Students and registered student organizations can apply for grants through the ASUC Grants & Scholarships Foundation, or GSF, until Friday.
The five grants and scholarships offered in the Fall 2026 Grant Cycle intend to support a wide range of student activities, from expanding technology access to providing funding for DeCals.
Notably, the GSF now oversees the $200,000 Student Opportunity Fund, or SOF — a fund designed to increase professional development opportunities, open to both UC Berkeley undergraduate and graduate students. With this addition, the foundation is set to award $250,000 over the course of this school year.
Applications opened on Sept. 25 and will close on Oct. 2 at 11:59 p.m.
“These grants are important, as they are one of the only sources of funding offered to students,” said GSF Executive Director Manny Morando Neri in an email. “Most departments’ funding options are drained, and there is limited awareness of other funding sources.”
Through the SOF, students and RSOs can apply for up to $2,000 to fund their professional development opportunities. According to the Fall 2026 GSF document, funds can be put toward attending workshops and conferences, taking courses, buying course materials and hosting events.
The SOF now includes the Academic Opportunity Fund, which provides funding for educational experiences “beyond the classroom,” according to the Fall 2026 GSF document. It also contains the Student Organization Travel Grant, which finances travel-related expenses such as airfare and lodging for campus clubs.
According to the Fall 2026 GSF document, in the past, SOF grants have funded student panels on incarceration and supported a trip to an LGBTQ+ business conference for Q@Haas, an organization for LGBTQ+ MBA students, partners and allies.
Students and RSOs can also apply to the Arts & Service initiatives for the University & Community Grant, which funds community service and artistic events, and a DeCal Grant, which supports student-taught courses. Both grants are capped at $1,000.
Additionally, the Student Technology Grant seeks to provide funds for student access to technology. The Professional Development Scholarship aims to expand access to professional development opportunities for students who have historically faced barriers to such experiences. Scholarship funds can be used to purchase professional attire and subscription services like LinkedIn Premium.
“Students should review the application and SOF guidelines document and are encouraged to ask questions, attend a workshop, and attend the drop-in hours,” Neri said in the email.
The GSF will host an application workshop at Hearst Field Annex on Oct. 1 from 9-10 p.m. and an online drop-in session over Zoom on Oct. 2 from 8-9 p.m.
Interested students can access information for the Fall 2026 Grant Cycle and its application on CalLink.