completed the previous spring semester;
4. Do not have any active registration holds;
5. Do not have a past-due Living Expense Loan and/or Co-payable Loan for Fees.

The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office reserves the right to determine whether to make a loan available after assessing eligibility and other factors that may affect the student’s registration or ability to repay the loan. This determination of eligibility is subject to verification of the information provided in the application and the university’s records. The maximum loan amount is established each semester by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and is subject to change without notice.

• Loans are interest-free.
• The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office assesses a $20 administrative fee for each short-term emergency loan. This fee is automatically added to the loan balance and is repaid when the loan is repaid. The amount of the administrative fee is established each semester by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and is subject to change without notice. This fee will be waived for the 22/23 academic year.
• The maximum loan amount is established each semester by the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and is subject to change without notice.

Repayment Terms and Disclosures

• The principal loan amount and administrative fee are due approximately 60 days from the date of the application of the loan.
• Financial aid awards, loans, or other credits to your account may result in the loan balance being paid before the due date.
• Funds eligible to pay the loan balance will not be issued as a refund of overpayment until the loan balance is paid-in-full.
• Borrowers are responsible for repayment whether or not they receive a bill.

Payment Options

Borrowers have several options for making payments to their account—either electronically or by check.

If you are receiving financial aid, please be aware that once your financial aid posts to your account, it may pay off the emergency loan and the application fee, if applicable, before the due date. There is no guarantee that this will happen, however, and financial aid may not pay any of it. It is your responsibility to monitor your account activity.

Cal Student Central
(510) 664-9181