1. resources

New Students

Before Moving

Choosing an advisor

Most students in UCSB Materials choose their advisor before arriving for their first quarter. A large fraction of students choose their faculty advisor through conversations during visit weekend. However, you technically have until the end of fall quarter of your first year to choose and advisor, and it's not uncommon for people to switch advisors during the first quarter. Once you have chosen an advisor, notify the Staff Graduate Program Advisor (academic@engineering.ucsb.edu) of your choice. A co-advisor can be selected at any time, just notify the Staff Graduate Administrator of your choice.

Signing up for housing

We recommend signing up for housing as soon as you decide to attend UCSB. It is highly recommended that you start your campus housing application once you intend to come to UCSB, though you may have to formally submit your Statement of Intent to Register before applying. If you choose not to live on campus, see further information below about the local housing market.

San Clemente Villages (single graduate students)

Not glamorous, but cheap (about $200 per month cheaper than equivalent off-campus options) for the area and extremely convenient location. Most students live here the first 1-2 years. Can do 2bd or 4bd apartments. All ESAs and other service animals are welcome, but unregistered pets are not allowed. As of 2022, the housing in SCV is no longer guaranteed for incoming graduate students and you may be waitlisted. Applications for incoming students are considered on a first-come, first-serve basis. The priority deadline for incoming students is May 15th. Rooms should be assigned by early August. Early move-in can be requested. Be sure to check the housing application website frequently for updates on application deadlines.

Family Student Housing

Family housing is easily the most affordable option in the area. Students with any long term partner can qualify (no need to be married or have children). If you are not yet a student, you can apply and your application will be added to a waitlist (according to application date) once you are accepted to UCSB. This is highly encouraged due to estimated wait time. Small caged animals such as hamsters, turtles, small birds, and fish are always allowed, and exceptions can be made for service or emotional support animals. There is a waitlist for Family Housing so be sure to sign up as soon as possible. You can join the waitlist at any time. 

Off-Campus Housing

If you are waitlisted or do not wish to live in campus housing, there are options for apartments or rooms for rent in Isla Vista, Goleta, and Santa Barbara. The housing market changes rapidly, and most places are looking for tenants who are ready to move in ASAP, so we recommend starting your housing search about a month out from your desired move-in date. Check out UCSB's rental website, which mostly has listings in Isla Vista but some other areas as well. Other options can be found on Apartments.com, Facebook, or Craigslist, but be cautious, as scammers are prevalent in this competitive market. Refer to the Guide to Gradschool document for tips on avoiding housing scams.

Co-op housing is another option. Co-op housing is run by the members of that house and all members are elected to positions to delegate responsibilities, such as treasurer, food shopper, gardener, etc. Chores are shared between members of the house. Monthly rates range from $790 to $1498 depending on what room configuration and house are chosen.

Signing up for classes

Choosing classes

MATRL 200 series (everyone takes these, 1 per quarter the first year) Most students take 2-3 classes per quarter their first year, depending on the course difficulty. Choose classes based on your sub-specialty (structural, electronic/photonic, functional/quantum, macro/bio) or a combination if your work is interdisciplinary. Recommended courses for the different tracks can be found in the graduate student manual. Talk to senior students in your group and your advisor about what classes will be most helpful for your research, and what a manageable course-load looks like.

Signing up for classes

Go to GOLD to register and see what classes are available for the upcoming quarter. If a class needs an add code, email Alex Huddleston for that code. You can only register for classes during certain windows and this information is found in GOLD under the "Registration" tab. Late registration earns a $50 fee.

Parking Permits

Parking permits are now "E-permits" and use your license plate as your permit rather than a physical sticker or token.

H Permit - If you live in university-owned housing (San Clemente Villages or Family Housing) you will get an H permit for the parking lot associated with your residence. This permit lets you park in that lot specifically or in any campus lot on nights and weekends. The H permit does not cost extra and is applicable to one vehicle.

Graduate Night and Weekend - Lets you park in university lots after 5pm and on weekends. Cannot also have an H permit. This permit expires and must be renewed every year, usually around June.

Other Permits - For students living off campus, other permits such as the Carpool permit, and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) are available. See the guide to grad school or the Transportation and Parking Services (TPS) website for more information on these options.

First Month in SB

Establishing CA Residency

This section does not apply to international students. If you are an out-of-state student, you are required to become a CA resident for tuition purposes. This means you must fill out the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) before the deadline (mid-September for Fall Quarter) to establish "intent to reside in CA by the following year, when you can reapply for residence. See the UC Residency Policy and Residency Requirements, and the Guide to Grad School for more information.

Biking and Public Transit

Biking is the best way to get around campus and the immediate area. There's a cheap ($40 + $10 registration fee) bike sale at the beginning of every quarter for impounded bikes. Cheap bikes are usually available on FB Marketplace, UCSB Free/For Sale, Goleta Swap, and there are plenty of bike shops near IV (IV Bicycle Boutique is known to have cheap bikes).

During the school year your student ID is a free bus pass (you'll need to purchase rides from the SBMTD during the summer). Routes to know: 24x is the express from campus to the transit center downtown, and the 11 can get you from San Clemente to the airport, among other places. Other routes can be found on the SBMTD website.

