How to Apply to Physics at UC Santa Barbara: The College of Letters and Science BA and BS, Where the Major Is Not Considered at Application and Freshmen Can Declare After Fall Quarter, While Transfer Physics Is a Selective Major, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), undergraduate physics is offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Letters and Science, and the department says students may pursue either a BS or a BA. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on the physics department’s and the Office of Admissions’ websites, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, engineering and computer science are not covered here.

1. Degrees and tracks

• Degrees: the department’s undergraduate page says you can pursue a BS or a BA in physics; the page for changing majors asks you to say which degree program (BS or BA) and which catalog year you will follow. The pages read do not list other undergraduate tracks such as applied physics, engineering physics or astrophysics; this is not published there, so ask the department advisors (physics-advisers@ucsb.edu).
• Degree requirements: the freshman page mentions downloadable proposed schedules for the BA and the BS, but those files were not read. Unit requirements are in the university catalog, which is hosted by a third-party platform and was not accessed; see the UCSB catalog and the department advisors.
• Aims: the department says that with either degree you will be prepared with the knowledge needed to enter graduate programs in many disciplines or to enter the workforce in many fields, and that all lecture courses are taught by physics faculty.
• Distinction in the Major: College of Letters and Science physics majors with an upper-division major GPA of 3.50 can earn it through a bachelor’s honors thesis; see section 3.
• Neighbouring majors: the department lists majors that complement the physics preparatory courses: Chemistry BA and BS, Earth BA and Earth BS (Geophysics Emphasis), Geography BA and BS, Mathematics BA and BS, Actuarial Science, Financial Mathematics and Statistics, and Statistics and Data Science. They are not covered here.

2. Admission: the major is not considered at application; declare after entry

• When you apply: physics undergraduate applications are submitted online through UC admissions. Admissions says the College of Letters and Science does not consider choice of major and requires no supplemental application, apart from auditions for dance and music performance majors; its FAQ says majors in the college are not selective (the Engineering and Creative Studies colleges are). So listing physics does not change how you are evaluated in the college.
• Declaring the physics major: the department says freshman admits may declare after fall quarter. You must first meet with an undergraduate advisor, then submit a Change of Major petition through the Student Success Hub, naming the degree program (BS or BA) and the catalog year; processing may take four weeks, longer at busy times.
• Condition: at the time of petition you must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher across all lower-division physics lectures and all upper-division physics courses attempted toward the major. A cap on places is not stated on the pages read, so ask the advisors.
• Non-physics majors switching in: the department’s page for non-majors switching to the physics major gives the same process and conditions.
• Switching out of physics: make an appointment with an advisor in the other department or the College of Letters and Science; the other department initiates the process.
• Pre-major status: the admissions FAQ says some UCSB majors admit new students to a “pre-major” status, marked with ** in the General Catalog. The department pages read do not call physics a pre-major; this is not published there, so check the catalog.

