Preparing for UC Santa Barbara | UCEAP Reciprocity System

BEFORE YOU ARRIVE AT UC Santa Barbara

2025 - 2026

Contact Information

UCEAP Reciprocity Information

Education Abroad Program
Student Affairs and Administrative Services Building (SAASB) 2201
Reciprocity Student Resources
Contact Aubree Orzechowski

Visa & Immigration Information

Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS)
Student Resources Building (SRB) 3130 (third floor)
Contact OISS
International Student Resources
Read the newsletter

Housing

Get Started!

Reminders

Housing is not guaranteed.
A campus housing rental agreement lasts through the end of the academic year (June). If you leave your housing before the end of the agreement, you may be subject to a cancellation fee. Rental agreements in the community may last through August 31, and may not allow for cancellation. Check all terms and conditions before making a commitment.
If you apply for more than one housing option, accept only one. You will be financially responsible for all agreements you accept.

Residence halls and University Housing (UC Housing)

Undergraduate students

Housing Options
Apply to Campus Housing
Contact Campus Housing

Application Instructions: You do not need to submit an SIR (Statement of Intent to Register); this is done on your behalf by UC.
After you submit your application, you may update or make changes until the deadline. Late applicants will be added to a waiting list.
UCSB housing is open to students only during the time that they are taking classes. Early arrivals before classes start or late stays after they end are not allowed.

Apply as soon as you receive your NetID and set up your Umail account.
Fall deadline: June 15, 2025
Winter deadline: November 21, 2025

Tropicana Student-Living Communities (UC-Affiliated Housing)

Undergraduate students attending 1 or 2 quarters

Apply to Tropicana Student Housing
Contact Tropicana

UCSB ID number will be requested but is not required for you to apply.

Student Housing Cooperatives (Non-UC Housing)

Undergraduate/Graduate students

Explore the Co-op

Application Deadline: First-come, first-served basis. Add your name to the waitlist.

Community Housing (Non-UC housing)

Undergraduate/Graduate students

Explore Off-Campus Listings

The off-campus Rental Listing Service is free to currently enrolled UCSB students. Students can search and/or submit listings for off-campus housing. Check with UCHS staff about their list of preferred providers for UCEAP students.

Facebook housing pages monitored by UCSB staff.

UCSB EAP Housing (private group)- Connect NOW with outbound UCSB students with housing to sublease.
UCSB Housing (private group)
IV Housing for UCSB Students (private group)
UCSB Housing Search (private group)

Arrival Information & Orientation

Dates

We strongly urge you to purchase airline tickets AFTER you have obtained your visa and confirmed travel conditions to the US from your home country. When you do purchase a ticket, purchase a refundable/changeable ticket.

When should I arrive?

No later than

Fall: September 23, 2025
Winter: TBD

No earlier than

Fall: August 26, 2025
Winter: December 6, 2025

You may arrive no more than 30 days prior to the start date printed on your visa certificate of eligibility (DS-2019). Students who do not have pre-arranged housing are advised to arrive as early as possible.

Start Date on Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019)

Fall: September 25, 2025
Winter: January 5, 2026

Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) training (mandatory)

CALI Training
You are required to complete the online CALI training but are not required to attend the UCSB new student orientation. CALI Training prepares you for UCSB and provides critical information on how to maintain your visa status.

Orientation Fee: $75 (subject to change)

EAP Reciprocity Orientation (Mandatory)

Date: September 24, 2025 at 2 - 2:30 p.m. (Location TBD)
Location: TBD

Visa Check-In (Mandatory)

New Student Check-in (see Online Check-In)
Deadline: On arrival at UCSB; Your UCSB program will be terminated if you do not check-in by the deadline.
Instructions: Upload your passport copy and I-94 in UCSBGlobal and update your local address.

