Estimate includes tuition and housing costs ONLY. An additional Materials & Technology fee will be required for each session of study. All prices are listed in US Dollars the local currency of the ELS Center. Program & housing availability as well as cost are subject to change.
Centers & Locations
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ELS/Santa Cruz is located in downtown Santa Cruz. The young and vibrant coastal city is situated on beautiful Monterey Bay. The Center is surrounded by great shopping, restaurants, movie theaters, coffee shops and music venues. It is home to the West Coast’s only seaside amusement park, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Popular recreational activities that you can enjoy include surfing, mountain biking, hiking, camping and walking on the beach. You will have access to the libraries and recreational facilities of the University of California Santa Cruz.
Centrally located in the downtown area
Easy walking distance to most attractions
Small California college city
Unlimited access to UCSC's "Wellness Center"
Santa Cruz Fast Facts
This is a great document so that you can learn more about Santa Cruz!
American Explorer Program has been added to your estimate.
2013 Cost Per Session
$1350 USD
University Town Center (UTC): Please note: UTC is in the same building as the Center(Student Residence (Off Campus))
Available Only from June 24 - August 17, 2013
The UTC is a downtown housing dormitory of the University of California, Santa Cruz. Ideally located in the heart of downtown Santa Cruz, the UTC is perfect for those looking to enjoy the cultural hub of Santa Cruz, with easy access to everything in the downtown area. The UTC is located within minutes of the famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, as well as the shops and restaurants on Pacific Avenue.
Each room has a bed, wardrobe, table and desk. Free cable and Internet access are available, but TV is not provided. There is a kitchenette with a small refrigerator, microwave oven and stovetop, so that students can prepare their own meals in each room.
Please note that the UTC does not provide hotel-style accommodations. In this, amenities such as pot and pans, utensils, maid service, and the like, are not provided within this facility. Students are responsible for cleaning their room before they check-out. Cleaning supplies can be requested from the office.
Accommodations provided are all singles with a minimum stay of one session. For students wishing to extend their housing beyond this timeframe, we would be happy to assist them in a move to a homestay with one of our friendly American families.
\* Twin-size beds, linens provided at check in
\* Private bathroom in room
\* Free cable in each bedroom (no TV provided)
\* Free Internet in room (no W-iFi)
\* Each room has a bed, wardrobe, table and desk
Amenities:
\* 24-hour electronic key/secured access
\* Laundry facilities on-site
\* Lounge with TV, DVD, couches, chairs, full kitchen
\* Computer room on 5th floor
\* Balcony overlooking Pacific Avenue
\* Resident Advisor (RA) on-call and in the residence
\* Minutes away from the Santa Cruz wharf, beaches and famous surfing hotspots
Price per Session
$1625
Occupancy
Single
Minimum Age
18
Airport Pickup
$100 - 140
Meals / week or Meal Credit
No meals included. Kitchenette located in room (no cooking utensils provided). Several restaurants and supermarkets are within walking distance to the UTC.
Homestays(Homestay)
Host family students are responsible for their personal transportation. Most students arrive at the campus by bus.
Price per Session
$1000
Occupancy
Single
Minimum Age
16
Airport Pickup
$100 - 140
Meals / week or Meal Credit
14 meals per week
Computer center
Gymnasium
Soccer field
Tennis court(s)
Basketball court(s)
Swimming pool (outdoor)
Racquetball/squash Courts
Fitness Center
Wheelchair accessible
Meet the Staff
Robert Nagel
Center Director
My name is Robert Nagel and I am the Center Director and International Student Advisor of ELS Santa Cruz. I graduated from UC Davis with a B.A. degree in English and a minor in East Asian Studies: Japan. After I graduated, I spent seven years teaching in Japan at various companies like Toshiba Corporation and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (Subaru). I also worked in the Silicon Valley for a year as a Content Editor for an entertainment website. I have been with ELS Language centers since 2005 and look forward to meeting and welcoming all of the students that choose to come to our school and hope to get them on the right track towards entering college and fulfilling their future dreams and aspirations!
Rebecca Levitt
Academic Director
Hi! My name is Rebecca Levitt and I am the Academic Director here at ELS Santa Cruz. I graduated from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon with a BA in French Studies & English Literature. After returning from Europe in 2008, where I was teaching English at a French university, I began working for ELS as an instructor. I began working as an Academic Director in 2010, and my mission is help every student achieve his or her English and academic goals. I am always available to help students with difficult English questions, future academic plans, or personal problems. I am thrilled to be in Santa Cruz and I look forward to welcoming students to our wonderful downtown center!
