Study at the University of California, Santa Barbara!
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The University of California, Santa Barbara, (UCSB), has an ideal, magical location. Imagine leaning against a palm tree, textbook in hand, with the Pacific Ocean spread out before you. This is the reality of student life at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Here, even the dorms have ocean views, and the weather is fantastic, so the majority of faculty and students favour casual clothing and the outdoor life. Alumni agree that the greatest drawback to applying to UCSB is the lure of the setting, the many activities on offer, and the 1,127 acre-campus, with its nature reserve at Coal Oil Point and lagoon. As a result, you will need to remain focussed and disciplined in the face of so many potential temptations!
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The University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, is located ten miles west of the town of Santa Barbara – which has an airport offering flights to many domestic destinations. If you get a hankering for visiting a big urban centre and sampling its possibilities, Los Angeles is approximately a 90 minute drive away.
The University of California, Santa Barbara, is a public land-grant research university founded in 1909. In 2023, US News ranked UCSB 7th among US public universities and 32nd nationally, while the Times Higher Education World University rankings placed UCSB 68th, globally. The university is classified R1 – very high research activity – and, among its faculty, there are six Nobel prize winners, a Fields medallist and 39 members of the National Academy of Science. In short, the quality of the teaching is outstanding. The student to staff ratio is 18:1.
The University of California, Santa Barbara : academic organisation
The University of California, Santa Barbara, is divided into three colleges: Letters and Science, Engineering and Creative Studies, and two graduate schools: Education and Environmental Science and Management. It offers over 90 majors and 41 minors, has ten national research centres. It is best known for its courses in:
- Evolutionary psychology
- Neuroscience
- Marine Science
- Aquatic biology
- Engineering
- Quantum computing
- Economics
with the majority of its programs featuring in the US Top Ten rankings.
UCSB is highly rated globally for its research output on:
- Materials engineering
- Chemical engineering
- Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Cosmology
- Sociology
- Interpersonal and small group communication
- Intercultural/international communication.
The academic year is organised on a quarterly basis.
The Application Process at The University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara – like every other university in the California system – does not accept the Common App. Instead, it requires you to fill in an online application and answer four out of eight Personal Insight Questions, of 350 words maximum. These questions are fairly predictable. The prompts cover well known themes such as leadership, finding a work-life balance, helping your community, overcoming problems etc. International students will have to provide proof of language proficiency, with an IELTS score of 6.5 and TOEFL of 80+ being the minimum grades. You will not be required to submit SAT or ACT scores and are unlikely to be interviewed. Certain courses have their own requirements – such as a portfolio or an audition – and these are clearly marked on the university website. Here, you will also discover how to submit the materials and the dates by which they have to be received.
The University of California, Santa Barbara, accepts applications between 1 August and 30 November.
The main criterion for acceptance is a high GPA and a comprehensive secondary school background, which demonstrates that you have studied a foreign language, history and a range of sciences etc. for two years or more. Contact Elab if you want to check that your school or IB curriculum ticks all the required boxes. International students are in competition for a place with Californian residents, not to mention domestic students, who pay a far lower tuition fee and have a clear advantage in the selection process. For example, in 2022, the acceptance rate for UCSB was around 25.8 per cent, but only 11 per cent were international students. It has been calculated that 80 per cent of the student body at UCSB is made up of Californian residents.
The University of California, Santa Barbara: campus life
UCSB is the third greenest university in the USA and its 27,000 students enjoy an active life on a well-tended and extremely attractive campus. The latter is basically divided between East and West campus, which are connected by Storke Campus and North Campus, where athletics fields and housing complexes have been located. Bicycles are king at UCSB and have right of way on East Campus. Everyone bicycles…
The campus environment:
The Storke Tower, below which nestles Storke Plaza, is the most memorable and visible landmark on the campus, and faces the 31-acre UCSB lagoon. The lagoon itself is a wildlife haven, with cormorants, grebes and great blue heron making their homes along these peaceful waters. Benches, bike and walking trails all conspire to persuade students to take in the wonderful scenery all around them, from the mountain ranges to the cliffs overhanging the Pacific. The largely student town of Isla Vista is by the lagoon and, slightly further out, you can reach Goleta Beach, which lies east of the campus.
