Admissions
International Applicants
Office of International Students and Scholars
All international applicants who submit an application for graduate study are encouraged to contact the Office of International Students and Scholars for current information regarding international student expenses, visas, and other non-admissions questions you may have. Once admitted to UCSB, the OISS office will contact you for additional assistance.
Telephone: (805) 893-2929
FAX: (805) 893-7132
Contact: Ambi Harsha
Academic Preparation
International applicants who have completed their post-secondary education outside of the United States must have completed a degree program equivalent to that of the University of California, usually a minimum of four years of university work, and show above-average scholarship. Applicants holding only professional diplomas, higher certificates in accounting, business, physical education, or health education from universities or technical and vocational schools may not apply.
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.
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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
- 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.
Further pre-instructional information and activities are outlined in the ‘Schedule of Classes’ found on the UCSB Registrar website.
Expenses for International Students
UCSB's Office of International Students and Scholars estimates that the total expenses for a single international student for each 12-month period will range from $36,612.60 to $42,612.60 excluding dependents. Married students should bring an additional $4,000 if accompanied by a spouse and $2,000 for each additional child. Student employment is limited. Information about other employment and fellowship opportunities may be found at Financing a Graduate Education.
To be issued the required immigration forms needed to obtain your visa from an American embassy or consulate you must provide the UCSB Office of International Students and Scholars with documented evidence of your ability to pay all required fees and expenses for the first twelve months of your program which currently $36,612.60, subject to change. You should also indicate sources and amounts of financial support for the duration of your entire program. American embassies and consulates will require the same type of funding evidence for visa issuance.
Limited funds are available for work-study opportunities for international students.
Student Visa Categories
Two student visa categories are available to you for study at UCSB: F1 Student and J1 Exchange Visitor. Applicants wishing to obtain J1 status cannot be solely supported by personal or family funds. Substantial financial support from some other source, such as government or other university support is required for a J1 Exchange Visitor visa. If you have further questions concerning your visa status, contact the American embassy or consulate in your area. Your I-20 or IAP-66 form will be sent to you by the Office of International Students and Scholars after you have been accepted for admission and have returned the Financial Statement form.
- F1 Student
- Form I-20 - Present this to the American embassy or consulate with your passport and evidence of financial support.
- Valid for length of degree program
- On-Campus Employment: Allowed up to 20 hours per week. Allowed 40 hours per week during academic break periods (i.e. holiday and summer breaks).
- Off-Campus Employment: Only with prior approval of Immigration and Naturalization Service and after nine months in U.S. in F1 status, allowed up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and 40 hours per week during academic breaks. (i.e. holiday & summer breaks).
- Spouse Employment: Spouse on F-2 visa not allowed to work.
- Practical Training: 12 months post-graduate practical training employment available.
- Home Country Residence Requirement: None.
- J1 Exchange Visitor
- Form IAP-66 - Present this to the American embassy or consulate with your passport and evidence of financial support.
- Period Valid: One year at a time, or for the length of the funding period up to the end of the study period.
- On-Campus Employment: Allowed up to 20 hours per week. Allowed 40 hours per week during academic break periods (i.e. holiday and summer breaks).
- Off-Campus Employment : Only with prior approval from UCSB Office of International Students and Scholars, allowed up to 20 hours per week while school is in session and 40 hours per week during academic break periods (i.e. holiday and summer breaks).
- Spouse Employment: Only with prior approval of the Immigration and Naturalization Service based upon financial need of J-2 spouse or dependents.
- Practical Training: 18 months post-graduate academic training employment available.
- Home Country Residence Requirement: You may be subject to a required stay in your home country for two years upon completion of your studies before you can immigrate or return to the U.S. for employment purposes. Check with the nearest American embassy or consulate to see if this requirement will apply to you if you enter on a J1 visa.