Thanks for your interest in UCEAP Summer Physics! You've already taken the first step toward an incredible academic adventure.
These programs are designed for your success, combining intensive physics coursework with built-in exploration time. Over eight weeks (two four-week blocks), you'll fully immerse in the study of calculus-based physics in a structured environment that includes:
- Small, focused classes with personalized attention
- Clear weekly schedules that balance study and travel
- Comprehensive support from dedicated faculty and TAs
- Built-in study groups with fellow UC students
- Pre-arranged housing and academic facilities
Why Choose a UCEAP Summer Physics Program?
Academic Benefits
- Complete two or three quarters of physics in one summer (8-15 UC quarter units)
- Fulfill pre-approved physics requirements with pre-approved credit for life sciences or engineering majors
- Earn direct UC credit and grades
- Access courses that may be impacted at your home campus
- Learn in small classes with personalized attention
Now all you have to do is choose your ideal location!
This program is a finalist for the 2026 PIEoneer Awards!
Approved for: Students for life science majors from UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara.
This eight-week program offers comprehensive calculus-based physics for life sciences in a supportive environment with extensive resources designed to ensure your success.
Academic Structure
- Two intensive four-week physics courses equivalent to:
- UC Irvine Physics 3A, 3B, 3C with labs (or 7C, 7D, 7E with labs)
- UC Merced Physics 08 and 09 with labs (or 18 and 19 with labs)
- UC Riverside Physics 2A, 2B, 2C with labs
- UC San Diego Physics 1A, 1B, 1C with labs
- UC Santa Barbara Physics 6A, 6B, 6C with labs
- UC Santa Cruz Physics 6A, 6B, 6C and labs 6I, 6M, 6N
- 15 quarter/10 semester UC units with direct UC credit and grades
- Weekly schedule includes:
- Multiple 2-hour lectures
- Two 2-hour workshops
- Two 3.5-hour laboratory sessions
- Two 1-hour skill training sessions
Student Experience
- Comprehensive support system with small class sizes
- High tutor-to-student ratio in workshops and labs
- Daily office hours and pre-exam help desk
- Online resources, including recorded lectures and discussion forums
- Approximately 25 hours of self-study per week
- Bi-weekly exams and workshop quizzes provide regular feedback
- Beautiful campus near Brighton with easy access to London
- Engage with students from around the world in a collaborative learning environment
See if the Sussex Summer Physics program is right for you.
Watch the Sussex Summer Physics program info session to learn more about Sussex, the University, and how this summer program is designed for your success.
Approved for: Students for life sciences and engineering majors from UC Irvine, UC Los Angeles and UC San Diego.
This eight-week program offers calculus-based physics in a supportive environment with innovative teaching methods designed to maximize your learning and success.
Academic Structure
- Two intensive four-week physics courses with two package options:
- Physics for Life Sciences is equivalent to:
- UC Irvine Physics 3A, 3LB, 3B, & 3LC
- UC Los Angeles Physics 5A & 5B
- UC San Diego Physics 1A, 1AL, 1C, & 1CL
- Physics for Engineers (cancelled for summer 2026):
- UC Irvine Physics 7C, 7D, 7LC, & 7LD
- UC Los Angeles Physics 1A & 1B
- Physics for Life Sciences is equivalent to:
- 8 UC quarter units with direct UC credit and grades
- Weekly schedule includes:
- Two 3-hour lectures
- Two 3-hour laboratory sessions
- Two 3-hour small group tutorials
- Two 2-hour problem-solving workshops
Student Experience
- Innovative "flipped classroom" and "contingent teaching" learning design
- Active participation in problem-solving activities that reinforce concepts
- Small group work with dedicated tutors and peer group mentors
- Weekly assessments provide regular feedback on your program
- Approximately 12 hours of self-study per week with a minimum workload of 35 hours
- Study at one of Scotland's ancient universities in Gothic revival buildings dating back to 1451
- Access state-of-the-art physics laboratories equipped with modern instrumentation
See if the Glasgow Summer Physics program is right for you.
Watch the Glasgow Summer Physics program info session to learn more about the city of Glasgow and the University, and how this summer program is designed for your success.
DUBLIN IS CANCELLED FOR SUMMER 2026
Approved for: Students in life sciences majors from UC Irvine and UC Los Angeles.
This eight-week program offers calculus-based physics in a supportive environment where instructors know you by name and are invested in your success.
Academic Structure
- Two intensive 4-week physics courses equivalent to:
- UC Irvine Physics 3A, 3LB, 3B, & 3LC (or 7C, 7E, & 7LC)
- UC Los Angeles Physics 5A & 5B
- 8 UC quarter units with direct UC credit and grades
- Weekly schedule includes:
- Three 2-hour lectures
- One 1-hour Q&A session with the course instructor
- Three 90-minute tutorials
- Two 3-hour laboratory sessions
Student Experience
- Manageable class sizes create a close-knit learning community
- Clear academic expectations with bi-weekly exams and weekly problem sets
- Faculty and instructors are readily available for questions and guidance
- Study on UCD's Belfield campus, blending Georgian architecture with contemporary science facilities
- Access to the O'Brien Centre for Science, featuring cutting-edge laboratories and learning spaces
- Join a community of motivated UC students tackling challenging material together
Taking eight credits in two quarters over eight weeks is intense! What helped me was locking into physics for Monday through Thursday to really understand the material. On weekends, I stepped away from it all and relaxed. We traveled all over Europe. It was definitely an adjustment to create that study-life balance, but it's also a lot of fun.
