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Bolin Liao and student in lab working on optical bench

Choose a Degree of Study

The Department of Mechanical Engineering offers programs leading to the degrees of M.S. and Ph.D. with a specialization in any of the following six areas of research:

UCSB Mechanical Engineering Degrees Offered:

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person working on optical bench

Degree Requirements

Understand the degree requirements for a M.S. and/or Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at UCSB before applying.

Choose a Faculty Advisor

Read about choosing an advisor and area of research. Reach out to the UCSB Mechanical Engineering professors with whom you would like to study and ask them about their goals and their personal style of mentorship. Faculty in the department look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with talented and motivated graduate students. Important goals we envision for our PhD students include:

  1. A thorough understanding of current literature and the identification of fundamental research problems.
  2. The development of a strong theoretical and experimental background and the proposal of innovative solutions to challenging problems.
  3. The presentation and publication of research in the most prestigious journals and conferences.
  4. The development of teaching, laboratory, personal communication, team work and presentation skills.

Explore

Graduate Fellowships

The Department invites applications from keen students and offers a number of attractive fellowships and teaching and research assistantships. All applicants will be considered for financial aid during the review process. Our Department strives to create an environment attractive to all students, independently of race, gender, age, religion, socioeconomic status, and more. We strongly encourage underrepresented minorities and people with different cultures and backgrounds to apply.

It is our experience that students enjoy UC Santa Barbara’s tradition of open collaboration and interdisciplinary research. Santa Barbara is a beautiful coastal campus with many cultural and recreational opportunities to augment student life. The overall environment is very supportive of scholarly and creative work.

UCSB Graduate Division

The UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division office is a central campus resource for students seeking admission for graduate degrees. Carefully review their admissions information, the academic services offered for admitted students, and financial information about fees and costs to attend UCSB as a graduate student.

Graduate Tuition & Financial Support

Fall 2026 Virtual Admissions Webinar Series

UC Santa Barbara Graduate Division will be hosting live webinars providing prospective students with guidance on the application process and graduate study at UCSB:
  • Wednesday, September 9, 2026
  • Wednesday, November 18, 2026
  • Tuesday, December 8, 2026

All sessions will be held from 10:00–11:15 AM. You can view the full details and registration links here.

UCSB Virtual Graduate Open House

Discover the vibrant community, high-impact research, and world-class graduate programs at UC Santa Barbara. Whether you are ready to apply this term or just starting to explore your options, our virtual Open House is your opportunity to connect directly with academic departments, student support centers, and the Graduate Division team. 

  • Tuesday, October 13, 2026 8:30 AM- 4:00 PM (PDT) 

Virtual event via Zoom Events, register here

Diversity

The Department of Mechanical Engineering is committed to promoting excellence through diversity, equity, and inclusion, including our graduate program.

Commitment

College of Engineering statement

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Bolin Liao (Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering)

Katelynn Ellison (Student Affairs Manager)
Department of Mechanical Engineering
University of California
Engineering II Bldg., Room 2355
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-5070