Independent Study
Interested in taking Indpendent Study courses? Please read below on how to move forward.
2025 Session Dates
Session 1: Jun 23 – Jul 30
10-Week: Jun 23 – Aug 29
Session 2: Aug 4 – Sept 10
Helpful Info
What is Independent Study?
Independent Study is available primarily to regularly admitted UC upper-division students for supervised but independent reading, research, or design. If interested, please have your program of study approved. Therefore, if you are unsure if you need Independent Study, what courses you need to take, which summer session you need and or the amount of units you need to take; please contact your department of major.
What are the Independent Study Costs?
Course Fees: Mandatory Campus Fees:
UCI or other UC Undergraduate Students: $139.50/unit UCI or other UC Undergraduate Student: $194
UCI or other UC Graduate Students: $194.50/unit UCI or other UC Graduate Student: $175
Visiting Non-UC Students: $194.50/unit Visiting Non-UC Students: $294
*Even if the Independent Study course is held off campus, students must pay the UCI mandatory non-refundable campus fees. *
Time Commitment
Independent Study courses follow the same deadlines and timeframes as the regular Summer Session. Summer Session is not able to alter any dates. Please ensure that you speak with your program and department to confirm which sessions you need.
Session 1: June 23-July 30
10 week: June 23-August 29
Session 2: August 4- September 10
For all Summer Session deadlines, please check our calendar.
How to enroll in Independent Study – Undergraduate Students
Follow the instructions in the steps below to be enrolled in independent study as a undergraduate student.
- Obtain approval for independent study with the assistance of your faculty sponsor/department and submit this to your school’s Student Affairs Office for approval. *Please see the information below for school specific information (if applicable).
- Once approved, your school’s Student Affairs Office will provide your approved course information to the Summer Session Independent Study Team.
- After receiving the independent study enrollment information, the Summer Session Office will issue the DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form. You will receive a link to the DocuSign form to the email address on file.
- Complete the DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form to be enrolled by the Summer Session Independent Study Team.
**Some schools may require the completion of the Independent Study Request PDF Form as part of the approval process with their Student Affairs Office.
School Specific Information for Step 1
Biological Sciences
Information on enrollment for Summer Session Bio Sci 197/198/199.
To enroll into a Bio Sci 199 lab, undergraduate students must:
1. Complete Bio Sci 194s OR the 3 UCLC modules.
2. Find a Faculty Mentor that is the in the Bio Sci 199 program.
3. Submit a research packet directly to the Bio Sci department. Go to the Bio Sci website, for further information on how to complete the Bio 197/198/199 packet and what other items are needed.
Keep in mind both Bio Sci 199 and Summer Session deadlines must be met. Any further Bio Sci 197/198/199 related questions, contact the Bio 199 team at biosci199@uci.edu.
Engineering
Engineering students interested in enrolling in independent study during the Summer, should complete the Proposal for Individual Study on the Engineering Undergraduate Student Affairs Office’s website. Any questions regarding independent study can be sent to ugengr@uci.edu.
Information and Computer Science
Students should complete the Independent Study Request PDF Form with the assistance of their faculty sponsor and then submit to the I&C Sci Student Affairs office at ucounsel@uci.edu for approval.
For those enrolling in ICS 192, students should contact any ICS advisor via email at ucounsel@uci.edu.
Public Health
If you have already secured units with a Public Health faculty member, please contact your assigned Academic Advisor for assistance with enrollment in independent study/research units. If you need support with seeking opportunities, please email phpracticum@uci.edu.
How to enroll in Independent Study – Graduate Students
Follow the instructions in the steps below to be enrolled in independent study as a graduate student. *For students enrolling into ENGR 291, please see the information in the section below.
- Complete the Independent Study Request PDF Form. As a student, it will be your responsibility to complete the Independent Study Request PDF Form with the assistance with your faculty sponsor/department and the UCI Catalogue. This completed form will have to be attached to your DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form.
- Contact the Summer Session Office via email at summer-independentstudy@uci.edu requesting an independent study enrollment. Include your UCI ID number in the email and subject line of “Independent Study Enrollment”. *If you are a CPT student, please include that in the email.
- Once our office receives a student’s email requesting to be enrolled in independent study, staff will issue the DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form. You will receive a link to the DocuSign form to the email address on file.
