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The Santa Barbara Mission , founded in 1786, is the tenth of 21 Franciscan missions in California and is the only one in constant operation by the Franciscan Order since its founding. The mission is the grandest established by the Spanish and is often called the "Queen of Missions". The thriving Santa Barbara art community offers galleries, museums, a symphony, and theater. In summer, the Music Academy of the West features a concert series open to the public. Just a short drive away lies the Santa Inez Valley, home to more than 30 wineries.

In June, the average maximum daily temperature is 74 deg F (23 deg C), but evenings can be cool; the average minimum 56 deg F (13 deg C). Bring a sweater or light jacket.

UCSB Campus Tours

Campus Walking Tours are available Monday-Friday starting at the UCSB Visitor Center. Individuals may choose to take part in a 90-minute information Prospective Freshman Admission Presentations or Prospective Transfer Advising Session before the walking tour. Registration is required for the presentations.

Please  contact the Office of Admissions at 805-893-2881 or drop by the visitor's center Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm for further details. For directions and parking information, visit the Maps and Directions page.

Department of Statistics & Applied Probability

The Department of Statistics & Applied Probability is located in South Hall, right between the Visitor's Center and the UCen. Our administrative offices are on the fifth floor, South Hall 5607A.

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Department of Statistics and Applied Probability

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UCSB offers globally recognized academic programs in a collaborative, dynamic atmosphere. UCSB is more than a place to obtain a degree — it's a top 10 public university in one of the most beautiful places on Earth where you can carve your own path towards an impactful future. 

News & Admissions Updates

Visitor center open & virtual tours.

We are excited to welcome you to our beautiful campus! The Visitor Center is open for self-guided campus visits. Limited guided tours are now available. Check out our On-Campus & Virtual Visits webpage for more information. You can still explore campus and talk to current UCSB students from home! Join virtual guided tours hosted by student tour guides.

Register for a Virtual Guided Tour

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Check out our admissions webinars for freshman and transfer applicants to navigate through the admission process.

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UC Application is Closed

The UC Application is closed for both freshman and transfer applicants. We hope you apply in 2024!

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The Office of Admissions is open for in person and virtual assistance. Visit our FAQ page first or our contact us page. Look through the UC Santa Barbara COVID page for more campus information.

UCSB COVID-19 Information

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View our campus overview video to learn more about our campus, academics, student life, athletics, and more.

Visit our  YouTube channel  for a variety of playlists—including  Major Spotlights videos , a  UC Application Tutorial  ( Spanish UC Application Tutorial here ), and a  Faculty Lecture Series —to learn even more about the UCSB experience.

Graduating high school soon? Amazing! We'll let you know how to get started on applying to UCSB as a freshman. 

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Learn about junior-level transfer requirements and the transfer experience at UCSB.

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A Day in the Life

You might be curious what it's like to be a UCSB student. Watch as Cecilia gives us a sneak peek into her life as a Gaucho. If you want to see more students, view our UCSB Perspectives Playlist  on YouTube for an inside look at UCSB from students. 

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Forbes Magazine, which showcased 500 of the finest U.S. institutions of higher education in its 2023 America’s Top Colleges list, ranked UC Santa Barbara as the No. 5 public university in the country.

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UCSB has far more undergraduates than graduate students, meaning undergraduates can be involved in faculty projects that would normally involve graduate students at other campuses. 

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Our faculty include six Nobel Laureates for chemistry, physics, and economics. Will you be next?

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Our student-to-faculty ratio of 18:1 means you can interact with your professors in classes, office hours, research collaborations, and more.

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The University campus is located on Indigenous land. In recognizing the traditional custodians of the land, we pay respect to the Chumash people, the history and culture of the community, and all Native Americans as America’s First Peoples. We pay respect to the Chumash Elders past, present and future for they hold the memories, the traditions, and the culture of this area, which has become a place of learning for people from all over the world.

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Week of Welcome & Campus Tours

UCSB Week of Welcome celebrates the start of a new academic year through an annual tradition by welcoming new and returning students to inspire a sense of Gaucho pride. In addition to  New Student Convocation , the week's festivities include a series of workshops, presentations, physical activities and events designed to introduce the resources and services available for all students at UCSB.

