General Student FAQs

What is the purpose of Discover UC San Diego?

The purpose of Discover UC San Diego is to prepare and empower high school students for future college success through an immersive academic and residential experience. The program is designed to help students develop the foundational skills needed to succeed in college-level coursework, explore academic majors and career pathways, particularly in STEM fields, and build the confidence to navigate a university environment. Through hands-on learning, academic support, and exposure to university life, students strengthen their readiness for college enrollment and long-term success

What are the requirements for Discover UC San Diego?

Discover UC San Diego is open to rising 11-12 grade high school students with a 3.5 GPA (unweighted) or higher. The program is open to students located within the United States of America and has limited scholarships available for students located in California District 52.

Do I get college credit for Discover courses?

Discover UC San Diego courses provide lower division credit. The courses are UC/CSU/CC transferable, and students will earn 4 quarter units at UC San Diego. Additionally, students will earn 1.5 pre-college credits, which may be transferable to other institutions, subject to the receiving institution’s admissions and transfer credit policies.

Does taking Discover courses guarantee admission to UC San Diego?

Participating in Discover UC San Diego, an UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies educational program, does not provide preference for admission to any University of California degree program. If you are interested in applying to these programs, you should refer to the UCSD Admissions website or the admissions office of the UC campus you wish to attend for details about the admissions process

Are Discover UC San Diego courses A-G approved?

Discover UC San Diego courses allow students to earn college credits across a broad set of subjects and experience studying in a university context. These course offerings are not designed to replace high school A-G courses, instead, these courses allow for access of higher education curriculum and an opportunity for students to explore majors prior to entering higher education.

Current Course Offerings:

Title	Subject Area		Description	A-G Area
Stars and Black Holes	ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS	ASTR 1	An introduction to the evolution of stars, including their birth and death. Topics include the movements of objects in the night sky, gravity and motion, how light and matter interact, stellar birth, stellar evolution, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, and general relativity	G
Galaxies and the Universe	ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS	ASTR 2	An introduction to galaxies and cosmology. Topics include gravity and motion, atomic structure and light, the Milky Way, galaxy types and distances, dark matter, large scale structure, the expansion of the universe, dark energy, and the early universe.	G
Astronomy in Science Fiction	ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS	ASTR 15	Survey of current topics in astrophysics from the perspective of astronomy in science fiction. The course will consist of readings in selected science fiction novels, watching relevant films, companion readings in an introductory astronomy text, and critical analysis and discussion.	G
Introduction to Electrical and Computer Engineering	Electrical and Computer Engineering	ECE 5	An introduction to electrical and computer engineering. Topics include circuit theory, assembly, and testing, embedded systems programming and debugging, transducer mechanisms and interfacing transducers, signals and systems theory, digital signal processing, and modular design techniques.	G
Problem solving for the 21st century changemaker	ENGINEERING	ENG 30	This course is for the next generation of change makers and leaders. Learn the critical skills needed to solve the most pressing challenges in your field. In this course, students learn how to systematically solve problems and apply them through projects with real world contexts. Strategies used are techniques found in industry and academia: Duncker Diagram, fishbone diagram, systems thinking, KT analysis, Five Whys, and more. Gain invaluable skills for the future workforce today.	G
Introduction to Structures and Design	STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING	SE 1	Learn the basics of how structural engineers design and create all kinds of structures.	G

For any questions, please contact us at discover4hs@ucsd.edu

How long are Discover UC San Diego courses?

Discover UC San Diego is a 5-week residential program that will be running from June 26 - August 1, 2027.

How do I apply?

Application coming early December, 2026!

Applications will reamin open from December - March 5, 2027.

When will I know if I was accepted?

Discover UC San Diego will send student application decisions on Friday, March 19, 2027. Students who are accepted will receive additional information about next steps, program preparation, and enrollment.

How can I withdraw from the program and receive a refund?

Summer Cancellation/Refund Policies

Cancellation or withdrawal for any reason 6 weeks prior to the start date will receive a full refund
Cancellation or withdrawal for any reason 4 weeks prior to the start date will receive 50% refund 
Refunds for cancellation or withdrawal within 4 weeks prior to the start of the program  will only be issued for serious illness (doctor's certificate is required) or extenuating circumstances only. Tuition is not refunded for students who are dismissed from the program or who leave because of homesickness.
For courses with pre-requisites of a prior course and/or instructor permission, a full refund will be provided if continuation is not allowed.

You must submit an official drop request through your Triton Student System account. Notifying your instructor, emailing an administrative office, or not attending is not an official drop.

Please note: Refunds will take approximately 4-6 weeks to process. Refunds are issued in the same method of payment (check or charge) of payment to UC Regents.

For Services for Students with Disabilities, how do we request accommodations?

Discover UC San Diego and the Division of Extended Studies strives to provide equal access and an exceptional learning environment for all students. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, we provide support services and reasonable accommodations based on your disability-related needs.

We handle all correspondence and documentation in confidence.

To ensure our instructors can support students with accommodations, we'll need documentation to be sent to UC San Diego. To begin the process, please complete the Discover UC San Diego Accommodation Request Form

In the Accommodation Request Form, you will be asked to provide documentation and schedule an interactive meeting to review and determine appropriate accommodations.

When can I access my final grade?

Your final grade reports will be available in TSS within three weeks after the last day of class. During the program, you can access grades for individual assignments through Canvas or by contacting your instructor.

How do I request a transcript upon completion of the course?

Upon successful completion of your Discover UC San Diego course, you will be able to order official transcripts through the Division of Extended Studies here: Transcript Requests

Residential Student FAQs

When is move-in and move-out?

Move-in day will be Saturday, June 26, 2027 and move-out day will be Sunday, August 1, 2027. Students and parents will be sent instructions regarding move-in and move-out closer to the start and end of the program.

Do I need to bring my own bedding?

No, bedding sheets, blankets, and pillows will be provided for all residential students. However, if you would like to bring your own you are welcome to do so.

How many meals do I get a day?

Students will receive 3 meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) at one of UC San Diego's dining hall locations. The dining hall is buffet style, and accomodates a variety of dietary needs. Please ensure when filling out your application that you indicate any dietary restrictions you may have, as we share this information with the dining hall.

Students are welcome to bring and purchase their own snacks and outside food options during the program if they would like, but it is not required.