How to Complete the Online Application

After selecting the school location, select your institution from the drop-down list that appears under School Name. If you do not find your school, select Other Institution and type in the name of your school exactly as it appears on your transcript. Note that some schools may be listed under common abbreviations (for example, California State University may be listed as CSU). 

Please indicate the date you received your degree or the date that you expect to receive it. If you will not receive a degree at a particular institution, enter the last date that you will be enrolled there and then select No Degree in the Degree Awarded/Expected drop-down menu.

Report the Units/Credits that you have completed to date. Do not enter the total number of credits required for your degree program if you have not finished all of them at this time.

Report your Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) as listed on your official university transcript. Report your GPA on the scale used at your institution.

If your institution does not use a 4.0 scale, do not convert your GPA to a 4.0 scale. For instance, if your university grades out of a maximum of 100%, and you have a cumulative average of 80% for your coursework to date, enter 80% as your Cumulative Grade Point Average, and 100% as the GPA Scale. The same approach can be used for 10.0, 8.0, or other GPA scales.

If your degree type is not listed in the Degree Awarded/Expected drop-down menu, you may select Other Degree, and then type in the name of your degree. If you will not complete a degree at the institution, select No Degree in the Degree Awarded/Expected drop-down menu.

You are required to upload an official transcript created by your university. This transcript will be used to review and evaluate your application.

Scan and upload all pages of your official transcript from this institution (including the grading scale, which may be on the backside of the transcript). The uploaded transcript must be produced by the university with all appropriate seals/stamps. Remove your Social Security Number by crossing/blacking out numbers before uploading (if applicable). If you have questions about whether or not a transcript is acceptable, contact your department/program directly.

International Applicants: If you have received your degree, please include your degree certificate within the same file as your transcripts. The uploaded document must include both the original language transcript and the certified English translation. English transcripts are required and must be a complete, exact and literal translation of the original transcripts. English translations must be provided by the school or an official agency.

Tips for uploading transcripts:

• Scan or save a copy of your current transcript
• Ensure that your document is saved as a PDF and that its size does not exceed 9 MB
• Color documents are not necessary
• Ensure that the institution name and all other identifying marks are visible and clearly legible and that your document can be printed on letter-size paper - 8 ½ by 11 in (21 ½ by 30 cm)
• Be sure to include a copy of the transcript legend or university key for each institution (usually found on the backside of the official transcript or in the school's general catalog or website)
• Click the "view document" button to verify whether the uploaded document is legible; if it is not legible, try again
• If you need assistance, please note that public libraries, office supply stores (Kinko's, Office Max, Office Depot, Staples, etc.), and other services can create scanned documents for you

Do not send your final/official transcripts or other documents to UCSB unless you have been admitted and chosen to attend UCSB or you have been specifically instructed to do so. 

Final, official documents sent directly to UC Santa Barbara from the institution will be required for all applicants who are admitted and have indicated their intent to enroll at UC Santa Barbara by submitting a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). If sending paper documents by mail, official transcripts must be sent to the UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division directly from the school in the institution's sealed envelope, with all official seals and stamps intact. If sending electronic documents, they must be sent directly from the institution's official approved document delivery service to transcripts@graddiv.ucsb.edu. Detailed information can be found here.

Please note that admitted applicants who have earned degree(s) from institutions outside of the United States and who choose to attend UC Santa Barbara must provide a WES Course-by-Course evaluation in order for their admission to be finalized. Detailed information can be found here.

Official documents must be received by September 1^st if admitted for fall or before the first day of instruction of the quarter to which you are admitted (all other quarters). Degrees awarded by UCSB will be verified internally by the Graduate Division. UCSB students/alumni are not required to submit official transcripts unless specifically requested. 

Note: UC Santa Barbara reserves the right to require official transcripts at any time during the admissions process, and rescind any offer of admission made if discrepancies between uploaded and official transcript(s) or WES evaluations are found.

Give a brief statement outlining your reasons for undertaking a graduate program, your particular area of specialization within the major field, your past academic work, and your plans for future occupation or profession. Also include any additional information that may assist the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UC Santa Barbara.

Your Statement of Purpose must be written in narrative (essay) form without duplicating content from your Personal History and Diversity Statement.

UC Santa Barbara is interested in a diverse and inclusive graduate student population. Please describe any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that you feel are important in evaluating your application for graduate study. For example, please describe if you have experienced economic challenges in achieving higher education, such as being financially responsible for family members or dependents, having to work significant hours during undergraduate schooling or coming from a family background of limited income. Please describe if you have any unusual or varied life experiences that might contribute to the diversity of the graduate group, such as fluency in other languages, experience living in bi-cultural communities, academic research interests focusing on cultural, societal, or educational problems as they affect under-served segments of society, or evidence of an intention to use the graduate degree toward serving disadvantaged individuals or populations.

Your Personal History and Diversity Statement must be written in narrative (essay) form without duplicating content from your Statement of Purpose. A minimum word count of 250 words is required. There is no maximum length requirement. Most statements are typically 1-2 pages.

List your positions of employment or volunteer work/community service since high school, either full or part-time, including the hours per week worked and the nature and dates of employment or service.

Note: Do not include GRE scores on your Résumé or Curriculum Vitae (CV) if your program does not accept them.