A Vibrant Campus Life: Exploring Accommodation, Facilities, and Campus Culture at The University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara’s, campus accommodation consists of four housing complexes for postgraduates and their families, along with eight undergraduate residence halls. Two undergraduate halls are located on West campus, five on East and one in Manzanita Village. Greek sororities and fraternities are another option, as is the Santa Barbara Student Housing Co-op, apartment complexes, and Living-Learning Communities. Many students opt to spend their first year on campus and then move to Isla Vista, which has something of a reputation as “party central”.
The University of California, Santa Barbara’s campus on-site facilities include recreation centres, a writing centre, machine shop, computer laboratories, drop-in advice centres, health clinics and its own team of paramedics. There is a huge variety of food options, from quick snacks to sit-down meals, all with an emphasis on sustainable, fresh products. Students buy meal plans to access campus eating facilities. If they have opted for off-campus accommodation and want to stock up on a weekly shop, they usually attend famers’ markets or go into Santa Barbara.
The University of California, Santa Barbara, has hundreds of clubs and societies on campus, from ballroom dancing to adventure programmes, debating societies to many sporting clubs. Extravaganza, the free music festival held every spring, usually attracts around 8,000 visitors and has showcased huge artists such as Nas, Drake, TI and Snoop Dog.
UC Santa Barbara has always been a politically active campus and one whose students engage with the issues of the day – which was seen in their vociferous opposition to the Vietnam war.
University of California, Santa Barbara: sport
The UCSB teams are known as the Gauchos and wear navy and gold strip. Men’s football and swimming have brought the university many medals. If you are looking for something slightly different, then there are other USCB teams to join. Why not take up alpine racing, cycling, fencing, field hockey, lacrosse, rugby, triathlon or water-skiing? Surfing is also extremely popular, given the proximity to the beach. Badminton, basketball, golf, racquetball, squash, kickball and volleyball are all played on campus. In summary, whatever your sporting interests, you will certainly find the resources and facilities to develop your skills at UCSB.
University of California, Santa Barbara: costs
The University of California, Santa Barbara, is a highly popular choice for students. However, while studying in the USA is a wonderful, life-changing experience, it does not come cheap for international students. This is because the majority of scholarships are only for domestic students. Even the EP Gaucho Scholarship, which considers international applicants, restricts eligibility to individuals from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, the UK, France, Germany and Italy. In addition, there is only one scholarship offered per academic year.
Financial Planning for Success: Understanding the Cost of Studying at The University of California, Santa Barbara
In 2023, costs can be broken down, as follows, in US dollars:
Tuition for international students: 31,026
Room and board: 16,515
Campus fees: 1,881
Health care/insurance: 3,000
Personal expenses, including travel etc: 10,000
You should therefore budget around 66,000 upwards a year.
These figures are not daunting if you are Michael Douglas or Gwyneth Paltrow – both alumni of the University of California, Santa Barbara – and you can, of course, supplement your income if you apply for work-study programmes. In addition, international students can work for up to 20 hours a week during term time, and full-time during holidays.
And finally:
“My time at the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been a transformative journey. The high quality education, breathtaking surroundings, and a supportive community have undoubtedly made it worth every moment. I leave UCSB with cherished memories, lasting friendships, and the knowledge and skills to tackle the world ahead. If given the chance, I would choose UCSB all over again without a doubt”- Maria.
In the end, getting an outstanding education is priceless – and opens the door to a glittering career in your chosen field, and a salary to match.
If you would like to discuss your options for studying in the USA, California or the University of California, Santa Barbara, do not hesitate to contact Elab. Our experienced team of US consultants will answer any academic or practical questions you may want to raise. We will also advise and guide you to make the right choices, help you work your way through the application process and oversee your documentation.
Call or email us today so we can start working together to maximise your chances of being offered a place at the prestigious University of California, Santa Barbara.
