Excited states of 63Cu were populated via the 52Cr+10O (65 MeV) reaction using the gamma detector array equipped with charged particle detector array for reaction channel separation. On the basis of γ-γ coincidence relations and angular distribution ratios, a level scheme was constructed up to E n=7 MeV and J π=23/2(+). The decay scheme deduced was interpreted in terms of shell model calculations, with a restricted basis of the f 5/2, p 3/2, p 1/2, g 9/2 orbitals outside a 56 28Ni core.