The Office of Admissions is familiar with educational systems around the world, and will provide each applicant with a holistic review—which takes into account both academic and non-academic factors. To be considered competitive for admission, your grades and exam scores must be excellent. Follow the steps below to prepare to apply.

1. Meet Curriculum Requirements

In general, international applicants will have graduated from a secondary school and earned a certificate of completion that enables attendance at a university in that country.

You may either meet minimum requirements for the International Baccalaureate or British Systems:

You must take a minimum of six IB exams, with three exams taken at the higher level. The overall average must be 5 with no exam score below 4 and be awarded the diploma with a score of 30 or higher.

You must complete at least five GCSE/IGCSE (O-Level) exams with a 3.4 GPA or higher and at least three GCE (A-Level) exams with a 3.0 (unweighted) GPA or higher and no grade below C to be considered for admission. Exams must be taken in academic subjects comparable to the UC A-G course pattern. If you receive A, B, or C grades on your GCE (A-Level) exams, UCSB may grant you transfer credit toward your bachelor’s degree. The exact amount of credit will be determined after you are formally admitted and provide your official Statement of Results. 

Or meet minimum requirements for your country:

  • Canada: 
    • Alberta: Completion of Certificate of Secondary Education Advanced High School Diploma with a minimum average of at least 65
    • British Columbia: Completion of Secondary School Graduation Diploma with a minimum average of at least 73
    • Manitoba: Completion of Manitoba High School Diploma with a minimum average of at least 70
    • New Brunswick: Completion of New Brunswick High School Graduation Diploma/Certificate de Fin d'Études Secondaire with a minimum average of at least 70
    • Newfoundland and Labrador: Completion of Provincial High School Graduation Certificate with a minimum average of at least 65
    • Nova Scotia: Completion of Nova Scotia High School Graduation Diploma with a minimum average of at least 70
    • Ontario: Completion of OSSD - Ontario Secondary School Diploma with a minimum average of at least 70
    • Prince Edward Island: Completion of Grade 12 Graduation Certificate with a minimum average of at least 70
    • Quebec: Completion of Diplôme d’études secondaires (General) and two years CEGEP (Colleges d’enseignement general et professionnel)
    • Saskatchewan: Completion of Grade 12 or Division IV standing with a minimum average of at least 70
    • Yukon Territory: Completion of High School Diploma (academic) with a minimum average of at least 73
  • Costa Rica: Completion of Diploma de conclusión de estudios de educación diversificada (Certificate of conclusion of diversified education studies) OR completion of Bachillerato (Baccaleureate) with a minimum average of at least 80
  • El Salvador: Completion of Bachillerato/Bachiller Académico (Academic Baccalaureate) with a minimum average of at least 7 OR Completion of Diploma de Educación Media (Diploma of Upper Secondary School) with a minimum average of at least 7
  • Guatemala: Completion of Bachillerato/Bachiller en Ciencias y Letras (Baccalaureate in Letters and Sciences) with a minimum average of at least 70
  • Honduras: Completion of Bachillerato/Bachiller/Bachiller en Ciencias y Letras (Secondary School Diploma in Letters and Sciences) with a minimum average of at least 81
  • Mexico: Completion of Bachillerato with a minimum average of at least 8 average in 10-0 scale or an average of at least 80 in the 100-0 scale
  • Panama: Completion of Bachillerato/Diploma de Bachiller with a minimum average of at least 4
  • Argentina: Completion of Bachillerato Universitario/Nacional (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 7
  • Brazil: Completion of Certificado de Ensino Médio (Certificate of Completion of Secondary Education) with a minimum average of at least 7 on the 1-10 scale or an average of at least 70 on the 100-0 scale
  • Chile: Completion of Licencia de Education Media (Diploma/License of Middle Education) with a minimum average of at least 5
  • Colombia: Completion of Titulo de Bachiller (Baccalaureate) with a minimum average of at least 7.5 
  • Ecuador: Completion of Bachillerato en Humanidades/Ciencias (Secondary School Diploma with a focus in Humanities or Sciences) with a minimum average of at least 8
  • Peru: Completion of Certificado de Estudios de Educación Secundaria Común Completa (Certificate of Completion of General Secondary Education) with a minimum average of at least 12
  • Uruguay: Completion of Bachillerato Diversificado de Enseñanza Secundaria (Graduate of Diversified Upper Secondary Education) with a minimum average of at least 6
  • France, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Réunion: Completion of Baccalauréat de l'Enseignement de Second Degré or Baccalauréat Général (Baccalaureate of Second-Degree Education or General Baccalaureate) with a minimum average of at least 12 (Assez Bien)
  • Germany: Completion of Abitur/Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulereife (Certificate of General Maturity for Higher Education) with a minimum average of at least 2 or lower in the 1-6 scale or 10 or higher in the 15-0 scale
  • Greece: Completion of Apolytirio Eniaiou Lykeious (Upper Secondary School Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 13.1
  • Italy: Completion of Diploma di Maturità Magistrale (Diploma of Maturity with field indicating area of study) with a minimum average of at least 76 in a 1-100 scale or a minimum average of at least 7 in a 1-10 scale
  • Scotland: Completion of Scottish Qualifications Certificate (SQC) Advanced Higher Grade with a 4 or lower in a 1-7 scale or 60 or higher in a 100-0 scale
  • United Kingdom (England/Wales/Northern Ireland): See British Systems above
  • South Africa: Completion of the Senior Certificate with Matriculation Endorsement/Exemption or the National Senior Certificate with a minimum average of at least 5 in a 7-1 scale or 60 in a 100-0 scale
  • Bangladesh: Completion of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) with a minimum average of at least 60
  • China: Completion of Graduation Certificate from upper middle school and Senior High School Graduate Certificate with B average
  • India: Completion of both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations, with a minimum average of at least 60 and no mark below 45
  • Indonesia: Completion of Surat Tanda Tamat Belajar (STTB) from Sekolah Menengah Unum Tingkat Atas (SMA) (Study Certificate from Senior High School) with a minimum average of at least 7
  • Israel: Completion Teudat Bagrut Academic (Matriculation Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 8 in a 10-0 scale or 75 in a 100-0 scale
  • Japan: Complete Kotogakko Sotsugyo Shosho (Upper Secondary School Graduation Diploma) with a minimum average of at least 4
  • Jordan: Completion of Tawjihi OR Completion of General Secondary Education Certificate (Literary or Scientific) with a minimum average of at least 70
  • Kuwait: Completion of Shahadat Al-Thanawiya-Al-A’ama (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 80
  • Malaysia: Completion of Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) AND completion of Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) (Malaysian High School Certificate) OR completion of the SPM and at least 3 academic GCE (A-Level) exams
  • Philippines: Completion of 12-year Elementary-Secondary education and receive a High School Diploma after the 12th year with a minimum average equivalent of at least 85
  • Qatar: Completion of Al-Thanawiya Aama Qatari (Qatari General Secondary Education Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 70
  • Republic of South Korea: Completion of Senior High School Diploma with a minimum average of at least B or an 80 on the 1-100 scale or 4 or lower average in 1-9 ranking
  • Russia: Completion of Attestat o srednem (polnom) obschem obrazovanii (Certificate of Complete General Secondary Education) with a minimum average of at least 4
  • Saudi Arabia: Completion of Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat (General Secondary Education Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 75
  • Singapore: Completion of at least 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE, GCSE, O-Levels) with at least a 3.40 GPA and at least 3 General Certificate of Education (GCE, A-Levels) with a minimum average of B and with no grade below C
  • Sri Lanka: Completion of at least 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE, GCSE, O-Levels) with at least a 3.40 GPA and at least 3 General Certificate of Education (GCE, A-Levels) with a minimum average of B and with no grade below C. Exams must be taken in academic subjects comparable to the UC A-G course pattern.
  • Taiwan:  Completion of Senior High School Leaving Certificate with a minimum average of at least 70
  • Thailand: Completion of Matayom VI (Certificate of Secondary Education) with a minimum average of at least 70 in a 100-0 scale or 3 average in a 4-0 scale
  • United Arab Emirates: Completion of Shahadat Al-Thanawiya-Al-Amma (Secondary School Leaving Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 80
  • Vietnam: Completion of Bằng Tốt Nghiệp Trung Học Phổ Thông (Senior High School Certificate) with a minimum average of at least 7
  • Australian Capital Territory: Completion of Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Senior Secondary Certificate with a minimum average of 'B'
  • New South Wales: Completion of NSW Higher School Certificate with a minimum of Band 4 or higher in a 6-0 scale or 70 average in a 90-0 scale
  • Northern Territory: Completion of Northern Territory Certificate of Education with a minimum average of 14
  • Queensland: Completion of Queensland Senior Certificate with a minimum average of HA (B)
  • South Australia: Completion of South Australian Certificate of Education with a minimum average of 14
  • Tasmania: Completion of Tasmanian Certificate of Education with a minimum average of HA (B) in AO-SA scale or 14 in a 20-0 scale 
  • Victoria: Completion of Victorian Certificate of Education with a minimum average of 'B'
  • Western Australia: Completion of Western Australia Certificate of Secondary Education with a minimum average of 'B'

