University of California, Santa BarbaraStudent Guide

Academic dates, campus language, housing, and student-life references for University of California, Santa Barbara. Free for students.

Public Research University in Santa Barbara, CA. Operating on a semester system.

Looking for dorms? Scroll for the dorm and housing breakdown below.

Free for all University of California, Santa Barbara students. No credit card required.

27K+

Total Enrollment

Research University

Institution Type

24

Housing Buildings

Student guide · Fall Quarter 2026 Registration Cycle

The semester, explained for University of California, Santa Barbara

Dates from the active academic calendar, plus the campus language and local details students actually need. Every entry comes from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Relevant term
Fall Quarter 2026 Registration Cycle
Campus terms
43
Local details
40

Academic calendar

Fall Quarter 2026 Registration Cycle runs Apr 27, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026. Calendar aliases that share a date range are grouped together, with every source term still shown.

19 entries
  1. Fall Quarter 2026 Registration CycleRelevant now
  2. Summer Session D 2026
  3. Summer Session A 2026
  4. Summer Session C 2026
  5. Summer Session 2026
  6. Summer Session E 2026
  7. Summer Session F 2026
  8. Summer Session B 2026
  9. Summer Session G 2026
  10. Fall Quarter 2026
  11. Winter Quarter 2027
  12. Spring Quarter 2027
  13. Summer Session D 2027
  14. Summer Session A 2027
  15. Summer Session C 2027
  16. Summer Session E 2027
  17. Summer Session F 2027
  18. Summer Session B 2027
  19. Summer Session G 2027

Add dates to DormWay

Campus language

Search the full glossary. Nothing is sampled or hidden when the search field is empty.

43 terms

6

66 / 65 / 67
Refers to the specific blocks of Isla Vista (e.g., '66 block' of Sabado Tarde).
66/67/68
The block numbers in Isla Vista (e.g., '66 block') used to denote location.
6n
Refers to the 6600 block of Del Playa Drive, a specific area known for high-density student housing and parties.

A

AS
Associated Students, the student-run government and organization body.

C

CAB
Community Affairs Board, an AS entity focused on local volunteerism.
Campus Point
The popular beach and surf spot located on the eastern edge of the campus.
Carrillo
Carrillo Dining Commons, located near the Manzanita Village housing area.
Chi-5
The 'Channel Islands 5' residence halls located on the main campus (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and San Nicolas).

D

DLG
De La Guerra Dining Commons, known for its central location and late-night dining.
DP
Del Playa Drive, the oceanfront street in Isla Vista famous for social life.

E

EOP
Educational Opportunity Program, providing support for first-generation and low-income students.
EVB
Environmental Voters Board, a student group focused on local environmental policy.

F

Freebirds
A legendary late-night burrito and nachos spot located in Isla Vista.
FT
Santa Catalina Towers; the name refers to its former title, Francisco Torres.

G

Gaucho
The official mascot and the term used to refer to any UCSB student.
Gaucho Back
A community safety concept encouraging students to look out for one another.

I

IV
Isla Vista, the square-mile student community adjacent to the campus.

K

KCSB
The campus radio station (91.9 FM), run by students and community members.

M

MCC
The MultiCultural Center, which hosts events and provides space for diverse student groups.

O

Ortega
Ortega Dining Commons, known for its 'grab-and-go' style and central campus location.

P

Portola
Portola Dining Commons, located near the Santa Catalina (FT) towers.

R

RHA
Residence Halls Association, the student organization representing those living in university housing.

S

San Cat
Short for Santa Catalina, the large off-campus residence hall towers.
San Jo
San Joaquin Villages, a student apartment complex near the Santa Catalina towers.
San Mig
Short for San Miguel residence hall, known for its high-rise structure on the main campus.
San Miguel
San Miguel Residence Hall, the other high-rise tower in the Chi-5.
San Nic
San Nicolas Residence Hall, one of the high-rise towers in the Chi-5.
Sands
Sands Beach, a popular beach area located west of the campus and Isla Vista.
Santa Ynez
A university-owned apartment complex typically housing upperclassmen.