Grocery Stores

The only walkable grocery store from San Clemente and Isla Vista (aside from the more corner-store-like markets) is the Isla Vista co-op. Delicious and fair-trade food, but tends to be a bit more expensive. Albertsons, Smart & Final, and Target are all short bike rides away and are bus accessible. More information on other grocery stores and specialty markets can be found in the Guide to Grad School.

Car Registration and Driver's License

If you bring your car to California, you are obligated to register it with the state. The longer you wait to register, the higher the fees. You can find all of this information on the DMV website and print out the necessary forms. They will give you California license plates and take your current state's license plate(s). If you are coming from a state that only required rear license plates, make sure you are able to attach the front license plate to your car (i.e. you have screws, license plate holder, etc). The following are the documents you will need to bring to the DMV:

  • Car Title - they will take your current title and mail you a California title within a month.
  • Smog Certificate - For first-time car registration in CA, you'll need to get a smog check ($30-$60). After that you'll need a new smog check every two years.
  • Application for Title or Registration - fill this out in advance
  • Statement of Facts - only needed if you are changing vehicle ownership
  • Verification of Vehicle - fill out at the DMV
  • Proof of Insurance - they will give this back to you

You don't have to get a California driver's license when moving here, but many people choose to. Make sure you get a REAL ID, which will be required to travel by air soon and has slightly stricter identification processes.

Orientation and Training

Orientation usually occurs the week before classes start in Fall quarter. For experimentalists, start the training process for equipment and labs early since it can take a while and will hold up your research until it's done. If you arrive early, you need to take the online safety training before you are legally allowed to work in the labs. You can find the training by going to the UC Learning Center and looking up "UC Laboratory Safety Fundamentals Initial" under "Find a Course". You will need to get a passing grade and the course is valid for three years. Live safety training is required even if you did the online version (**Not applicable during COVID). You are automatically enrolled in this training which will occur during orientation week. Check with the guide to grad school and your group members to learn about more lab-specific safety trainings.

First Quarter

Getting an access card

First, fill out an access card application and email it to the access desk, who will probably ask if the department is paying for it (they're not, but they should reimburse you). Once you have the card, follow your specific building's protocol for getting building and room access.**

**Pro tip: request access to one room at a time so that access for each isn't held up by an approval to all the others -- and don't request access to a room until you've been trained/oriented for that one or they won't approve it.

Coursework and starting off strong

So you've moved in, started exploring, hopefully been to the beach more than a few times now, and before you know it, first quarter hits! Your biggest concern at this point is your classes; although you'll ease your way into research shortly, starting off strong in your coursework lays an important foundation. Many students take two to three classes in their first quarter (typically 200A and two electives from their core curriculum) so that they can have more time for research in their following quarters, but be sure to talk with your PI and group members to make sure your course-load is appropriate for your group.

Before long in the 200 series, the diversity of your cohort will become apparent. Students come from a variety of backgrounds: some have already taken equivalent courses in undergrad or a master's program, and some have never opened a materials science textbook. If you belong to the latter group, do not worry! The department selected you for a reason, and you are capable of catching up, even if you have to work hard. It is ok to spend the majority of your time studying and working on problem sets right now even if your advisor tries to push research - do what you need to do to learn! You are earning a doctoral degree, and knowing the fundamentals of materials science is essential.

Don't be afraid to ask for help from your more experienced peers or group members as well. Most cohorts find their true bonding occurs during hours spent over homework together, and some of the best learning comes from discussing, struggling, and achieving with others. Establish good study habits, time management, and you will do well!

Social events

While at times classes will be overwhelming and it will be tempting to study constantly, make sure to get our of your room, meet new people, and give yourself a break too! MSA puts on a number of social events throughout the year, which provide a great way to start building relationships outside of the classroom and lab (and usually involve free food, too!).

Shortly into the Fall quarter the department puts on a memorial 5k race to celebrate the life of Prof. Tony Evans, followed by a barbeque at Goleta beach. Join for the run, the food, or both - this is a great welcome event and opportunity to meet older students in the department. First quarter usually also features a beach bonfire put on by older students to welcome the first years called "Sparkle and Swim" which features the seasonal bioluminescent algae at Ellwood Beach. This tradition has become one of the most treasured student events and has grown to include friends in other departments as well; you don't want to miss it!

Affinity Groups

Mental Health

First quarter is hard. Just about every student in the program will tell you that it was their most difficult time but also that things will only get better from here! Remember that you’re doing your best and that you are here for a reason.

Mental health is extremely important in graduate school. There is no "typical" grad student, and the wide variability of projects, advisors, backgrounds, and other contributing factors can make two students' grad school experiences very different. Weighing and comparing your mental health struggles against those of other students is a recipe for distress. No issues are too large or too small to be "worth" seeking help for.

Both psychology and psychiatry services are available to graduate students and are generally covered by the University Health Insurance. Psychology is managed by Counseling and Psychology Services (CAPS), while psychiatric care is managed through the Student Health Center (SHS).

