Part-time Program
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Considering a reduced course load?
The Undergraduate Part-Time Program supports students who need to take fewer classes due to work, family responsibilities, or health-related reasons. Eligible students may enroll in up to 10 credits per quarter and receive a 50% reduction in certain tuition costs. This page covers how to apply, key deadlines, and important considerations for students receiving financial aid.
Undergraduate Part-Time Program
The Part-Time Program is designed for regularly matriculated undergraduate students who for reasons of employment, family responsibilities, or health are not able to carry the full course load of 15 credits each quarter. The enrollment system restricts enrollment for students in the Part-Time Program to no more than 10 credits per quarter. Students approved for part-time status are eligible for a 50 percent reduction in the Tuition Fee and, if applicable, a 50 percent reduction in the Nonresident Supplemental Tuition portions of quarterly fees. Please note that this reduction does not extend to other quarterly fees, and students who use the part-time reduction may not also use the UCSC Reduced Fee Program for UC employees.
The submission deadline for the Part-Time Program application can be found below under Part-Time Deadlines. The billing deadline can also be found below under Undergraduate Registration Fees. Our office strongly encourages paying your billing in full, and waiting for tuition to be adjusted. Alternatively, you may pay 50 percent of your tuition and all fees, in expectation of that adjustment, or pay after your tuition has adjusted.
If you receive financial aid, your part-time status will change your aid package. Questions? Contact the Financial Aid Office.
Applying for the Part-Time Program
- Log into MyUCSC (“Full Site Login” for mobile devices)
- Select the Undergraduate Student eForms tile on the Student Homepage
- Select the Part-Time Application
You must submit the application AND documentation verifying your eligibility by the deadline posted below.
- If you work, you must be employed a minimum of 25 hours per week to qualify. Use the Part-Time Employment DocuSign form verifying the number of hours you work at a permanent job. If you work on campus, the letter must be routed from the HR Service Team for the department. If you are self-employed or employed by a family member: you must have been employed at least six weeks prior to the beginning of the quarter; your documentation must include a description of your job responsibilities, copies of your tax return, and a monthly calendar/appointment book showing hours worked.
- If you have family responsibilities, submit your dependent’s birth certificate(s). If caring for a member of the family for medical reasons: provide documentation from the family member’s doctor identifying you (the student) as the primary caregiver and describing the care and duration of care you are providing.
- If you have a medical condition, use the Part-Time Medical DocuSign form to provide verification from your doctor recommending that you take a reduced course load because of your serious or sustained illness or injury.
- If you are in your final quarter before graduation. part-time final quarter approval may be granted only once.
Cancelling the Part-Time Program
If you intend to enroll in more than 10 credits or petition for credit, you must complete a Cancellation of Part-Time Program application form. Once the cancellation application is submitted, you are assessed the balance of the Educational Fee and Nonresident Tuition, if applicable, and you may enroll in up to 19 credits. The Financial Aid office is also notified of your enrollment status change and your aid package will be revised as funding permits. To cancel your part-time program application follow the below steps:
- Log into MyUCSC (“Full Site Login” for mobile devices)
- Select the Undergraduate Student eForms tile on the Student Homepage
- Select the Part-Time Application.
Part-Time Deadlines
The deadline for the Part-Time Program is the last day to apply for the current term. If students have not applied for the Part-Time Program before the fee deadline, they should pay fees in full and will receive any appropriate refund after their Part-Time Program application is processed. Financial aid may impact expected refunds. The deadlines below are application submission deadlines, not processing deadlines.
| Fall 2025 | Winter 2026 | Spring 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| October 15 | January 26 | April 17 |
Undergraduate Registration Fee Deadlines
Deadlines for paying your undergraduate registration fees in full. All students are considered full-time unless they apply and qualify for the university part-time program. Students who enroll in fewer than 12 credits and do not apply and qualify for the part-time program are considered full-time and pay full-time tuition.
| Fall 2025 | Winter 2026 | Spring 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| September 17 | December 17 | March 24 |
Part-Time Program Fees
Fees are subject to change through action by the UC Regents.
