We are so happy you applied to UCSB! Now that we have received your application, what happens next? In January, set up your UCSB Applicant Portal using the instructions provided in your "Application Portal" email. On the portal, you should create your password, update your personal information if necessary, and review dates and deadlines. 

Next Steps for Applicants

We will release admission decisions on the Applicant Portal in mid-March for freshman applicants and in mid-April for transfer applicants. In the meantime, stay informed and learn more about what UCSB has to offer! 

Students biking by Storke Tower

Important Notes for Freshman Applicants

  • Unless specifically requested, you should not send transcripts, letters of recommendation, or any supplemental materials. Admitted first-year students who enroll at UCSB will be required to provide their final high school transcript with a graduation date in the summer.
  • You must maintain a 'B' average for your senior year. Even one 'D' or 'F' may render you ineligible for the University of California.
  • You should not send us official test scores at this time (including SAT, AP, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, etc.). For international students, when required, IELTS, Duolingo, and TOEFL scores should be submitted to each UC you applied to by January. Visit our English Language Proficiency page for more information.

Students studying at Summit Cafe on campus

Important Notes for Transfer Applicants

  • Submit your Transfer Academic Update (TAU) on the UC application website. Look for a system-generated reminder email. The priority deadline is January 31, 2023. Additional academic updates can be submitted past the priority deadline until March 31, 2023 as this is the central way for all campuses to receive updates. If you need to update something on your academic record before fall 2022, please add details to the "additional comments" section and UC campuses will follow up when your application is reviewed.
  •  You must complete all planned courses with a grade of 'C' or better.

Frequently Asked Questions from Applicants

Due to the current volume of submissions, we are unable to update freshman applications once they are submitted. If you are admitted and choose to enroll at UCSB, you can reach out at that time with any coursework changes. Transfer applicants will be able to update their academic record during the Transfer Academic Update (TAU) starting December 15th with a priority deadline of January 31.

Admission decisions are released online mid-March for freshman applicants and mid to late April for transfer applicants on the Applicant Portal.

Information pertaining to financial aid options can be found on the website of our Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships. Common questions are answered on the Financial Aid FAQ.  Financial packages are usually sent to admitted students about a week after admission decisions are released.

Freshman Applicants
A change of major request can be submitted via email to admissions@sa.ucsb.edu. Using your UC application email, use the subject line “Major Change Request" and be sure to list your current major choice, requested major, full name, and your UC application ID or UCSB Perm number. 

  • College of Letters and Science: A request for a change of major in the College of Letters and Science is guaranteed for freshman applicants (except for majors that require an audition). A list of majors can be reviewed on our Majors page. Students will see the change of major reflected in their applicant portal in 48 hours.
  • College of Engineering: Freshman applicants requesting a change of major into the College of Engineering will be considered but not guaranteed. The five majors in engineering are all limited in size, and we have a major preparation screening of math preparation which is required. Depending on when a student emails their request, changes may not be reviewed until after the May 1 SIR deadline. An email is sent to each student in May to affirm or deny that major change. A visual explanation of the College of Engineering change of major is available in the Changing Your Major YouTube video.
  • College of Creative Studies: Freshman applicants requesting a change of major into the College of Creative Studies (CCS) will be considered, but not guaranteed. All majors in CCS are limited in size and require the submission of a supplemental application to the college. Depending on when a student emails their request, changes may not be reviewed until after the May 1 SIR deadline. If approved, applicants will see the change of major reflected in their applicant portal.

Transfer Applicants
Transfer applicants may request a change of major to an open major in the College of Letters and Science only until January 30. Major preparation course and GPA requirements apply for majors in the biological sciences, economics, and mathematics departments. You may email your major change request to admissions@sa.ucsb.edu and if the change is allowed, it will be updated on your UCSB applicant portal. After decisions are posted, admitted transfer students seeking major changes will receive instructions on change of major requests. 

Please send transcripts only if you are admitted and have decided to attend UCSB. The University of California application asks applicants to self-report their academic information and to use a copy of their transcript when doing so. Consequently, we do not review partial transcripts in our selection process, but rather we rely on what you reported in your UCSB application. 

If admitted and you decide to attend the university, we will require your final transcripts with graduation posted. At that time, we will review the transcripts and confirm that the original records were entered correctly.

After enrollment, transcripts can be sent to:

Office of Admissions
1210 Cheadle Hall
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2014

UCSB accepts electronic transcripts from the following vendors: Credentials Solutions/eSCRIP-SAFE, SCOIR, eTranscript CA, Kiteworks, JST DoD Military Transcripts, Parchment Exchange, National Student Clearinghouse, and SPEEDE. In most cases, transcripts sent through Naviance are distributed via Parchment Exchange.

We do not accept or review letters of recommendation in our selection process, but rather rely on what you reported in your UC application.

As we consider each individual application, we look beyond academics. We spend time evaluating your achievements in light of the opportunities available to you and your demonstrated capacity to contribute to the intellectual life at UCSB. For information on how we admit students, see information on our website for freshmen and transfer processes. 

We appreciate that you are eager to express your love for UCSB! We love it too! Unfortunately, with so many applicants, we do not take “demonstrated interest” into consideration when making admission decisions. For information on how we admit students, see information on our website for freshmen and transfer processes. 

To formally withdraw your application, please send an email to our office at admissions@sa.ucsb.edu including your full name and UC Application ID number. Please send your email from the address on your UC application.

If you would like to cancel your application after being offered admission, please decline your offer of admission in your applicant portal. If you have already submitted your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) to UCSB, please contact admissions@sa.ucsb.edu to cancel your SIR.