Anna Bobisuthi
Registrar
Hi! I’m Anna Bobisuthi the Registrar here at ELS Santa Cruz. I was homeschooled when I was younger and am currently attending Cabrillo College where I try to take advantage of their wide variety of classes. I have lived in Santa Cruz my entire life, but I have still managed to travel extensively. When I was younger I traveled with my family on amazing road trips where we managed to hit over 40 states, and when I was a teenager I was able to take part in a sister city exchange program in Japan. I have studied both Japanese and Chinese, so please drop by and let’s talk about each other's language! I have always been obsessed with other cultures and languages, and am looking forward to learning about you and your culture!
Martha Fehrman
Activities Coordinator
Hello and welcome to the beautiful central coast of California! My name is Martha Fehrman and I'm the Activities Coordinator for ELS in Santa Cruz. I graduated in 2012 from the University of California at Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Linguistics and while I was studying there I fell in love with all that this town has to offer. Being active and engaging in the environment around me has always been very important to me; I have worked in the fitness industry for several years and I myself studied abroad in college, so I remember what it's like to be in a new country trying to make friends and find fun things to do. I believe that time abroad should be spent not only studying but also exploring the country you've found yourself in and engaging with the locals. I am excited to show my one-of-a-kind town to students who come here to study, work, and play!
Kana
April 30, 2013
Learning English at ELS Santa Cruz was so much fun for me. I studied English for 4 months and I now attend Cabrillo College. The teachers and staff at ELS are so fun, kind and nice. You can also make many international friends, like me. I could also make best friends at ELS.
I think you might worry if you cannot speak English very well, but you don't have to. All students here come to learn English and ELS Santa Cruz's teachers and staff are specialized. Have fun and enjoy your life in the US!
-Kana,Japan
Fatima
April 30, 2013
I have gotten to know wonderful people; I'm thankful for having known them. It was a beautiful experience for me. I enjoyed every small thing at ELS Santa Cruz. Thanks for all the work that teachers assigned to me as a student.
Thank you to Allison, she always made me feel at home. To Julia for sharing all her knowledge and experience with me. To Sarah, for riding a bike with me. To Sheila for her charisma. To Gail and her wonderful classes. Also, Martha, Robert, Anna and Rebecca, thanks for putting up with me!
-Fatima,El Salvador
Tomomi
April 30, 2013
ELS Santa Cruz was very kind to everyone and I could learn English while enjoying my time here. The teachers were all wonderful people. Thank you so much!
-Tomomi,Japan
Rafael
April 30, 2013
My experience at ELS Santa Cruz was excellent. It was an opportunity that I wouldn't have had in Brazil. The month that I spent here I learned more than in all my classes in Brazil. I wish I could spend more time here.
-Rafael,Brazil
Shohei
April 30, 2013
Learning a new language is not easy but it is worth it. I studied English for 4 months at ELS Santa Cruz and am now currently attending Cabrillo College. This center is the best place to learn English. The staff are so nice and helpful. You will see their enthusiasm and passion when they are teaching. Going to study abroad in a foreign country can be pretty scary, especially for students who can`t really speak the language. But with ELS Santa Cruz, you don`t really have to worry about that.I would definitely recommend ELS Santa Cruz to anyone who is doing language study in the US.
-Shohei,Japan
Zherui (Jerry)
April 1, 2013
I really enjoyed the classes here. ELS Santa Cruz has the best teachers in the world because they never let us feel bored in class. I'm sure I will miss ELS forever because my teachers are unforgettable.
-Zherui (Jerry),China
Diana
April 1, 2013
It was a pleasure to get to know everyone at ELS Santa Cruz and it is a very good school. The school takes care of all its students and I learned with the teachers' support. I now feel more confident when speaking. I am happy I have improved my English because of ELS.
-Diana,Mexico
Giorgia
March 1, 2013
I had a great time at ELS Santa Cruz. Everyone treated me very well and they all made learning English a lot of fun! I hope to come back sometime and go through this amazing experience again!
-Giorgia,Brazil
Rafaella
March 1, 2013
I had a very good time in ELS Santa Cruz because people here are very friendly and nice to everyone. The teachers are awesome and always able to help you every time. ELS is a great place to learn English in many different ways.
-Rafaella,Brazil
Matheus
February 20, 2013
The vacation that I spent here at ELS Santa Cruz studying was certainly the best I've ever had! In this school I had the opportunity to be taught by amazing and helpful teachers and to talk and learn about many different cultures. I'll never forget this experience!
-Matheus,Brazil
Eduardo
February 20, 2013
ELS Santa Cruz was an awesome experience for me. I learned a lot of English and made friends for my whole life. The teachers are well prepared and make the classroom a comfortable place to learn English. I enjoyed it a lot!
-Eduardo,Brazil
Khalid
February 4, 2013
Studying at ELS Santa Cruz was hard but at the same time I was interested in learning English because the teachers were helpful, respectful and they worked hard to teach us. Also, I like Santa Cruz. It is a nice city with good people. I like downtown because it is quiet and it has many stores where I could find my stuff easily.