Have trouble viewing this chart? Click here to view the full document. Use the tabs at the bottom of the page to navigate between terms.
Charges are subject to change without notice. Some or all instruction for all or part of the Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented.
Archive of past year’s part-time fees
2022-23 Part-Time Fees
Fall Quarter 2022 Fees
Fees are subject to change through action by the UC Regents
| Undergraduate (California Resident) | Enrolled in Academic Year 2021-2022 or earlier | First Enrolled in Academic Year 2022-2023 | Undergraduate (Nonresident) | Enrolled in Academic Year 2021-2022 or earlier | First Enrolled in Academic Year 2022-2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) | $376.00 | $392.00 | Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) | $376.00 | $392.00 | |||
| Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) | $3,814.00 | $3,976.00 | Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) | $3,814.00 | $3,976.00 | |||
| Part-Time Reduction | (50% of tuition) | -$1,907.00 | -$1,988.00 | (50% of tuition) | $-1,907.00 | $1,988.00 | ||
| Campus Fees | $512.07 | $512.07 | Campus Fees | $512.07 | $512.07 | |||
| Nonresident supplemental tuition | $9,918.00 | $960.00 | ||||||
| Part-Time Reduction | (50% of Nonresident supplemental tuition) | -$4,959.00 | -$5,840.07 | |||||
| Health Insurance (waivable) | $960.00 | $960.00 | Health Insurance (waivable) | $960.00 | $960.00 | |||
| Total (Residents) | $5,662.07 | $5,840.07 | Total (Nonresidents) | $15,580.07 | $16,182.07 | |||
| Part-Time Total (Residents) | $3,755.07 | $3,852.07 | Part-Time Total (Nonresidents) | $8,714.07 | $9,023.07 | |||
Winter Quarter 2023 Fees
Fees are subject to change through action by the UC Regents
| Undergraduate (California Resident) | Enrolled in Academic Year 2021-2022 or earlier | First Enrolled in Academic Year 2022-2023 | Undergraduate (Nonresident) | Enrolled in Academic Year 2021-2022 or earlier | First Enrolled in Academic Year 2022-2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) | $376.00 | $392.00 | Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) | $376.00 | $392.00 | |||
| Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) | $3,814.00 | $3,976.00 | Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) | $3,814.00 | $3,976.00 | |||
| Part-Time Reduction | (50% of tuition) | -$1,907.00 | -$1,988.00 | (50% of tuition) | $-1,907.00 | $1,988.00 | ||
| Campus Fees | $512.07 | $512.07 | Campus Fees | $512.07 | $512.07 | |||
| Nonresident supplemental tuition | $9,918.00 | $960.00 | ||||||
| Part-Time Reduction | (50% of Nonresident supplemental tuition) | -$4,959.00 | -$5,840.07 | |||||
| Health Insurance (waivable) | $913.00 | $913.00 | Health Insurance (waivable) | $913.00 | $913.00 | |||
| Total (Residents) | $5,662.07 | $5,840.07 | Total (Nonresidents) | $15,580.07 | $16,182.07 | |||
| Part-Time Total (Residents) | $3,755.07 | $3,852.07 | Part-Time Total (Nonresidents) | $8,714.07 | $9,023.07 | |||
Spring Quarter 2023 Fees
Fees are subject to change through action by the UC Regents
| Undergraduate (California Resident) | Enrolled in Academic Year 2021-2022 or earlier | First Enrolled in Academic Year 2022-2023 | Undergraduate (Nonresident) | Enrolled in Academic Year 2021-2022 or earlier | First Enrolled in Academic Year 2022-2023 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) | $376.00 | $392.00 | Student Services Fee (formerly University Registration Fee) | $376.00 | $392.00 | |||
| Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) | $3,814.00 | $3,976.00 | Tuition (formerly Educational Fee) | $3,814.00 | $3,976.00 | |||
| Part-Time Reduction | (50% of tuition) | -$1,907.00 | -$1,988.00 | (50% of tuition) | $-1,907.00 | $1,988.00 | ||
| Campus Fees | $512.07 | $512.07 | Campus Fees | $512.07 | $512.07 | |||
| Nonresident supplemental tuition | $9,918.00 | $960.00 | ||||||
| Part-Time Reduction | (50% of Nonresident supplemental tuition) | -$4,959.00 | -$5,840.07 | |||||
