University of California Admissions 2022-2023: Acceptance Rate, Requirements, Deadlines, Application Process

Santa Barbara, CaliforniaLocation
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University of California Santa Barbara Admissions 2022

University of California Santa Barbara is a leading public research university located in the picturesque seaside location of Santa Barbara, California, United States. Initially it was established in 1891 as an independent college it joined the University of California community in 1944. University of California Santa Barbara has been placed among the top public universities in USA by U.S. News & World Report, 2022.

  • How many programs are offered? UCSB admission is granted in more than 200 majors, degrees and credentials including over 90 undergraduate majors and 50+ graduate courses.
  • How many centres are there? The institute has five schools, covering most diverse fields to cater to a large number of students planning to pursue higher education in USA.
  • Is it hard to get into UC Santa Barbara? University of California Santa Barbara has an acceptance rate of 37% for freshmen applicants while 59% for transfer applicants.
  • How many students are enrolled? UCSB has a total of 26,314 students. Out of them, 23,349 are undergraduate students enrolled in 2,450 programs offered in each quarter through three undergraduate colleges of UCSB namely, The college of Creative studies, the College of Letters and Science, and The College of Engineering.
  • How much is the research funding? UCSB supports undergraduate research through the funding of $320,000 grants each year. Around 50% of UCSB Undergraduate students are involved in some kind of research or creative projects.
  • Can international students get scholarships? UCSB provides various kinds of financial assistance to 70% of its undergraduate students.
  • What are the placement opportunities? Every year more than 400 top companies visit UCSB for placement and internships.

To improve their chances of getting accepted at the University of California, Santa Barbara, applicants need to ensure that they attain minimum requirements as per the latest incoming class of 2022-2023:

  • High School GPA: 4.04–4.28
  • ACT Composite Score: 27–34
  • ACT English Language Arts: 26–31
  • SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing: 630–730
  • SAT Mathematics: 650–790
  • SAT Essay: 15–18.

UCSB Admission Deadlines

When to apply? Students are advised to submit their applications prior to the deadlines for them to be considered for admission. Students submitting the late application will be considered on the basis of space available. International applicants are advised to submit separate application for scholarships for international students in USA prior to deadlines.

Type Deadline
Freshmen applicant Fall - November 30
Winter quarter/spring semester – July 31
Transfer applicant September 30
FAFSA submission March 2
SIR submission Freshman – may 1
Transfer – June 1

The institute provides a range of courses for international students, application deadlines for various intakes, which are as mentioned below.

Types of Application Deadline
Creation of UC portal August 1
Submission of UC application (Domestic/International applicants Fall semester) November 1–30
Last month to take SAT/ACT December
Submission of academic transcripts July 1
Submission of official test scores July 15
Deadline for graduate application Varies by course

UC Santa Barbara International Admissions

The University of California is home to international students from around 79 countries, and the total international student population totals up at about 14% of the total student population at UIC which is 3,261 in number. The top countries in origin at the institute include China, India, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong and Iran.

How to apply? Each country has a specific set of requirements for its students, for India, the particular requirement includes at least 70% score in the 12th standard board exams. International student admissions are similar to that of domestic admissions. One of the exams to study in USA, Duolingo test for English proficiency is highly recommended for international applicants.

Where to apply? Online via the University of California website
How much is the application fee? 80 USD (Non refundable)
What are the ​basic admission requirements? The admission requirements are as follows:

  • Academic transcripts
    • All degrees, records of previous education
    • Course by course evaluation was needed
    • All materials should be in English or provided along with a translated one
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • Official scores of standardized exams to study in USA
  • Supplemental requirements
    • Resume
    • Portfolios
    • SOP
    • Interviews
  • Financial statement/ proof of funding
  • LOR
  • Copy of the passport.

International students require an ATA evaluation of the transcripts to be submitted as a part of the admission process. A mandatory, non-refundable 50 USD International Credential Evaluation Fee is assessed for all undergraduate degree-seeking applicants who have post-secondary coursework taken outside the United States. The documents are not returned back and so, only photocopies are required to be submitted.

English Proficiency Test Scores

What are the English proficiency requirements? The international applicants are required to exhibit proficiency in English by submitting scores of the tests given below:

English Test Minimum Scores Required
TOEFL iBT 80
TOEFL PBT 550
IELTS 6.5 (UG)
7.0 (Graduate)

Students should keep in mind that TOEFL and IELTS scores shouldn’t be more than 2 years old. Some programs may require interviews in order to test the applicant’s English speaking skills.

Country-specific Requirements

What are the country specific requirements? The Country-wise Academic requirements are given below:

Country Academic requirements
India All India Senior Certificate or Higher Secondary Certificate with minimum 70% or completed 10th and 12th from recognized central or state board.
Thailand Completed Mathayom 6 (Upper Secondary Education certificate) with minimum 75 percent.
Taiwan Completed Senior High School Leaving Certificate with an average of minimum 80%
China Senior High School Graduate Certificate and Graduation Certificate from upper middle school.
Jordan Completed Tawjihi or General Secondary Education Certificate with an average of minimum 75%

What are the steps of application? The application steps are as follows:

  • Select the program and term in which you want to apply
  • Create an account
UC Santa Barbara Application Process
  • Submit all the documents required
  • After submitting the application, check the confirmation page as it will have some important reminders and your UC Application ID Number.

