There are a wide range of student services available to you at UCSF, but before you run for student government or join the interpretive dance club, you'll want to take care of the basics.
Living Basics
Housing
Living on campus is often the best option for students, especially when you’re new to the Bay Area. The monthly rent for campus housing is significantly cheaper than for private housing in San Francisco, and, of course, you cannot beat the convenience. Campus Life Services also offers many useful resources for students who choose to live off-campus.
Food
It's not unusual for college students to need help with food access, but that doesn't mean that you should accept not having enough nutritious food to eat. Rather, that means that it's just as routine to seek out help getting food while you’re in school. Find out the different kinds of assistance available, including urgent help, like emergency loans and community food programs, as well as longer-term assistance like the weekly Student Food Market or CalFresh Program.
Transportation
Have a class at Parnassus and a lab meeting at Mission Bay? No problem. Free shuttles connect all of UCSF. If you don't live on campus, you might want advice about your commute. Cyclists will be thrilled with UCSF’s robust support for biking to/from and around campus. If you need to drive, then you’ll also need to park. Don’t know your way around UCSF yet? See maps of the campuses.
Family Services
Juggling family and school/work responsibilities can be very challenging. Need back-up care because your regular caregiver is unavailable? Looking for campus lactation rooms or other types of lactation support? Want to explore child care options in the general community? UCSF Family Services can help! Family Services supports student families by offering a wealth of essential resources such as the Back-Up Care Program, the Lactation Accommodation Program, the Child Care Referral Service and the UCSF Child Care Centers. Learn more at Family Services’ Student Resources.
See more resources to help you meet your basic needs.
School Basics
Registrar
Whether you need to sign up for classes, order a transcript, or consult this year’s academic calendar, you’ll want to get to know the Office of the Registrar. You'll use the Student Portal for many interactions with UCSF and the Registrar.
UCSF General Catalog
The general catalog is your central resource and starting point for information about over 60 academic programs and hundreds of courses. You’ll find degree and course requirements, learning outcomes, and course listings, plus student policies and regulations for the four schools and the Graduate Division. The catalog is updated each academic year with current course offerings and requirements.
Schools and Programs
In addition to all of the central student services outlined on this website, your school or degree program will play a very central role in supporting you as student. Be sure to get acquainted with the school/program-specific resources related to your degree program early on.
Many campus offices continue to operate on a hybrid in-person/remote basis due to the continuing COVID-19 pandemic. Please check with individual student services offices about how to access their services.
