Applications open on September 11, 2026, for the University of California, Berkeley Center for the Study of Law and Society Visiting Scholars Program for the 2027–2028 academic year, Global South Opportunities reported.
The program brings established researchers to Berkeley for up to a full academic year to study legal institutions, legal processes, and the social consequences of law. Researchers must hold a PhD, JD, or foreign equivalent, and submit their proposals before the March 2, 2027 deadline.
Align Research with Principal Themes and Empirical Dimensions
Applicants must align their study with at least one of the Center’s three principal research themes: criminal justice, inequality, or democracy and civil society. Researchers are also expected to describe the empirical dimensions of their proposed projects.
The Center is closely affiliated with Berkeley Law and hosts scholars working across sociology of law, political science, criminal justice, law and economics, legal history, law and psychology, legal philosophy, and related disciplines. Accepted scholars gain access to Berkeley Law library privileges, weekly speaker series, workshops, and campus facilities.
Program Costs and Financial Rules
The Visiting Scholars Program is not a funded fellowship and does not provide stipends or financial assistance. International scholars must meet Berkeley’s J-1 exchange visitor financial requirements, which demand a minimum monthly funding of US$2,000 for the scholar, US$600 for a J-2 spouse, and US$400 for each child.
CSLS charges program fees of US$3,500 for stays up to six months and US$7,000 for stays up to one year. Additional costs include a US$750 University Service Fee for the first year and a US$850 DS-2019 processing fee for international visitors requiring a J-1 visa.
Results Arrive in Mid-March 2027
Application results are expected to be communicated in mid-March 2027. CSLS considers placements ranging from one semester to a full academic year, while summer-only applications are generally not competitive because regular programming takes place during the fall and spring semesters.