Visa Process for International Students

How to apply for US student visa? If accepted by UCSB, all international students will need to obtain a US student visa, usually an F-1 or a J-1 visa. A visa document is required to apply for these visas (I-20/ DS-2019) respectively.

Overseas students can take help from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) regarding visa-related or immigration-related queries. The visa document will be issued once the student has paid their enrollment deposit and successfully provided evidence of their financial ability. International applicants will need these documents for the visa process:

  • SEVIS fee receipt
  • Form I-20
  • Admission letter
  • DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application- online
  • Financial documents to show the ability to afford expenses for a year of study at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
  • Copy of valid passport identification page (should be valid for at least 6 months after the date of entry into the US.)
  • Two passport size photographs
  • Visa application fee
  • Official financial affidavit (if required).

Applicants would need to schedule a visa interview in their home countries once the documents have been submitted.

UCSB Undergraduate Admissions

How to apply to UG programs? UCSB offers 90+ programs from over 45 departments for its undergraduate students including Bachelor’s in Actuarial Science, Anthropology, Applied Mathematics, Asian American Studies. Admission to most UC Santa Barbara undergraduate courses requires the following.

Where to apply? Online through UCSB’s official website
How much is the ​Application fee? 70 USD (~5,271 INR)
What are the academic requirements? All applicants must fulfil the following admission eligibility criteria:

  • Must have completed a minimum of 15 University of California approved “A-G” courses with grades of C or better.
  • Students must have earned a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all “A-G” courses
  • Performance of the candidate in extracurricular activities
  • SAT or ACT score (due to COVID-19 pandemic UCSB will not use the scores of SAT or ACT for the selection process for fall 2022).

UC Santa Barbara Graduate Admissions

How many graduate programs are available? More than 50 master's and doctoral programs are offered by the University of California, Santa Barbara. General admission requirements for many UC Santa Barbara graduate courses may remain the same, but some departments may have different or additional requirements.
Where to apply? UCSB accepts only online applications for graduate programs via Online Graduate Application Portal. Students must note that no simultaneous applications are accepted for one quarter.
How much is the application fee? The application fee for domestic and international applicants is 105 USD and 125 USD, respectively.
What are the eligibility criteria? The Graduate School has not set any minimum test score standards for students. The majority of the courses require a GRE score (not older than 5 years). However, few courses have specific requirements:

Department Academic Requirement
Department of Art Requires no GRE test score
Technology Management Program Requires either GRE/ GMAT
Gevirtz Graduate School of Education Requires GRE/Miller Analogies Test (MAT)

What are the supporting documents? SOP, Personal Achievements or Contributions statement, LOR, academic transcripts, Resume/ CV, and other supplementary documents required specifically by the department.

UC Santa Barbara MS in Computer Science

When to apply? The last date to apply for a graduate program in Computer Science is December 15.
What are the academic requirements? The application requirements are as follows:

Academic Requirement Minimum Score
GPA 3.0 on a 4.0-point scale
GRE No standard score set for applicants; satisfactory performance in Verbal, Quantitative and Analytical sections is sufficient
English Requirement for international students IELTS 7.0
Internet-based TOEFL 80
Paper-based TOEFL 550

Supporting Documents: Completed online application, SOP for Computer Science, personal achievements/contribution statement, Resume/CV, 3 LOR, unofficial academic transcripts, GRE and TOEFL/IELTS scores.

UC Santa Barbara MS in ECE

When to apply? The last date to apply for MS in ECE is December 15.
What are the academic requirements? There is no set standard score for GRE. Only the GRE General test is required and not the GRE subject test.
What are the supporting documents required? Statement of purpose, resume/curriculum vitae, personal statement, 3 letters of recommendation, and academic transcripts.

UC Barbara MS in Technology Management

How many application rounds are there? There are 4 sets of application rounds with varying deadlines –

  • Round I: October 15
  • Round II: January 15
  • Round III: March 1
  • Round IV: May 1

What are the academic requirements? GPA of at least 3.0/ B average equivalent at UG level. Additionally, students are required to submit GRE/ GMAT score not older than 5 years and TOEFL/IELTS score, if required.
What are the supporting documents required? Statement of purpose, statement of personal achievement, resume/CV, 3 LOR, and admission interview.

UC Santa Barbara M.A. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology

When to apply? The last date to submit the application and supporting documents is February 25, 2019. Please note that the applications are accepted only for the Fall season.
What are the academic requirements? Only the GRE General test is required; the GRE subject test can be taken in Biochemistry, Cell & Molecular Biology, Biology and Chemistry, although not mandatory.

