International partnerships and agreements advance the teaching, research, and service mission of UC Santa Cruz. Opportunities include bilateral exchanges, Summer Session, International Summer Research Program (ISRP), COIL/Virtual Exchange, joint faculty engagement, and more.
The Division of Global Engagement promotes international cooperation in advancing the teaching, research, and service mission of UC Santa Cruz by seeking out and facilitating the development of partnerships between UC Santa Cruz and universities, foreign government agencies, and non-profit organizations around the world.
UC Santa Cruz currently has over 50 active partnership agreements with institutions across more than 15 countries. Most of these agreements are proposed and established with the sponsorship and support of UC Santa Cruz faculty.
Current Partner Institutions
Use GlobalConnect to browse a complete collection of all Agreements, Collaborations, Networks, Programs/Opportunities, and Projects that UCSC has with institutions around the world.
Below is a current list of institutions with which UCSC has established partnerships to engage in reciprocal student exchange and other cooperative initiatives and activities.
Agreement Types
General Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
- A non-binding agreement establishing affiliation between institutions.
- Does not, in and of itself, commit specific university funds or resources; separate binding agreements should be established to pursue specific areas of collaboration such as student exchange, research collaborations, dual degrees, etc.
- Aspirational in nature, but formalizes an institutional commitment to exploring the viability of a variety of collaborative academic activities.
- Often serves as an initial “umbrella” agreement under which separate binding agreements may be developed subsequently to facilitate more specific activities, projects, or programs.
- May also be requested in order to provide proof of a formal institutional relationship, for the purpose of supporting the pursuit of joint funding opportunities, research projects, etc.
Student Exchange Agreement
- A binding agreement that commits university resources (i.e., staff time, tuition waivers, campus services, etc.)
- Allows for a balanced exchange of students between institutions. Students from one institution may study at the other for a limited duration (1-3 quarters) while paying their home institution’s tuition, and receive a reciprocal waiver of tuition at the host institution.
- Outlines institutional accreditation, and establishes provisions for program implementation, including financial and immigration matters, and mutual recognition of academic credit.
Research, Technical, or Scientific Cooperation MOU
- Details responsibilities and implementation procedures for faculty, researcher, or administrator exchange between institutions
- Must detail approved financial and logistical implications
Graduate Studies Agreement
- Involves graduate students, typically pursuing research with a host institution abroad
- Must be developed in coordination with the student’s home department chair and/or graduate advisor
Collaborative Degree Program Agreements
- A binding agreement, designed jointly by faculty at UC Santa Cruz and a partner institution, establishing a framework for students to study at each institution, generally leading to the award of multiple qualifications.
- May outline specific provisions for admission, course equivalencies, credit transfer, etc.
- Implementations for this type of agreement can vary but typical models include:
- Concurrent Degree Program: a student works simultaneously on a bachelor’s at one institution and a master’s degree from the other, with some agreed-upon amount of coursework being counted toward both degrees
- Consecutive DegreeProgram: Two degrees at two levels (usually bachelor’s and master’s) are awarded consecutively by two institutions, based on each institution’s requirements
- Double/Dual (or multiple) Degree Program: Two (or more) institutions each confer a degree of equivalent levels
- Joint Degree Program: One qualification (degree) awarded together by two or more institutions.
Contact Us
Email: global@ucsc.edu
Phone: (831) 459-2858
Fax: (831) 459-2382