
Med School prep to strengthen your candidacy
Flexible cohorts in Silicon Valley and the Central Coast
Designed for career changers and academic enhancers, the UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc Program is a flexible hybrid program that helps you strengthen your academic qualifications and prepare for medical school. The program includes:
- UC Science Courses
- MCAT Prep
- Lecture Series
- Workshops
- Advising
- Mentorships
- Community
Applications are currently being reviewed for the Winter 2026 Cohort in Silicon Valley.
Why Choose UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc?
We offer a variety of unique mentorship and shadowing opportunities including placement programs that provide students with research, mentorship, and clinical experience. Students may shadow physicians, participate in a vital mentoring program, and gain experience through our various partners.
Evening and weekend course offerings ensure that you can balance your education with your personal and professional commitments.
Students join a diverse and supportive community of peers, fostering meaningful connections and a collaborative cohort experience.
Enjoy the flexibility of online learning or enjoy with the personal engagement of in-person classes at our Silicon Valley campus. Students complete coursework fully online, attend in-person in Santa Clara, Calif. at our Silicon Valley campus, or participate in a combination of both.
While some medical schools in the U.S. require that students earn their bachelor’s degrees from the US, our established pathway agreements with a number of accredited international medical schools offer qualifying students guaranteed interviews and admissions into residency programs in the U.S. These important pathways serve as a supportive pathway for international students as well as career changers who often struggle to gain footing in the competitive U.S. healthcare market.
Central Coast Cohort Overview
Our mission is to support students from underrepresented populations who are committed to practicing in medically underserved communities of California. This cohort is for academic enhancers who are California residents.
- Start: Summer 2026
- Format: Hybrid | Some courses are in-person.
Location: UCSC MBEST Center, Marina, CA or Online - Duration: 12 months
- Components: Includes science courses, MCAT prep, lecture series, workshops, advising, and other opportunities.
Applications will open for the summer '26 cohort on Dec. 1, 2025.
Silicon Valley Cohort Overview
- Next Silicon Valley Cohort: Winter 2026
- Format: Hybrid
Location: UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus, Santa Clara, CA or Online - Duration: 12 to 24+ months (based on individual academic needs).
- Components: Includes science courses, MCAT prep, lecture series, workshops, advising, and other opportunities.
Applications will be accepted Aug. 11 – Oct 6, 2025.
Apply today through PostbacCAS.
Our next Silicon Valley cohort will start summer 2026.
MCAT® PREP COURSE

Raise your MCAT score in flexible, online, discounted MCAT prep course.
MEDICAL SCHOOL APPLICATION

A workshop to demystify the medical school application process, timeline, and costs. NOTE: This course is only open to cohort students.
CAREER COUNSELING

An action-oriented course to chart out your journey so you are effective, prepared, and able to succeed.
PRE-HEALTH COURSES

Choose the science course you need to prepare for medical school.
PREMED POSTBACC LECTURES

Speakers in the medical community cover the essentials—from initial preparation to interviews and beyond in a series of lectures and peer discussions.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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