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ECE Applications for 2026


ECE Application Deadlines for 2026 admission


MS, MS / PhD, PhD:

  • Fall 2026 (admission and financial support) — December 15, 2025

PhD ONLY:

Applicants must have a Master's Degree to apply

  • Winter 2026 (admission only) — November 3, 2025
  • Spring 2026 (admission only) — January 5, 2026

Apply Online @ UCSB Grad Division

 

Grad Div Online Application Portal - Will Open in September for Online ECE 2026 Admissions

Graduate Division Apply FAQs

Graduate Division Apply FAQs

ECE Apply FAQs

ECE Apply FAQs

Master of Science (MS) & Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degrees

The ECE department offers both Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Applicants must specify one of three programs:

  • MS Program: for students who are primarily interested in a Master's degree. It does not preclude entering the PhD program at a later date if you become more interested in research.
  • MS/PhD Program: for students who have not yet earned a Master's degree and also intend to do research toward the PhD degree
  • PhD Program: for students who already have a Master's degree and intend to do research towards the Doctor of Philosophy degree

Research Areas

Refer to the ECE Research and Faculty Directory pages for information about areas of study and potential advisors for the graduate program. Research in the ECE Department is broken into four main areas Communications & Signal Processing (CSP), Computer Engineering (CE), Control Systems, and Electronics & Photonic (EP)

Note: the graduate study area of Control Systems is combined with Communications and Signal Processing (CCSP)

Financial Support

All submitted admission applications are considered for financial support and are merit-based. Types of financial support available include:

  • Graduate Student Research (GSR) Positions: pays a monthly stipend plus fees, health insurance, and nonresident tuition. Offers are made by individual faculty members.
  • Teaching Assistantships (TAships): Pays a monthly stipend plus fees, health insurance, and nonresident tuition. Offers are made by the department.
  • Fellowships: most pay a quarterly stipend plus fees and health insurance and sometimes nonresident tuition. Offers are made by the department or UCSB's Graduate Division.

Financial Aid

Need-based aid is only available for domestic students:

UCSB Cost of Attendance Calculator

 

 

Annual Application Deadlines

  • Fall quarter (MS, MS/PhD and PhD applicants): December 15th of the prior year for priority consideration for financial support
  • Winter quarter (PhD applicants only - a Master's degree is required prior to application): first week of November of the prior year
  • Spring quarter (PhD applicants only - a Master's degree is required prior to application): first week of January

Apply for ECE 2026 Admission

  • The application will OPEN in September 2025 for ECE 2026 Admission
  • UCSB Graduate Division application portal handles both submissions and status
  • Admission decisions will be finalized by early May

Apply to ECE

UCSB Grad Application Process

3 Steps to apply online:

Fall 2026 Requirements & Timeline

September – June
  • September: UCSB online application system opens. Take the TOEFL, or IELTS, or DET in early Fall for timely submission.
  • December 15: deadline for MS, MS/PhD and PhD programs (all supporting documents must be received – see Requirements FAQ)
  • April 15: deadline for prospective students receiving fellowship or financial offers to submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)
  • By Early May: admission decisions will be finalized on the Graduate Application Status Page
  • June 15: deadline for prospective students to submit a Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)

 

Please review the ECE Apply FAQ webpage for a more in-depth explanation of the application requirements.

Need more info?

Contact the Graduate Admissions Coordinator

Saixious Dominguez-Kilday: contact grad-admit@ece.ucsb.edu

Contact Graduate Division