Financing Graduate Education

UCSB provides three main types of support for graduate students: fellowship or merit based support; academic appointments, which provide either departmental teaching or research assistantships; and both need-based support and federal loans, which is offered through the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

The FAFSA is a crucial step in determining your eligibility for various types of financial assistance, including federal, state, and institutional aid. Submitting your application by the April 3rd, priority deadline ensures that you are considered for the maximum amount of aid for which you may qualify. You can access and submit the FAFSA online at: studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa for U.S. citizens, nationals, legal permanent residents and individuals with certain designation (such as refugees) are eligible to apply for federal student aid. When completing the FAFSA, be sure to include UC Santa Barbara’s Federal School Code: 001320.