Additionally, international applicants are required to submit TOEFL score.
What are the supporting documents required? Scanned copy of official academic transcripts, 3 letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, personal achievement/Contributions, Resume/CV.

  • Once the application has been submitted successfully, applicants can check their status by logging into their applicant portal. Freshman applicants can expect decisions in mid-March whereas Transfer applicants can expect admission notification by April 22.
  • Applicants who have opted for various graduate programs will need to confirm with their respective departments for an estimated date for notification.
  • International students applying at the University of California, Santa Barbara are recommended to send across their admission documents as early as 4-5 months before the deadlines. Also, international applicants should have excellent personal statements and recommendation letters.

Applicants can contact the international student office anytime in the office hours or can even mail them if any query persists. Applicants seeking to study in the USA should keep on checking their application status as it is highly required. Some applicants may also be interviewed for English proficiency checks, a test that is highly recommended for international applicants is the duo lingo English proficiency test.

FAQs

Ques: What is the application submission deadline for International students?

Ans: The application submission deadline for international students is the same as the domestic students i.e. 30th November.

Ques: Do I have to submit an SAT or ACT score?

Ans: SAT and ACT scores are optional.

Ques: How can I check my admission decision?

Ans: Applicants can check their admission decision by logging into their UCSB applicant portal because UCSB does not intimate applicants about their admission decision through Email.

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6 Reviews Found

H
8.2 /10

I originally applied to UCSB because I wanted to attend UC Berkeley. When I realized the applications were the same, I decided to apply to both! The fees are normally $80 I think but I was in the free/ reduced lunch program at school so I had a few waivers for applications. I applied to eight schools all on the west coast, including UCSB, UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Davis, SDSU, Cal Poly SLO, University of Washington, and University of Oregon. I was accepted to all except UCLA. When it came down to choosing a college, UCSB was the clear choice. They offered me significant financial aid, it's located on a beach, only a train ride away from home, and academically prestigious! We were ranked the 5th best public school in the nation and the happiest college students in California by Princeton Review! While cost is very important, I needed to choose somewhere I felt like I could be happy. The social, athletic, and academic aspects of the school were very appealing to my extroverted side. I had a 4.2 GPA overall in high school, played varsity women's lacrosse, and competed in the academic league. While I did take several AP classes, I would consider myself a medium, to the above-average student in high school. I got a 1420 on my SAT and a 30 on my ACT. The university seems to prioritize outside commitments and personal statements much higher than test scores through the admissions process in my opinion

academic: 8/10
faculty: 8/10
infrastructure: 7/10
accomodation: 10/10
placement: 6/10
extracurricular: 10/10

JL
8.8 /10

One of the reasons I chose UC Santa Barbara as a college to go to is because of its close proximity to the ocean and because I wanted to experience the social life on campus which I heard was pretty good at UC Santa Barbara. My experience was amazing because there were tons of things to do like go out for dinner, party on the weekend or going to town for great food. Also, I chose UCSB as my college because before I came here I visited the campus just once and fell in love with the scenery.

Scholarship:

I got about two to three scholarships but that takes time to apply so that is why I didn't even apply for more. Also, I did qualify for financial aid since I was a first-generation college student.

academic: 10/10
faculty: 9/10
infrastructure: 9/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 7/10
extracurricular: 10/10

JH
6.8 /10

UCSB has a great reputation and a diverse student body. Its campus is located right on the beach and students are friendly and fun. There is a good party scene as well as great academics and there is always something to do around campus.

Scholarship:

I received some financial aid from filling out the FAFSA. Other than that I haven't gotten any scholarships.

academic: 8/10
faculty: 7/10
infrastructure: 6/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 2/10
extracurricular: 10/10

K
7.2 /10

The financial aid, the location, and the reputation of the school. I didn't expect to be admitted into UCSB but after I did, I jumped at the chance to attend because they also gave me pretty decent financial aid. I also liked the college and the fact that it had the majors I wanted to study (English and Chicano Studies).

academic: 8/10
faculty: 7/10
infrastructure: 7/10
accomodation: 5/10
placement: 6/10
extracurricular: 10/10

JA

It was a good fit considering my major, career path, and overall personality. The economics program is one of the best out of the UCs, plus it was the best Econ program I got into. Since I want to work on Wall Street, I thought networking at UC was a vital part of my education. My personality is not only academic but outgoing so when I visited and saw that the atmosphere fit my personality perfectly, I knew it was going to be a good fit.

Scholarship:

I only received a small scholarship from the school for my academic performance in high school. Whereas I don't receive federal financial aid.

academic: 8/10
faculty: 7/10
infrastructure: 5/10
accomodation: 4/10
placement: 7/10
extracurricular: 7/10

MW
5.8 /10

They offered the best financial aid package. Also, the beachside location of Isla Vista, the college town adjacent to the school, was very appealing. Academics were also important when choosing school.

academic: 8/10
faculty: 10/10
infrastructure: 4/10
accomodation: 3/10
placement: 7/10
extracurricular: 3/10

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