- What is the application deadline? When is the application fee payment deadline?
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Both deadlines are on December 15, 2025 by 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST).
For 2026, the non-refundable graduate application fee is $135.00 for US citizens and Permanent Residents; and $155.00 for all others, paid in US dollars by credit card, check, or money order. Applicants may also pay using a Visa or MasterCard, but only at the point of submission. Cash is not accepted. Please make checks and money orders payable to UC Regents. Checks and money orders must be drawn on a bank that has a branch in the United States and mailed to the Graduate Division with the Check/Money Order Submission form found on the final page of your Online Graduate Application.
Note: Your complete application, including application fee payment, must be received by the application deadline. This means the credit card payment must be processed or the mailed check/money order must be received by the deadline.
Tip: It is recommended that you do not wait until the last day of the deadline above to submit your application and the fee payment in case there are any issues with your payment option or submission.
- When are my application materials due?
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December 15, 2025 by 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST).
- Where can I get answers to my application questions?
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For general admission, technical problems, payment issues, and application questions you can contact the Admissions & Outreach team via email at gradadmissions@graddiv.ucsb.edu.
For department specific questions email physics-gradapp@ucsb.edu.
- How many applicants do you receive?
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In 2025, we received 1,293 applications.
- Do you accept materials via mail, email or fax? How do I submit my official transcripts?
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All application materials must be submitted via your online application.
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.
Do not send transcripts directly from the school to the Physics Department via mail or email. Those transcripts will not be accepted. Upload the official transcripts directly to your application, as described in the instructions above and on the Graduate Division website.
For example, do not cut and paste your transcripts from your school's online portal. Those transcripts are not official and will not be accepted.
If you upload a transcript that states "Unofficial" at the top, that is not acceptable and will not be accepted.
Please note: If you are submitting international transcripts, enter the correct GPA of the GPA scale of your school. Do not change the reported GPA on the 100 point scale to the 4.0 scale, if that is not the GPA scale of your school.
If you are recommended for admission, and you did not follow these above instructions, it will delay the processing of your admission.
- I have my fall grades, can I submit updated transcripts?
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No, we do not accept updated transcripts once they have been uploaded to the online application.
- What is the difference between the Statement of Purpose and the Personal History Statement? Are all three required?
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Review the Statement of Purpose guidelines located on the How To Complete the Online Application page. The length of your Statement of Purpose can depend on the individual departmental requirements, though approximately two pages or more is typically recommended.
In addition to the Statement of Purpose, applicants are also required to submit a (1) Personal History Statement and a (2) Resume or Curriculum Vitae.
For the Personal History Statement, the minimum word count is 250 words. Your Personal History 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.
Instructions for each document are located in the Statements and Supplemental Documents section of the online application and on the Graduate Division’s How to Complete the Online Application page. Note that applicants are required to respond to different prompts/questions for each statement.
Yes, all three documents are required.
- How can I check if my application is complete?
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Your application status is available on the UCSB Graduate Application page. You can login using the email address you used and the password you created when you started your application.
- Can I apply for the master’s program?
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You can only apply for the PhD program.
- Can I apply for Winter or Spring admission?
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You can only apply for Fall Quarter.
- Can I apply for an application fee waiver? If I am an international applicant, can I apply for an application fee waiver?
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A limited number of fee waivers are available for qualified US CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS. More information can be found on the Graduate Division webpage: Requesting an Application Fee Waiver. You must submit your fee waiver request at least two weeks before the application deadline. Do not submit a fee waiver request the day before the application deadline; it will not be processed and your application will not be reviewed. Refer to the Graduate Division website for important FAQs for fee waivers.
Fee waivers are not available for international applicants.
- Where can I find answers about waivers and other TOEFL/ELTS/Duolingo questions?
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Please visit this page about these exams.
- Do I need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?
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All students who are admitted to UCSB must have completed the FAFSA by the early March deadline. Only students who have completed the FAFSA are eligible to receive UCSB Graduate Division central fellowships. Starting 2023, international students are eligible for President's Work Study.
- Is there a pre-application? Will someone review my materials before I apply?
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No. The Physics Department does not require any students to submit a preliminary application. No, the department does not review application materials before application.
- Where can I find more FAQs?
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Please visit this link for the Graduate Division’s comprehensive list of FAQs.