T

The 22
Refers to the 2,200-student capacity of the Santa Catalina towers, often used in the context of its social density.
The 24
The 24-hour study room located within the Davidson Library.
The 6-0
A common reference to the 6000 block of Isla Vista, often associated with parties.
The Arbor
A central outdoor walkway and food hub located near the library.
The Arbor
A central campus hub featuring a convenience store and various quick-service food vendors.
The Chi-5
The 'Channel Island Five' residence halls located on the main campus: Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Nicolas, and San Miguel.
The Hub
A multi-purpose performance and event venue located inside the UCen.
The Lagoon
The campus lagoon, a scenic body of water located near the UCen and Manzanita Village.
The Loop
The main commercial area of Isla Vista centered around Pardall Road and Embarcadero Del Norte.
The Reef
A student-run coffee shop and lounge area located in the UCen.
The Sands
A popular beach area located at the western edge of Isla Vista, near the Coal Oil Point Reserve.
The Towers
Commonly refers to San Nicolas and San Miguel, the two tallest residence halls on the main campus.
The UCen
The University Center, which houses various retail food options like Panda Express and Subway.
Trop
Tropicana Gardens or Tropicana Del Norte, private residence halls often housing freshmen and athletes.

Places and practicalities

Buildings, logistics, and other local references drawn from the approved campus snapshot.

40 details
24X
The express bus route that runs between UCSB/Isla Vista and downtown Santa Barbara.
Access Card
The official UCSB student identification card used for dining, building access, and bus fare.
BARC
Billing Accounts Receivable Collections, the system used for paying tuition and fees.
Broida
Broida Hall, the primary building for the Physics department.
Campbell
Campbell Hall, the largest lecture hall on campus, also used for public lectures and films.
Canvas
The primary Learning Management System (LMS) used by professors for course materials and assignments.
carrillo_dining_commons
Carrillo Dining Commons
CSO
Community Service Organization; students who provide safety escorts and campus security.
de_la_guerra_dining_commons
De La Guerra Dining Commons
Gaucho Print
The campus-wide system that allows students to print from their own devices to various stations.
GauchoCard
The official UCSB student identification card used for meals and building access.
GauchoPrint
The campus-wide wireless printing system available in various labs and the library.
GauchoSpace
The legacy Learning Management System (LMS), though largely replaced by Canvas in recent years.
Girvetz
Girvetz Hall, a primary classroom building near the library.
GOLD
Gaucho On-Line Data, the web portal used for course registration, checking grades, and transcripts.
HSSB
Humanities and Social Sciences Building.
Lib
Davidson Library, the main campus library.
MTD
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District; students ride these buses for free with a valid Access Card.
Pardall Tunnel
The main bicycle and pedestrian tunnel connecting the UCSB campus to Isla Vista.
Pass 1
The first and most restricted window for class registration, usually limited to 13.5 units.
Phelps
Phelps Hall, home to many language departments and computer labs.
portola_dining_commons
Portola Dining Commons
Psych
The Psychology Building, located near the campus lagoon.
Psych East/West
The Psychology Building complex, split into two main wings.
RecCen
The Recreation Center, the primary campus gym and fitness facility.
SBMTD
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District; the bus system which students ride for free with a valid GauchoCard.
SRB
Student Resource Building, housing various student life and diversity departments.
Storke Tower
The iconic 190-foot tall bell tower and home to the campus newspaper and radio station.
takeout_at_ortega_commons
Takeout at Ortega Commons
The 24
The 24-hour study room located on the first floor of the Davidson Library.
The 24x
The MTD express bus route that takes students from campus/IV to downtown Santa Barbara.
The Arbor
A central outdoor hub near the library featuring a convenience store and food options.
The Hub
The large multi-purpose venue and food area located inside the UCen.
The Lib
Davidson Library, the main campus library.
The Loop
A shuttle service that runs through Isla Vista and the campus.
The RecCen
The Recreation Center, the primary campus gym and fitness facility.
The SRB
Student Resource Building, housing many student services and organizations.
The UCen
University Center, the campus hub containing the bookstore, food court, and post office.
U-Mail
The official university email system provided to all students for campus communications.
UCen
The University Center, containing the bookstore, food court, and student services.