This is a student in a lecture smiling.

2. Understand Eligibility vs. Selection 

Attaining eligibility means meeting the minimum requirements to be admitted to UC Santa Barbara. However, minimum eligibility does not assure admission. When UCSB cannot admit all eligible applicants, we use standards called "selection criteria" to select students who are more competitive than the minimum requirements. Selection criteria includes 13 holistic review factors, which we use to review your achievements and personal qualities in the context of the opportunities and/or challenges you have experienced. We do not compare your application with any other applicant, regardless of school or location.

3. Review English Language Proficiency Requirements

If your native language is not English - and your high school, college, or university education was in a country where the language of instruction was not English - you must meet UCSB's English Language Proficiency requirement.

4. Understand Exams & Supplemental Applications

Visit the Freshman Eligibility and Selection page for domestic applicants to review UCSB's ACT and SAT exam policy, information on how our three colleges evaluate applicants, and information on which majors require supplemental applications.

5. Verify Your School is Accredited  

Your international school must have an appropriate level of recognition in the educational system it follows. If your international school follows a U.S. curriculum, the school must have U.S. accreditation and you must graduate with a U.S. high school diploma or an equivalent credential.

High schools and colleges outside of California must be accredited by one of the following regional accreditation agencies: Middle States Association of Schools and Colleges, Ministry of Education, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, North Central Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, or Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

IB programs and A-Level examinations do not require accreditation from a U.S. regional accreditation agency.