Enrollment Appointments

Understanding the Enrollment Process

Wondering when you can enroll and how the process works? UC Santa Cruz assigns enrollment appointments each quarter and uses a two-pass system to help students get the classes they need. Your appointment time determines when you can begin enrolling, and the two-pass structure gives you two chances to build your schedule. Learn how it all fits together below.


Two-Pass Enrollment

For fall, winter, and spring, UCSC has what is called a “two-pass” enrollment process.  This allows students better access to classes, and ensures that students who are beginning their time at UCSC have a better choice of classes before they fill up.

If you are a junior, sophomore, or frosh: two enrollment times will be posted to your MyUCSC.  During first pass, you are allowed to enroll in up to 14 credits.  You should prioritize your two most important classes during this time, plus any accompanying labs. Once the first-pass enrollment period is over, second-pass enrollment will begin, allowing you to enroll in up to 19 credits.  

If you are a senior, have priority enrollment, or are a frosh enrolling for your very first fall term: you are allowed to enroll in up to 19 credits during the first-pass enrollment period.  New admits for fall term should use the “new admit” appointment schedule below.

Enroll as soon as your appointment period begins for the best choice of classes. Within each enrollment pass, appointment times are set based on student class level (as assessed by credits), and in some cases whether students belong to a priority enrollment group.

Enrollment Schedule for continuing students in all quarters, and new winter admits

Enrollment MilestoneFall 2025Winter 2026Spring 2026Fall 2026 Continuing Students
Enrollment Preparation week begins(Note: formerly Advising Week)Mon, May 12, 2025Thu, November 6, 2025Wed, February 18, 2026Mon, May 11, 2026
Priority Enrollment & gradsMon, May 19, 2025Thu, November 13, 2025Thu, February 26, 2026Mon, May 18, 2026
First Pass SeniorsTue, May 20, 2025Fri, November 14, 2025Fri, February 27, 2026Tue, May 19, 2026
First Pass JuniorsWed, May 21, 2025Mon, November 17, 2025Mon, March 2, 2026Wed, May 20, 2026
First Pass SophThu, May 22, 2025Tue, November 18, 2025Tue, March 3, 2026Thu, May 21, 2026
First Pass FroshFri, May 23, 2025Wed, November 19, 2025Wed, March 4, 2026Thu, May 21, 2026
First pass endsFri, May 23, 2025Wed, November 19, 2025Wed, March 4, 2026Thu, May 21, 2026
2nd pass priority, grads & seniors (waitlisting begins)Wed, May 28, 2025Fri, November 21, 2025Fri, March 6, 2026Tue, May 26, 2026
2nd pass juniors (waitlisting begins)Thu, May 29, 2025Mon, November 24, 2025Mon, March 9, 2026Wed, May 27, 2026
2nd pass soph (waitlisting begins)Fri, May 30, 2025Tue, November 25, 2025Tue, March 10, 2026Thu, May 28, 2026
2nd pass frosh (waitlisting begins)Mon, June 2, 2025Mon, December 1, 2025Wed, March 11, 2026Thu, May 28, 2026
Second Pass ends (day before first day of classes for all quarters except fall)Waitlists and continuing student enrollment paused: Aug 1, 2025*Sun, January 4, 2026Mon, March 30, 2026Waitlists and continuing student enrollment paused: Aug 2026 (TBD)*

*Enrollment for the fall term is different than other terms: continuing students begin enrollment in May and enroll through mid-summer, and enrollment is closed for roughly one month to allow new students to enroll. During new student enrollment, waitlists and continuing student enrollment are both paused to allow new student enrollment.

Enrollment Schedule for fall 2025 new admits

New incoming students for the fall terms enroll their previous summer. After the fall term, all student use the two-pass enrollment schedule above.

Enrollment appointments for incoming undergraduates are assigned based, in part, on the summer Orientation course. For more information, please visit the Orientation website.

EnrollmentFall 2025Winter 2026
New Graduate Students Jun. 26, 2025Dec. 11, 2025
New UndergraduatesAug. 8 – 21, 2025, Fri-ThurNov. 13, 2025 (see schedule above)

Last modified: Sep 26, 2025