About Economics at University of California, Santa Barbara
Economics trains students to analyse markets, policy, finance and human behaviour with quantitative methods, and opens careers in finance, consulting, government, international organisations and research.
At University of California, Santa Barbara (QS World University Rankings 2026: #179) in Santa Barbara, Economics is one of the subject areas international students choose most. UC Santa Barbara is a University of California campus on the Pacific coast.
Degree levels for Economics
- Bachelor’s — typical length in the US: 4 years
- PhD — typical length in the US: usually 5–6 years
Program names, specialisations and exact length differ by department — check the official program page before applying.
Admission requirements for Economics at UC Santa Barbara
- Bachelor’s: apply through the UC Application with transcripts, essays, recommendations and English scores.
- Master’s / PhD: a relevant bachelor’s degree, statement of purpose, recommendations, CV and English scores; some programs ask for the GRE. PhD applicants should show research experience and interests.
- English: TOEFL iBT around 80–100 or IELTS Academic 6.5–7.0 (requirements vary by program).
Fees and funding
University tuition (undergraduate, university-wide): Approx. $46,000 – $52,000 per year (non-resident undergraduate tuition and fees). Graduate and professional fees for Economics are set separately by the school. PhD students are usually funded through fellowships and teaching or research assistantships. Limited merit scholarships for international undergraduates; graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships.
Careers and work after graduation
F-1 graduates can apply for up to 12 months of OPT. Some programs in this field are STEM-designated — check the program’s CIP code to see if the STEM OPT extension applies.
Apply for Economics at UC Santa Barbara with GIEC Global
GIEC Global offers free counselling, program shortlisting, SOP guidance, application support and F-1 visa assistance for Economics at University of California, Santa Barbara.
