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It contains important information, including your title code, appointment dates, starting salary, and more. You will be asked to sign and return the offer letter to accept your appointment.</li> <li>Research and prepare for the cost of living in the San Francisco Bay Area. Although postdocs are not considered students, the <a href="https://finaid.ucsf.edu/financial-literacy/spending-plan" target="_blank">UCSF Student Financial Aid website</a> may be a good resource for you in terms of creating a budget. See their rough estimate of the cost of basic needs at right. </li> <li><a href="/housing-commuting">Make housing arrangements</a>.</li> <li>Plan to arrive in the Bay Area with at least one month of living expenses to support yourself until you receive your first paycheck.</li> <li>International postdocs: Review the <a href="https://isso.ucsf.edu/resources/pre-arrival-checklist" target="_blank">new scholars pre-arrival instructions</a> from the International Students and Scholars Office, including how to obtain your visa.</li> <li>Contact your PI and your department to let them know your arrival date.</li> <li>Ask your PI if they are willing to reimburse part or all of your moving expenses. Not all PI’s will be able to do this, but it doesn't hurt to ask.</li> </ul> <p><strong>Already here, but just starting out? <a href="/step-three">Get situated. >></a></strong></p> <p><strong><a href="/plan-out-your-postdoc"><< Go back to the timeline</a></strong>.</p> </div></div></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar" class="column"> <div class="sidebar"> <div class="section"> <div class="region region-sidebar"> <div id="block-block-96" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <p><strong>Monthly Budget for the Basics*</strong></p> <table> <tbody> <tr> <td>Rent and Utilities</td> <td>$1,820.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Food</td> <td>$602.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Transportation</td> <td>$165.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Personal/Misc</td> <td>$363.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Total</td> <td>$2,950.00</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p class="par-smaller">*Based on estimates from the UCSF Student Financial Aid Office for the school year 2020-2021. Your individual needs and lifestyle may make costs significantly different. </p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div></div> <div id="footer"> <div class="section"> <div class="region region-footer"> <div id="block-block-6" class="block block-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="par-bigger"></div> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols layout--33-33-33"> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols--first bg--undefined bg--transparent"> <p><strong>The Office for Postdoctoral Scholars</strong><br /> Graduate Division<br /> 1675 Owens Street, Suite 310<br /> Campus Box 0523<br /> San Francisco, CA 94143<br /> email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#85f5eaf6f1e1eae6f6c5f0e6f6e3abe0e1f0"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0979667a7d6d666a7a497c6a7a6f276c6d7c">[email protected]</span></a></p> </div> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols--second bg--undefined bg--transparent"> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong> Meet with an advisor one on one:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a class="btn--large btn--more--white" href="http://postdocs.ucsf.edu/appointments">Schedule an Appointment</a></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Search for postdoc and other opportunities:</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a class="btn--large btn--more--white" href="https://opportunities.ucsf.edu" target="_blank">Opportunities</a></p> </div> <div class="wysiwyg_threecols--third bg--undefined bg--transparent"> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><a href="/who-we-are">About</a></strong></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><a href="/events"><strong>Events</strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><a href="/news"><strong>News</strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><a href="/listservs"><strong>Listservs</strong></a></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><a href="/alumni">Alumni</a></strong></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><strong><a href="/postdoc-statistics">Statistics</a></strong></p> </div> </div> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="footer-bottom"> <nav aria-label="Footer Navigation" class="footer--navigation"> <ul> <li><a href="/who-we-are">Contact Us</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/accessibility-resources">Accessibility</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.ucsf.edu/website-privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></li> <li><a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/website-terms-use">Terms of Use </a></li> <li><a href="https://websites.ucsf.edu/azlist">A-Z Website List</a></li> </ul> </nav> <div class="footer--copyright"> <p>© 2025 The Regents of the University of California</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript"> /*<![CDATA[*/ (function() { var sz = document.createElement('script'); sz.type = 'text/javascript'; sz.async = true; sz.src = '//siteimproveanalytics.com/js/siteanalyze_8343.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(sz, s); })(); /*]]>*/ </script> </body> </html>