Gaucho On-Line address update
Deadline: On arrival at UCSB
Update your local address and phone number in GOLD

OISS Welcome Reception

Fall: September 24, 2025 at 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Winter: TBD (January)

Move-In Dates

University-owned Housing

Temporary Accommodation (UC-Housing)

On-campus house - This low-cost, on-campus option is available only to UCSB students with valid PERM numbers who are seeking permanent local housing or while they wait for their fall housing to begin. Rooms are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Temporary Accommodation (Non-UC Housing)

Goleta Hotels

Ground Transport to Campus

Costs and times are subject to change.

Course Enrollment

Enrollment Resources

Department links
Class schedule
Course catalog
MyUCSB
U-Mail Account University correspondence will be sent to this account.
Enrollment (Check out this video for tips on selecting courses - GOLD 101 video; Comments about general elective courses do not apply to you as a non-degree student.)
Waitlist Policy (Enrollment in 12 units is required before you can add your name to a waitlist.)
Prerequisite Clearance Request Form
Enrollment calendars
Information on prerequisite for upper-division standing

About ID Numbers at UC Santa Barbara

Your perm number is your UCSB student identification number. Use it to create your UCSBnetID and activate your Umail account. You will need both your UCSBnetID and Umail to get started on registration, so complete these tasks right away.

Multi-factor authentication keeps your information safe.

Registering for Classes

Undergraduate Students

Plan to register at the beginning of your pass times to take full advantage of allotted time for registration.

Enrollment period begins
- Fall: May 20, 2025 to September 3, 2025
- Winter: TBD (November)
Next enrollment period begins
- Fall: September 9, 2025 to December 5, 2025
- Winter: TBD (November)

All times are California time.

Steps for your course enrollment

Request enrollment assistance if you are unable to enroll in a course through GOLD during your enrollment appointment times:

View your appointment time in GOLD. Select "Registration", then select the enrollment term.
Locate the course in GOLD under "Find Courses".
Select "Course Info" to check if the course has any prerequisites or restrictions.
Using your Umail account, contact the academic advisor or instructor to request permission to enroll (consult the listing of department webpages for the undergraduate department advisor contact information).
Include your PERM number with your request.
Include information regarding your academic preparation for any course prerequisites using the prerequisite clearance request form. Be prepared to provide your transcript and English translations of course syllabi from your home university.

The UC course instructor / academic advisor at the department offering the course will need to clear you for prerequisites, if GOLD has a restriction in place.

Advising for specific majors

Biology: Contact the course instructor directly to request prerequisite clearance. The instructor might ask to speak with you during the first week of instruction to clear prerequisites.
- Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
- Ecology, Evolution, & Marine Biology
Chemistry and Biochemistry: Contact the department for assistance with enrollment.
Economics majors: Contact the department for assistance with enrollment. Enrollment is restricted to students who are economics majors at their home university.
Engineering: contact information and enrollment instructions
Psychological and Brain Sciences majors: Contact PBS Advising for assistance with enrollment. You will not be able to enroll through GOLD in this major. Send a Umail with your request listing your top four course choices. Visit the department webpages for information about waitlists, prerequisites, and more. Use the projected course list to plan your schedule.
Sociology: If a course requires enrollment authorization, contact the course instructor directly.
Technology Management Program: Contact TMP Advising with your enrollment request.

Graduate Students

Graduate students usually register after consultation with the department’s graduate advisor. Check with your host department for registration advising.

Financial Information

Student Account

Check your account regularly to pay your fees and avoid late fees.

Log-in to access the Billing Accounts Receivable Collections (BARC) portal: BARC

Fees

International Student Orientation Fee: $75 (subject to change) will be billed to your account.
College of Letters and Sciences Technologies Fee (Tech Fee): $2.50 per unit fee is capped at 15 units (for a maximum of $37.50) is assessed only to courses in the College of Letters and Science. The fee will be billed to your student account after the course add/drop deadline in the fourth week of the term.
ACCESS (IDcard): $30 will be billed to your student account.
UCSA (UC Student Association) fee: $7; this fee is not mandatory, and you may opt-out (choose to not participate).
Health Insurance Fees: Fees will be billed to your account each quarter. See Health Insurance and Services information below.