3. Prerequisites, starting courses and honors

• High school courses (UC-wide): first-year applicants must complete UC-approved A-G courses with a grade of C or better; the GPA in A-G courses from the 10th and 11th grades (including summers) must be at least 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents. The department and Admissions pages read set no separate high school physics requirement; this is not published there.
• Mathematics preparation: the department’s freshman page advises taking the AP Calculus BC exam or one year of calculus before admission to determine your fall schedule, and taking the Math Placement Exam if you have not taken a calculus course.
• PHYS 8 (Introduction to Mathematical Methods for Physics): covers derivatives, integrals and ordinary differential equations and prepares you for the first physics course, PHYS 21 (General Physics). The department says: enrol in PHYS 8 in fall if you have not taken calculus, are not confident in your calculus preparation, or scored 3 or 4 on AP Calculus BC, then take PHYS 21 in winter, and consider PHYS 29 (Introduction to Computer Programming for Physical Sciences). PHYS 8 is optional with a 5 on AP Calculus BC: enrol in PHYS 21 and MATH 4A/B in fall and consider PHYS 29 in winter or spring. PHYS 8 is offered only in fall quarter.
• Calculus note on the declaring page: the conditions for declaring say to complete MATH 3A and 3B or an equivalent before fall quarter, otherwise the program may take longer; PHYS 8 is required if you have not taken MATH 3A-B or scored less than 5 on AP Calculus BC.
• AP/IB credit: the admissions FAQ says credit is given for AP exam scores of 3 or higher and IB HL scores of 5 or higher, with the course equivalents in the UCSB General Catalog. That catalog was not read, so which physics courses AP/IB Physics (1/2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M) replace is not published on the pages read. The department pages mention only how AP Calculus BC affects the starting point, as above.
• Honors thesis (Distinction in Major, L&S): the department says L&S physics majors with an upper-division major GPA of 3.50 may earn academic credit by pursuing a bachelor’s honors thesis, enrolling in one of Physics 142L, 143L, 145L, 198 and 199. A signed honors thesis proposal form must go to the faculty member or principal investigator (PI) three quarters before the thesis is submitted, and students are advised to discuss it with the PI before junior year. The thesis involves developing a research project under a PI, presenting a public seminar and submitting a formal written report. It recommends taking Physics 127AL and 128AL in the junior year so senior year can focus on thesis research; experimental researchers may petition the 128AL requirement, while theoretical researchers must complete 128AL.
• Lab and capstone requirements: not itemised on the department pages read, so see the catalog.
• College Honors Program: the admissions FAQ says the L&S Honors Program is open to first-year and transfer students and offers small seminars with faculty; its eligibility page was not read.
• Undergraduate research: the department strongly encourages research for students considering graduate school; email the faculty whose research interests you, and nearly all faculty labs sponsor undergraduate researchers each year. The admissions FAQ says over 56% of undergraduates conduct research before graduation, with programs such as the Faculty Research Assistance Program (FRAP) and Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (URCA) grants.
• Physics competitions: the admissions pages read do not say how competitions are viewed.

4. Deadlines and materials (freshmen)

• Timeline: the UC Application opens August 1; the filing period for fall 2027 is October 1 to November 30; decisions are in mid-March; the Statement of Intent to Register is due May 1, official transcripts July 1 and official test scores (AP, IB, TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo) July 15. UCSB admits for fall only.
• Application fee: per the FAQ, $80 per campus for US residents and $95 for international students; qualified US residents (or certain visa holders) can get a fee waiver for up to four campuses through the UC Application.
• Testing: UCSB does not use SAT or ACT scores in admission or scholarship decisions; they may be used for course placement and are optional.
• Recommendations and extras: the FAQ says UCSB does not review unsolicited transcripts, letters of recommendation or supplemental material and decides on the UC Application alone; the College of Creative Studies is the exception, which is a different college. The pages read do not ask for a science teacher’s letter.
• How applications are reviewed: meeting eligibility is only a minimum; UCSB uses 13 holistic review factors, reviewing achievements and personal qualities in the context of opportunities and challenges, and does not compare your application with others.
• Changing the major on an application: the FAQ says UCSB is currently unable to fulfil change-of-major requests from first-year applicants; see its change-of-major page.

5. US domestic applicants

• Costs: the 2026-27 budget for a new 2026-cohort student in the residence halls: tuition and student services fee $15,588, campus-based fees $2,085, books $1,515, rent $13,203, food $10,782, transportation $789, health care $4,008, personal $2,652, phone $324, total $50,946 for a California resident; with the non-resident supplemental tuition of $39,270, the total is $90,216. This is a budget, not a bill; the figures for fall 2027 entry are not published on the page read.
• Residency and minimum GPA: A-G GPA of at least 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents. Residency-based priority or guaranteed admission is not stated on the freshman pages read.
• Aid: the FAQ says most UCSB aid is for California residents based on need; complete the scholarships section of the UC Application and file the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application (March 2 for California residents, plus the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form); enrolled students can use the Scholarship Universe search tool.
• Department funding: the Conner Family Undergraduate Travel Grants are for physics majors in their junior or senior year who have been invited or selected to present a paper or poster at a major in-person conference in the United States, Canada or Mexico; up to two grants per student, up to $450 for California and $900 for other US locations, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico; apply at least 21 days before travel. The page still prints 2025 dates for its funding periods, so ask the department about the current year.
• Testing: SAT/ACT not used; see section 4.

