International Students

International students talk about their lives at UC Santa Cruz. Video by film and digital media student Jimmy Qiu.

Applying to UC Santa Cruz

• The UC application for fall 2021 opened on August 1, 2020, and the filing period is November 1-30, 2020.
  
• 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.

Did you Know? Globally Ranked Top 15 in the WORLD for research impact. (Times Higher Education University World Rankings, 2019). Scholars cite our faculty research at a very high rate. Top U.S. Public University for Undergraduate Teaching Recently ranked among the top 30 public national universities for undergraduate teaching and the only public university with top rankings in both undergraduate teaching and research impact. (U.S. News & World Report, 2019) A Gateway to Silicon Valley UC Santa Cruz is located near the heart of Silicon Valley, the worldwide hub of technological innovation. We were ranked as one of 20 universities most likely to land you a job in Silicon Valley (Business Insider, 2015). Go Banana Slugs!

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

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

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.