It allows students to take part in intriguing, informative, and exciting activities and programs in order to become a part of the campus community while getting a glimpse of the campus culture, making friends, and sharing in the UCSB welcome experience!

Students should log into  Shoreline  for a comprehensive overview of events and activities.

Campus Tours and Visits

Guided campus walking tours and presentations are available through the Visitor Center. Tours leave from the Visitor Center in the Student Affairs Administrative Services Building. For further information see  campus visits .

Campus Information

Information can be found by searching on the UCSB website at  www.ucsb.edu . Most campus offices are open Monday through Friday, variable hours. The phone number for general campus information is 805-893-8000.

See what UCSB has to offer

Check out virtual and in-person campus tour and visiting options

• Preparing for Graduate School

Schedule a Campus Visit

Visiting UC Santa Barbara or attending an admission presentation is the best way to experience what we offer to our graduate students on campus.

Prospective students can learn more about graduate admissions at our outreach presentations, go on a general campus tour provided by the UCSB Visitor Center staff or visit specific departments.

Appointments are required for the presentations, campus tours, and visits.

Admissions Questions

For general questions pertaining to admissions, please contact our Graduate Admissions team . For specific questions relating to a department, please contact the  Graduate Department and Program  directly.

Campus Visit and Admission Presentations for Groups

The Graduate Division offers campus visits for student or community groups who would like know more information about graduate study at UCSB. The campus visits are typically half-day events, which include a campus tour, department visits, and admission presentations. To schedule an appointment, contact  Admissions and Outreach Unit .

General Campus Tour

The UCSB Visitor Center offers guided walking tours that are approximately 90 minutes long. Reservations are required for the campus walking tours .  The tour guides will   visit various campus locations including lecture halls, the library and the University Center. To schedule a reservation, visit the  UCSB Visitor Center .

Specific Department Visit

Prospective students are encouraged to reach out to departments for specific program information and to schedule a departmental visit. Departments may offer informational sessions, open house days, and opportunities to meet with faculty or current graduate students. Please contact the graduate program assistants/advisors within the  departments .

Virtual Tours and Presentations

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To receive email updates about visiting UCSB or general application or admissions information, contact the  Admissions, Outreach, and Diversity Initiatives team .

GAUCHO TOUR ASSOCIATION

[email protected]

The Gaucho Tour Association (GTA) was founded in 2003 to increase students' interest in leading tours for UC Santa Barbara. At the time, the campus was unable to pay the student tour guides, but the GTA began offering students leadership opportunities and a family on campus. In its first year, the GTA was 18 tour guides strong. 

Over time the organization grew, adding more student ambassadors each year until 2006 when the GTA became so popular that interviews were needed to select new tour guides. Many student leaders left their own mark on GTA over the years by developing new tour routes, expanding the organization's prospective student outreach efforts, and building a friendly, diverse community of student guides. 

Today, we have a diverse staff of student leaders from all across campus. We strive to represent UC Santa Barbara positively through campus tours, student panels, social media, and other programming. We believe in being proactive ambassadors, so we do our part to give back to the community through service opportunities and our public speaking workshops. Of course, we also love to hang out with one another, which makes being a tour guide not only the most rewarding job on campus, but it also welcomes you into a great family and support system. 

“The most valuable aspect of the campus visit was the tour guide. They gave great insight to every thing and could answer any questions we had."

 TOUR GUIDE OF THE MONTH  January 2024

- Danielle Huffine - 

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• Counselor Resources
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Dates & Deadlines

Admitted Student Campus Visits If you're planning to visit the UC Santa Barbara campus, consider joining us for Campus Presentation and Tour. These 2-hour visits will help you explore our beautiful campus and connect with a current student. The Visitor Center is open 9am-4pm (Pacific Time) Monday-Friday, and 9:30am-1pm on Saturdays (April 6-May 18) . View available options and register below.

• Register for a general campus visit .
• R egister for a self-guided visit  to explore campus on your own.
• Visit during Open House on April 13!
• R egistration is required for all guided tours.
• All registrations will be limited to a maximum of 2 guests . 
• There is no waitlist or walk-in process for any tours that are full. No exceptions.

