The Benefits of Membership

OLLI @Berkeley is a dynamic learning community for people age 50+. As a member, you gain access to:

• Relevant and revelatory courses — exclusively for members — in history, politics, science, literature, music, the arts and more taught by UC Berkeley professors and other scholars
• Newsmaking lectures and Town Halls featuring leading thinkers on campus and in the community
• Intergenerational dialogues between OLLI members and Berkeley undergraduates focused on topics of critical importance to all
• Opportunities to participate in groundbreaking research with UC partners
• Interest groups, clubs, social gatherings and excursions

Membership Types

We offer four types of membership. Course fees are separate and are based on your choice of membership. 

Membership Types, Explained

All membership types include access to courses, speaker events, lectures, workshops, clubs, activities and more.

Single Term All Access:

• Good for one term only
• Makes the most sense if you plan to take courses during one term only and not again within a year

Annual All Access:

• Perfect for people think they'll take one or two courses a term over four consecutive terms (12 months) 
• This is a popular option!

Premium: 

• The most cost effective option if you think you'll take six or more courses over the span of four consecutive terms 
• Pay NO course fees for all lectures — sign up for as many as you want
• Enjoy steep discounts on a handful of smaller, workshop-like courses

Encore Only:

• Gives you access to our popular Encore courses only and not to our lecture and workshop courses
• Two Encore courses are offered per term typically  
• Encore courses are pre-recorded videos of popular courses from a previous term plus two livestream conversations with the faculty

Join OLLI

Course Types, Explained

• Lecture: A large-size class. Faculty members lecture with varying amounts of Q&A. Most of our courses are lectures.
   
• Workshop: Small, hands-on courses with direct interaction with faculty. Courses frequently are writing or art focused.
   
• Encore: Popular courses recorded a previous term plus two livestream conversations with the faculty. Typically two Encore courses are offered per term.

Fee Assistance

Need-based Fee Assistance memberships are available if full fees present a barrier to your participation. Please consider submitting an application. Learn more. 

Discounts on Membership

Members of the following groups receive a $10 discount on all types of memberships. One discount per member. Course fees cannot be discounted. Fee Assistance memberships are not eligible for additional discounts.

• Cal Alumni Association
• Current or retired faculty and staff at UC Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, or UC Office of the President

Campus & Community Discounts

Cal Alumni Association (CAA) — $10 off membership

OLLI members will receive a $10 discount on a $60 Senior Citizen annual membership at the Cal Alumni Association (CAA). CAA members receive many benefits of interest to OLLI members, such as library access at all UC campuses and discounts on performance tickets at many Bay Area venues.

UC Botanical Garden — $15 off membership

OLLI members can join the UC Botanical Garden as Cal Affiliates (see Cal Affiliate Membership) and save $15 on an individual or family membership.

Berkeley Arts and Letters — up to 50% discount

Berkeley Arts and Letters extends its student discount to OLLI members on advance tickets purchased through their website. Just select the “student discount” option (when available) for ticket purchases, and present your OLLI membership card at check-in to verify your student eligibility.