International Students
International students talk about their lives at UC Santa Cruz. Video by film and digital media student Jimmy Qiu.
Helpful Links
International Freshman Admissions Requirements
International Transfer Admissions Requirements
Applying to UC Santa Cruz
- Application filing period: November 1-30, 2020 (for entrance in fall 2021)*
- The UC application will open on August 1, 2020 and is an online-only application.
- As an international student, you may apply to UC Santa Cruz as either a freshman or a transfer student, depending on your level of education.
*Please note: We do not have a spring term enrollment option.
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About
As one of the ten campuses of the esteemed University of California system of public higher education, UC Santa Cruz is committed to educating a global community, encouraging innovative research opportunities, and developing the knowledge and skills that will serve our shared future.
UC Santa Cruz is located on a 2,000 acre campus nestled in a redwood forest overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the Monterey Bay.
Total undergraduate student population: 17,517
Total graduate student population: 1,977
Population of Santa Cruz: 60,000 (metro area population of 262,000)
Due to our close proximity to the ocean, our weather is mild with a mix of sunshine, fog, and rain throughout the year, with mild winters.
Academics
At UC Santa Cruz, you will have a wide range of academic options. The campus offers majors and minors in the arts, engineering, humanities, physical and biological sciences, and social sciences. For a complete listing of undergraduate majors and minors, please click here.
The academic programs at UCSC are challenging and rigorous, and many of them are in newer fields that focus on interdisciplinary thinking. Taking advantage of the campus's proximity to centers of industry and innovation such as the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, many students at UC Santa Cruz take part in fieldwork and internships that complement their studies and provide practical experience in their fields.
Transportation & Getting Around
International Resources
UC Santa Cruz welcomes you to our community! There are many resources available for you to feel comfortable and supported!
►International Student and Scholar Services (visa, immigration, advising information)
►Undergraduate Dean's Scholarships and Awards
Our campus and city bus system can get you to any destination in the Santa Cruz area, with easy access to parks, beaches, and shopping. There are buses to Amtrak trains and the San Jose International Airport. Zimride also provides a convenient option for transportation to the San Jose airport. Please reference the following links for more information on local transportation:
- San Jose International Airport (46 miles/74 kilometers away)
- San Francisco International Airport (67 miles/107 kilometers away)
- Highway 17 Express (Connection Santa Cruz to Silicon Valley)
- Santa Cruz Metro (Service in Santa Cruz County)
- More information
Safety
Internationally Focused Housing Options
- iFloor – a residence hall floor of approximately 30 international first-year students and 30 first-year students who apply to live in this intentional intercultural community housed within College Nine residence halls.
- International Living Center – (ILC) is a unique undergraduate apartment community made up of a mix of U.S. and international students.
UCSC has numerous, professionally staffed programs and services to ensure the safety and well being of all of our students. UCSC has its own police force, as well as safety education programs that all new students are required to attend. UCSC, a very safe and welcoming campus, is a wonderful place to call home for international students.
Residential Life
All undergraduate students, whether they live on campus or not, are affiliated with one of ten residential colleges at UC Santa Cruz. Each college provides academic support, organizes student activities, and sponsors events that enhance the intellectual and social life of the campus in addition to housing students in small-scale residential communities. Our colleges are interdisciplinary, so all majors are welcome at all colleges.
Important Message about Agents
UC Santa Cruz does not partner with agents to represent the University or to administer any part of the undergraduate admission application process. The engagement of agents or private organizations for the purpose of recruiting or enrolling international students is not endorsed by UC Santa Cruz. Agents who may be retained by students to help with the application process are not recognized as representatives of the University and do not have a contractual agreement or partnership to represent UC Santa Cruz.
UC Santa Cruz expects all applicants to complete their own application materials. The use of agent services is not aligned with UC’s Statement on Integrity -- expectations explained as a part of applying for admission to the University. For the complete Statement, go to our Statement of Integrity.
UC Santa Cruz expects an application to be the work of the applicant and that all information on the application is complete, accurate, and truthful.
See Also
