Current UCSB undergraduates interested in pursuing their graduate work at UCSB may qualify for the following programs that allow completion of both the UCSB bachelor's degree and master's degree within a five-year period.
List of five-year degree programs at UC Santa Barbara
- B.S. and M.S. in Actuarial Science
- B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCDB) or Biochemistry (CHEM) and M.S. in Biochemistry-Molecular Biology
- B.S. in Chemical, Electrical, or Mechanical Engineering and M.S. in Materials
- B.S. in Chemistry and M.S. in Materials
- B.A. in Chinese or Japanese and M.A. in Asian Studies
- B.S. in Computer Engineering and M.S. in Computer Science or Electrical and Computer Engineering
- B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science (College of Engineering)
- B.S. in Computing (College of Creative Studies) and M.S. in Computer Science
- B.S. and M.S. in Earth Science
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering and M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering
- B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering
- B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology (MCDB) and M.S. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology
Five-Year Program Timeline
Sophomore (second) and junior (third) year:
- Learn about the program: Speak with your prospective graduate department about required preparation, planning your coursework, and program requirements.
- Apply online: Submit your Grad App for your five-year program of interest. Most programs require students to apply during their junior (third) year and notify students of admissions decisions in late spring or early summer.
- Confirm your Enrollment: If admitted, return to the Five-Year Applicant Portal and submit your Confirmation of Five-Year Program Enrollment, verifying your enrollment and intent to complete the program.
Senior (fourth) year:
- Complete Requirements: Five-year students may enroll in graduate courses during the final year of undergraduate study. Consult your department for specific GPA, course, and other requirements.
- Complete your Curriculum Memo: At the beginning of the quarter before you intend to advance to graduate standing, follow the instructions provided by your department to prepare your Curriculum Memo, which must be approved and submitted by your college.
- Prepare for Grad Status: As long as you meet all requirements, you will be admitted to the master's program after your Curriculum Memo has been accepted by the Graduate Division. You may then Request to Advance to Graduate Standing.
Master's (fifth) year:
- Enroll as a Graduate Student: After submitting your Request to Advance to Graduate Standing, your status will be changed from undergraduate to graduate, beginning with your advancement quarter.
- Complete your Master's Degree: Complete all of your remaining coursework, research, and other requirements to finish both your bachelor's and master's degrees within five years!
Note: You must complete the bachelor’s degree before you may be awarded the master’s degree.
Important Dates and Deadlines
The Graduate Division online application (Grad App) must be submitted by your department's application deadline. Students are typically expected to apply for five-year programs during the junior (third) year and advance from undergraduate to graduate status at the start of the fifth year. If you are interested in applying earlier or later in your undergraduate studies, consult the Staff Graduate Program Advisor in your program of interest before applying. Departmental application deadlines, contact information, and admissions requirements can be found in the Department Directory (follow the links for your department and specific program of interest).
If you are admitted to the Five-Year Program, your Curriculum Memo must be completed at the start of the academic quarter before you intend to advance to graduate standing. To prevent any delays to your registration, your approved Curriculum Memo must be received no later than the following dates:
- Winter Advancement: November 1
- Spring Advancement: February 1
- Fall Advancement: May 1
Five-year program students may not advance to graduate standing for summer quarter. Please contact your department directly for more information.