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Welcome to Summer in Santa Cruz!

As part of UCSC’s Summer Session, visiting students from across the country can earn UC transferrable credits. Most classes are taught at an accelerated five-week pace. 

Request information or join our mailing list to be reminded of visiting student deadlines.

You are a Visiting Student if you are:

  • Currently attending a university or community college other than UC Santa Cruz. 
  • A working professional or community member.

All visiting students must register annually to enroll in courses. There are no audits or OLLI over the summer.

First Steps:

  1. Register ($50) - Open April 1
  2. Enroll (will include tuition and campus fee)
  3. Review the Visiting Student Guide and Checklist (be sure to calculate your costs). International on campus students have additional steps.

Next Steps:

  1. Understand our policies and deadlines on adding, dropping, and requesting a W grade
  2. Learn when and how to pay
  3. If you attend another UC campus, see additional details here.

Important Policies

Costs & Financial Aid

  • Visit our tuition and fee page to calculate your costs based on how many credits you enroll in.
  • Verified California Community College Students are eligible for a 50% off per-credit tuition discount. 
  • Non-UC students are not eligible for Pay for Only 10 program.
  • UCSC does not offer any Financial Aid to visiting students. If you attend a college or university, you can ask the school you are visiting from if you have remaining aid for this summer to use here at UCSC.
  • If you would like to use your Cal Vet waiver, submit your current year waiver to vets_benefits@ucsc.edu. If you meet all requirements, they can post the waiver to summer term.

Attending from Another UC

  • UC students can be Financial Aid eligible across campuses. Ask your home campus about their Intercampus Summer Financial Aid Application. UC students are eligible for the Pay for Only 10 program.
  • All courses completed, and grades and units earned at a UC campus during summer terms are transferable to another UC campus. Grades earned at UC Santa Cruz will count towards your UC GPA.
  • Transcripts for other UC students attending UCSC for the summer will be sent automatically to your home UC campus, as long as all fees are paid and you do not have any disciplinary holds on your records. Transcripts are typically mailed the third week of September.

Transferring Credits

  • The University of California, Santa Cruz, is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education and the U.S. Department of Education.
  • Credits from UCSC are generally transferrable, but you need to work with your individual institution to learn exactly how they will articulate. Contact your home institution's  Registrar’s Office or contact your academic advisor. They can help you determine how credits will transfer and what documentation you will need to provide.

Summer Accommodations

If You Chose Not to Attend

  • No action is required if you registered and paid your $50 non-refundable fee but never enrolled in classes. 
  • If you cannot attend a course you're enrolled in; you MUST DROP yourself. Instructors do not drop students for not attending or not paying. If you do not drop yourself from a course, you will be responsible for paying the tuition for it.

English Proficiency

  • If you are taking online/remote courses and will not be visiting the campus, you do not need to apply for a visa or provide proof of English proficiency if you are outside of the U.S.
  • If you plan to come to the U.S. for your course, consult the International Students page to see if you need a UCSC I-20 or DS-2019.