Mechanical Engineering

The undergraduate mechanical engineering program at UC Santa Barbara offers a balanced curriculum, including both theory and application. This includes preparation in basic science, math, computing and writing; a comprehensive set of engineering science and laboratory courses; and a series of engineering design courses starting in the freshman year and concluding with a three  quarter design course sequence in the senior year.

Our students gain hands-on expertise utilizing state-of-the-art tools for computational design, analysis and manufacturing that are increasingly used in industry, government and academic institutions. In addition, the Department has a 15-unit elective program that allows students to gain depth in areas listed below, while maintaining appropriate breadth in the basic STEM areas of the discipline.

As their engineering knowledge base expands, many junior and senior students participate in research and design projects sponsored by department faculty researchers. The senior Capstone Program provides seniors with a one-year long design project which emphasizes team-based engineering design work over a wide range of applications. The Capstone Program encompasses competition-based projects, such as mini-baja and supermileage vehicles, biomedical technology, aerospace, microdevices, and many other opportunities for students to focus their mechanical engineering education. The program has developed extensive partnerships with industry to emphasize entrepreneurial product-oriented projects, as well as fostering industrial mentorship of student efforts.

The undergraduate program in mechanical engineering is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. 

Requirements

• Completion of Secondary Attestat with a minimum average of at least 4
• Completion of at least 5 General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE, GCSE, O-Levels) and at least 3 General Certificate of Education (GCE, A-Levels) with a minimum average of B and with no grade below C
• Completion of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma with minimum average of 5.0 with no individual grade below 4.0 and a minimum of five IB exams, with at least two taken at the higher level. Exams must be taken in academic subjects comparable to the ‘a-g’ course pattern required for freshman eligibility. UCSB uses grades leading up to the final year to determine if a student will be eligible for admission along with predicted grades for year 12. 
• All applicants must submit scores from the ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test.
• Proficiency in English may be demonstrated by taking the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The minimum accepted score for admission consideration for the TOEFL is 80 or better on the Internet-based test and 550 or better on the paper-based test. 
• Proficiency may also be demonstrated with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. The minimum accepted score for the IELTS is 6.5 or better band score (academic modules).

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Scholarships

• Regents Scholarship