How do I Enroll in Open University?

By enrolling in Open University, you can take UCSB courses without a formal admission at UCSB. Enrollment is dependent on space availability. Please note that enrollment approval is ultimately at the Academic Department's discretion. 

We have made some modifications to the Open University enrollment process starting with the Winter 2025 quarter (Monday, January 6, 2025). Please follow the below instructions exactly as they are listed.

  1. First complete the Open University pre-enrollment process here. Please find a quick summary of the Open University Fees and Deadlines here. After you have completed pre-enrollment, you will receive an email from our Customer Success Team with instructions on how to create your UCSBNetID which you will need to access Canvas, the UCSB online learning platform, where your course/s will be offered. Please allow up to 48 business hours after pre-enrollment to receive that email. If you already have a UCSBNet ID, you will not need to create a new one. The instructions you will receive via email will specify that.
  2. Find the courses you want to take on the UCSB Schedule of Classes. The enrollment period starts when instructions start. Please refer to the Open University Fees and Deadlines for those dates.
  3. On or after the first day of enrollment and prior to attending the first class session, obtain a printed PaCE Open University Authorization Form for each course you plan to take. You can pick up a printed form at the UCSB PaCE office, 2166 Kerr Hall (2nd floor) during our business hours (Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm PST). We are closed on weekends and US Federal Holidays. Please obtain printed copies of your official transcript from your University to attach to each PaCE Open University Authorization Form.
  4. Fill out the OU Form in its entirety and make sure you enter the exact course number and description and the correct enrollment code for each course section. Information must be legible, accurate and complete. Please do not mail, fax or email the OU Form. It must be submitted in person.
  5. Attend the first class session, introduce yourself to the Instructor, and indicate that you wish to enroll in their course through the Open University Program. Please ask the Instructor to approve and sign the form. This is for Departments which do not require the Department Advisor's approval and signature. Please see step 7 below. PaCE students do not have a perm number, cannot be added to courses with an add code and cannot be added to a waitlist. 
  6. The Instructor may defer signing the form until all UCSB Students enrolled in degree programs have been accommodated. If you find that you cannot enroll in your first-choice course because the class is full, obtain another form and try to get authorization to enroll in another course.
  7. Several departments require Department signatures instead of the Instructor's signature. You can find the list of those departments by scanning the QR Code on the OU Form. The ECE and Statistics Departments require both the Instructor and the Advisor's approval and signature. Please obtain the Instructor's approval before submitting the OU form to the Advisor for those two specific Departments. You will need to go to the Department's Advisor in person and obtain their signature before you can submit your form in person to PaCE for enrollment. Please follow the instructions posted for each Advisor on that list when you scan the QR Code.
  8. Once you have obtained all the required signatures and approvals, you must submit your completed and approved OU Forms in person at the UCSB PaCE office, 2166 Kerr Hall (2nd floor) by the deadline listed in the Open University, Fees and Deadline chart and pay the required fees. Payment is due in full at time of enrollment. 
  9. Exceptions to the published deadline to add and/or drop courses require a petition and payment of a Petition Fee per course (see OU Late Add and OU Dropping Course/Withdrawal Procedures).
  10. Once you submit your OU Form to the UCSB PaCE office in person and pay your fees, you will be officially enrolled and you will be able to view and print an enrollment confirmation from your UCSB PaCE student account. This verification is proof of your enrollment.
  11. Once you are officially enrolled, you will be provided with a Canvas Add Form which you need to fill out in its entirety and give it to the Instructor and/or TA the next time you go to class, so they can add you to the course in Canvas. You cannot request Canvas access until you are officially enrolled. If you have never logged into Canvas before, please log into Canvas first, using your UCSBNet ID and password. This creates your Canvas account. Our Department does not have visibility into Canvas and does not add students to Canvas. All Canvas questions should be directed to the Instructor or TA.
  12. If you want to drop from a course, you must send a written request to help@professional.ucsb.edu by the published drop deadline in order to receive a refund minus $40 Drop Fee per course. For the full OU Drop Policy, please go here.
  13. Once you have finished your course/s and see your grades posted in your PaCE student profile, you can order an official transcript following these instructions.
  14. For UCSB matriculated students only. If you need to transfer OU course credit to your UCSB degree completion, you will need to order a PaCE official transcript and send it to the UCSB Office of Admissions. Please follow these instructions. 

Please note that if under 18 years of age, you will also need to submit Waiver and Authorization forms before enrolling in the course(s). Please email us at help@professional.ucsb.edu if you need these forms. 

NOTE: as an Open University student, you will not receive a Perm number or ID card. Only UCSB matriculated students receive a Perm number.