We recognize the additional challenges and barriers that undocumented students experience in higher education. Regardless of health care barriers you may have faced before attending UC Berkeley, we care about your well-being and want to help you do well.
We welcome and strive to serve all students, regardless of legal status. Remember you are not alone. You are loved. You belong. You are appreciated. #HeretoStay #all11million #DefendDaca
Resources at University Health Services
Mental health counseling
Along with academic stress, many undocumented students experience stress related to the political climate, xenophobia, racism, deportation fears, housing, family responsibilities, and career uncertainty. Understandably, all of these can impact mood, concentration, motivation, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
Counseling at UHS is free and available to ALL UC Berkeley students, regardless of status. In addition, two satellite counselors are housed within the Undocumented Student Program space in the Cesar Chavez building. While each student’s wellness plan and number of sessions will look different depending on their unique needs, all mental health services on campus are FREE for undocumented students. Thanks to generous philanthropic support, undocumented students can also get reimbursed* for mental health services they seek off-campus. *See details on the application process and amount.
Call (510) 642-9494 to get started. Learn more about counseling at the Undocumented Students Program. For help when we are closed, contact the After Hours Counseling Line at (855) 817-5667.
Meet the Counselors
Bianca Barrios, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
César Chávez Building, Room 180
Diana Peña, PhD
Licensed Psychologist
César Chávez Building, Room 180
Additional Mental Health Options
- Bianca & Diana are both offering free Virtual Drop-In Consultations.
Confidentiality
- Conversations with counselors are confidential, with a few rare exceptions, usually to protect your safety or the safety of others. Counselors keep brief written notes of their contacts with students and maintain a practice that does NOT include a student’s legal status in their files. We don't want anything to be a barrier to students accessing help. If you have further questions about confidentiality, we encourage you to discuss them with a counselor. Learn more about our confidentiality practices.
Medical Services
Students can use the medical services at UHS just as they would at their regular doctor's office and urgent care center. Our facility is fully accredited, and staffed by licensed and/or board-certified physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, a nutritionist, and nurses.
Manage your health online, anytime, anywhere, with the eTang patient portal. Schedule appointments, transfer/refill prescriptions, send secure messages, see lab results, order STI and pregnancy tests, and more!
Health Coaching
Professional health educators provide free lifestyle and behavior guidance to increase your academic and personal success on topics like time management, procrastination, resilience and stress management, exercise, and sexuality.
Nutrition Drop-in Counseling
Nutrition education sessions are offered to all students and cover general nutrition topics including:
- Eating for healthy weight and disease prevention
- Eating on a budget
- Simple meals and snacks for students
- Vegetarian and vegan diet tips
Nutrition education sessions are approximately 15-20 minutes long and are scheduled on a drop-in basis. Drop-in nutrition education is FREE of charge.
Trans and Gender Diverse Care
Our goal is to ensure trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse students receive the highest quality care in a supportive, respectful space. Visit Trans Care Webpage >
LGBTQIA+ Services
Our goal is to ensure LGBTQ students receive the highest quality care in a supportive, respectful space. Visit LGBTQIA+ Resources webpage >
Sexual Health Services
Sexual health is more than just sex, condoms, and STD testing. It is part of overall wellness and involves feeling informed and empowered. Find resources for getting informed, protected, and tested. Did you know you can order your own STI testing? View the Sexual Health webpage >
Social Services
Our confidential counseling services are topic-specific such as chronic illness management, medical withdrawals, nutrition, substance abuse, body image and disordered eating, pregnancy, relationship violence and sexual assault, and gender identity counseling. View Social Services webpage >
SHIP - Student Health Insurance Plan
We know health insurance can be confusing, and our staff is here to answer any question: give us a call at (510) 642-5700 or ship@berkeley.edu (link sends e-mail). Visit SHIP to learn about benefits (medical, counseling, pharmacy, vision, and dental), definitions of healthcare terms, insurance for spouses and/or children, and how to use your insurance plan. All students and dependents, regardless of immigration status, may purchase SHIP. The SHIP Nurseline telephone nurse advice service is available to all members by phone during all hours, every day at (800) 681-4065. SHIP members also receive On Call International worldwide medical and travel assistance.
Grants that cover SHIP costs
Dependent students with specific types of grants or scholarships, like the Freshman Scholarship, Transfer Scholarship, Berkeley Scholarship, Fiat Lux, or Undergraduate Grant will likely receive additional grant or scholarship funding to assist with the SHIP expense.
Dependent students awarded only loans and/or work-study will likely receive additional loans and/or work to cover the cost of SHIP, if eligible.
For more information on your unique award package, see a Financial Aid advisor.
Health Opportunity Fund (HOF) for Dream Aid Recipients
HOF offered funds to cover fees for services at UHS to help offset costs, including Pharmacy prescription and over-the-counter items (excluding Optometry) for all Pell Grant and Dream Aid recipients. Look on our HOF page for more info.
You only need to announce yourself as a Health Opportunity Funds recipient, not that you are a Dream Aid recipient. Because of system limitations, it’s important to remember to notify the front desk of the service being provided (Lab, Pharmacy, Student Health Insurance Program office) that you are using Health Opportunity Funds before the transaction is completed.
Sample Fees
The cost of health care can be confusing. View our sample fees list to learn more about the costs of services at UHS, how much your SHIP benefits pay if you are enrolled in the student plan, and how to pay for services. Remember that Dream Aid recipients are eligible for the Health Opportunity Fund (HOF) to offset costs at UHS.
Food Assistance
If you lack access to food in the short term, applying to the food assistance program may be an option for you. Through the support of an additional funding source, we encourage all students who are experiencing food insecurity to review and apply (link is external) for the Food Assistance Program, regardless of CalFresh eligibility.
For more resources regarding food security see:
Undocumented Students Program (USP) at UC Berkeley
The Undocumented Student Program (USP) at UC Berkeley provides guidance and support to undocumented undergraduates. Visit USP website >
Campus Resources
- Centers for Educational Equity and Excellence (CE3) - CE3 offers a comprehensive array of counseling programs, supplemental aid, and scholarships to support former foster youth, veterans, student parents, undocumented students, and transfer students of all ages and life experiences.
- Food Pantry - The Food Pantry is an emergency relief program that is designed to meet the short-term food security needs of the UC Berkeley community
- Centers for Educational Justice and Community Engagement - The Centers for EJCE at UC Berkeley is a collaborative of offices and centers that advocate for, build capacity with, and dialogue among and across diverse communities.
- Path to Care - The PATH to Care Center leads the efforts to transform our campus into a community that is free of sexual violence, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, and stalking through prevention, advocacy, training, and healing.
- Disabled Students’ Program - The Disabled Students' Program equips disabled students with appropriate accommodations and services to achieve their academic goals.
- Casa Joaquin
Community Resources
- Immigrants Rising - Mental Health Connector - Immigrants Rising’s Mental Health Connector provides undocumented people with psychological support, allowing them to access their strengths and resiliency in order to focus on their personal goals and healing journey.
- #Health4All - The California Endowment’s #Health4All campaign highlights the important contributions of undocumented Californians to our state’s communities and economy while raising awareness of their lack of access to affordable health care coverage.