Graduate Links

Admissions

Applicants are expected to have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a biological science. Admission is very competitive and although a GPA of 3.0 is the minimum campus requirement for graduate admission, successful applicants to EEMB have GPAs considerably higher than the minimum, usually greater than 3.5. Applicants may apply for either the M.A. or Ph.D. degree program. However, the M.A. program is small and oriented toward research. Most students in the program work toward a Ph.D. A master's degree is not required to enter the Ph.D. Program.

Applicants to the Department must be accepted by a major professor with whom they wish to work and who has agreed to supervise the student's graduate training and thesis dissertation research. Therefore, applicants are strongly encouraged to contact individual faculty members in the Program whose research interests coincide with their own and to list potential advisors on their applications.

Admission decisions are based on intellectual potential and promise, competitiveness of the academic record and research experience, programmatic fit, and space availability.

Application Deadline

Applications are considered for fall admission only and should be received with all supporting materials by DECEMBER 15.

Apply online at: http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp/

Application Process

All applicants must fulfill the general requirements for admission to graduate status at UCSB. To be considered for admission to UCSB, applicants must have received a bachelor's degree or its equivalent (with an upper-division grade point average of 3.0 or better) from an accredited university prior to the quarter for which admission is sought. Students may apply on-line through the Graduate Division website.

Please note the following important information. In your application, please mail the following materials:

Faxed and emailed materials are not accepted.

1. 2 copies of the Statement of Purpose, including 2 completed cover sheets which include your study emphasis and faculty member(s) that you are interested in working with at UCSB.
2. 3 Letters of Recommendation, including completed Waiver of Right to Access Letter Forms that are to be mailed together by the recommender. The recommender should also complete the evaluation portion of the recommendation form and submit it by mail with the letter.
3. Two copies of all higher education official transcripts, which include community college.

Applicants should specify their general areas of interests within biology on their application and provide a clear and focused statement of purpose. In addition to the UCSB application for admission, applicants are required to submit two copies of official undergraduate transcripts; two copies of statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation from individuals who can best assess the applicant's academic and research potential, and the General Test (verbal, quantitative and analytical/writing) of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE scores should not be more than 5 years old at the time of application. Students should take the GRE as early as possible in the fall prior to applying to insure that scores arrive by the December 15 application deadline. When you register for the GRE, please use the institution code for UCSB (4835) and the Department code 0203 (Biology).

All domestic applicants must also file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as a part of the application process by March 1, within about 3 months after applying.

• Please go to: www.fafsa.ed.gov

International students whose native language is not English must also obtain a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based test and 213 on the computer-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) prior to admission. Exceptions to the TOEFL requirement are made for applicants who will have received an undergraduate or graduate degree from an accredited institution whose primary instruction is in English by the time of enrollment. Applications will be reviewed by an oversight committee of the Program and directed to appropriate faculty within the Program for consideration.

Apply online at: http://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp/

Financial Support

Faculty in EEMB aim to fully support their students in good standing for the duration of the students' studies through a combination of University and Regents fellowships, research assistantships, and teaching assistantships. Teaching assistantships are available through the participating departments and applicants should discuss this option with their potential advisors. Prospective students are encouraged to apply for national fellowships such as the National Science Foundation or the Office of Naval Research Graduate Fellowships. Salary for students with a research assistantship is approximately $1,550/month (at 49% time) with fees and health insurance paid by the supporting grant. Teaching assistants (usually employed at 50% time) earn approximately $1,600/month with health benefits and most fees paid by the campus. Teaching assistantships do not cover non-resident tuition.

• Additional Financial Aid Information

Out-of-State and International Students

The Department endeavors when possible to provide out-of-state students with fellowships to directly cover the cost of non-resident tuition during their first year. Non-resident and international students cannot expect more than one year of non-resident tuition fellowship support. Out-of-state students who are US citizens or eligible non-citizens should take steps to establish California residency as soon as possible upon arrival.

Go to: http://wwww.registrar.ucsb.edu/

A one year residency in California is required to qualify. International students must pay non-resident tuition, in addition to fees, throughout the duration of their studies at UCSB, as they cannot establish California residency. As this represents a large tax on grants or a significant hardship for students, relatively few international students are accepted to the Graduate Program.

Effective Fall 2006, the quarterly nonresident tuition fee is reduced by 100% for graduate doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy. Eligibility for the reduced nonresident tuition is measured in calendar years, and begins with the first academic quarter following advancement to candidacy. Leave of absence and unregistered quarters will not extend a student's eligibility. A student who continues to be enrolled or who re-enrolls three calendar years after advancing to candidacy will be charged the full nonresident rate in effect at the time. For updated information, go to the Office of the Registrar Fee Reductions page.

International students must submit a preapplication for evaluation and are only encouraged to apply if their academic records and experience are truly outstanding.

• Information on establishing residency