Virtual Admitted Student Events We are also offering virtual events for you to learn more about our campus and your next steps as an admitted student. These presentations are on support services and opportunities available to new students. All the live sessions will allow for you to ask questions. The calendar below will allow you to register for admitted student events. 

Virtual Sessions to Consider

Financial Aid 101 for Admitted Students: Join the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships for a presentation on what is financial aid and how you can understand your award letter. Event Dates: March 26 | April 3

Next Steps for Admitted Freshman Students:  Join a UCSB freshman admission counselor as we walk you through your next steps to aid you in your transition to UCSB. Event Dates: April 2 | April 15 | May 2

Next Steps for Admitted Transfer Students:  Join the UCSB Office of Admission for dedicated presentations on your next steps to enrollment. Information on conditions of admission, transcript requirements, and more will be covered!

UCSB Housing:  Join us for an overview of admitted student housing. Learn about housing options and ask your questions about living in University Housing. Event Date: April 17

Virtual Open House presentations and panels are geared at admitted students but also open to the general public. Presentations will happen in March and April. Scroll through the list to see the different presentations and panels which will help you explore UCSB! | Registration is in a separate portal .

UC applications rise for fall 2024, with gains in diversity and transfer applicants

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The University of California drew a quarter-million applications for fall 2024, an increase over last year powered by a significant rebound in community college transfer applicants and more in-state residents of increasingly diverse backgrounds, according to preliminary data released Wednesday.

The number of California first-year applications increased to 134,053, a 1.4% rise over last year’s preliminary data, with gains at eight of nine UC undergraduate campuses. UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Irvine drew the most first-year applications from Californians, while UC Berkeley’s numbers dropped slightly over last year.

Applications from out-of-state residents fell, possibly a reflection of state goals focused on keeping more seats for Californians. Texas sent the most applicants, but a state-by-state breakdown showed no pattern of higher interest from students in red states that have adopted strict antiabortion laws after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down its Roe vs. Wade ruling in 2022. International students increased slightly.

But the most eye-catching development — one hailed by campus admission leaders — was the robust growth in transfer applications, which had fallen significantly during the last two years as community college enrollments plunged during the pandemic and its aftermath. Transfer applications grew to 43,543, a 10.6% increase over last year, including 34,668 from California Community College students.

Latinos were again the largest group of applicants, at 39%, with Asian Americans at 30%, whites at 20%, Black students at 7%, American Indians at 1% and Pacific Islanders at less than 1%. Black applicants saw the strongest growth, increasing in number by 7%, with gains of 2.5% for Latinos and 1.9% for American Indians, the term UC uses in its demographic data.

UC’s ability to continue increasing historically underrepresented student groups without race-based affirmative action — banned in California in 1996 and struck down by the high court last year — is due to its comprehensive review process, campus efforts to create partnerships with community groups embedded in underserved neighborhoods and robust financial aid that reduces the cost of college, the university said in a statement.

UC also drew slightly more low-income applicants for first-year seats, growing to 40% compared with 39.9% last year. The number of students receiving federal Pell Grants had dropped for several years, raising concerns that students with the greatest financial need were not able to access a UC education even if well-qualified.

“We are pleased to see such an outstanding pool of students from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences,” UC President Michael V. Drake said in a statement. “Prospective students and their families recognize that a degree from the University of California sets them up for lifelong career success. The increase in applications underscores the quality of the educational experience and the long-term social mobility a UC education can provide underrepresented students.”

California effort to crack down on legacy and donor admissions could hit USC, Stanford

A new California legislative effort to ban state financial aid to colleges and universities that give admissions preferences to children of alumni and donors could hit USC, Stanford.

Feb. 29, 2024

Although UC campuses have pledged to increase seats for new California students as part of their compact with Gov. Gavin Newsom, the higher application numbers may well result in lower admission rates — especially at the most competitive campuses. In 2023, for instance, UCLA admitted 9.5% of California first-year applicants and UC Berkeley, 15.1%.

Jim Rawlins, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management at UC San Diego, raised that concern even as he said he was gratified by the growing interest in his campus.

“I never want to celebrate an increase in any way that’s mindless of the fact that it means we will very likely have to deny more people as a result,” he said. “One of the main things that happens with that phenomenon is that fear of not getting in tends to disproportionately discourage students who are first generation to go to college or low income or at disadvantaged, lower-funded schools. And we just hate to see those students not apply.”