UCSB SHS also covers LiveHealthOnline and Lyra, which are both telehealth services that require no referral and have a quick turn-around time for appointments. There is no copay for these services.

To be seen by either type of specialist, you will need to do an initial brief assessment that typically happens the same day that you first start the process. They will then recommend some best options for you, and you can start seeing a specialist within 1-2 weeks, depending on availability.

Referrals to many off-campus services and providers for long-term care are also covered by the University insurance. If you have an external provider in mind already, you can email CAPS for a referral with very quick turnaround. Often, off-campus specialists are easier to schedule, though you will pay a $15 co-pay per visit (on-campus is free). These options can be explored regardless of if you have gone through the initial intake process through the on-campus services. (Note: on campus therapists are in very high demand and you may get faster care by going off-campus immediately).

The UCSB Student Wellbeing site has a great collection of links to various university programs and services, ranging from stress management to more urgent needs such as the Distressed Student Guide (see below).

UCSB Distressed Student Guide provides very succinct instructions and links for how to seek help if you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from an urgent mental health crisis.

UCSB Mental Health Peers provide an amazing set of resources for navigating the mental health challenges of graduate school. The peers have easily accessible drop-in hours where they meet with you individually and provide a listening ear. They can also help you get connected with longer-term professional care.

SHS: Student Health Services

The Student Health Center has a number of health practitioners and services, and is conveniently located within walking distance of San Clemente Housing. Graduate students can have a primary-care provider through SHS. SHS can help you with dental, vision, physical therapy, blood tests, flu shots, annual checkups, and more. A full list of services can be found on their website. Most graduate students start at SHS for health care, but other hospital centers exist within the area such as Cottage Health and Sansum Clinic, which both have urgent care centers for mild emergencies outside of SHS hours.

IMPORTANT: if you want to see a provider for specific problems that SHS cannot address, you typically still need to be referred by an SHS physician/RN for insurance purposes!

The UC SHIP health insurance provided to graduate students (free to us) is good for routine checkups and services. At SHS, they will refer you to in-network providers where the copays are generally not expensive.

  • The vision insurance gets you $120 towards new glasses or contacts, and an annual exam with a small copay
  • Annual dental cleanings come with a small copay
  • The physical therapy center is great and very inexpensive!
  • Urgent-care centers such as Sansum Clinic's or Cottage Health's come with a copay ($25 in 2021) if in-network. Cottage and Sansum were both in-network as of 2021. Emergency rooms are $200 in and out of network but the copay is waived at an in-network hospital if you are admitted.
First Year

Classes

The first year is (generally) expected to be class-heavy. Pay attention to registration pass times - don't get a late fee! See them on GOLD in the registration tab.

TAing

Materials students are only required to TA for 1 quarter during their program. People usually do this in their first or second years, unless they're on a fellowship that lasts three years like NSF, in which case they may TA in their 4th, or (rarely) 5th. Most students will TA for the Materials graduate classes because we have no Materials major undergraduate students. Some classes are also cross-listed in Chemistry, ECE, etc. Don't worry if your background is not in Materials, you will likely only TA for a graduate class that you've already taken, or perhaps for one of the Materials "primer" courses which could be closer to what you studied in undergrad.

Prelims

At the end of first year spring, start thinking about who to put on your committee. Committees are chosen by you (and advice from your advisor). The prelim committee is three professors including your advisor(s). The Materials Graduate Student handbook provided by the department gives more information on this topic.

Outreach

Grad school is a great opportunity to get involved and possibly inspire or assist others to get into science as well. Below are a few ideas for getting involved:

  • Join the MSA Outreach Committee! email the MSA (materials-msa@ucsb.edu)
  • Check out the Outreach Opportunities spreadsheet put together by the MSA Outreach Committee
  • Since the MRL is an MRSEC facility, we engage in a lot of outreach. This is mostly spearheaded by Dotti Pak. Email her (or respond to her pleas for volunteers) for great opportunities to work with students of all ages.
  • CNSI also hosts the Center for Science and Engineering Partnerships which run a lot of mentorship programs, outreach, and trainings.

The Materials Student Association

The MSA welcomes all student participation across all years and sectors of the department! There are multiple committees, which can be found on the MSA website. Contact materials-msa@ucsb.edu with your interest and look out for regular newsletters with more information about events!

Explore

Other stuff to explore: farmers markets, UCSB Adventure programs rentals include camping gear, and also surfboards, stand-up paddle boards etc. on Campus Point Beach, hiking areas like Inspiration Point or Rattlesnake Canyon, network of bike paths around Goleta and Santa Barbara, the botanical gardens, rock climbing areas like Lizard’s Mouth and the Brickyard. Join the carpool from campus to the indoor climbing gym downtown (reach out to Rebecca Vincent if interested in climbing). Get a SB Library card! You get several benefits from it (free NYTimes and LATimes, etc.) You can also get an e-library card through Goleta Valley Library which gives you access to reading apps like Libby for e-books and audio books.  Since many apartments don’t allow pets, lots of students volunteer at local animal shelters.

 Helpful Links