• Skip to: Program Overview

• Courses

• Activities and Trips

• Dates and Timeline

• Costs

• Frequently Asked Questions

Program Overview

Start Date:  July 31, 2025   End Date:  September 13, 2025

Summer Start is a six-week academic and cultural preparation program for incoming first-year international undergraduate students that runs from July 31 to September 13. Participants have access to a carefully selected menu of courses that allow them to get ahead on their degrees and adjust to life at UC Davis with the help of experienced staff, student learning assistants and advisors. As part of a friendly, welcoming community built on collaboration and support, students can enter the fall quarter with the relationships and intercultural communication skills required to succeed at a top-rated research institution.

Courses

Summer Start students have access to unique UC Davis courses not typically offered in the academic year and with smaller instructor-to-student ratios. Participants select 2-4 courses designed to help them gain a competitive edge in their university education.

Summer Start staff and academic advisors assist participants in their first course registration experience by providing training tools, selecting a list of courses that fit international student needs, and performing schedule checks to be sure all registered courses are appropriate and will count towards degree completion.

Please note: Many courses below are pending confirmation. The courses listed were available to Summer Start students in 2024 and are included to give you an idea of what to expect. Confirmation is coming soon, so check back to learn more.

• Summer Start Core Course

• EDU 98 - Academic Skills: Navigating the Research Institution (2 units)

  All students in the program take this required academic course to learn how to succeed at a top-tier research institution. Learn what professors expect, master essential skills to navigate the UC Davis system, and discover resources to help you succeed.

• Entry Level Writing Requirement Course Series (To Be Confirmed)

• All University of California students are required to satisfy the Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) before the given deadline. Because they start early, Summer Start students have the advantage of being able to have an additional quarter. Incoming first-year students who have not satisfied the ELWR will need to complete writing placement before selecting a writing course. Summer Start students have early access to writing placement results so that they can receive their results in time to register for summer courses.

  UWP 22 - Intermediate Academic Reading and Writing for Multilingual Students (4 units)

  UWP 22 is limited to 18 students per section and is taught by highly experienced instructors who specialize in working with the writing of multilingual students. This course helps students develop reading and writing strategies to understand and work with sources across genres. Students practice writing in various contexts with increasing complexity and clarity. 

  UWP 7M - Entry Level Writing: Practices in College Reading & Writing for Multilingual Writers (4 units)

  UWP 7M is an ELWR-fulfilling course that focuses on the development of multilingual writers' composition and English language skills across genres and disciplines. Writing in UWP 7M integrates college-level reading, critical thinking, and written communication, using texts from across the curriculum.  Students must take the course for a letter grade and receive a C or higher to fulfill ELWR. 

• English Composition (Lower Division) Writing Requirement Course (To Be Confirmed)

• UWP 001: Introduction to Academic Literacies (4 units)

  UWP 1 provides an introduction to reading and composing processes and key rhetorical concepts for academic literacies. Students produce multiple drafts of composing projects in a variety of genres and modes with feedback from peers and the instructor.*
  *Only those who have satisfied the Entry Level Writing Requirement are eligible to register for this course. 

• Math Course Series

• All students who register for MAT 019C or 21A are required to take the Math Placement Exam. See more details about Math Placement.

  MAT 019C: Calculus for Data-Driven Applications (4 units)

  Calculus and other mathematical methods necessary in data-driven analysis in the sciences, technology and the humanities. Multivariable calculus, differential equations, partial derivatives.

  MAT 21A: Calculus (4 units)

  Functions, limits, continuity. Slope and derivative. Differentiation of algebraic and transcendental functions. Applications to motion, natural growth, graphing, extrema of a function. Differentials. L’Hopital’s rule and satisfying the Mathematics Placement Requirement.

• General Education & Elective Courses 

• NUT 010V - Discoveries & Concepts in Nutrition (3 Units General Ed.)

  Nutrition as a science; historical development of nutrition concepts; properties of nutrients and foods. GE credit: SE, SL

  ART 002: Beginning Drawing (5 units)

  Introduction to drawing using various black and white media to articulate forms and organize space, with reference to historical and contemporary works. May be taught abroad.

  ART 007: Beginning Painting (5 units)

  Introduction to techniques and concepts in the practice of painting.

  ART 009: Beginning Photography (5 units)

  Introduction to visual language of photographic art and technique. Manual camera operation and printing techniques. Concept and practice of photography as an art form and creating photographic projects.

  DRA 010: Introduction to Performance & Digital Media (4 units)

  An embodied exploration of the fundamentals of movement, speech, theatre, sound and the foundations of digital media. Collaborative and solo performance (spoken and movement) assignments, selected readings and viewing of live and digital performance productions.

  ECN 001A: Principles of Microeconomics (4 units)

  Analysis of the allocation of resources and the distribution of income through a price system; competition and monopoly; the role of public policy; comparative economic systems.

  ECN 001B: Principles of Macroeconomics (4 units)

  Analysis of the economy as a whole; determinants of the level of income, employment and prices; money and banking, economic fluctuations, international trade, economic development; the role of public policy.

  CLA 030: Greek and Latin Elements in English Vocabulary (3 units)

  Knowledge of Latin and Greek not required. Elements of Greek and Latin vocabulary for increased understanding of English word formation and improved ability to understand and retain unfamiliar words. Emphasis on Greek and Latin elements but other languages not neglected.