| Health Insurance (waivable) | $949.00 | $949.00 | Health Insurance (waivable) | $949.00 | $949.00 | |||
| Total (Residents) | $5,662.07 | $5,840.07 | Total (Nonresidents) | $15,580.07 | $16,182.07 | |||
| Part-Time Total (Residents) | $3,755.07 | $3,852.07 | Part-Time Total (Nonresidents) | $8,714.07 | $9,023.07 | |||
Charges are subject to change without notice. Some or all instruction for all or part of the Academic Year may be delivered remotely. Tuition and fees have been set regardless of the method of instruction and will not be refunded in the event instruction occurs remotely for any part of the Academic Year. Figures for tuition and fees represent currently approved or proposed amounts and may not be final. Actual tuition and fees are subject to change by the University of California as determined to be necessary or appropriate. Final approved tuition and fee levels may differ from the amounts presented.
Frequently Asked Questions about the part-time program
If I cannot meet the requirements for the Part-Time Program, but want to take a reduced course load, do I need to notify anyone?
- Your college academic preceptor will need to approve your reduced course load; however, no reduction in fees will apply.
Does the Part-Time Program affect my financial aid?
- Yes! In fall, winter, and spring, once your application has been approved, your financial aid package will be adjusted. If you are approved for the Part-Time Program after the quarter has begun, your aid package will be adjusted retroactively.
- If you cancel your part-time status and enroll in a full-time course load at any time during the year, your aid will be revised only as funding permits. If you have questions about how the Part-Time Program affects your award, call the Financial Aid Office at (831) 459-2963.
What is the minimum number of credits a full-time student can take?
- The minimum enrollment for a full-time student is 12 credits in fall, winter, and spring. There is no minimum in summer since it is optional.
I was billed as a full-time student. If I am approved for the Part-Time Program, will I receive a revised billing statement?
- No. Statements are generated on the last working day of each month. When your Part-Time Program application is approved, your adjusted fees will be viewable via MyUCSC. Over the summer session there are no programs, all students are billed per-credit.
How much do I have to pay by the deadline if I am applying for the Part-Time Program?
- If you file a Part-Time Program application before the registration fee payment deadline and your application is approved, you may pay the part-time fees as shown in the fees chart. Otherwise, pay the full registration fees by the deadline and if you are subsequently approved for the Part-Time Program, a refund will be sent to you. For payment plan information contact the Office of Student Business Services at (831) 459-2107 or see Student Business Services. Over the summer session there are no programs, all students are billed per-credit.
How can I return to full-time status?
- If you intend to enroll in more than 10 credits or petition for credit, you must complete the Undergraduate Part-Time Cancellation. Once the form is received, you will be assessed the balance of the tuition (and nonresident tuition, if applicable), and you may enroll in up to 19 credits. The Financial Aid office will also be notified of your enrollment status change and your aid package may be revised as funding permits. Over the summer session there are no programs, all students are billed per-credit.
If I take a leave of absence, will I still be in the Part-time Program when I return?
- In general, no. After a break in attendance, you must re-apply to the Part-Time Program with one exception: if you are in the program fall quarter and take a leave winter quarter, we will assume you plan to be part-time in the spring. Contact your college for more information about leave of absence.