Still, UC San Diego received more first-year applications from Californians of Black, Latino and American Indian descent for fall 2024 over last year. Overall, the campus saw gains in California first-year applicants to 88,392 applications, up 4.1%, and transfers to 19,371, a 12.3% increase.

The turnaround in transfer applications fueling the applicant growth reflected not only the pandemic recovery and a rebound in community college enrollments but also growing efforts to improve pathways from community colleges to UC campuses. All campuses drew more transfer applications for fall 2024 over last year except UC Merced, with UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego and UC Berkeley all receiving more than 20,000 each.

Several UC campuses extended their transfer application deadline this year by six weeks to Jan. 15. UC Santa Cruz received 600 to 800 additional applications while UC San Diego drew as many as 900 more because of the extension, campus officials said.

UC also worked with the California Community Colleges system to receive contact information for all two-year students interested in transferring to a four-year institution, allowing campuses to reach out to them earlier in the admission cycle.

UC Santa Cruz, for instance, emailed about 500,000 potential transfer students last fall to congratulate them on their educational journeys and offer help in course planning, financial aid issues and other support, said Michelle Whittingham, associate vice chancellor of enrollment management. The number of transfer applications overall grew to 12,218 — a 9.6% increase — for fall 2024 while those for first-year seats increased to 71,697, a 4.2% rise.

“Seeing the resiliency of the students as those transfer numbers start to recover is really exciting,” Whittingham said.

At UCLA, the rebound in transfer applicants was also applauded as a standout development this year. The Westwood campus topped all campuses in transfer applications — 27,150, a 13.3% increase. UCLA also drew the largest number of first-year applications — 146,250, all but assuring its position as the most sought-after university in the nation. California residents applying to UCLA grew slightly to 92,290, a 1.7% increase. The number of applicants from out of state and overseas declined slightly.

“Our goal overall, especially as it relates to freshmen, isn’t about getting more applications — we’ve got plenty,” said Gary Clark, UCLA associate vice chancellor of enrollment management. “It’s more of a focus on the makeup of the applicant pool. Seeing the community colleges starting to rebound and build back their enrollment to getting close to pre-pandemic levels and then seeing that really show up in our applicant pool this year, is exciting.”

UC Davis saw robust growth in applicants in all categories. The number of first-year applicants increased to 98,834, a 4.4% increase, and transfers grew to 16,515, a 12% rise. Officials have said that one recruiting pitch is the area’s greater affordability compared with other UC campuses in the Bay Area and California coastal areas, some of the state’s priciest real-estate markets.

UC Irvine’s total applications for first-year seats grew to 122,661, up by 1.3%. Transfer applicants grew to 25,187, a 14% increase.

“It was a real strong year for us, and that’s really not just a testament to the hard work of our staff, but testament of the growing reputation of the campus,” said Dale Leaman, executive director of undergraduate admissions.

Irvine specifically sought to raise its profile in areas outside California, with targeted recruitment in the Pacific Northwest and the Northeast. Officials not only played up the campus’ academic and research excellence, but also the area’s safety and amenities — such as nearby Disneyland and beautiful Orange County beaches, said Bryan Jue, senior director of outreach and communications.

At UC Santa Barbara, first-year applicants from California grew to 75,523 but declined slightly for nonresident students, amounting to a total 110,236. Transfer applicants overall grew to 18,410, an 8% rise.

Lisa Przekop, UC Santa Barbara associate director of admissions, said the full return of campus bus tours from L.A. to Santa Barbara, which were canceled during the pandemic, has helped local recruitment. Many Los Angeles high school students who have never been to Santa Barbara often think the campus is “really far away” — rather than just 90 minutes, she said.

“They can see that it wasn’t a very long bus ride, and then they get to see the campus,” she said. “Santa Barbara is one of those campuses that if you see it, it makes a big difference.”

Another notable development among this year’s applicants, Przekop said, was the steep drop in computer science majors, which declined by about 1,600 to 9,173. She said UC admissions officials told high school counselors at a conference last year that the highly competitive and rigorous field is best suited for those with a passion for it, rather than a casual interest. At UC Santa Barbara, for instance, the admission rate is only 10% for computer science majors compared with about 30% overall, she said.

