Happy Holidays!
Our offices are closed Dec. 21 – Jan. 1 for winter break. We look forward to seeing you in the New Year!
Frequently Asked Questions for FYTA Program
You'll earn transferable credits, gain valuable academic success skills, enjoy a flexible and convenient online format, and receive expert guidance and support throughout the program. You'll also have a headstart on meeting your classmates and forming relationships with students from around the world.
For this inaugural year of the First Year Transition Academy, we have partnered with the University of California, Riverside to provide streamlined online access to University of California curricula.
All the credits you take during the summer and fall of 2024 will be transferable toward your UC Santa Cruz bachelor's degree.
UCSC Silicon Valley Professional Education is a department of the University of California, Santa Cruz that provides professional education training to people of all ages and in various stages of their careers. We are accredited and offer hundreds of fast-paced online and in-person courses taught by industry professionals in Silicon Valley.
No, financial aid is not available for the First Year Transition Academy as this program is offered through UCSC Silicon Valley Extension.
Please reach out to Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@ucsc.edu.
Courses are mostly asynchronous with some synchronous components. Synchronous components will be held at 6 p.m. (Pacific Time)
Courses will be held asynchronously with some synchronous components. Synchronous class times usually will be between 7 and 9 p.m. Pacific Time.
Yes, the major you have been admitted to for the Winter quarter is guaranteed. Once you are at the residential campus, you will be assigned to a major advisor and will work with them throughout your time at UCSC.
Yes. Housing is guaranteed provided you meet all deadlines. You will have the opportunity to meet with the UC Santa Cruz Housing Department as part of the First Year Transition Academy on the phone or virtually.
- Email: housing@ucsc.edu
- Phone: (831) 459-2394
- Hours: Monday–Friday, 10 a.m.–noon, 1–4 p.m. (PT)
- Zoom Virtual Front Desk: Monday–Friday, 1–4 p.m. (PT) Drop in for a one-on-one virtual session with a Frontline Adviser.
Phone Access: Find your local number: International Zoom Numbers
Meeting ID: 945 0638 8381 | Passcode: 216989
For questions about your summer and fall classes through the First Year Transition Academy, please email pathways@ucsc.edu.
For all other questions, please contact Undergraduate Admissions at admissions@ucsc.edu for more information.
Return to the First Year Transition Academy home page.
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
"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
"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
"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
"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
"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