-Khalid,Saudi Arabia
Tom
February 4, 2013
It was definitely a great time! So many people from different countries, lots of English and super nice weather during my stay. Lots of opportunities have made everyday different here.
-Tom,Germany
Saad
February 4, 2013
The most beautiful time of my life is at the Institute's Nest, ELS.
-Saad,Saudi Arabia
Misato
January 24, 2013
I like ELS Santa Cruz a lot. This ELS is the best!
-Misato,Japan
Zahran
December 14, 2012
Learning a second language seems difficult to some students until you find the keys to learning a new language. Once you get the technique, everything about a new language will become a piece of cake to you. With the help of ELS and its great and awesome teachers, I was able to learn those keys. Thank you ELS! I am closer to my goals now more than ever before. Learning with you was fun!
-Zahran,Saudi Arabia
Silvia, Brazil
November 15, 2010
Studying at ELS Santa Cruz was a great pleasure for me. The teachers were very good and lovely people. During my 3 months, I could improve my English and have a good time in this city. Santa Cruz is a welcoming city and I could visit many beautiful places and beaches. I really enjoyed the organic food, local music and the nature. It was much more than my expectations!!! Oh!! And if you want to feel like a S.C. native, you should buy a bike!!!
- Silvia, Brazil
Misa, Japan
October 19, 2010
Hello! My name is Misa and I’m from Japan. I love Santa Cruz! I really didn’t know anything about Santa Cruz before coming but as soon as I arrived I fell in love! We can see the beautiful ocean, mountains and animals. Santa Cruz is such a nice place. The people are also very nice. If you come here you will be happy! I love ELS Santa Cruz!
- Misa, Japan
Vazgen, Russia
August 23, 2010
I am very grateful to ELS for providing such an attractive opportunity to study English. Various and exciting programs, taught by friendly and interesting teachers help us, the students, to improve our English quickly and productively.
Wen-Chi, Taiwan
June 7, 2010
I like it here at ELS Santa Cruz. I like the weather here as well as the people. The facilities at ELS are very useful for students who want to improve their English. In LTC, for example, I can learn grammar and get a lot of practice in sentence structure. In SSP class, the teacher shows us how to use complicated sentence structure. I’m glad to have learned English at ELS Santa Cruz. I like all the Staff here. They are kind, friendly and are willing to help students. It was an unforgettable experience for me to study English here. Thank you all of you!!
ELS/Santa Cruz and Cabrillo College are proud to offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) pathway to any students interested in applying for admission to the University of California at Santa Cruz. Successful transfer to UCSC is based upon satisfactory academic performance at Cabrillo College. Just think! You would be able to study at ELS, transfer to Cabrillo College for two years and finish your undergraduate studies at UCSC without having to move anywhere and miss this beautiful beach city!
Recently, all ELS Centers were given an ENO Board. This has been a very useful teaching tool and many of our students have really been enjoying using it as part of their class and it makes giving a presentation a lot of fun! Here it is being used as part of a reading presentation.
As part of a class trip, some of our students, along with their instructor Gail, had the opportunity to visit the Santa Cruz Main Post Office and speak with the staff and learn how it operates. A good time was had by all!
Our students went up to Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park in Felton to enjoy lunch and a hike in the redwoods. They also passed through Roaring Camp Railroads. We are very proud of the natural beauty to be found here in Santa Cruz!
Here at ELS Santa Cruz, the students had a great time filling in hearts with notes to each other. At the end of the day, they all enjoyed reading the messages left on them!
A gaggle of students, staff and a host parent when to indulge themselves in the exotic chocolate-y goodness that only a restaurant named "Chocolate" here in Santa Cruz can provide!
Ryan Coonerty is a local author and businessman (Bookshop Santa Cruz & NextSpace), has served twice as Santa Cruz's mayor and is also on the City Council. He teaches at UCSC and Cabrillo College (Law & Political Science) and has served on the staff of National Commissions under Presidents Ford and Carter. He has also taught ESL. It was truly a pleasure having Mr. Coonerty come to ELS and speak to our students about politics, which some happen to studying about in class too.
At the end of November, we have a holiday in the United States know as Thanksgiving. This is a time when Americans get together for a big family dinner and show their thanks for everything that we have. Here at ELS Santa Cruz, we too are a big family and we also got together to celebrate our being together and had a great lunch!
One of the nice things about being next to the beach and having warm weather is ice cream! Our students have the chance to go and taste all the different flavors and brands that Santa Cruz has to offer!
Downloads
Santa Cruz Fast Facts
This is a great document so that you can learn more about Santa Cruz!
Every session the students have many opportunities to sign up for a variety of events! Martha, our Activities Coordinator always organizes fun activities and lets the students know about local activities happen in the area too. I hope that you enjoy our calendar and see what exciting things happen here at ELS Santa Cruz!
