Requirements and Procedure (Grad)
To be considered for admission to UCSB, applicants must have received a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent (with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better) from an accredited university prior to the quarter for which admission is sought. Applicants apply online through the Graduate Division’s Web site at: graddiv.ucsb.edu under the Admissions heading.
A completed application includes:
An online application (located at graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp);
Applicant's statement of purpose, personal personal history and diversity statement, and résumé or curriculum vitae;
A nonrefundable fee (An application fee paid to another University of California campus is not valid for application to UCSB);
Three letters of recommendation from professors or others familiar with the applicant’s academic work (Electronic letters preferred. Paper submissions must be accompanied by the required cover sheet);
The GRE is required for some graduate degree programs. Official GRE scores are those submitted directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Official GRE test scores are valid for five years after the test date. Some departments also require applicants to take the Advanced GRE Subject Area test. Check with the academic department for specific requirements (graddiv.ucsb.edu/departments).
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing Service (IELTS) exam scores, or Duolingo English Test (DET) taken within the past two years, submitted directly from ETS, the British Council, or Duolingo English Test (if applicable);
Official transcripts from each institution attended since high school or secondary school uploaded to the online application; and,
Any other supplemental materials required by the department or the Graduate Division.
All domestic applicants are required to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as part of the application process by March 2. Web site: studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.
Admission decisions are based on the quality of the applicant’s academic degrees and record as presented in the application and supporting documents. Also contributing to the decision are evidence of preparation in the proposed field of study, work experience, and the degree to which the individual’s goals and research interests are consistent with those of the academic program and its faculty.
When applications are complete, they are submitted to faculty committees for review; recommendations of admission or denial are communicated to the Graduate Division by the academic department. Due to the large number of applications received, many well-qualified applicants cannot be admitted.