Your Home Away From Home: The Berk for International Students at Berkeley
A newly renovated, premium living oasis — fully furnished, all-inclusive, and a short walk from everything that matters
Moving to Berkeley from another country is one of the most exciting steps you’ll ever take — and one of the most logistically demanding. You’re coordinating a visa, a long flight, a new banking system, and a brand-new city, often without the chance to visit first or sign a lease in person. The last thing you should have to worry about is whether your apartment will have a bed when you arrive. That’s exactly why 2315 College Ave. — known to residents as The Berk — has become a favorite landing spot for international students. It’s a top-tier, newly renovated living oasis designed so you can step off the plane and straight into your Berkeley life.
A newly renovated, premium home base
The Berk is being newly renovated — modern finishings, hardwood floors, stainless steel kitchens, and refreshed shared spaces throughout. This isn’t a generic rental; it’s a purpose-built, student-focused, co-living community with the kind of amenities you’d expect from premium housing: a rooftop lounge and sundeck, two dedicated study rooms, a TV and rec room, a library, and a string-lit courtyard. Professional housekeeping keeps the communal areas pristine, free washers and dryers are on site, and a dedicated live-in community manager is always close by. For students who are far from family, that level of care and polish makes a real difference.
Arrive with a suitcase, not a moving truck
Shipping furniture across an ocean is expensive and impractical, and buying everything new in your first week is exhausting. At The Berk, every apartment is fully furnished and genuinely move-in ready, with kitchens stocked down to the essentials — even air fryers and panini presses. Just as importantly, the finances are refreshingly simple: utilities are a flat $150 per month, all-inclusive — covering water, trash, sewage, PG&E, Wi-Fi, and housekeeping. There are no separate accounts to set up with American utility companies, no surprise bills, and no need to navigate a new system in your first month. You unpack, and you’re home.
The Double Suite: space, comfort, and a built-in community
For international students, the Double Suite — The Berk’s two-bedroom unit — is often the ideal choice. These layouts give you a private bedroom alongside a shared living space, so you get personal quiet for studying and video calls home across time zones, plus a common area to cook, relax, and build a friendship with your roommate. Sharing a two-bedroom is also one of the smartest ways to manage cost in a competitive housing market, and The Berk’s roommate matching means you can be paired with someone on a similar schedule and wavelength before you even land. Arriving in a new country is far less daunting when there’s a familiar face — and a real home — waiting for you on day one.
Walkable to campus, and to everything else
Location is where The Berk truly shines. The building sits one block from the UC Berkeley campus — about 50 steps from the campus edge — directly across from the School of Law and around the corner from the Haas School of Business. With a Walk Score of 92, you can reach class, the library, and the Recreational Sports Facility entirely on foot, which matters enormously if you won’t have a car. A bus stop is a one-minute walk away for trips farther afield, and just outside the door you’ll find an easy mix of cafes and dining — Freehouse, Caffe Strada, and Crossroads Dining Hall — perfect for settling in and meeting people.
Peace of mind, built in
Security and reliability matter when your family is thousands of miles away. The Berk offers controlled building access and keyless unit entry, an elevator, secure bike storage, and covered parking, all backed by on-site maintenance and a live-in community manager. Leases are structured around the academic calendar — 12-month terms with August move-ins — so your housing aligns cleanly with the school year and your student visa timeline, with private and shared options across one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts to fit your needs and budget.
Reserve your spot — from anywhere in the world
Whether you’re joining Berkeley from across the country or across the globe, The Berk is built to make the transition simple, comfortable, and genuinely welcoming. Tour the newly renovated community, ask about the Double Suites, and picture your new life just steps from campus. Now leasing for the 2026–27 academic year — current move-in specials include waived application fees plus Refer-A-Friend, Look & Lease, and Fill-A-Unit offers (inquire for details). Schedule a tour: Call or text (510) 907-6365, or visit properties.tbgpm.com/berkeley/2315-college.
Virtual and 3D tours are available, so you can explore The Berk from home before you arrive.