The Bioengineering Ph.D. program at UC Santa Barbara is an interdisciplinary program situated at the intersection of engineering and the sciences. It leverages existing strong collaborative relationships across these fields at UCSB to provide advanced didactic and research training. The program aims to foster deep knowledge and expertise in Biological Engineering, drawing on strengths in biophysics, biomaterials, biomolecular discovery, and computational and experimental systems biology. The field of Bioengineering is rapidly advancing biological science and biomedicine by applying engineering principles, novel technologies, and models. Conversely, biology offers a rich source of new concepts, mechanisms, and materials for engineering applications. Researchers in this program combine engineering approaches for and from biology to achieve fundamental scientific breakthroughs and translate discoveries into practical applications in medicine and biotechnology.
Graduates from the Bioengineering program are prepared for careers at the forefront of scientific advancement and technological innovation in medicine and biotechnology.
GRE General Test is not required. Exemptions to English proficiency requirement considered for students with undergraduate or graduate education from institutions where English is the primary language of instruction. TOEFL, IELTS, and Duolingo scores are valid for two years from the date of the exam and must be no more than two years old at the time of application.
Campus-based fees support student services and facilities. Specific fee amounts are updated each academic year.
You need an undergraduate degree with prerequisites in Biology (cell biology, molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry), at least one Chemistry course, Mathematics through differential equations, and a Programming course or equivalent experience.
If English is not your native language, you must provide scores from TOEFL (iBT 80), IELTS (7.0), or Duolingo English Test (120). Scores are valid for two years and must be submitted by the testing agency.
The application deadline for Fall admission is December 15. Ensure all supporting materials are submitted by this date.
Specific tuition and campus-based fee amounts are updated annually. Please refer to the university's official fee schedules for the most current information.
Graduates are prepared for roles such as biomedical researchers, biotechnology specialists, medical device developers, and pharmaceutical scientists.