We are so happy you applied to UCSB! Now that we have received your application, what happens next?

Next Steps for Applicants

We will release admission decisions on the Applicant Portal in mid-March for first-year/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 First-year/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, 2024. Additional academic updates can be submitted past the priority deadline until March 31, 2024 as this is the central way for all campuses to receive updates. 

  • If you need to update something on your academic record after you submit your application, you may add details to the "additional comments" of your academic update in January. The UC campuses will follow up when your application is reviewed if further clarification is needed.

  •  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 first-year/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 first-year 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. We encourage applicants to file by March 2, 2025. Financial packages are usually sent to admitted students about a week after admission decisions are released.

First-year/Freshman Applicants
A change of major request can be submitted via email to admissions@ucsb.edu between December 1-31. 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. View our change of major webpage for additional details.

Transfer Applicants
A change of major request can be submitted via email to admissions@ucsb.edu between December 1-January 31. 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. View our change of major webpage for additional details.

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 cancel or withdraw your application, please select the "Withdrawal Application" button within your UCSB Applicant Portal to indicate that you will not enroll at UCSB this fall.