ESS staff welcome new T-PREP students to a kickoff lunch at Memorial Stadium. (Photo by Adam Lau/Berkeley Engineering)

T-PREP: Transfer Pre-Engineering Program

Berkeley Engineering’s Transfer Pre-Engineering Program (T-PREP) begins with a three week summer program offered to incoming Berkeley Engineering transfer students. T-PREP continues throughout the year with workshops and events that are for your cohort. The transition from a community college to a major research university can be challenging, and transfer students often underestimate the degree of change. Students who participate in T-PREP will be fully prepared to meet the rigors of being a junior in the College of Engineering. T-PREP is just one of the many support services offered by Engineering Student Services.

Contact

Transfer Pre-Engineering Program Office
tprep@berkeley.edu

Apply to T-Prep

There are three main thrusts of Berkeley’s Transfer Pre-Engineering Program:

Academic component: T-PREP students will attend primer seminars based on coursework in their majors. Participants will make valuable connections with other incoming transfer students and T-PREP alumni.
Professional development component: T-PREP students will be ready to hit the ground running for fall career fairs and find out what it takes to get into graduate school. Landing a dream job is a journey and it starts with T-PREP!
Design component: T-PREP students will work with engineering Professor Scott Moura in the Jacobs Institute of Design Innovation. Working with a team, students will create a prototype using the SPRINT design process. At the end of the program they’ll showcase the team’s product at the Design Expo to industry representatives and Berkeley Engineering faculty.

Do I qualify for T-PREP?

All incoming Berkeley Engineering community college transfer students are invited to apply for T-PREP. The program focuses on the academic issues facing students from groups who are:

Students from Non-Traditional Backgrounds in Engineering
First-generation College students (meaning that neither parent has completed a four year degree in the US)
Pell Grant Eligible
Non-traditionally aged
Student Parents
U.S. veterans

What is the cost of T-PREP?

Through the generous support of our corporate sponsors — Chevron, the Boeing Company and General Motors — and our individual sponsors — Kung Guerra Foundation, RECARE Foundation, Brian & Lisa Davis, the Arjavalingam family, Maria and Dave Kaval, Esther and HonWah Chung, Arista Foundation and the Berkeley Engineering Fund — T-PREP is free to all participants.

How do I apply?

Please complete this form by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 13, 2025 to be considered for admission into the program.
*The mailed postcard has the wrong application deadline. The June dates listed above are correct.

How does student housing work for T-PREP?

Students in T-PREP are automatically provided housing for the duration of the three-week program. Information about your T-PREP housing will be sent to you; you do not need to contact anyone.

Please note that T-PREP housing is not the same as housing for the academic year. You will still need to sign up for campus housing in the fall.

Frequently asked questions

This summer’s program will be 100% in person.

Participation in T-PREP is completely free of charge.

All incoming engineering community college transfer students are invited to apply for T-PREP. The cohort size is limited to 50 students — therefore, selection is competitive.

No. There is no rolling admission. All applications submitted by the deadline will be considered for review after the deadline.

All applications for T-PREP will be reviewed and carefully considered. However, priority is given to students who will be taking Engineering 7 or CS 61A during the fall semester. We also give strong consideration to students who are not from the area.

No. T-PREP is specifically for students who were admitted as transfer students. Freshmen students should apply to PREP.

Incoming students from other universities may apply, but priority will be given to students transferring from California community colleges.

No, T-PREP is a full-time commitment.

Students in T-PREP can request housing during the three weeks of the program. On your application please indicate whether or not you plan to stay on campus during the program. Please note that this will not be your fall housing, thus, you will still need to sign up for fall housing. You do not need to contact housing to arrange housing during T-PREP.