UC Riverside also saw growth, receiving 57,420 applications for first-year seats and 12,042 for transfer spots. UC Merced drew 29,351 first-year applications — a 14% increase — but transfer applications declined slightly to 3,589.

“These application numbers confirm we are headed in the right direction,” Han Mi Yoon-Wu, UC associate vice provost for undergraduate admissions, said in a statement. “The University of California’s unparalleled combination of affordability and high-quality education continues to attract talented applicants.”

More to Read

UC and CSU extend May 1 deadline to accept admission offers for fall 2024, citing FAFSA delays

Feb. 7, 2024

UC enrolls record number of California undergrads in fall 2023, cuts out-of-state students

Jan. 19, 2024

Enrollment of international students rebounds from pandemic plunge as California stays No. 1

Nov. 13, 2023

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Teresa Watanabe covers education for the Los Angeles Times. Since joining the Times in 1989, she has covered immigration, ethnic communities, religion, Pacific Rim business and served as Tokyo correspondent and bureau chief. She also covered Asia, national affairs and state government for the San Jose Mercury News and wrote editorials for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner. A Seattle native, she graduated from USC in journalism and in East Asian languages and culture.

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Got climate anxiety? This UC course can help.

For today’s college students, climate change can feel both impossible to avoid and impossible to solve. On campus and back home, heat waves, floods, storms and droughts are taking a toll on students’ health and well-being, and causing disruptions to families, livelihoods and communities. Meanwhile, the news is full of headlines about the escalating crisis. 

So it’s no surprise that a 2021 survey of 16–25-year-olds in ten countries found that 84% of respondents were at least moderately worried about climate change and over half reported sadness, anxiety, anger, powerlessness, helplessness and guilt about it.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And if you’re a UC student, you might want to check out a new course that’s designed to help you explore and process your experience of climate change, cope with the strife and find effective ways to get involved and work for change.

New for Spring 2024: Climate Resilience hybrid course

The UC Climate Resilience course launches at eight campuses next month. Throughout the hybrid online/in-person class, students will watch short talks by proven climate leaders here in California and around the world. They’ll also meet weekly for small-group sessions co-facilitated by a professor and a mindfulness expert , where they’ll discuss course material and pursue a collective project focused on climate action. “It will provide a map and skillset for living with challenging existential stressors with more ease, purpose and even joy,” says Elissa Epel, professor and vice chair of psychiatry at UC San Francisco and course co-lead.

The deadline to register for the 10-week course is Friday, March 29. 

“California is a leader in climate related mitigation and adaptation policies, and there’s movement at the federal level, but so many of us feel there’s so much more that needs to be done, obviously,” says course co-creator Jyoti Mishra. She’s an associate professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego and co-chairs with Epel the mental health council through the UC Center for Climate, Health and Equity .

“We acknowledge that there's a lot of anxiety on UC campuses about climate, and in some respects it makes sense that our students would have this perspective,” Mishra says. “With this course, we’re asking: how do we shift from being in a state of distress and anxiety to being part of the collective movement for climate action?”

Meet the faculty

Jyoti Mishra, associate professor of psychiatry at UC San Diego

The following faculty at eight campuses have volunteered to teach the first session of this new course (UC Berkeley and UC Merced will introduce the course for the Fall 2024 semester):

UC Davis: Amanda Frazier (sustainability), Philippe Goldin (nursing),  Steve Wheeler (ecology) and Scott Fishman (medicine)

UC Irvine: Alison Holman (nursing) and Larissa Castillo (sociology)

UCLA: Jennifer Jay (engineering) and Vickie Mays (psychology)

UC Riverside: Juliann Allison (global studies) 

UC San Diego: Jyoti Mishra and Dhakshin Ramanthan (psychiatry) and Cassandra Vieten (family medicine)

UC San Francisco: Elissa Epel (psychiatry) and Sheri Weiser (medicine)

UC Santa Barbara: Summer Gray (environmental studies) and Kenneth Hilter (English)

UC Santa Cruz: Magy Seif El-Nasr and Menatullah Hendawy (engineering)

Elissa Epel, professor of psychiatry at UC San Francisco.

