Outside the Classroom
The UCR Experience
At UCR, we’re all about helping you discover your potential – and your passion – inside the classroom and out.
Of course, it doesn’t hurt that we’re in the heart of Southern California and just a short drive from the beach and the mountains. In fact, you can go surfing and snowboarding all in the same day! But you don't have to leave campus to find exciting things to do:
- Join one (or more) of the 200 clubs and organizations — or start your own!
- Come out and support our athletic teams, including the 2007 Big West Champion women's basketball and men's baseball teams.
- Attend a concert or dance recital at our Fine Arts Center.
- Don't miss our Block Party (in the fall), our Spring Splash (in the spring), or our Nooner concerts every Wednesday under the Bell Tower.
- Check out our annual blockbuster event, HEAT. (The 2008 lineup featured 311, Mos Def, Moby, Circa Survive, Clipse, Girl Talk, Lies in Disguise, L.A. Riots, and more)
- Take classes in aerobics, yoga, jazz dance, self-defense, and karate (to name just a few) at our Student Recreation Center.
- Sign up for Outdoor Excursions’ frequent trips to the great outdoors for camping, rock climbing, sailing and more.
- Take a short walk to University Village for a bite to eat or a movie.
- Shop ’til you drop at The Riverside Plaza, The Tyler Mall, Victoria Gardens, and Ontario Mills — all just a short drive away!
For more cool facts about what UCR has to offer, check out our online Viewbook and our 50 Reasons to Learn with the Best.
Want to learn more about the services available to UCR students? Visit our Services for Students page.
Explore Arts & Culture Whether it's a concert or recital on campus, a stroll through one of the museums that make up the Downtown ARTSBlock, or a stage production on campus, UC Riverside has something for every taste.
Support Your Highlanders UC Riverside Intercollegiate Athletics is a proud member on NCAA Division I and the Big West Conference. The Highlanders compete in 19 sports, and each and every home event is absolutely free for students to attend. Get out and support your fellow students and show your UCR Spirit!
We Don’t Like to Brag, but… UC Riverside is known world-wide as a premier university. We know you don't want to just take our word for it, so check out our Rankings and Quick Facts to see what others are saying about our institution. We think you’ll like what you see.