How to apply to art at UC Santa Barbara: the Letters and Science Art BA admits by choosing the major with no portfolio, while the College of Creative Studies Art major needs a 15–20 work portfolio; portfolio requirements and timelines for students in China, Canada and transfer students

UC Santa Barbara offers two routes into studio art, both Bachelor of Arts degrees: the Art major in the Department of Art in the College of Letters and Science, and the Art major in the College of Creative Studies (CCS). UCSB says the two programs collaborate closely and encourages students to take courses and exhibit in both. The Department of Art awards only the BA, and the pages we read list no undergraduate design majors. Here is what UCSB publishes for fall 2027 entry, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. How the two routes differ

• Department of Art (L&S): a structured program from beginning to advanced courses across a full range of media; most art courses at UCSB are taught here. A selective Honors Program offers a one-year seminar, studio space and a final exhibition. Many majors double major or minor in other L&S departments.
• CCS Art: for students ready to work independently from the start, admitted by portfolio review; smaller classes, a faculty adviser for each student, a formal mid-residency review, a senior solo show, and studio space for most students by sophomore year. Emphases are Painting, Sculpture/Spatial Art and Book Arts. Students average 18 units of studio coursework and 9 units of non-studio art-related coursework (such as art history and theory) a year, and must complete an art internship.

2. Department of Art: choose the major, no portfolio

• Getting in: incoming freshmen or transfers who choose Art in the College of Letters and Science on the UC application are automatically enrolled as majors; no portfolio is required.
• Switching in later: students already in L&S as undeclared or in another major can declare after completing at least three lower-division art classes (excluding 1C) for a letter grade of C or better, again with no portfolio.
• Major requirements:
  • lower division, 39 units: Art 1A and 1C (7 units), Art 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D in any order (20 units), and three of Art 10, 12, 14, 18, 19, 22 and 32 (12 units);
  • upper division, 36 units: 28 units of upper-division art (up to 8 units of upper-division CCS art may count), 4 units of upper-division art history, and one of Art 125, 126 or 130 (4 units);
  • a GPA of at least 2.0 in major courses and at least 20 upper-division major units at UCSB; students aiming for graduate school in fine arts are advised to complete at least 16 units in one area.
• Minors: the Art minor has three tracks: Art, Public Practice, and Art & Technology.

3. College of Creative Studies: a supplemental application and portfolio

• Apply to UCSB first: list CCS Art as one of your two UC majors, preferably the first. CCS suggests listing L&S Art as the second choice: if you are not admitted to CCS but are admitted to UCSB, you can start in the Department of Art.
• Then the CCS application: the priority deadline for fall 2027 is 5 January 2027. Applicants to UCSB may apply to only one CCS major.
• Portfolio: upload two files — an image list (number, title, date, medium and dimensions, as Word or PDF) and 15–20 works compiled into one PDF (images at 150–300 dpi or higher, each half a page to a full page, similar in size, numbered to match the list). A supplemental video tour is optional. Work should emphasize painting, sculpture or book arts.
• Other materials: a letter of intent to the CCS Art faculty (academic interests, reasons for CCS, art background; separate from the UC essays); optional recommendations; and copies or photos of all high school and college transcripts (official copies not needed).
• Testing: CCS does not consider SAT/ACT scores.

4. Dates and requirements (UC-wide)

• Dates: submit the fall 2027 UC application between 1 October and 30 November 2026; decisions in mid-March; SIR by 1 May; official transcripts by 1 July and official AP, IB, TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo scores by 15 July.
• SAT/ACT: not used in admission; optional, and may help with course placement.
• Minimum academics: A-G courses with C or better; non-California residents need an A-G GPA of at least 3.4. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission.

5. International, Chinese and Canadian students

• English minimums: TOEFL iBT 4.5 for tests from January 2026, 80 before; IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 115. Tests must be done by the December test date before enrollment and are valid for two years; IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest are not accepted — only the highest composite from a single sitting.
• Students in China: the international freshman page requires the junior and senior high school graduation certificates with a B average. The pages we read do not mention the Gaokao, art joint exams or school-run art exams. A-Level students need at least five IGCSE/GCSE exams (GPA 3.4+) and three A-Levels (unweighted GPA 3.0+, no grade below C); IB students need at least six exams with three HL, an average of 5 with no score below 4, and a diploma score of 30+.
• BC: the Secondary School Graduation Diploma with an average of at least 73.

6. Costs and aid

• 2026-27, 2026 cohort, residence halls (USD): California residents about 50,946 (tuition and student services fee 15,588, campus-based fees 2,085, books and supplies 1,515, rent 13,203, food 10,782 and more); non-residents add 39,270 in supplemental tuition for about 90,216. Costs for fall 2027 entrants are not yet published, and the pages we read do not mention separate art materials fees.
• Aid: UCSB says financial aid and scholarships for international students are very limited, and international students must fund the full cost themselves.

7. Transfer students

• Dates: also 1 October–30 November 2026; the Transfer Academic Update from 15 December to 31 January (further updates until 15 March); official scores and IGETC/Cal-GETC certification by 15 July.
• Department of Art: transfers who choose Art are also enrolled as majors with no portfolio; the selective-majors page we read lists biology, chemistry, mathematics, economics, physics and actuarial science, not Art.
• CCS: transfers also submit the supplemental application, selected on outstanding academic and personal achievement and special talent. Students already admitted to or enrolled at UCSB skip straight to the CCS application.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit the UC application by 30 November 2026; for the Department of Art, just choose L&S Art — no portfolio
• For CCS, list CCS Art first and L&S Art second, and send the 15–20 work portfolio and letter of intent by 5 January 2027
• An A-G GPA of at least 3.4 and a B average in Chinese high school; TOEFL 4.5 (new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115, done by December
• Budget about USD 90,000 a year; international aid is very limited

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• BC Graduation Diploma with an average of at least 73; the same dates and portfolio rules
• No SAT/ACT needed

Transfer students:

• Submit the UC application by 30 November and the Transfer Academic Update by 31 January
• Add the supplemental application and portfolio for CCS; for the Department of Art, choosing the major is enough

Sources: UC Santa Barbara, Two ways to major in Art at UCSB; Art prospective student FAQ; Art major requirements; Art Honors Program; College of Creative Studies Art; CCS how to apply; Deadlines; International freshman eligibility; International FAQ; English language proficiency; Selective majors for transfer; 2026-27 cost of attendance. Information is for fall 2027 entry (2026-27 cost estimates). Check UCSB for the latest details.