Admissions

Completing the Graduate Application

Please note: All supplemental application materials should be sent directly to the prospective academic department using the department specific 4 digit mail code, and not to the Graduate Division.

Criteria for Admission

The University of California offers admission to those applicants who have the highest potential for graduate study and who with the benefit of graduate education are most likely to contribute substantially to their academic or professional fields through teaching, research, or professional practice.

The University of California, Santa Barbara remains committed to the recruitment, admission, and retention of a high quality, diverse graduate student population. UCSB encourages applications from students who have overcome economic or social disadvantage in pursuing their academic objectives and those who bring perspectives, research topics or career interests that advance the University's goals of excellence and diversity. Among campus goals is achieving a student population of men and women reflective of the population at large, inclusive of those traditionally underrepresented in various academic fields and of all socioeconomic levels, physical abilities, ages, religions, national origins, sexual orientations, and other attributes.

To be considered for admission, applicants must have received a bachelor's degree or its equivalent from an accredited university prior to the quarter for which the applicant seeks admission, and have at least a B average in advance undergraduate (the last two years) coursework. Satisfaction of minimal standards does not, however, guarantee admission. Since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.

Only one application may be submitted at a time. Simultaneous applications are not accepted.

Types of Applications

New Domestic Applicants

All components of the application, including the application fee, must be completed and paid by the appropriate department deadline in order to be processed. A limited number of fee waivers are available for qualified applicants with financial need. Applicants who applied the previous year but were not admitted are considered new applicants.

New International Applicants

Many international applicants are required to complete and submit a pre-application to their department of interest. To determine which programs require the pre-application, visit Graduate Programs at UCSB. The pre-application will be used to assist in determining eligibility for graduate study in a particular department. Prospective applicants will be contacted directly by the department regarding the pre-application, and may then proceed in completing all parts of the graduate application. Please pay close attention to requirements or procedures pertaining to international applicants. The non-refundable application fee must be paid by the appropriate department deadline in order for the application to be processed. The fee must be in US funds and drawn on a US bank.

Non-Degree Applications

In exceptional circumstances, applicants who do not wish to study for a degree may be admitted to graduate status on a non-degree basis. The admission requirements and procedures are the same as those for prospective degree candidates. The applicant must specify the major, and must justify in the statement of purpose that the plan of study has a definite scholarly or professional goal. A non-degree student is accepted for a maximum of one academic year. Students in non-degree status are not eligible for fellowships, nor are their courses ordinarily accepted for credit toward an advanced degree at UCSB should they later decide to apply for admission into a master's or doctoral program. Current non-degree students wishing to apply for admission into a master's or doctoral program must submit a new graduate application - a graduate petition cannot be used.

Renewal Applications

If one applied for graduate study at UCSB the previous year and was admitted but did not register, please contact the admitting department prior to submitting a new application. In some cases, it may not be necessary to re-submit all of the required application materials. The department will be able to assist in determining which materials to re-submit. However, in all cases a new application and fee payment are required to process the new application.

Applications NOT Accepted for Admission

Students who have allowed their registration to lapse must petition for reinstatement to graduate standing, and should not submit a new graduate application. Students who wish to change or add anther degree objective or transfer to another department must do so by Graduate Petition. Please contact Graduate Academic Services by e-mail or by phone at (805) 893-2277 for assistance.

Application Components

The following information is provided to aid in completing the graduate application thoroughly and correctly. Failure to read the directions may result in mistakes that in turn will seriously delay the application. The application file may be made inactive if Graduate Division can not match supplementary materials to the application. It is recommended that applicants make personal copies of application materials.

Application Deadlines

Specific departmental application deadlines vary. The deadline for fellowship competition consideration is January 15th of every year, though many departments have an earlier deadline. A completed application and all supporting documents must be received by the deadline, or the next working day, if it falls on a weekend or holiday, in order to be considered for fellowship support. Very competitive departments may close their programs for lack of space earlier than the published deadline. Early application is strongly advised.

Application for Admission

All applicants must complete the application for admission. All of the application information is entered securely online and is comprised of several sections. The application system will indicate when all of the required information has been received.

