What is the minimum GPA you will accept?

The minimum GPA the University will allow is a 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) calculated from your junior and senior years. The average GPA for admitted MESM students is 3.5, and the average for admitted Ph.D. students is 3.7.

What is the minimum GRE score you will accept?

We have no minimum score. The average combined verbal and quantitative score is 1200 for our admitted MESM students and 1350 for Ph.D. students. The EES Ph.D. Training Program looks for very high quantitative scores.

Do I need to take a GRE subject test?

No. We only require the general exam.

What are your GRE institution and department codes?

Institution code: 4835 (UC Santa Barbara)
Department code: 0502 (Environmental Sciences)

What is a TOEFL? What is an IELTS?

The TOEFL and IELTS are examinations for international applicants who are from a non-English speaking country and/or did not receive an undergraduate degree from an institution whose primary language of instruction is English. Applicants must take the TOEFL or the ILETS. The TOEFL is the  Test of English as a Foreign Language. The University requires a minimum score of 550 (paper test) or 213 (computer test), but the Bren School looks for scores much higher than that. The IELTS is the International English Language Testing System.  The University requires a minimum Overall Band Score of 7.0 or higher.  Scores for either examination may be no more than two years old at the time of application.

How long should the Statement of Purpose be?

The Statement of Purpose should be at least one page but no more than two. The longer it is, the less likely it will be read all the way through by the admissions committee. Your Statement should explain what your goals are and how the Bren School will help you achieve them. If you had an experience (internship, study abroad, etc.) that led to your desire for a career in the environmental field, please include it in your Statement.

Applicants to the Ph.D. program must include the name of the faculty member(s) they wish to work with on the Statement cover sheet. If you are applying for the EES program, please include "EES" in the Emphasis line on the Statement cover sheet.

Do I need to answer Question 2 on the UCSB application?

No. We need only your Statement of Purpose and your current resume or curriculum vitae (Questions 1 and 3).

Do all 3 Letters of Recommendation need to be from faculty members?

We would like to have at least one letter from a faculty member who knows your academic abilities; we realize that applicants who have been out of school for a number of years will have difficulty obtaining this. Letters should be from people (i.e. former/current employer, volunteer supervisor, etc.) who can comment on your work ethic, ability, dedication, charisma, etc.

What are the prerequisites for the Ph.D. program?

Any prerequisite coursework is faculty-specific, so you should review the web page of the faculty member you wish to work with for their entrance requirements. A master’s degree is not required for admittance to the Ph.D. program.

What is the application deadline?

All Ph.D. applicants should submit their applications by the December 15 deadline, so they may be eligible for the University fellowship competition.  Applications wil be accepted until January 10 but later applicants are not eligible for the fellowship competition.

MESM applicants must submit their application by the January 10.

Is there any financial aid for Bren students?

The MESM is a professional degree and, like most professional degree programs, there is little to no funding for students. We have some grant and fellowship money for applicants who apply by February 1, but it is limited and is awarded to the top applicants.

The Ph.D. program is primarily funded through faculty research grants. Faculty support their students through Graduate Student Researcher positions. If a faculty member does not have grant funding, he/she will usually not take on any students. Please review the web page of the faculty member you wish to work with to see if they are accepting new students.

What is a FAFSA?

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid -- the application for federal student loans for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Most of our domestic MESM students finance their education with student loans. MESM and Ph.D. students who would like to be considered for University and School grant money must complete a FAFSA so that we can determine "need" (even if you do not wish to take out loans). If you do not have the Student Aid Report (SAR--a form sent to you before you receive your loan), we are unable to determine your need, and you will not be eligible for other sources of financial support. The FAFSA is due March 2 for loans made during the following academic year.

Can I get a Teaching Assistantship?

The Bren School does not have an undergraduate program, so we have few TAships to offer our students. The few that we have are for our core courses and are usually awarded to Bren Ph.D. students. MESM and Ph.D. students may apply for TA positions in other departments on campus by contacting the departments directly. Exceptions are the Departments of Geography and Environmental Studies; please contact the Bren School if you wish to apply for TAships in either of these departments. Other departments in which our students have found TA positions are: Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology (EEMB); Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology (MCDB); Geology; Economics; Political Science; Law and Society; Black Studies; Writing Program; German; and Film Studies.

Can I get a Graduate Student Researcher position?

Most Bren Ph.D. students work as a GSR for their advisors. While these positions are generally given to Ph.D. students, some MESM students have worked as GSRs. If you are interested in being a GSR, you should contact the faculty member (in the Bren School or other department) doing research in an area that you are interested in and/or have experience in to see if they need any more GSRs.

If I am admitted, may I defer my admittance for one year?

No. The University does not allow us to defer admittance. If you are unable to attend during the quarter you were admitted for, we will keep your application materials (letters of recommendation, Statement of Purpose, transcripts, etc.) on file for one year. To reactivate your application, you must complete a new on-line application and pay the application fee. Your application will be reviewed by the admissions committee; however, since you would be competing in a different applicant pool, admission is not guaranteed.

What kind of job can I get when I graduate from the MESM program?

The MESM is a flexible degree, and our alumni are working in many areas of the environmental field. Some examples of what you can do with an MESM degree are to work for an environmental consulting firm as a planner or a staff biologist; the local, state, or federal government in water resources, solid waste, planning, air quality, hazardous waste, or fisheries management; a non-profit developing community programs or community outreach; and industry in their environmental divisions helping them comply with environmental regulations. Placement statistics are available on the Career Development section of the web site.  What you do with the degree is up to you, and our Career Development Program can help you get there!

If you have specific questions about Bren degree programs, or would like to be included on our email list to receive notices of Open Houses and Bren Information Sessions, please complete our on-line request form.