Quick answers

Useful facts students can verify from the guide above.

What academic term is relevant now?
Fall Quarter 2026 Registration Cycle runs Apr 27, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026.
How much campus context is included?
43 approved campus terms and 40 local details are included in full.
Are all approved campus terms included?
Yes. The complete approved glossary is available in the scrollable, searchable campus-language section.
Where does this guide come from?
Calendar dates, campus terms, and local details come from DormWay's approved campus reference library.

Class of 2030 · University of California, Santa Barbara

You just committed to University of California, Santa Barbara.

The four months ahead don’t need to be one giant open tab. Sign up and we’ll only email you when University of California, Santa Barbara actually needs you to do something this summer — orientation, housing, course registration, immunization. That’s the whole product.

What we’ll email you about

  • Jul 1

    Final High School Transcripts Due

    Required · source

  • Jul 15

    Immunization Records Deadline

    Required · source

  • Sep 1

    UC SHIP Health Insurance Waiver

    Required · source

  • Sep 19

    Fall Move-In Weekend

    Required · source

One email per real deadline. Source link cited every time. We re-check 7 days before each one fires.

Get the Class of 2030 essentials for University of California, Santa Barbara

DormWay tells you when your campus asks you to do something this summer. Then it helps you do it. That's all.

We use AI for dates, not essays. Free for students.

Get to know your university

Assisted

Find a few communities to try at University of California, Santa Barbara

These are things we discovered from public campus sources. We are constantly looking for more.

Tell us what we missed

11 mapped items from 8 public sources

Interest filters
  • Major-aligned clubs, pre-professional groups, and research communities.
  • Performing arts, visual arts, student publications, film, and music.
  • Cultural orgs, identity communities, and faith-based groups.
  • Volunteer groups, civic engagement, mutual aid, and student government.
  • Outdoor clubs, intramural sports, club sports, and rec center programs.
  • Entrepreneurship, hackathon teams, makerspaces, and engineering project teams.
  • Casual hangouts, interest groups, and open events without applications.

Worth a look

A.S. Program Board

A student-operated organization responsible for planning and producing a wide variety of events for the UCSB community, including concerts, films, and lectures.

Source: aspb.as.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

A.S. Senate

The legislative branch of the Associated Students, responsible for passing legislation, approving the budget, and representing the undergraduate student body.

Regular commitment

Source: as.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

UCSB Climbing Team

A competitive team that participates in the USA Climbing Collegiate series, focusing on bouldering, sport, and speed climbing.

Tryout required

Source: shoreline.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

UCSB Men's Club Soccer

Provides students the opportunity to compete at a high level of soccer while fostering teamwork, leadership, discipline, and sportsmanship.

Tryout required

Source: shoreline.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

UCSB Men's Lacrosse

A competitive club team that competes in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) Division I.

Tryout required

Source: ucsblacrosse.com · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

UCSB Sailing Team

A nationally ranked co-ed competitive sailing team that competes in the Pacific Coast Collegiate Sailing Conference (PCCSC).

Tryout required

Source: ucsbsailing.org · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

UCSB Surfing Team

A competitive team that competes in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) college circuit.

Tryout required

Source: shoreline.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

UCSB Women's Rugby

A competitive Division I rugby club that competes in the Pacific Desert Rugby Conference.

Regular commitment

Source: shoreline.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

Learn More

Easy to try first

Week of Welcome (WOW)

An annual tradition at the start of the academic year celebrating new and returning students with a series of workshops, presentations, activities, and events to introduce campus resources.

