Welcome to Silicon Valley!
Where the next generation of innovation is born
While experiencing life in one of the most dynamic economic regions in the world, international students will get to study with industry professionals from global tech companies and groundbreaking startups.
You will join a welcoming and diverse community committed to providing you with the most up-to-date practical and project-based, professional certificate programs.
University of California, Santa Cruz, founded in 1965, is accredited and our professional curriculum is created with industry to reflect the changing workforce demand. What makes us particularly unique, however, is the experience of Silicon Valley and the practical, hands-on training from professionals in the field.
Certificate programs and short programs for the international student
New courses start each quarter allowing students to launch their 9–12-month full certificate program quickly. Starting this fall we're also offering a one-quarter program for students wishing to complete a focused, 12-unit study in a single quarter.
Learn more about your visa and education options at UCSC
H-1B Workers: Visa options in an uncertain economy
At a recent online event, immigration experts talk about how you can navigate the challenges of visa status in 2023. We share educational options for master's programs—Games & Playable Media, Human-Computer Interaction, and Natural Language Processing—as well as numerous professional certificate programs.
Welcome to our international students!
It's great to have you back after that long pandemic kept you away.
International Application Form
International Student Calendar
CERTIFICATES & COSTS
The average tuition cost of our programs is $16,000.
ONE-QUARTER SHORT PROGRAM
Spend a quarter in an immersive, focused study and earn a digital badge specialization in a top Silicon Valley program.
HOW TO APPLY
You must have a college degree. This could be an associate’s, bachelor's, master's, doctorate, or other equivalent higher degree.
INTERNSHIPS & OPT
Nearly all of our international students who complete a professional certificate program go on to qualify for unpaid internships and paid work experiences through the federally managed Optional Practical Training (OPT) program.
HOUSING | TRANSPORTATION
Find the best resources for housing and transportation in Silicon Valley.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Every student is responsible for following the UCSC Silicon Valley Extension Academic Integrity Policy and understanding the difference between attribution and plagiarism.
Overseas Representatives
WESTERN EUROPE
Representative Contact: Joy Martin Consulting
LATIN AMERICA • AFRICA • ASIA
Representative Contact: Global Study Partners
Interested in being an agent partner?
UCSC Silicon Valley Extension invites collaborative relationships with professional educational advisers and institutions around the world. We thank you for your support in facilitating these life-changing experiences for international students.
International Inquiry Form
Speak to an international programs representative.
Call +1 (408) 450-4945
Envelope extensioninternational@ucsc.edu
Recent International Stories
What Students Are Saying
"From assignments, class exercises, and group discussions to the project work and quizzes—it all helped me build strong foundations and solidify concepts."
— Neville Mistry
International Student
Program Manager
"I made a lot of good connections while I was here."
— Aakash Dave
International Student
Entrepreneur, Founding CEO of Spotmi
"It’s a very supportive program. The engagement within our class was great. We learned from the professors as well as our classmates."
— Renuka Adnane, MSOD PHR SHRM-CP
International Student
Human Resources Business Partner
"The response from my fellow students was so enthusiastic that I had to think more in depth. It evolved. Every course demands that you think in a certain way. Every course took me a step further."
— Bouwien Luppes
International Student
Art Entrepreneur and Marketer
"It was pretty deep and the assignments were demanding so I had to work hard to get the point."
— Renato Roschel Ribeiro, MBA
International Student
Director of Digital & Analytics | Data Analytics Professor
"Jagadeesh really prepares for the sessions and the assignments, not letting students to lose focus during classes, engaging all. He has got a lot of examples to share and makes people think to apply what we learn in the class."
— SasiKumar Arumugan
International Student
Lead Software Engineer
"She’s really inspired me to do a lot of things I was not doing with the kids. It helps you think differently about your role. It helped me a lot with teaching art and creativity. If they want to color a heart blue, we let them do it."
— Vandana Gupta
International Student
Child Care Teacher
"Diana is a fabulous instructor and is always willing to share her insights and make sure course content is adapted to everyone's needs. She is approachable and willing to help you have a thorough understanding of the content without judgment."
— Jasleen Kaur Monga
International Student
Learning Specialist | Educational Therapist
"The class involved whiteboard sessions and collaboration projects which really prepared me well to start working in the industry and tackle UX design interviews."
— Agnieszka Zimolag
International Student
Product Design, Cloud at IonQ