Once complete, applicants may pay the application fee by check/money order or online via credit card (see Application Fee section for further information). Once submitted, the application system will send an email confirming the successful submission. Throughout the admissions process, applicants may log back in to their application to check their status.

All supplemental application materials should be sent directly to the prospective academic department.

Application Fee

All applications require a non-refundable application fee of $60. No application will be processed until the application fee has been received.

Application payments may be paid by using a Visa or Mastercard, and must be made online as part of the application process. Credit card payments cannot be accepted at any other point.

If paying by check or money order, please ensure that the applicant name appears on the check or money order made payable to UC Regents, and that it is accompanied by the Check/Money Order Submission form found on the last page of the application or within the Application Status. International applicants, if not paying by credit card, must send an International Money Order or a check drawn on a U.S. bank in U.S. dollars. An application fee paid to another University of California campus is not valid for an application to UCSB. if not paying by credit card, the Check/Money Order Submission Form must be printed, signed, and returned with the check/money order fee payment to the Graduate Division. This submission form is an important part of the application for two reasons: it provides the Graduate Division with a signature that creates a legal and binding contract between the applicant and the University of California; and, it allows the Graduate Division to batch the fee payment and submitted application. The application will not be processed until the application fee is received and processed.

Do not send cash. The Graduate Division cannot be responsible for lost or misdirected fee payments. It is highly recommended that applicants secure a receipt of mailing from the post office if the application payment is mailed.

Please note: The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. This includes applying after the graduate program application deadline has passed. Please contact the program of interest to submit an application after the program deadline, and do not submit unless permission has been granted directly from the academic department Graduate Program Assistant, and the Graduate Division admissions section has been notified in advance.

Fee Waivers

A limited number of application fee waivers are available for qualified US citizens and permanent residents with evidence of financial need. Fee waivers are not available to international applicants.

Please see the Graduate Division Handbook for more information.

In support of the national efforts of the McNair Scholars Program and Project 1000, participants are entitled to an application fee waiver at UCSB. To obtain this fee waiver, submit the Fee Waiver Request Form along with a letter from the program director confirming participation. Additional proof of financial need is not required.

To apply for a fee waiver, an applicant must submit the Fee Waiver Request Form which must be accompanied by proof of financial need or participation in an undergraduate research program. Examples of financial need include a letter from a financial aid officer, a financial aid award letter, or a copy of income tax returns. Failure to include this information with your request will delay the processing of the graduate application. A copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) is not acceptable documentation. Please do not send a request without first completing and submitting the application. Note: do not pay by credit card, but hit the pay by check or money order option. Applicants will be notified if the fee waiver is approved or not approved. Submit fee waiver materials to the following address:

UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division
Attn: Graduate Admissions
3117 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2070

Coversheets

Two copies of the Statement of Purpose coversheet and one copy of the Letter of Recommendation coversheet for each of the three letters of recommendation must be sent to the academic department. The coversheets match these documents to the application. The section marked "This Part to Be Completed by Applicant" and the lower section pertaining to "Waiver of Rights of Access" must be completed before giving the form to the recommenders.

The faculty members who write the letters of recommendation should be aware of the applicant's scholarly abilities and capability to do graduate work. They should speak analytically of achievements and research abilities. Providing background information to recommenders can assist in writing a strong letter, such as copies of papers written, copies of the statement of purpose, a resume, or a list of courses and grades received from the professor. Don't be afraid to ask if the professor feels he/she can write a good letter of recommendation. Applicants want the letters to be helpful and faculty will say if they can not assist in this manner.

Nonacademic letters are useful when they relate directly to the intended area of study, such as work experience, internships, teaching, etc.

Transcripts

For U.S. applicants, university documents must show all courses taken, credits or hours, grades or marks in each subject, and rank or class if given. The institutional grading scale, including maximum and failing grades, should be provided. Also required are degree certificates indicating the type of degree awarded and the date of the award. Records submitted to UCSB will not be copied, returned, or sent to another institution. Two official transcripts of the applicant's academic record from all post-secondary educational institutions attended, including community colleges, summer sessions, and extension programs must be sent to the proposed department.

