Challenge yourself: Take courses on the UC Santa Cruz campus

Whether you are looking to earn university-level credit, complete a degree requirement or explore a new subject, Open Campus offers a flexible way to learn!

You might be:

  • Looking to earn university-level credit
  • Considering a return to school without committing full-time
  • Needing one or two courses to complete degree requirements
  • Interested in taking a graduate-level course
  • Trying to stay current in your field or learning something new
  • A high school student ready to try a college course

Open enrollment meets different needs—Enrollment is handled differently depending on your student status and which quarter you choose to enroll.

Open Campus course options

Open Campus students may choose from a wide variety of courses. While you can choose any course, some may be unavailable. We will list featured courses during the month before the next quarter.

Fall instruction begins Sept. 24, 2026

Open Campus accepts enrollments for the fall 2026 quarter beginning in late summer.

 

Lecture hall at Kresge College on the UCSC Campus filled wit

Returning UCSC students

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High school students

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Community members

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UCSC alumni

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Graduate students

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Visiting students

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Grad school preparation

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International students

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Important enrollment details

Enrollment is processed by Open Campus. Students do not enroll through MyUCSC.

CruzID access

If a course has a discussion section, include your CruzID and the discussion ID in the course ID field on your application. If you need a CruzID, email the Open Campus team at opencampus@ucsc.edu to request one.

Instructor approval

Enrollment is based on instructor approval. If the instructor signs the enrollment form, you may enroll in the course even if it is full or has a waitlist.

Summer quarter enrollment

The Open Campus program is available during the fall, winter, and spring quarters only. Refer to the UCSC academic calendar. Interested in summer school? Visit UCSC Summer Session.

Fees and schedules

ADA accommodations for Open Campus students

Open Campus students who participate in courses taught at the main campus in Santa Cruz must contact the UCSC Disability Resource Center for services. Contact opencampus@ucsc.edu. The Open Campus team will help connect your with the Disability Resource Center.

 

Two students walking down a road in between the redwoods on the UCSC campus

Resources for instructors and advisors

When a student requests enrollment, the Silicon Valley Extension Open Campus Registrar will reach out to the instructor or the department for approval.

If the course has prerequisites, Extension may request transcripts from the student and send them to the instructor or department for review before the enrollment form is signed. Instructors may decline approval if prerequisites are not met.

Please note that priority for enrollment goes to matriculated, degree-seeking students. It is at the discretion of the instructor and department to allow Open Campus students to enroll into the courses on an available basis.

Enrollment requires instructor approval. When an instructor signs the enrollment form, you may enroll in the course even if it is full or has a waitlist.

Open Campus students do not need registration codes and do not appear on the course roster. Because of this, you do not take up seats or join waitlists.

UCSC Extension will send a DocuSign form to submit grades, please check your email for the form at the end of the quarter.

Contact us!

If you have any questions, concerns, or need assistance, please email opencampus@ucsc.edu