- Complete the DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form and attach your completed Independent Study Request PDF Form via DocuSign to be enrolled by the Summer Session Independent Study Team.
Students Enrolling in ENGR 291
For ENGR 291 requests, please see the instructions below on how to enroll.
- Student should contact gradengr@uci.edu to submit their CPT application materials.
- The Engineering Graduate Student Advisors will approve the student’s enrollment and send the student and course information to the Summer Session Independent Study Team.
- After receiving the independent study enrollment information, the Summer Session Office will issue the DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form. You will receive a link to the DocuSign form to the email address on file.
- Complete the DocuSign Independent Study Enrollment Form to be enrolled by the Summer Session Independent Study Team.
International Center Information
If you are an international student, please confirm with the International Center which summer session you should take your Independent Study course in. For any CPT or OPT related questions, please contact the International Center.
Phone: 949-824-7249
Email: internationalcenter@uci.edu
Location: G302 UCI Student Center Irvine,CA 92697-5255
International CPT website: https://ic.uci.edu/students/currentStudents/employment/curricular-practical-training.php
Common General Questions
I want to enroll in ENGR 191 and I can't find the course to enroll online? What should I do?
You will not find any Indpendent Study courses online, you will have to receive approval from a faculty member and department, and the courses will be manually created. Please look at the directions above on how to submit a request.
I just paid using the payment portal link but I still do not see my courses on Student Access what should I do?
Even though you paid for the course, it takes about 24- 48 hours for Student Access to reflect the new change. After payment has been made, an updated schedule will be sent to you reflecting your new summer schedule.
I am a CPT student and need my verification, how can I receive that?
After you pay, an enrollment specialist will send you an updated schedule and statement that is to be used for your CPT application.
What are the deadlines for enrollment/dropping?
Independent Study deadlines follow the same deadlines as Summer Session, please look at the Summer Session calendar.
The form is asking for my faculty sponsor, I don't know who that is, what should I do?
If you do not have a faculty sponsor, then you should speak with your department of major to see which faculty member you should be speaking with regarding the Independent Study course that you are interested in.
The form is asking about the course title, I don't know the course title, what should I do?
It is your responsibility to work with your faculty sponsor and department to see which course you need to take. You may use the UCI Catalogue to find the course name, title, amount of units you may take, grading options, and restrictions if any.
I have just signed the forms, when can I expect to be enrolled?
Tentatively 5-8 days, enrollment process is contingent on the student’s submission of both forms and payment. Turnaround period may vary, since Independent Study courses are manually created by a Summer Session staff. The absence of necessary forms and/or payment will result in further delay of the student’s enrollment.
Common Payment Questions
How do I know when to pay?
You will know when to pay for if you have an outstanding balance an operator will send you a payment portal link to the email we have on file.
What is a billing unit?
A billing unit is an internal measurement within Summer Session used to calculate the Course Fees (per unit fee) for students. Billing units are used to calculate pay for only 8. Independent study courses are half billing units, making 1/2 the listed course fee.
If Independent Study Courses are billed half a billing unit. Does that mean that the actual fee is $97.25 per unit?
The half billing unit is already applied. Summer Session fees are the following: UC undergraduate students $279 per unit and UC Graduate/Visiting students $389 per unit. Therefore, Independent Study courses cost the following: UC undergraduate students $139.50 per unit and UC graduate students $194.50 per unit.
I am a graduate student and my PI is going to pay for my tuition, how should I move forward?
You and your department will need to complete a recharge authorization form, please ask for the form in your email request for Independent Study enrollment.
I am a Bio student interested in taking Bio 199 in the summer, and I am already enrolled in Bio 199 for Spring Quarter. Do I still need to pay for Summer?
Yes, Bio 199 is a UCI course. If you wish to enroll into this course and earn university credit you will need to register for the course via Summer Session and pay the required registration fees.
I just completed the Independent Study paperwork. Since I've enrolled in summer session 1 and 2, and I'm enrolling in more than 8 units and have already paid $2,454.00. With applying for CPT for the 10 week session, I believe that I don't have to make additional payments correct?
As per the Pay for 8 policy, Summer Session office will not charge you for any additional course fees past the first 8 course units that you have already paid for.