For international applicants, two official copies of documents showing all post-secondary academic work completed should be sent to the proposed department. All transcripts and translations must be received in envelopes sealed and stamped by the school. All academic documents should be sent in the native language along with authorized, complete, and exact, literal English translations by the school or an official agency. Unofficial copies made by the applicant are unacceptable. Please see the International Applicants page for academic requirements and visa information.

Note for U.S. Permanent Residents: U.S. Permanent Residents who received a degree from a U.S. institution should follow the application guidelines for U.S. applicants. U.S. Permanent Residents who received a degree from an international institution should follow the instructions for international applicants.

Standardized Tests

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

The GRE is required for all graduate degree programs, except Art. Official GRE scores are those submitted directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), or submitted by the student to Graduate Division, only if an official score cannot be sent from ETS. Tests should be taken early enough for results to be received prior to the fellowship deadline. Many departments require applicants to take the Advanced Subject Area tests of the GRE; check with the academic department for specific requirements.

Applicants must make arrangements to take the GRE directly with the Educational Testing Service, and should instruct ETS to report scores to UCSB; the institution code is 4835. A department code is not required. While the Graduate Division does not have a general minimum GRE score for applicants, individual departments are free to establish minimum GRE test score requirements as appropriate for their selection process.

The Gevirtz Graduate School of Education requires GRE scores. The Miller Analogies Test (MAT) may be used for applicants applying to the Teaching Credential. Only Official GRE (or MAT) scores sent or verified by ETS will be accepted.

Applicants who take the GRE examination a second time and want scores updated must request the new scores be sent to UCSB. Please note: For admissions purposes, UCSB reviews only the most current complete set of scores reported. It is not possible to mix-and-match the highest scores. Applicants who want to improve GRE or TOEFL scores will need to retake the entire test.

Please see the Graduate Division Handbook for more information.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

UCSB does not admit students conditionally in order to learn English prior to beginning an academic program; an excellent command of written and spoken English is required prior to enrollment.

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL or the IELTS. Exemptions or exceptions to this requirement will be considered for those students who have completed an undergraduate or graduate education at an institution whose primary language of instruction is English. Proof must be provided by sending the final/official transcripts associated with the degree posted. The transcripts must indicate that coursework was completed at the previous institution. Please contact the department of interest at UCSB if there are any further questions. The minimum TOEFL score for consideration is 550 when taking the paper based test (PBT), 213 when taking the computer based test (CBT), and 80 when taking the internet based test (IBT). Some departments require a higher score. The minimum IELTS score for consideration is an Overall Band Score of 7 or higher.

Applicants choosing to take the TOEFL must make arrangements to take the TOEFL directly with the Educational Testing Service. ETS should be instructed to report scores to UCSB; the institution code is 4835. A department code is not required. TOEFL scores must be no more than two years old at the time of application. UCSB does not admit students conditionally in order to learn English prior to beginning an academic program; an excellent command of written and spoken English is required prior to enrollment.

Applicants choosing to take the IELTS must make arrangements directly with the International English Language Testing System. An institution code is not required to report the score results to UCSB. IETLS scores must be no more than two years old at the time of application.

 

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Academic departments help the Graduate Division to monitor three required exams.

1) English Language Placement Exam (ELPE)

• All incoming international graduate students and permanent residents whose first language is not English must meet proficiency requirements in spoken and written English before registering at UCSB.
• This required exam is conducted by faculty of the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program prior to the beginning of each quarter.
• The ELPE comprises of both a written and an oral examination. After the writing exam, students make individual department appointments for the oral exam to take place on a different day.
• The results of the ELPE, including course placements when appropriate, are communicated to each department by the ESL Program office.
• Based on the performance on the ELPE students are placed in a compulsory ESL class with coursework aimed at helping improve the students spoken English or students who do well are exempted-out of ESL.
• Students are expected to complete the ESL course progression within three quarters.
• Students who fail the ELPE must register for and attend a prescribed ESL course and will have their registration blocked for future quarters until they re-take the ELPE and pass.
• Testing dates, times, and locations can be found at www.esl.ucsb.edu or on the Office of International Students and Scholars website at www.oiss.ucsb.edu.
• Please note: Students who are exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS requirement are still required to take the ELPE.

