Advance your expertise with graduate-level courses at UC Santa Cruz without applying to a full degree program. Through Open Campus, you can enroll in select graduate courses to deepen your knowledge, explore a specialized topic or support your professional or academic goals.
Any graduate level course is available for enrollment through Open Campus as long as the instructor and the Dean of Graduate Studies gives prior approval.
UC Santa Cruz is a national leader in marine and freshwater biology, with graduate programs supported by coastal research and interdisciplinary environmental work.
UCSC is known for its leadership in space sciences, with graduate programs connected to major research initiatives and observatories.
Graduate programs explore areas such as cognitive, developmental and social psychology, with an emphasis on research and interdisciplinary approaches.
Search the course you are interested in to confirm it will be offered during the quarter you plan to enroll. You will need all of the course information listed to apply.
We recommend reaching out to the instructor before submitting your application. While not required, it can be helpful to introduce yourself, explain your background and confirm that the course is a good fit.
Register for section UCSC.1000 and pay a one-time application fee. If you are a returning Open Campus student, please email opencampus@ucsc.edu and we will register you for the next session.
Submit a completed Open Campus form and pay your tuition by the deadlines indicated in the fee schedule.
Here’s what to expect after you submit your enrollment form:
Email confirmation
After you submit your enrollment form, you'll receive a confirmation email from the Open Campus team.
Enrollment form verification
The Open Campus team will review your form to make sure all information is accurate. If anything needs correction, they’ll contact you.
Instructor approval
Open Campus staff will reach out to the course instructor for approval. If the instructor denies your request, you'll be notified. If approved, your enrollment will move forward.
Prerequisite check
The instructor may request an unofficial transcript before approving your enrollment. The Open Campus team will let you know if this is needed. Your enrollment won't proceed until the transcript is submitted and reviewed.
Advisor/dean approval (if required)
If needed, the Open Campus team will contact your advisor for approval. For graduate-level courses, approval from the dean of Graduate Studies may also be required. If enrollment is denied at this stage, you’ll be notified. Otherwise, your enrollment will continue.
Canvas access
Once approved, you’ll be added to the course on Canvas.
Final enrollment and payment
You’ll get an email once you’re officially enrolled. Note: Open Campus courses are managed through your UCSC Extension portal—not your MyUCSC portal. All payments must be made in the Extension portal before the deadline. If you miss the payment deadline, you’ll be dropped from the course.
Final grades and transcripts
At the end of the quarter, your instructor will submit your grade. Once the Open Campus team receives it, an official transcript will be sent to the main campus to count the course toward your graduation. You can also request additional transcripts if needed.
