
Prospective Students & Apply
ECE Applications for 2022
ECE Application Deadlines for 2022 admission
MS, MS / PhD, PhD:
- Fall 2022 (admission and financial support) — December 15, 2021
PhD ONLY:
- Winter 2022 (admission only) — November 2, 2021
- Spring 2022 (admission only) — January 4, 2022
Application Portal Opens: To Be Announced
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 towards the PhD degree
- PhD Program: for students who already have an 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 Financial Aid Office
- UCSB Financial Support
- Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) – U.S. Department of Education's online form to apply for aid.
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 - an MS degree is required prior to application): first week of November of the prior year
- Spring quarter (PhD applicants only - an MS degree is required prior to application): first week of January
App Status for ECE at UCSB
- View Application Status
- Admission decisions will be finalized by early May
Application Portal for 2022 Opens: TBA
ECE Grad Apply Info Flyer
Printable About Us sheet with stats and important links
App Requirements & Timeline
- September – June
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- September: UCSB online application system opens. Take the GRE and TOEFL tests in early Fall for a timely submission.
- December 15: deadline for MS, MS/PhD and PhD programs (all supporting documents must be received)
- April 15: deadline for prospective students receiving fellowship or financial offers to submit 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 student to submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)
UCSB Grad Application Process
3 Steps to apply online:
- Step 1 – Review Graduate Division's Resources for Prospective Students
- Step 2 – Review How to Apply
- Step 3 – Complete the Graduate Division Online Application and pay the app fee
Need more info?
Contact Graduate Division
- Existing Applicants: contact Graduate Division via the Online Application System
- Login to your application
- Press the envelope button at the top right side of the page to start a message chain
- Potential Applicants: contact gradadmissions@graddiv.ucsb.edu