Coronavirus

The University of California announced today (Jan. 11) that it is planning for a return to primarily in-person instruction systemwide starting fall 2021, enabling prospective and current students as well as their families to understand our goal well in advance amid the uncertainties of the pandemic. With robust research advancements and COVID-19 vaccines soon becoming available to students, staff and faculty, UC is preparing to welcome students back to all its campuses this fall, while remaining vigilant in all critical prevention efforts and continuing to prioritize the health and well-being of the University community. Learn more about UC plans for fall 2021 in-person instruction across its 10 campuses.

A fact sheet produced by the federal government for health care workers prioritized for vaccination.

Learn more about the actions UC is taking to help students through the COVID-19 pandemic. Updated Dec. 1, 2020.

For the upcoming winter quarter, UCLA will continue to offer primarily remote-only instruction, following the protocols that were put in place for the current fall quarter. There will continue to be a limited number of exceptions that will allow in-person or hybrid instruction in courses necessary for training students for essential workforce positions. Read more information about UCLA’s plans for winter quarter instruction.

Safety protocols put in place as a result of COVID-19 have forced UC campuses to reduce the number of students living and learning on campus, and required more students to live at home with their families or in nearby communities. UC’s financial aid policy accounts for the total cost of attendance, of which housing expenses are a major factor. Therefore, a change in living situation could entail an adjustment to a student’s financial aid package.

Read more information on financial aid adjustments due to COVID-19 here (PDF).

UC Berkeley's planning for the spring semester will be very similar to that of the fall semester, write Chancellor Carol Christ and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Paul Alivisatos in a letter to the campus community. UC Berkeley will begin the semester with fully remote delivery of instruction for at least two weeks. This will allow any students returning to campus to self-sequester for 7-10 days. After that, the considerable majority of classes will continue to be delivered remotely, including all large courses. Students will not be required to take in-person classes or to be present on campus for the spring semester.

Read UC Berkeley’s plans for the spring 2021 semester.

In order to comply with Santa Barbara County, California Department of Public Health, and University of California guidelines, UC Santa Barbara has decided to offer nearly all undergraduate fall courses via remote instruction, and to limit undergraduate student housing for fall quarter to only those students with special circumstances. UC Santa Barbara recommends that all other undergraduate students stay home to receive remote instruction. Full refunds will be offered to undergraduates for fall housing contracts. These contracts will be honored in winter quarter or whenever UC Santa Barbara is able to have undergraduate students move in.

Read the full letter from Chancellor Yang here: COVID-19 update: Fall instruction and campus housing at UC Santa Barbara.

UCLA will further curtail its plans for in-person instruction for the fall quarter and greatly reduce the amount of student housing offered, in accordance with directives issued last week by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, campus leaders announced today. Read further details about UCLA’s shift to almost fully remote instruction, reduced housing for fall.

Changes include fewer in-person classes, single-occupancy rooms in residence halls and daily symptom checks. Read more on UCLA’s plans for the fall quarter.