Global & International Studies at UCSB

ADMISSION PROCEDURES

Students interested in applying for admission to the Fall term may do so online beginning in August. The MA program accepts applications only once a year for Fall term. The application deadline, including receipt of all supporting materials to the Global department, is December 15. You may initiate the application process online at https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/eapp/. Paper applications are no longer available at UCSB. Applicants can initiate the process beginning in August until the application deadline closes December 15, although it is recommended to do so well in advance of the final deadline. Once an application is initiated, all supporting materials (transcripts, statement of purpose, writing samples, letters of recommendation) should be mailed to the address below and must be recieved by the December 15th deadline. Supplemental forms (for example, required coversheets for letters of recommendation and statement of purpose) can be found at: https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/admissions/forms/.

Other information on the admissions process and helpful links are on the Graduate Division's FAQ page: https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/admissions/faq.htm

Please send all written materials (transcripts, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and writing samples) to:

Jessea Gay Marie
Graduate Admissions Officer
Global & International Studies Program
Room 3044, Humanities & Social Sciences Building
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-7065
Tel: (805) 893-4668 Fax: (805) 893-8003
E-mail: magis-info@global.ucsb.edu

Please note we cannot print materials such as the Statement of Purpose for applicants--please send hard copies to the address above.

International applicants only must submit a preliminary application for review before initiating the online application: https://www.graddiv.ucsb.edu/preapp/. If you are a person with a disability and require assistance in completing an application, please contact the Graduate Division Admissions.

Preference in admission is given to applicants who have strong oral and written communication skills, a capacity for excellence in research and critical thinking, and an interest in problem-solving. A minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA is required for graduate admissions to UCSB.

Language requirement: Students are required to have the equivalent of two years of undergraduate level foreign language proficiency with a "B" average before completing the program, or be proficient in a second language. If students lack proficiency upon entering, they are expected to acquire it through taking necessary language classes, although it is highly recommended you complete this requirement before attending, if possible.

Specific Requirements Include:

On-line graduate application On-line graduate application, requires an application fee of $70 for domestic and $90 for international applicants. A limited number of fee waivers are available. Please click here for more information.
Official Transcripts (2 copies) from all post-secondary institutions attended. Applicants must request two official copies of their transcripts from each college-level institution they have attended. This includes junior college, lower-division, extension, and graduate transcripts. Foreign applicants are held to the same requirements. Official transcripts or documents must come directly from the degree-granting institution (a copy of the diploma is not an official document). Since transcripts cannot be returned, foreign students should not send the original document if it is irreplaceable; they should obtain a notarized or certified copy instead. Documents in any language other than English must be accompanied by certified translations
Statement of Purpose with completed coversheets (2 copies). Applicants should put their name on each page of their Statement of Purpose and print it on white paper. The statement of purpose should clearly indicate why the applicant wishes to pursue graduate studies in the field of Global & International Studies.
Three Letters of Recommendation with completed, signed coversheets. These letters should indicate the circumstances under which the referee has known the applicant, the referee's evaluation of the applicant’s overall intellectual and critical thinking ability, problem-solving skills, effectiveness of oral and written communication, and self-discipline (such as motivation and persistence).
GRE General test scores. Verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing scores from the general GRE exam are required of all graduate admission applicants for the global MA program. There are no minimum GRE scores to meet nor subject exam necessary. Important note--the GRE exam does expire after five years from the actual date the exam was completed so to avoid having to re-take it, please submit your online application prior to your 5 year GRE expiration date. Current general GRE exam scores must be received by UCSB no later than January 1st. GREs taken later than early December may arrive too late to for your application to be considered. Campus code for the GRE is 4835 -- no department code needed. For more information, please consult the GRE website at http://www.gre.org/.
Optional Writing Sample or evidence of other relevant activities. Applicants have the option of submitting a sample of written work that illustrates their ability to excel in global and international studies. This work may be an undergraduate or graduate paper, relevant report, policy analysis, or problem-solving exercise showing practical understanding. If a writing sample is submitted in excess of 15 pages, the applicant should designate which 10-15 pages of the work the Admissions Committee should read. All written work should include a bibliography, footnotes, or references, if applicable. Because materials cannot be returned, applicants should keep a copy of written work. All writing samples must be in English.

International Students Only. Please complete a pre-application prior to starting the admission process. The pre-application will be used to assist you in determining your eligibility for graduate study in the Global and International Studies program prior to submitting the non-refundable $60 application fee. You will be contacted directly by the department regarding your pre-application, and you may then proceed in completing all parts of the graduate online application. Please pay close attention to requirements or procedures pertaining to international applicants.

TOEFL scores (if applicable). Foreign students are held to the same requirements for admission as are students from the United States. In addition to the GRE, foreign students whose native tongue is not English must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and score above 600 on the written test or 250 on the computerized test. Students who have received a bachelor's or master's degree from a U.S. institution are exempt from the TOEFL requirement. Campus code for the TOEFL is 4835 -- no department code needed. If accepted to the MA program, all students whose native language is not English will be required to take the English Language Placement Examination at the beginning of the first quarter in which they are registered. Students must pass the test in order to be eligible for a position as a teaching assistant.
- Download UCSB Grad Division's English as a Second Language Summary of Procedures [pdf] [MS Word]

Master of Arts in Global & International Studies

ADMISSION PROCEDURES

Specific Requirements Include:

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