Visiting the Bren School Prospective PhD students are strongly encouraged to visit the Bren School in person. Because the school offers a mentored program, each student spends a great deal of time working with his or her faculty advisor over the course of several years of doctoral study. It is therefore particularly valuable for students to meet their advisor to ensure a good fit for both parties. As a Bren PhD student, you’ll spend most of your time at Bren Hall. We recommend that you take some time to familiarize yourself with the physical environment and facilities of both the Bren School and UCSB. The Bren School does not hold a summer session, so many faculty are away from campus from mid-June until late September. The best time to visit is usually during fall through spring quarters. Be sure to contact your prospective faculty advisor FIRST to arrange meetings prior to committing to your visit. You will find the Bren faculty and staff most helpful in arranging your visit and in supporting you while you are here. We look forward to hearing from you and making your stay an enjoyable one. For more information on arranging a visit, please contact your prospective advisor using the information on his or her faculty page. Once you have secured a scheduled visit, please contact the Bren School Graduate Advisor by e-mail or by calling (805) 893-7611.
Visiting UCSB and Santa Barbara For detailed information regarding travel to Santa Barbara and UCSB, including lodging, maps, parking instructions, etc., please go to the UCSB Visitor’s Center page. Other great resources for visitors to Santa Barbara are the Chamber of Commerce web sites here and here.
Getting to and from Santa Barbara For those traveling by air, the three closest airports to Santa Barbara are: Santa Barbara Airport (SBA): 601 Firestone Rd. Burbank (BUR): Burbank Bob Hope Airport Los Angeles (LAX): Los Angeles International Airport 1 World Way Los Angeles, CA 90045 (310) 646-5252 Santa Barbara Airport (SBA) — about a 5-minute bus ride to campus Santa Barbara is the most convenient, but generally expensive. However, it is worthwhile to compare prices at all three airports, taking into account the cost of the Airbus or Amtrak. Often the additional cost of getting to Santa Barbara from one of the airports listed below decreases the difference of the extra cost of the ticket from flying into SBA directly (see bus service information below). Burbank (BUR) — about a 13/4-hour drive to Santa Barbara Burbank offers easy access to the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, which stops one block from Burbank airport. The train stops twice in this area, first in downtown Santa Barbara, and then closer to campus, in Goleta. Please check the Amtrak web site for schedules and other details. Los Angeles (LAX) — about a 2-hour drive to Santa Barbara, depending on traffic The Santa Barbara Airbus shuttles passengers to and from LAX several times every day.
Getting around Santa Barbara Transportation via the local MTD bus is a great way to travel to and from UCSB. An MTD express bus (Line 24X) to UCSB departs several times a day from the downtown station. See a map and schedule. The 11 bus runs from Santa Barbara Airport to UCSB North Hall. See a map and schedule. Getting to and from UCSB via bus is most convenient if you are lodging is close to a bus stop. (For example, local campgrounds are not near any bus lines). Taxis do run between downtown and UCSB and the airport and UCSB, but the downtown run can be pricey. Local taxi companies include the following: Blue Dolphin Cab 321 W Carrillo St Crown Cab Co 215 Castillo St # 1 (805) 689-0234 Some visitors find it most convenient to have personal transportation. Renting a car is a good option, especially if you plan to spend some additional time exploring the area. See more information about transportation choices within Santa Barbara.
Parking on Campus UCSB parking can be confusing, so please read the information carefully. Parking for visitors is $8.oo for the day. The best place to park is either in the Mesa parking structure (Lot 18) or in Lot 16, both of which are located across Ocean Road from the Recreation Center. Directions to the parking structure are as follows: 1) Enter the campus via Hwy 217 2) Turn right at the roundabout at the entrance to campus onto Mesa Road 3) Follow this around until you reach Ocean Road (the third signal) and turn left 4) Turn left again at the first signal; this will put you between Lot 16 and Lot 18. Park in either of these lots and purchase an all-day permit at one of the permit dispensers. Make sure not to park in a space marked “S only ” or “A only .” See a map of the UCSB campus and parking lot location. Please keep in mind that it takes about 15-20 minutes to walk from the parking lot to Bren Hall.
Lodging in Santa Barbara There are many options for lodging in Santa Barbara and Goleta. See a list of local hotels. Additionally, Hot Spots reservation service (800-793-7666) can help you find some good lodging deals in town. The City of Goleta is closer to campus, but downtown Santa Barbara is noted for its scenic charm and rich possibilities for entertainment. Also available is the Santa Barbara Hostel in downtown Santa Barbara. The least expensive option is camping, which is available 20 minutes west of UCSB at El Capitan State Beach, 25 minutes west at El Refugio State Beach, and 25 minutes east at Carpinteria State Beach. Also refer to www.santabarbara.com and www.sbchamber.org/visitors/ for information regarding area lodging. Prospective Students - Phd | Excellence | Research Expertise | Program Details | Admissions |
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