6. International applicants

• How to apply: through the UC Application, for fall only; do not convert grades or calculate a UC GPA, but report coursework and grades exactly as on your record, which is evaluated in the context of your country’s system. Do not submit transcripts when applying unless asked.
• Minimum curriculum: Admissions lists minimums by country; for the IB Diploma, at least six exams with three at Higher Level, an overall average of 5 with no exam below 4 and a diploma score of 30 or higher; for British systems, at least five GCSE/IGCSE exams with a 3.4 GPA and at least three A-Level exams with a 3.0 GPA and no grade below C; A, B or C grades on A-Levels may earn transfer credit, with the amount set after formal admission.
• Predicted results: you may apply before final results are out and report predicted results; if admitted you submit official results sent by the examining board.
• Documents after admission: students who accept an offer submit official records for grades 9 to 12, a graduation certificate and official exam results, sent directly by the original school or examining board (“pass-along” transcripts are not accepted); secondary records generally need translation only if in a non-Roman alphabet.
• English: required if your native language is not English and your education was in a country where the language of instruction was not English, or you have fewer than three years of English instruction. TOEFL iBT 80 (tests before January 2026) or 4.5 (January 2026 or later); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 115; or ACT English Language Arts 24, SAT Writing and Language 31 (the digital SAT Reading and Writing score is not approved), AP English Language or Literature 3 or above, IB English (Language A) SL 6 or 7 or HL 5, 6 or 7, or a C or better in a UC-transferable college English composition course. Scores are valid for two years and must be completed by the December test date before enrollment and sent directly.
• Visa and funds: admitted students can request an I-20 after submitting the Statement of Intent to Register, and must show proof of first-year funding to the Office of International Students and Scholars.
• Aid: Admissions says financial aid and scholarships for international students are very limited; as a California public university it primarily awards aid to US residents, and international students are responsible for securing private funding.

7. Applicants from China

• Minimum requirement: the international freshman page lists for China: completion of the graduation certificate from upper middle school and the Senior High School Graduate Certificate with a B average.
• Gaokao: the admission pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published there, so contact the Office of Admissions (admissions@ucsb.edu).
• Records: the international rules in section 6 apply: report coursework and grades exactly as on your record; after admission, official grade 9 to 12 transcripts sent by the original school and the graduation certificate. The page says translation is needed for records not in the Roman alphabet but does not say country by country how this applies to Chinese records, so confirm with Admissions. Requirements for the Huikao are not published on the pages read.
• International curricula: IB and A-Level students, see section 6.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5.
• Department programs: student organisations listed on the undergraduate page (UDIP, SPS, Women in Physics, Physics Circus), staff advisors plus faculty advisors assigned by class level (with one for transfer students), honors theses and undergraduate research; travel grants are in section 5.
• Outcomes: the department gives only description: physics alumni have contributed their talents to education, oceanography, economics and engineering, and the degree prepares students for graduate programs in many disciplines or work in many fields. The pages read print no employment data.