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UC Irvine study: vehicle brakes produce charged particles that may harm public health

The work could help efforts to contain an important source of air pollution

Irvine, Calif., March 12, 2024 — Scientists know relatively little about particles released into the air when a vehicle driver brakes, though evidence suggests those particles may be more harmful to health than particles exiting the tailpipe.

In a new study in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , University of California, Irvine researchers show how most of these particles emitted during light braking carry an electric charge – something that could potentially be exploited to help reduce air pollution from vehicles.

“We found that up to 80% of aerosol particles emitted from braking are electrically charged, and that many of them are in fact highly charged,” saidAdam Thomas, a doctoral candidate in the lab of Jim Smith, professor of chemistry, who led the study alongside UCI postdoctoral researcher Paulus Bauer.

To do the work, the team used a large lathe to spin a detached brake rotor and caliper. They then measured the electric charge of the aerosols emitted into the air and discovered the 80 percent figure.

“I was very surprised,” said Smith. “We were also surprised that this has not really been studied given how common cars are in human societies.”

The research is part of a broader team effort at UCI to understand the public health impacts of non-tailpipe emissions in areas beset by car traffic, including many areas in Southern California.

“The toxicity and health effects of brake wear particles are largely unknown,” said Manabu Shiraiwa, professor of aerosol chemistry at UCI and one of the researchers behind the university-wide project. “Recent results from my lab indicate that they may induce oxidative stress, but more research is needed.”

The new study reveals a problem that may grow as electric cars become more and more common over the next several decades. Electric cars, Smith explained, are not truly zero-emission vehicles, so municipalities need to think about strategies to reduce emissions from brake use as well as tailpipes.

The team found that the percentage of charged particles emitted largely depended on the material makeup of brake pads. Because the particles carry an electric charge, this should make it relatively easy to remove from the air.

“If they are charged, they can be removed easily from the air before they have a chance to have an impact at all on health,” said Smith. “All you would need to do is to collect them with an electrostatic precipitator – a device that exposes the charged particles to an electric field and efficiently sweeps them away.”

The public health risk posed by brake emissions is not borne equally by a population – lower-income parts of cities tend to be more traffic-heavy than others, which creates an environmental justice issue wherein certain socioeconomic classes are more exposed to brake emissions than others.

According to Professor Barbara Finlayson-Pitts, Distinguished Emeritus Professor of chemistry and the principal investigator of the project at UCI, emissions from braking are not well-characterized but are potentially significant in high-traffic areas. “These areas are often in poorer communities and highlight an important aspect of environmental justice that has been largely overlooked,” Finlayson-Pitts said.

The UCI team is working with local community organizations like the Madison Park Neighborhood Association in Santa Ana, which is helping disseminate UCI’s scientific findings to the public. Funding for the study came from fees paid by Volkswagen as part of a 2016 settlement reached with the California Department of Justice, which found that the company used devices that contributed to increased air pollution.

About UCI’s Brilliant Future campaign: Publicly launched on Oct. 4, 2019, the Brilliant Future campaign aims to raise awareness and support for UCI. By engaging 75,000 alumni and garnering $2 billion in philanthropic investment, UCI seeks to reach new heights of excellence in student success, health and wellness, research and more. The School of Physical Sciences plays a vital role in the success of the campaign. Learn more by visiting https://brilliantfuture.uci.edu/uci-school-of-physical-sciences/ .

About the University of California, Irvine:  Founded in 1965, UCI is a member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and is ranked among the nation’s top 10 public universities by  U.S. News & World Report . The campus has produced five Nobel laureates and is known for its academic achievement, premier research, innovation and anteater mascot. Led by Chancellor Howard Gillman, UCI has more than 36,000 students and offers 224 degree programs. It’s located in one of the world’s safest and most economically vibrant communities and is Orange County’s second-largest employer, contributing $7 billion annually to the local economy and $8 billion statewide. For more on UCI, visit  www.uci.edu .

Media access: Radio programs/stations may, for a fee, use an on-campus ISDN line to interview UCI faculty and experts, subject to availability and university approval. For more UCI news, visit news.uci.edu . Additional resources for journalists may be found at https://news.uci.edu/media-resources/ .