Information for Current Visiting Scholars

Visiting Scholars may obtain an Affiliate Campus Card ID.  Please follow these directions to receive a card:

• Contact your department support personnel to complete a Campus Card Request form.
• The fee for the card is $21 and can either be paid by the Department via chartstring or by the Visiting Scholar.  If the scholar is paying the fee, go to the Central Cashier's Office, located on the ground floor of the Student Services Center (map), to make the $21.00 CASH payment. Be sure to get a receipt. 
  Note:  The Cashier’s Office accepts personal checks and cash payments only
• The scholar should take the completed Campus Card Request form to Student Business Service (SBS). See the location and hours for the Campus Card Office
• The scholar should take the following with them to the SBS Campus Card Office:
  • Completed Campus Card Request form
  • The $21 fee receipt from the Cashier’s Office if the fee was paid by the scholar.  Otherwise, ensure that an index number is provided on the Campus Card Request form
  • One of the following photo IDs:
    • Passport
    • Valid driver’s license
    • State identification card

• To avoid a long wait, check peak times before visiting SBS Campus Card Office
• Department HR personnel are responsible for retrieving the ID card at the end of the visiting scholar’s visit

Access to online journals from UC San Diego Library

Visiting Scholars have access to online journals through UC San Diego subscriptions. To access online journals, the Visiting Scholar may use computers in the library or via UC San Diego's Virtual Private Network (VPN).

To connect through the UC San Diego VPN service use the instructions here: https://library.ucsd.edu/computing-and-technology/connect-from-off-campus/

Reminders and Best Practices for Visiting Scholars

• Appropriate use of licensed electronic information is essentially for non-commercial, educational research: http://libraries.ucsd.edu/about/policies/appropriate-use-of-licensed-electronic-information-resources.html
• Please note the emphasis on not downloading all articles in a journal issue or other large scale downloading.
• Do not share your log in user id and password.
• For any problems, or questions about use of the licensed content:
  • Salk Visiting Scholars: contact Carol Bodas at bodas@salk.edu
  • All other Visiting Scholars: contact the UCSD Library at electroniclib@ucsd.edu.

Access to checking out books from UC San Diego Library

Visiting Scholars are entitled to the use of the UC San Diego Library and their Affiliate Campus ID Card functions as the library card. For more information on privileges to Visiting Scholars and the Library, please visit the Library's website. 

 In order for a Visiting Scholar to check out Library materials, the department must properly enter the Visiting Scholar into UC Path with an expiration date and have provided the scholar with a UC San Diego email account.

UCSD’s extensive transportation system serves the UCSD campus, medical centers and key points off campus and is free to Visiting Scholars. To board show your campus ID to the driver on request. Reference the shuttle service website for more details.

Several mass transit routes serve the campus and surrounding area. Transit products for the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) and North County Transit District (NCTD) are delivered through the PRONTO regional fare system. Please visit the UCSD Public Transit page for more information. 

There are numerous housing options available to Visiting Scholars:

• Visit the International Center Housing website for short and long-term on and off-campus housing options
• Visit UCSD's Off-Campus Housing Resources
• The International House is an option for housing

 Contact the sponsoring department HR personnel for other housing options.

English for Academic and Professional Development (EAPD) program

UC San Diego Extension offers a program for non-native English speaking scholars. Academics and professionals who would like to improve their overall English language skills for future success are encouraged to take these courses. Evening courses are provided in the following subject areas:

• Academic, Business, and Technical Writing
• Conversation and Oral Presentation
• Grammar and Vocabulary
• Pronunciation and Fluency
• and more…

For more information, visit: English for Academic and Professional Development (EAPD) Program

UC San Diego Visiting Scholars are also eligible for a 10% discount on all courses, up to $50 per quarter. For more information, please email eapd@ucsd.edu.

Auditing UC San Diego academic courses

Visiting Scholars may audit UC San Diego academic courses and seminars with the consent of the Professor or instructor.  No academic credit is given. 

If the scholar wishes to take regular University courses for credit, they may enroll through the University Extension’s Concurrent Enrollment Program. http://extension.ucsd.edu/About/index.cfm?vAction=concurrent

Access to professional and career development training at UC San Diego

The Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs provides Postdoctoral Scholars a comprehensive professional and development training program called EPIC Postdoctoral Training Program (EPIC Program).  Visiting Scholars may take advantage of some of these opportunities appropriate to their training needs.