Methods, systems, and devices for wireless communications are described. A user equipment (UE) may establish a connection, with base station, over a first and second component carrier and may monitor a search space configured for scheduling multiple component carriers. In some cases, the UE may be configured to monitor a search space allocated for a virtual component carrier associated with scheduling multiple component carriers, or the UE may be configured to monitor for a subset of physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) candidates in search spaces associated with the first and second component carriers, where the subset of PDCCH candidates may be allocated for multi-component carrier scheduling. The UE may receive downlink control information (DCI) that schedules a set of data transmissions over the first and second component carriers and the UE may perform or receive the set of data transmissions over the first and second component carrier.