At UC Santa Cruz, undergraduate research is more than an opportunity—it’s a defining part of a student’s experience. As a global research university with a deep commitment to undergraduate education, UC Santa Cruz integrates research and creative inquiry into every field of study. More than 50% of UC Santa Cruz undergraduates engage in hands-on research.
From the arts and humanities to the sciences, engineering, and social sciences, students work alongside faculty and graduate mentors on projects that seek to make original scholarly, scientific, and artistic contributions to knowledge. These mentored experiences encourage curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking—skills that define a UC Santa Cruz education and prepare students to make meaningful change in the world.
Undergraduates participate in research across a wide range of settings, including:
- On-campus laboratories and libraries
- Local industry partnerships
- Community outreach projects
- Coastal and marine research stations
- National and state parks
- Research internships at technology hubs
- Cultural institutions and museums
- Non-profit organizations
- Fieldwork in natural reserves and forests
- International study and research programs
- Collaborative projects with other universities
- Art and performance studios
- Environmental and sustainability initiatives
- Government agencies and policy think tanks
Whether developing sustainable solutions, advancing healthcare innovation, or creating boundary-pushing works of art, UC Santa Cruz students are active contributors to discovery and creativity. Our programs promote equity, inclusion, and interdisciplinary collaboration, ensuring that all students—no matter their background or major—have access to transformative research experiences.