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Experiential Learning ELT
  1. Experiential Learning
  2. REAL Portal

REAL Portal banner

We are live - please visit our new REAL Portal site!

The newly consolidated Research Experience and Applied Learning (REAL) Portal - is a one-stop platform that brings together all experiential learning (EL) opportunities in a single, easy-to-use system. This upgraded portal replaces the separate Co-Curricular Record (CCR) catalog, the Academic Internship Program (AIP) InternLink platform, and the original REAL site, providing a streamlined experience for students, staff, and faculty alike.

Visit here to learn how to Post and Opportunity!

Students will be able to navigate the REAL Portal to:

  • Discover EL opportunities (revamped REAL) that connect to research, internships, service-learning, clinical labs, and other applied learning experiences affiliated to UCSD.
  • Enroll in Academic Internship Programs (AIP) courses to gain real-world experience, explore career interests, and work with a faculty advisor to bridge classroom learning with professional practice.
  • Capture and showcase their involvement through the Co-Curricular Record (CCR)
  • Reflect on your learning and skill development of Career Readiness Competencies

Learn more about each program below, and please reach out to elt@ucsd.edu with any questions.

Program Catalog

Program Description
EL opportunities

The REAL Portal includes all research, experiential and applied learning opportunities from across campus, which involve both paid and unpaid positions. UCSD affiliated organizations may post opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to apply to directly in the portal.
AIP logo

The UC San Diego Academic Internship Program (AIP) provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to earn course credit for substantive internships related to their academic and career goals. Internships occur quarterly and may be hosted by UCSD affiliated organizations as well as external partners. Students apply for AIP the quarter before participating in the internship.
CCR logo

UC San Diego's Co-Curricular Record (CCR) highlights student involvement and achievements in opportunities beyond the classroom. All CCR-certified positions are UCSD affiliated and include a range of experiences such on-campus employment, student organizations, athletics, mentorship programs, volunteer projects, non-credit-bearing internships or research, and many more!

REAL Portal Opportunity Types

The new REAL Portal organizes all approved positions into one of the following twelve different opportunity types. Students can search by opportunity type, in addition to specifc EL Programs like the Academic Internship Program (AIP), Co-Curricular Record (CCR), and additional campus opportunties.

  • Internship
    • A learning opportunity that allows a student to gain hands-on, practical experience in a field of interest while receiving support from a supervisor and/or organization to achieve professional growth.
    • Research Internship: affiliated with a UC San Diego faculty member and a selected researcher in industry or at a research institution. 
  • Research
    • Opportunities that allow students to access, synthesize, and evaluate multiple sources of information to solve problems and/or create new insights.
    • Research Position: affiliated with a UC San Diego faculty member. 
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Opportunities that encourage students to develop new ways of thinking/working, showing initiative to create.
  • Global Experience
    • Opportunities that encourage students to engage with systems and cultures from across the world.
  • Campus Employment
    • Opportunities for students to hold a paid position at UC San Diego, often developing skills that can translate across career paths.
  • Leadership
    • Opportunities that encourage students to work toward a shared purpose and vision, often with an active role in managing/guiding others.
  • Community Engagement
    • Opportunities that allow students to engage in service activities characterized by reciprocity and making a positive difference in the community.
  • Social Innovation
    • Opportunities that allow students to meet social needs in a better way than existing solutions with the goal of extending and strengthening civil society.
  • Mentorship
    • Opportunities that allow students to receive/offer guidance based on experiences toward personal and/or professional growth.
  • Coaching
    • Opportunities that allow students to collaboratively identify their strengths, actively practice new skills, and effectively navigate appropriate resources to result in skill development.
  • Advising
    • Opportunities that allow students to receive/offer guidance to develop overall objectives and goals. These can be academic, personal, professional, etc. goals.
  • Student Organizations
    • Opportunities led and operated by student organizations at UC San Diego.