• Students visiting UCSB under the Education Abroad Program and non-degree reciprocity status are exempt from taking the ELPE; if they later petition for admission to a graduate program to seek a master's degree or doctorate, they must take the ELPE at that time. If EAP or non-degree reciprocity status students wish to take an ESL course, they must first take the ELPE for placement purposes.

2) Minimum Proficiency Requirements in Spoken and written English

In some cases, students must satisfy proficiency requirements in spoken and written English for the purposes of research and communication with colleagues before they will be awarded a degree at UCSB.

• Coursework may be required to meet the department’s proficiency requirements in English. If you have questions about this class, please contact the Graduate Advisor in the department.
• Continuing international students who need additional ESL coursework will be pre-registered in the appropriate ESL classes.
• Coursework in English is always conducted through the English as a Second Language (ESL) Program. More information can be found on www.esl.ucsb.edu

3) TA Language Evaluations Exam

Graduate Council policy requires all prospective teaching assistants (TAs) whose first language is not English to take the TA Language Evaluation in order to be certified to hold sole classroom teaching or laboratory responsibilities.

• The TA language evaluation is for students slated to be teaching assistants (TAs) either in their first quarter or at any time during their graduate career.
• Please note: Students who sit for a TA language evaluation must take the written portion of the English Language Proficiency Examination (ELPE) prior to the beginning of the quarter.
• The TA language evaluation is a formal process meant to simulate instruction in an undergraduate discussion section. It involves a faculty representative from the student’s department and a faculty member from ESL. The student’s department must assign the prospective TA a basic, non-technical topic for the 5-10 minute oral presentation. In addition, the prospective TA is asked questions during the presentation by the evaluators who play the role of undergraduates.
• Students *not* certified during the TA language evaluation are required to complete ESL coursework to improve their spoken English. The student will have to show sufficient improvement in speaking proficiency to be certified. This may require more than one quarter of ESL coursework. Each student in a required ESL course is re-evaluated for certification by a committee of ESL faculty at the end of the quarter. TA’s who fail the language evaluation can be assigned to alternate, non-teaching responsibilities determined by the department.
• Graduate Division and/or ESL will schedule a TA language evaluation only if the student’s department requests one. Student’s can’t *self-nominate* to take a language evaluation. Once determined, scheduling information will be sent to each department. In turn, the department is asked to convey this information to the prospective TA along with the presentation topic.
• At present, Graduate Division is scheduling TA language evaluations. The Graduate Division will need both the name of each prospective TA to be evaluated and the name of the faculty member who will be the faculty representative, as well as any dates that represent scheduling conflicts from the department prior to the beginning of the quarter.
• If university ESL requirements are not met, Graduate Division will enforce one or more of the following options: withholding of RA ships; withholding of degrees; blocking of registration for future quarters and /or blocking advancement to candidacy.

   

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

All United States citizens and permanent residents must complete and submit the FAFSA by March 2. Please consult Financing a Graduate Education for more information.

Submitting an Application

The submission and mailing of application materials for graduate study can be a complex process and is very often the source of many processing delays. Materials must be sent to the academic department, and check or money order payment to the Graduate Division. The Graduate Division cannot be responsible for lost or misdirected fee payments, applications, or supporting materials. It is highly recommended that applicants apply one month before the printed deadline and secure a "Receipt of Mailing". FED EX or DHL services are preferred..

Please follow the guidelines and instructions below when preparing and mailing the application materials.

• Mail to the Academic Department**:
  1. Two official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
  2. Two copies of the Statement of Purpose with completed coversheets
  3. Three Letters of Recommendation (with completed coversheets)
  4. If required by the department, you may also need to submit any supplemental department applications, writing samples, and any other required materials

** Please note: All supplemental application materials should be sent directly to the prospective academic department using the department specific 4 digit mail code, and not to the Graduate Division. (Failure to do so may delay your application and make it ineligible for admissions consideration.)