  AMS 059: Music & American Culture (4 units)

  Examination of music and American culture. Studies will explore music in its cultural contexts, which may include examinations of recording and broadcasting, of race, class, and gender, the role of technology, and relationships between musical production, consumption and listening.

  AMS 055: Food in American Culture (4 units)

  Relationship between food and culture; relationship between food and the social order; influences on eating habits and the tensions between them including identity, convenience, and responsibility; multiple disciplines and genres.

  ENL 003: Introduction to Literature (4 units)

  Introductory study of several genres of English literature, emphasizing both analysis of particular works and the range of forms and styles in English prose and poetry. Frequent writing assignments. Requires completion of Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR). 

Back to top

Activities and Trips

Explore California through optional group trips available only to Summer Start students. Destinations include downtown Sacramento, Lake Tahoe and white water rafting on the American River.

For those interested in personal travel, Davis is conveniently located near Sacramento International Airport (SMF), Davis Amtrak train station and regional and university buses.

Back to top

Program Dates and Timeline

Back to top

Program Costs

• Program Fee: $1,247
  • Includes language coaching, academic support, conversation partner program, social activities, early academic advising and writing testing, and staff support.
• Campus-Based Fee: $403.90
  • Covers campus facilities and services.
• Equitable Access Fee: $75
  • Covers course books and other materials; students may opt out.
• Summer Tuition: $279/unit
  • All students, resident and non-resident, pay the same tuition rate during summer.
  • Please note: During the academic year, international students pay the out-of-state student tuition rate, which is approximately $722/per unit (calculated for 15 units in 2023-24).
  • Students must take a minimum of 6 units of coursework to meet visa requirements.
• Estimated Housing Costs: $2,904
  • Cost estimate based on double occupancy rooms and includes two meals a day for 44 nights in on-campus housing.

Estimated total for 6 units: $6,228.90  |  Estimated total for 10 units: $7,419.90

UC Davis SHIP (Student Health Insurance Program): approx. $459
UC SHIP: All UC Davis students are required to have health insurance. In order to satisfy this requirement, all registered students are automatically enrolled in the University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). If students have comparable insurance and do not want to be enrolled in UC SHIP, they must apply for a UC SHIP waiver by the date specified for their college or school. Learn more about UC SHIP, including costs, coverage and other insurance details.

Back to top

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will there be transportation from the airport to UC Davis?
• Yes, Summer Start will provide transportation from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on July 31, 2025.
• Can I take courses that aren’t on the Summer Start list?
• With so many different departments, majors, and classes available at UC Davis, it is possible that you will want to take a class that is not on the Summer Start recommended list. If the course fits into your schedule and you have met the prerequisites, you may be able to enroll in the class.  In Summer Start, we have a process that connects students with their academic advisors to get expert advice on whether the course you have selected is the best option for you.
• How do I find out which courses are best to take and how do I create an academic plan?
• One of the benefits of Summer Start is that you will have early access to a group of peers, instructors, advisors and staff. It is possible to create or change your academic plan, and we can help you connect to your academic advisor through this early access.
• Will on-campus housing be provided during Summer Start?
• All students who enroll in Summer Start are guaranteed a place in a campus residence hall and meals in the dining commons. Move-in is available starting on our program Arrival Day (July 31, 2025). Note that this is actually a few days earlier than continuing students can move in for the summer term.
• Will I live in the same residence hall and room that I will in the Fall?
• Typically, Summer Start students live together in rooms in the same residence hall. This is not​ the same hall and room you will live in when the fall quarter begins, so in the period between the end of Summer Start and the regular Fall move-in, you will move to a new room. Some students use this opportunity to travel with friends or family!
• How do I register for housing during Summer Start?
• The required application for Summer Start housing is separate from the Summer Session and first-year Fall housing application. The application for Summer Start housing will be available sometime after the Summer Start registration deadline (shortly after May 31, 2025), and we will keep all Summer Start students updated and help guide them to this application at the appropriate time. 
  
  Please note: The Summer Start housing application is different from the Student Housing and Dining Services "Application Instructions for Summer Session Students." Only the Summer Start housing application allows our students to arrive and move in early.  
• Can I participate in the Summer Start program online?
• No, Summer Start is designed as an in-person program where students live and take classes on the UC Davis campus, explore the city of Davis, and take guided trips on the weekends. This is both an important and fun aspect of Summer Start!
• Can I join Summer Start if I won’t be in Davis for the entire time?
• Students typically get the most out of Summer Start when they are present and engaged for the duration of the term. However, we understand there may be exceptions and are happy to discuss them on a case-by-case basis. 
• Can I choose my roommate?
• Yes. Before room assignments are finalized, you will be asked to complete a form asking if you already know who you would like to room with and asking for their confirmation.

Back to top

More Information

Dawn Takaoglu

Director, International and Academic English
Global Affairs
530-752-1291
dmtakaoglu@ucdavis.edu

 

 

Visit the Global Affairs People Directory to find the full International and Academic English staff listings. The main offices for International and Academic English are located on the first floor of the UC Davis International Center in Davis. 

• Email: summerstart@ucdavis.edu