Undergraduate Success Through Academics and Research

Program Description

UCI Division of Continuing Education’s comprehensive Success Through Academics and Research (STAR) gives qualified students essential skills and acculturation opportunities to help them advance and succeed in their undergraduate education in the U.S. STAR will provide American & academic cultural seminars, academic English courses, pre-college courses, and research and critical thinking skills preparation for setting a strong foundation for academic success in students’ future college education.  In addition, students who have demonstrated academic strengths and proficient English language skills during the program will receive the opportunity of enrolling in UCI credit-bearing courses to study with world-renowned professors and get a head start in college.  STAR will also allow students to navigate college campus resources, explore their major and career options, and determine a right-fit university / college for their educational trajectory.

Program Benefits:

• Transferable units through Concurrent Enrollment and College Fundamentals classes towards a future bachelor’s degree
• Intensive academic classes that improve student's English fluency and their university study skills
• Undergraduate Preparation Seminar and Research & Citation courses that are designed to increase critical thinking skills and provide foundation for the process of academic research expected in many top U.S. universities
• Strategic guidance and assistance with U.S. university applications
• Comprehensive academic support and individualized advising
• SAT, TOEFL iBT and other test preparation to help students reach their target score
• Intercultural conversation experiences with current UCI students who will meet in one-on-one or group conversational settings
• Introduction to and interaction with the UCI campus, its prestigious faculty, its abundant resources, and its academic rigor
• Social events and excursions with other international and American students

Note: Completion of undergraduate STAR does not guarantee admission to undergraduate programs at UC Irvine or any other post-secondary institution.  Admission to these programs is controlled by that institution’s policies and admission standards.