Department of ________________________
Attn: G.P.A.
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-____ (departmental 4 digit code)*
(USA)

* Check your department website for their specific 4 digit mail code.

 

• Mail to the Graduate Division:
  1. If paying by check or money order, the check or money order and the Check/Money Order Submission form is required
  2. Official GRE scores, sent directly by ETS
  3. Official TOEFL scores, sent directly by ETS or IELTS scores (if applicable)

UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division
Attn: Graduate Admissions
3117 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2070
(USA)

 

Updating an Application

It is important that proposed departments are notified of any changes in your address, phone number or e-mail address during the application process. Otherwise, important notifications regarding applications, missing supporting materials or admissions decision may be seriously delayed or lost. Each department will make sure that the Graduate Division office is notified of any changes.

Special Populations

Students who have completed pre-graduate preparation programs, such as the McNair Scholars Program, are strongly encouraged to apply to UCSB.

Students applying through the Project 1000 program are encouraged to consult the Project 1000 office as well as their prospective department for assistance in applying to UCSB. Supplemental application materials received via the Project 1000 program will be treated as official documents and processed accordingly. Fee waivers are also available for Project 1000 students and will be issued upon receipt of the Fee Waiver Request Form along with a letter from the Project 1000 program coordinator confirming participation. However, students must complete the UCSB application in order to complete their application to UCSB. The Project 1000 application cannot be used in place of the UCSB application. In some cases, additional application materials will be required, such as a writing sample, departmental application, etc.

Legal Statements

Nondiscrimination Policy

The University of California, in accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. The University also prohibits sexual harassment. This nondiscrimination policy covers admission, access, and treatment in University programs and activities. Inquiries regarding the University's student-related nondiscrimination policies may be directed to: Joseph I. Castro, Affirmative Action Coordinator, (805) 893-3105.

Personal Information Statement

Information furnished on the application will be used by various university offices to determine your admissibility to a graduate program. It may also be released to state and federal government officials if required by law. Students are permitted to review personal information maintained in accordance with university policy. Application materials become the property of the Graduate Division and cannot be returned. For further information, contact the Graduate Division, Cheadle Hall, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2070; or e-mail Graduate Academic Preparation & Admissions.

Use of Social Security Numbers

SSN disclosure is mandatory. The University is required by federal law to report SSN and other pertinent information to the Internal Revenue Service pursuant to the reporting requirements imposed by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. The University will use the SSN provided to verify the identity of each applicant, to link the admissions file with Financial Aid Office data, to link application data with Graduate Record Examination scores from the Educational Testing Service, to link to the Payroll Office to verify amounts paid to students receiving teaching assistantships and research assistantships, and to link financial awards and admission data to registration histories and student records. This record-keeping system was established before January 1, 1975, pursuant to the authority of the Regents of the University of California under Article IX, Section 9 of the Constitution of the State of California. This notification is provided as required by the Federal Privacy Act of 1974.

Accuracy of Information

The submission of any false or misleading information of any kind in support of an application for admission to the Graduate Division at the University of California, Santa Barbara, may result in the permanent cancellation or rescinding of admission or financial awards by the Dean of the Graduate Division. It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all information is accurate and complete.

Statement on Admission

Admission of an applicant to a graduate program does not constitute a commitment on the part of the University to accept the applicant as a candidate for a degree or to recommend the applicant for a credential or a degree.

Notice of Availability of Campus Security Reports

As provided by the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act of 1998, prospective students are entitled to request and receive a copy of the Security Report of any campus of the University they are interested in attending. Each Security Report includes statistics for the past three years concerning crimes and incidents (whether they occurred on campus, in off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by the University, or on public property adjacent to campus) reported to campus security authorities. Each report also provides campus policies and practices concerning security - how to report sexual assault and other crimes, crime prevention efforts, policies/laws governing alcohol and drugs, victims' assistance programs, student discipline, campus resources, and other matters. Copies of the UCSB report may be obtained by contacting University of California, Santa Barbara, Office of Student Life, 2201 SAASB, Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5010 or by accessing the following website.