Med School prep to strengthen your candidacy

Flexible cohorts in Silicon Valley and the Central Coast

Designed for career changers and academic enhancers, the UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc Program is a flexible hybrid program that helps you strengthen your academic qualifications and prepare for medical school. The program includes:

  • UC science courses,
  • MCAT prep,
  • lecture series,
  • workshops,
  • advising,
  • mentorships,
  • and community.

Why Choose UC Santa Cruz Premed Postbacc?

We offer a variety of unique mentorship and shadowing opportunities including placement programs that provide students with research, mentorship, and clinical experience. Students may shadow physicians, participate in a vital mentoring program, and gain experience through our various partners.

Evening and weekend course offerings ensure that you can balance your education with your personal and professional commitments.

Students join a diverse and supportive community of peers, fostering meaningful connections and a collaborative cohort experience.

Enjoy the flexibility of online learning or enjoy with the personal engagement of in-person classes at our Silicon Valley campus. Students complete coursework fully online, attend in-person in Santa Clara, Calif. at our Silicon Valley campus, or participate in a combination of both.

While some medical schools in the U.S. require that students earn their bachelor’s degrees from the US, our established pathway agreements with a number of accredited international medical schools offer qualifying students guaranteed interviews and admissions into residency programs in the U.S. These important pathways serve as a supportive pathway for international students as well as career changers who often struggle to gain footing in the competitive U.S. healthcare market.

Central Coast Cohort Overview

Our mission is to support students from underrepresented populations who are committed to practicing in medically underserved communities of California. This cohort is for academic enhancers who are California residents. 

  • Start: Summer 2026
  • Format: Hybrid | Some courses are in-person.
    Location: 黑料不打烊 MBEST Center, Marina, CA
  • Duration: 12 months
  • Components: Includes science courses, MCAT prep, lecture series, workshops, advising, and other opportunities.

Applications for the summer 2026 cohort will open Dec. 1, 2025—Feb. 15, 2026. Some scholarships will be available.

Silicon Valley Cohort Overview

  • Upcoming Silicon Valley Cohorts: Winter 2026 | Summer 2026
  • Format: Hybrid
    Location: UC Santa Cruz Silicon Valley Campus, Santa Clara, CA
  • Duration: 12 to 24+ months (based on individual academic needs).
  • Components: Includes science courses, MCAT prep, lecture series, workshops, advising, and other opportunities.

Applications for the winter 2026 cohort will be accepted through Oct 6, 2025.

Applications for summer 2026 will open Dec. 1, 2025—Feb. 15, 2026.