Graduate school is a time to build new connections and find a community where you can experience a sense of true belonging. Connecting with peers, faculty, student organizations, and the broader campus community can enrich your graduate experience, provide valuable support, and open the door to new friendships, collaborations, and opportunities. Explore the resources below to discover communities, events, and organizations that help make UCSB feel like home.
Community Exploration
Navigating Campus
Get a student ID card at the Access Information Desk on the main level of the UCen (map). During the summer, the Access Card/Information Desk is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Closed Wednesdays) During the academic year, they are open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Their phone number is 805-893-2464. The cost of the card is $30 and can also be used as a debit card. It is also used as your library card, bus pass, for Recreation Center access, and for student discounts. Check out the Transportation page for more information about how you can ride the city bus for free.
The 11, 15X, 24X, 27, and 28 routes will go from family housing to campus in about a 12-minute bus ride. For the Storke apartments, the closest bus stop is on El Colegio Rd. West Campus apartments can catch the bus on Storke Rd. outside of the complex. For more information on bus times and the closest bus stop from your location, map your route on Google Maps and click the transit icon. (Check out the Transportation page for more information about how you can ride the city bus for free.)
Almost all fees on campus are processed by BARC, the Billing Accounts Receivable Collections unit. You can log in to view and pay fees here.
To find your classroom, you can access the UCSB Campus Map, and type in the name of the building.
Finding
Community
Graduate students can join any student organizations, unless they are explicitly designated as undergraduate-only orgs. You can use your NetID to sign into Shoreline and browse a list of student orgs (including ones specifically for graduate students).
Here is a sample of some graduate student organizations:
Yes, they have many nationally recognized sports clubs. Check out the sports clubs webpage.
The Graduate Student Association hosts weekly bagel hours and monthly social hours. Many departments and centers host their own social events, such as Graduate Student Housing and the Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity.
The Graduate Student Association (GSA) is the elected representative government for graduate students at UC Santa Barbara. The GSA advocates for graduate student concerns in campus-wide and UC system-wide policy discussions while building community through regular events and activities.
Shoreline is a great place to explore any upcoming events for graduate students hosted by staff, faculty, and Registered Campus Organizations. The Grad Clubs hosted by the Graduate Student Association and the Grad Organizations also regularly create events to foster community and post them on Shoreline or email students. Residents of San Clemente Housing and Storke Family Housing also receive regular emails from residential staff about upcoming events.
Local
Community
Restaurants in Goleta and Santa Barbara:
- Lilly's Taqueria
- Los Agaves
- Zocalo
- Elubia's Kitchen
- Kyle's Kitchen
- Tap Thai
Check out the Visiting Santa Barbara page for more information on getting around, things to do, and other resources.
Read our quick Orientation guide specifically for international students learning about the local community.
UCSB's My Family page is a great place to look at resources. Ryan Sims, the Graduate Division Academic Counselor, also serves as a resource for all graduate students who would like referrals to campus resources or suggestions for work-life balance.