Students showing off their lab experiments

The University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) program is designed to engage and educate California’s future leaders by preparing promising students for advanced education in science, technology, mathematics, and engineering (STEM). UC LEADS is designed to identify upper-division undergraduate students with the potential to succeed in these disciplines but who have experienced situations or conditions that have adversely impacted their advancement in their field of study.

Program Director

Amount & use
  • Academic year research
  • Paid summer research experience ($3500 during the summer & $1200 housing stipend)
  • Participation in the University-wide UC LEADS Symposium
  • Funded participation in professional or scientific society meetings
  • Travel to another UC campus for the second summer
  • Academic enrichment activities, including preparation for the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Eligibility
  • Enrolled in, or about to be enrolled in, a UC undergraduate degree program in the sciences, technology, engineering, or mathematics
  • On track to receive a bachelor’s degree at the conclusion of the second year of the UC LEADS program (i.e. should apply prior to junior year or prior to the fourth year if on a five-year plan)
  • GPA of >3.0
  • Able to demonstrate potential for success in a graduate program
  • Interested in pursuing graduate studies in STEM after graduation
  • U.S. citizen, permanent resident, AB540, and DACA students are eligible to apply
Deadlines
The annual application deadline to apply for the UC LEADS program is the second Friday of every February.
Selection criteria
Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of staff, faculty, and students. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview with staff and current scholars. Applicants will be evaluated based on a holistic review process of their applications, education/career goals, and aspirations.

How to apply

You can apply to the MARC, UC LEADS, and CAMP Programs simultaneously with one application. Only COMPLETED applications will be reviewed.

The application for the STEM Diversity Research Programs will be available in December of every year.

Click here to access the application

The application components include:

Online application & supplement documents (to be uploaded with the online application) – Due Second Friday of February

  • Completed online Application (this includes essay questions, see questions below)
  • Resume or CV (Career Center Resume Guide)
  • Copy of Your Unofficial Transcripts (UCSC and/or community college, just print them from your student portal) 
  • Copy of Your Unofficial Financial Aid Support (if you do not get financial aid, you ARE still eligible for the programs, please state in the online application)

Two letters of recommendation – Due Third Friday of February: from a faculty or staff member (These should be emailed directly from the recommender to stemdiv@ucsc.edu).

Essay Questions: Please limit your responses to 200 words for each question (see questions below)
                                                                                                                                                                                                           ESSAY QUESTION #1: Please describe your personal background and what experience(s) led you to where you are today in your education? Do not hesitate to express relevant extracurricular activities, any interesting or unusual circumstances or obstacles in your personal or academic background.                                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                                           ESSAY QUESTION #2: Please describe any UCSC relevant work experience in the sciences, research, or as a volunteer. Also, what you have learned from these experiences, and how these experiences make you a good candidate for the program? 
                                                                                                                                                                                                          ESSAY QUESTION #3: After you obtain your bachelor’s degree, what are your long-term academic/career aspirations? If you are unclear about a specific career/academic path, please share a number of possibilities you foresee in your future. How do you plan to reach these goals?                                                                                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                                                                            ESSAY QUESTION #4: All programs housed in the STEM Diversity Research Programs office aim to diversify the field of science by serving students from underrepresented communities, what is your approach to working with diverse student bodies and how will you contribute to this mission?

ESSAY QUESTION #5: How are the STEM Diversity Research Programs going to support your academic/career goals? What do you hope to gain from this experience?

For questions and additional information about the application process, please contact our office at 831-459-4770 or send an email to stemdiv@ucsc.edu.

For questions and additional information about the application process, please contact our office at 831-459-4770 or send an email to stemdiv@ucsc.edu.