Drop in any time

Source: orientation.sa.ucsb.edu · Verified 1 month ago

View Events

Resources & spaces

Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS)

Provides timely, culturally appropriate, and effective mental health services to the UCSB student body, including individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, and workshops.

Open to all

UCSB Library

The main academic library on campus, offering millions of volumes, online journals, group study rooms, research assistance, and specialized labs like the Makerspace and DREAM Lab.

Open to all

Using DormWay at University of California, Santa Barbara

What the product handles for students.

Syllabus to schedule

Upload any University of California, Santa Barbara syllabus and get a complete semester breakdown in seconds

Workload planning

Balance your courseload with helpful workload distribution

Free student access

No premium tiers, no paywalls. Free for all University of California, Santa Barbara students

University of California, Santa Barbara on DormWay

Current DormWay activity for this campus

6

Active Students

1

Syllabi Analyzed

1

Courses on DormWay

Browse all courses →

Popular Courses

Browse all →
Laboratory and Field Fundamentals of Evolution and Ecology

DormWay integrates with University of California, Santa Barbara's LMS

Connect your learning management system for automatic assignment syncing

Canvas

Supported

Connect your Canvas account to automatically sync assignments, grades, and course schedules.

Life in Santa Barbara for University of California, Santa Barbara Students

Everything you need to know about living and studying in Santa Barbara.

Timezone

Pacific Time (PT)

Median Rent

$2,400

Cost of Living Index

170

Student Population

25,000

City Transportation

Walkability

58

Bikeability

66

Public Transit

Santa Barbara MTD bus system

Nearest Airports

Santa Barbara Airport

Climate Averages

Climate

Mediterranean (Csb)

Avg Annual Temp

60°F

Avg Snowfall

0 in

Campus Operations Snapshot

Parking and Transit

Lot 22

garage • Limited during events

Multi-story parking structure adjacent to the Thunderdome; primary parking for athletics events.

Lot 27

surface_lot • Limited during events

Known as the Thunderdome Lot; primary parking for athletics events.

Dorms & On-Campus Housing at University of California, Santa Barbara

Various dorm and housing options are available for students.

19 known dorm and housing options. Every known option is shown below.

Anacapa Residence Hall

Capacity: 600

Room types: single, double, triple

El Dorado

Capacity: 140

Room types: Doubles, Small Doubles (limited)

Figueroa Residence Hall

Room types: double, single

Garrido Residence Hall

Room types: double, single

Manzanita

Capacity: 600

Room types: single, double, suite

Manzanita Village

Capacity: 1,100

Room types: triple, double, limited single

Phelps Hall

Capacity: 500

Room types: single, double

San Clemente Villages

Capacity: 964

Room types: Doubles, Small Doubles (limited), Studios (limited)

San Joaquin Villages

Capacity: 1,000

Room types: single, double, shared apartment rooms

San Miguel

Capacity: 475

Room types: triple, double

San Nicolas

Capacity: 525

Room types: triple, double

San Rafael Residence Halls

Capacity: 1,000

Room types: single, double, triple

Santa Catalina

Capacity: 1,475

Room types: double, triple

Santa Cruz Residence Halls

Capacity: 800

Room types: single, double, triple

Santa Rosa Residence Halls

Capacity: 900

Room types: single, double, triple

Santa Ynez Apartments

Capacity: 400

Room types: single, double

University Apartments

Capacity: 1,200

Room types: studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom

University Glen Apartments

Capacity: 600

Room types: single, double

University Village

Capacity: 1,200

Room types: single, double, apartment

Campus Details

Academic System

Semester

Control

Public

Email Domain

@californiasantabarba.edu

Official Website

Visit Website →

Plan your semester at University of California, Santa Barbara

Upload a syllabus, collect the important dates, and build a schedule around the work ahead.