Financial Aid & Savings | UCSB Summer Sessions

Are you interested in participating in FSSP, but wondering if you are eligible for summer financial aid? UC Santa Barbara offers a range of options designed to empower you to leverage summer to meet your educational goals, while keeping your world-class education affordable.

FSSP students can start strong at UC Santa Barbara by taking advantage of a variety of ways to save in the summer! Students will be considered for financial aid after submitting the 2023–2024 FAFSA, and should do so as soon as possible, but no later than June 30th, 2024. This form is in addition to your 2024–2025 FAFSA, which applies to the academic cycle beginning in Fall 2024.

For additional information, review Financial Aid's informational flyer, or visit UC Santa Barbara's Financial Aid Website. Students will be awarded aid once their file is complete and all the documents have been processed. Generally, students are awarded in mid-July. In 2021, almost $1 million in aid was distributed to FSSP students.

Note: If you are a student who has a Veterans College Fee Waiver, visit the veterans page for more information regarding this benefit.

UC Santa Barbara is excited to offer the Summer Access Grant during Summer 2024, to support students who wish to leverage Summer Sessions to achieve their educational goals. This incentive credits eligible students enrolled in 12 units or more with up to $1000 to offset summer cost-of-living expenses! This incentive is intended to allow you to make the most of your summer by focusing on your coursework, knowing that you are living in substantially subsidized housing while you make progress toward your degree objectives. FSSP students who meet the eligibility requirements listed below will automatically be considered for the incentive.

Eligibility Requirements

UCSB Scholarship Eligible undergraduate
California Resident
Complete 12+ units during Summer Quarter 2024*

*if your registration drops below 12 units, you may lose eligibility for this incentive.

In addition to any federal financial aid you may receive, there are other opportunities to save money while still taking advantage of all FSSP has to offer.

UC Santa Barbara's Summer Grant provides eligible students with up to $3500. The amount awarded is dependent on a student's unit load.

Undergraduates benefit from a 12-unit fee cap! Your FSSP course schedule is customizable, but no matter how many units you choose to take, you'll only pay for a maximum of 12.

A small selection of courses offer scholarships to qualified students, to offset the unit fees associated with the course. These scholarships are intended to reduce barriers to enrollment for students who have passion that exceeds financial resources. Register for one of these special courses by indicating your interest on your course preference form. Once registered, you'll receive instructions on how to apply for a scholarship.

Experiencing Shakespeare (INT 35LT): This 8 unit immersive course supports students in a unique exploration of Shakespearean works on page and stage. It fulfills an Area G and European Traditions General Education requirement.
Utopian Dreaming (INT 37UD): Examine the dream of a perfect society through history, literature, philosophy, and public memory. Worth 5 units, this course fulfills GE requirements for Area E and Writing.
Religion & Technology (INT 37VR): With the aid of virtual reality (VR) headsets, this 5-unit course introduces students to the complex interaction of religion and technology.
Chinese Popular Culture (CHIN 40): Looking to understand the arc of Chinese popular culture, from historic society to the Chinese TikTok of today? This 4 unit course examines the multiplicity of current Chinese popular culture and provides important historical depth.