How COVID is affecting admissions
We are pleased to report that our positivity rates remain extremely low.
For further information and updates, please see our Slug Strong page.
Please communicate with us should you become aware of anything that may impact your admission. We are reachable by phone at +1 (831) 459-4008, or admissions@ucsc.edu.
FAQs for Students Applying in the Future
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions, in collaboration with our campus partners, will ensure students who apply for a future term are not disadvantaged in the admissions process. Freshman applicants to UC Santa Cruz are evaluated using a comprehensive review process while transfer applicants are selected using faculty-approved criteria. Students who have been and will be offered admission are those whom our faculty believe have demonstrated the strongest achievement within the context of their opportunities, have the potential to succeed, and will contribute their skills, perspectives, and passion to our campus community. We are strongly committed to enrolling a class of students that is diverse, including those with international experiences and perspectives.
With limited exceptions, any student on an F/J visa must meet the CDC’s requirements for travel. International students are encouraged to consult with UC Santa Cruz’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) for updates.
UC Santa Cruz’s Committee on Educational Policy has decided that all majors will be accepting online labs taken through summer 2023. However, students are advised to take in-person labs whenever possible. The modality of the labs that you take (whether online or in person) through summer 2023 will have no impact on admissions decisions for any other future term.
Current Students
The campus is offering in-person instruction.
For further information and updates, please see our Slug Strong page.
For the safety and well-being of the entire university community, the UC Office of the President currently requires that all students, faculty, and staff be vaccinated for COVID-19. Boosters are no longer required. Limited exceptions and deferrals are being granted.
Covered individuals (students, faculty, and staff) are required to certify or document that they are up to date (or affirmatively decline the recommended boosters, if eligible) at least once each year. Those who choose to decline, must complete and submit a Vaccine Declination Statement that will include vaccine education.
For further information on COVID-19 vaccination requirements, please see the COVID-19 vaccination page on the Student Health Center website.
Visiting the Campus
Yes, tours are available for families and small groups, and your school may also request a date for a larger group tour with a chaperone. Please go to our Tours page to see our many options for visiting, and to check on the availability for tours.
Please go to our Tours page to see options for visiting remotely.
Our front counter at 150 Hahn Student Services is open from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
All campus visitors must follow campus COVID-19 mitigation requirements:
- Do not come onto campus or enter any University facilities or physical spaces if you feel unwell or have recently tested positive for COVID-19.
- Face coverings are recommended for everyone, regardless of vaccination status.
- Campus visitors who do not comply with policies will not be permitted to access the facility and will be asked to leave.
Our COVID-19 rules are being updated regularly and are available at our COVID-19 Visitors and Events Protocol page.
My Future at the UC Santa Cruz Campus
The latest news and announcements regarding UC Santa Cruz’s response to COVID-19 can be found on our Slug Strong page. Our Student Health Center is posting updates on their website as well.
Housing and Dining
For updated information on housing and dining at UC Santa Cruz, please see the following websites:
➢ Housing Priority List (includes information on our one-year housing guarantee)
➢ Information on COVID-19 and Student Housing
➢ Information on COVID-19 and Dining
Keeping our Campus Healthy
Reducing the spread of COVID-19 remains a top priority. In collaboration with the campus Molecular Diagnostic Lab, the Cowell Student Health Center offers an asymptomatic testing program for our campus and is also testing students who exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.
UC Santa Cruz’s masking policy is optional for most indoor settings, although masks are still required on campus public transportation, in the Early Education Services centers, and in clinical settings, such as the Student Health Center and at indoor COVID-19 testing sites.
Also, please note that while not required, indoor masking remains recommended by campus leadership and local public health officials, regardless of an individual’s vaccination status.