9. Transfer students

• General eligibility: all transfer applicants meet the same requirements: a seven-course pattern (two English composition, one mathematics beyond intermediate algebra, four from at least two of arts and humanities, behavioural and social sciences, and biological and physical sciences) with C or better; and 60 semester or 90 quarter units of UC-transferable credit with a GPA of at least 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for non-residents; a selective GPA for most majors is 3.4 and above. These must be met by the end of the spring term before transfer. UCSB accepts only junior-level transfers for fall and does not accept sophomore transfers.
• Physics is a “selective major” for transfer: Admissions lists all biology, chemistry/biochemistry, mathematics, economics and physics majors in the college as selective for transfer. Physics BA or BS applicants must complete the UC Physics Transfer Pathway courses with a GPA of at least 3.4: calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers (the full introductory sequence through modern physics with labs; at UCSB, PHYS 20-21-22-23-3L-24-4L-25-5L/25L); the full single-variable calculus sequence (MATH 3A-3B); one semester of multivariable calculus (MATH 6A); one linear algebra course (MATH 4A); and one differential equations course (MATH 4B).
• The department’s own list: the transfer page says that to enrol in upper-division courses, lower-division physics and math must be complete, and lists PHYSICS 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and MATH 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, 6A, 6B. This differs slightly from the Admissions pathway (which starts at PHYS 20 and does not list MATH 6B); both are given here, so confirm with the department. California community college students find equivalents on ASSIST; students from out-of-state colleges or Cal State/UC institutions send a course description and syllabus for each physics and math course.
• Before and after arrival: the department asks transfer students to email an unofficial transcript with all completed courses to physics-advisers@ucsb.edu during the summer before entry; after articulation it sends a proposed schedule for the year, hosts transfer advising meetings in the summer, and suggests meeting your transfer advisor as soon as transfer verification is complete.
• Readiness check: the department encourages using practice exams for Physics 21 to 25; a score of 70% or higher means you are ready for junior-level coursework, and below that you may review lower-division material or audit a course.
• Recommended GPA: the FAQ recommends 3.2 or higher overall for most majors (3.6 for engineering), and 3.5 or higher for out-of-state or non-California community college students. For physics the pathway courses carry the 3.4 requirement above.
• Two statements side by side: one FAQ answer says only engineering, economics, mathematics and biology currently require specific major preparation courses, without naming physics, while the selective majors page lists the physics pathway; the pages read do not explain how the two fit together, so confirm with Admissions.
• Dates: UC Application opens August 1; TAG (Transfer Admission Guarantee) September 1 to 30; UC Application October 1 to November 30; Transfer Academic Update December 15 to January 31 (updates through March 15); decisions in mid-April; Statement of Intent to Register June 1; transcripts July 1; test scores and IGETC or Cal-GETC certification July 15.
• Credit transfer: use ASSIST for California community college equivalents; UCSB has no articulation agreements outside the California community colleges and counselors cannot pre-evaluate courses. International transfer applicants also need two transferable English composition courses, and English courses at non-US institutions where English is not the language of instruction do not count; the Duolingo English Test is optional for them and not taking it is no disadvantage.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Submit the UC Application between October 1 and November 30 with the $80 fee; no SAT/ACT or letters of recommendation needed; A-G GPA of 3.0 or higher (3.4 for non-residents)
• For aid, California residents also file the FAFSA or Dream Act Application by March 2

International applicants (including China):

• $95 fee; report grades as on your record; prepare TOEFL 80 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115
• After admission send official transcripts and the graduation certificate and show first-year funds to the Office of International Students and Scholars; ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

After entry:

• Choose PHYS 8 or go straight to PHYS 21 depending on your calculus preparation; after fall quarter, meet a physics advisor and petition for the major with a GPA of 2.0 or higher in physics courses

Transfer students:

• Before transfer complete the UC Physics Transfer Pathway (physics sequence plus MATH 3A-3B, 6A, 4A, 4B) with a 3.4 GPA; TAG in September and the UC Application in October to November

Sources: University of California, Santa Barbara, Physics: undergraduate program; Physics: freshman applicants; Physics: transfer students; Physics: current students and changing to the major; Physics: honors program; Physics: research information; Physics: academic advising; Physics: Conner Family Undergraduate Travel Grants; Admissions: dates and deadlines; Admissions: freshman eligibility and selection; Admissions: international freshman eligibility and selection; Admissions: English proficiency; Admissions: international applicants; Admissions: transfer eligibility and selection; Admissions: international transfer; Admissions: selective majors for transfer; Admissions: FAQ; Financial aid: 2026-27 cost of attendance. Dates are for fall 2027 entry. Costs are 2026-27 budget figures. Degree unit requirements are in the university catalog, which was not read for this guide. See UCSB for the latest.