Dashmi Singh
Supportive Learning Environment
- Benefit from dedicated instructors and teaching assistants
- Receive regular feedback through weekly assessments and peer group mentors
- Access to teaching staff during whole class sessions and regular office hours
- Participate in hands-on laboratory experiences
- Access comprehensive study resources and tutoring
- Join a community of motivated peers with similar academic goals
It's definitely a more intimate academic setting than back home, where the lecture halls are so big. Here, the class sizes are small, and it's much easier to ask a question when there's just thirty of us. It's also a lot easier to approach the professor and talk with them after class. They genuinely want to make sure you're understanding the material.
Jiya Singh
Practical Considerations
- All instruction is in English
- On-campus housing is arranged for you
- Optional math readiness tests ensure you're prepared
- Letter grade only (no pass/fail option)
On three-day weekends, there are facilitated trips, and we also have the opportunity to travel on our own. We've done day trips to London, for example. We've all gotten to know each other because we're together all the time—we cook together, go out together, and travel together. I've met people not only from the UC campuses but also from others like Tulane, Washington U, Saint Louis, Temple.
Sidney Chang
While these programs are rigorous and fast-paced, they're designed with your success in mind. The dedicated faculty, small class sizes, and comprehensive support systems create an ideal environment for mastering challenging physics concepts while enjoying a meaningful international experience.
Choose the location that speaks to you—historic Dublin, vibrant Glasgow, or picturesque Sussex—and take this opportunity to advance your degree while broadening your global perspective.
FAQs
Campus equivalencies are posted on the Academics tab of each program under Current Program Courses:
- See the course equivalencies for Dublin Summer Physics
- See the course equivalencies for Glasgow Summer Physics
- See the course equivalencies for Sussex Summer Physics
US health profession programs, such as medical and dental schools, support student participation in the high-impact practice of studying abroad. According to AMCAS and AADSAS, study abroad coursework sponsored by a US institution will be included in an application and the official transcript of the sponsoring institution, which is the University of California, in this case.
Coursework approved by a US post-secondary institution will be verified and included in an applicant's GPA.
Information on entering study abroad coursework into your AMCAS or AADSAS application can be found here:
- How to Enter Study Abroad Coursework - Students and Residents
- ADEA AADSAS Academic History - Liaison
Please note: Each health professions program has its own application instructions.
Pre-health students are encouraged to work with the pre-health advising office on their campus. Students who do not have access to pre-health advising at their home campus are encouraged to consult with the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions on working with an advisor.
Most health professions entrance exams, such as the MCAT or DAT, include sections on Physics and Chemistry. According to the AAMC, ‘all of the content on the MCAT exam is covered in introductory courses at most colleges and universities, including introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and first-semester psychology, sociology, and biochemistry. Research methods and statistics concepts on the exam are used in introductory science labs as well as introductory psychology and sociology courses’ (see MCAT® FAQs for Students and Residents).
UCEAP summer physics programs cover equivalent information as the approved coursework on specific campuses, as outlined on the individual program pages:
Additional information on preparing for the MCAT or DAT can be found here:
- What's on the MCAT® Exam? PDF Outline | Students & Residents
- Dental Admission Test (DAT) | American Dental Association
Please note: Each health professions program has its own test prep information.
Pre-health students are encouraged to work with the pre-health advising office on their campus. Students who do not have access to pre-health advising at their home campus are encouraged to consult with the National Association of Advisors for the Health Professions on working with an advisor.
No, the prerequisite for the programs is calculus. Previous experience with physics is not required.
These are intensive programs; you can expect to be in class 15-22 hours (a combination of lectures, labs, and tutorials) per week.
Actual schedules will vary from day to day. To be successful in these programs, you also need to be prepared for an additional 15-25 hours of self-study per week, in addition to the scheduled classroom time.
For more details on the schedules for each program, review the “Academic Culture” section on the program pages:
Yes, if you've completed your first year at a University of California campus, you are considered a sophomore and you're eligible to take the summer term.
See the eligibility requirements on these pages:
- See the eligibility requirements for the Dublin Summer Physics program.
- See the eligibility requirements for the Glasgow Summer Physics program.
- See the eligibility requirements for the Sussex Summer Physics program.
Yes, you can apply if you are in the process of completing your calculus series. You must have completed the series before the summer program abroad starts.
You can find specifics on the calculus courses you must complete at your UC campus on the following pages:
- See the eligibility requirements for the Dublin Summer Physics program.
- See the eligibility requirements for the Glasgow Summer Physics program.
- See the eligibility requirements for the Sussex Summer Physics program.
If you don't meet the GPA requirement (they're different by program), you can apply for the following summer once your GPA improves.
One of the best ways to prepare is by taking the maths readiness practice tests.