How to Enroll

After completing UC Santa Barbara’s Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), completing the Statement of Legal Residence (SLR), and activating a UCSBnetID through the UCSB Identity Manager, incoming freshmen can apply to FSSP via the following steps beginning April 13, 2026: 

1. Complete the quick online enrollment application. Please note that you will need to sign up for an account to complete the application (we recommend using your UCSB email for this account). 

2. Complete two FAFSA or CADAA forms! To be considered for financial aid for FSSP, you must complete a FAFSA for 2025 – 2026 by June 30, 2026. Please note that this is in addition to the 2026 – 2027 FAFSA, which provides aid beginning in Fall 2026.

3. Once your enrollment application has been approved, review the FSSP Course Offerings and Advising Resources to submit your Course Preference Form. Students will then be registered in courses based on their submissions on a first-come, first-served basis.

FSSP is a six-week-long program. Participants will move in on Friday, July 31, 2026, and move out on Saturday, September 12th, 2026.

Yes, FSSP is a fully residential program. All participants are required to stay in the San Nicolas Residence Hall for the duration of FSSP and the academic year. 

All program participants will enjoy a meal plan that includes 17 meals per week, redeemable at the De La Guerra Commons.

The total cost to participate in FSSP is a combination of both fixed and variable amounts, and is unique to each student’s housing election, number of units, and financial aid package (where applicable). The program also offers several Financial Aid & Savings opportunities designed to increase program accessibility. 

FSSP Fixed Costs: 

• $25.00 non-refundable application fee

• $50.00 non-refundable programming and activity fee

• $33.87 student technology fee

• $575.09 campus-based fee

• $561.76 Estimated UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP)

  • This fee reflects the 2025 cost, and will be updated with the 2026 amount when available.

  • This fee can be waived for eligible students. Please review the waiver process and associated deadlines as soon as possible to avoid late fees and/or missed deadlines. 

FSSP Variable Costs:

• $291.00 per-unit course fee

• FSSP students can choose to take 7-13 units. All students benefit from in-state tuition rates and a 12-unit fee cap during the summer months.

• Check out our Summer Sessions Fee Estimator for a tuition fee estimation.

• $4105.00 triple occupancy or $4611.00 double occupancy housing and meal fees

Summer Financial Aid packages are available to qualified students during FSSP. To be considered for Summer Financial Aid, a student must have a 2025 – 2026 FAFSA or CADAA on file by June 30, 2026. This is in addition to the 2026 – 2027 FAFSA, which provides aid beginning in Fall 2026. Please refer to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships for additional summer aid information. 

The Office of Summer Sessions also offers several cost-saving opportunities for FSSP participants, including the Summer Access Grant and several course scholarships.

The FSSP curriculum consists of INT 95A (mandatory for all program participants), a wide variety of lower-division academic courses that fulfill general education and/or major-specific requirements, and optional First Year Discovery Seminars. There are over 60 unique courses for FSSP students to choose from, and all courses taken during FSSP count as units towards your degree.

Prospective and admitted FSSP students can learn more about academics and course registration, which will soon include our 2026 FSSP Course Offerings. In the meantime, you can review our 2025 Course Offerings for insight and context into what courses are typically offered during FSSP. Summer Sessions advisors are here to support you during the course selection process and have also compiled a custom list of FSSP Advising Resources for your reference.

FSSP students can enroll in 7-13 units during the program. While the average FSSP student takes between 10 and 11 units, any amount in the allowable range is appropriate.

INT 95A - The Modern Research University, is a required 2-unit course for all FSSP students. In this course, students will discover what it means to study at a leading research university. Through discussions with faculty and peers, students explore extracurricular opportunities, learn to navigate campus expectations and resources, and develop a personalized plan for their first year at UC Santa Barbara.

FSSP students should follow these steps to select and submit their course preferences:

1. Explore the FSSP Advising Resources and Course Offerings to narrow down your top six preferences.

2. Open the FSSP Course Preference Form by logging in to the account you used to apply for FSSP.

3. Within the Course Preference Form, select the total number of units you wish to be enrolled in.

4. Provide six course preferences. For each preference, you’ll pick the department first, followed by the specific course. You may only select a maximum of one Math, Statistics, or Writing course across your six preferences.

5. Review your chosen preferences and submit the form.

Upon acceptance into FSSP, students will receive a link to complete their personal Course Preference form via their UCSB email address. After the Course Preference form is submitted, Summer Sessions advisors will register students in courses on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are encouraged to submit their Course Preferences as soon as possible and keep a close eye on their UCSB email for further schedule-related communications from the Summer Sessions team.

For general support, FSSP participants can contact our office and speak with a member of our advising team! We can be reached via email at fssp@summer.ucsb.edu, or via a phone call back on Qless. Our Qless hours, sign-up link, and full contact details can be found on our Contact Us page.

For further support, FSSP participants can sign up for an FSSP Drop-In Advising timeslot with a Summer Sessions advisor. Further details regarding Drop-In Advising availability and sign-up logistics will be shared at a later date. This FAQ will be updated once information has been finalized.

Yes, all FSSP students should plan to attend Freshman Orientation before the start of FSSP. Once FSSP begins, students will be immersed in their summer experience and will not have time to attend orientation during the program due to course and program commitments. The final in-person orientation session typically concludes on the day of FSSP move-in. Students who participate in this session will be able to transition directly to FSSP move-in at the conclusion of the Orientation program. 

Students are encouraged to complete their FSSP course enrollment process before attending orientation to aid with the Fall course registration process.

Yes, students can participate in FSSP and the Maximizing Potential Program (MAX) simultaneously. FSSP students who are also participating in MAX are required to complete INT W 25 during FSSP. Students who would like to take INT W 25 should include the course on their Course Preference form. The cost of this course will be factored into the total FSSP tuition. 

During FSSP, you’ll live on campus, meet other first-year students, and establish your routine at UC Santa Barbara. With peer mentors by your side and a calendar of activities, you’ll get involved, settle in, and feel at home before the Fall Quarter begins. A core aspect of FSSP is community building and connecting with the campus and your peers. There are organized events throughout FSSP, beginning on move-in day! For a glimpse of what to expect, feel free to review additional information about FSSP Student Life.

FSSP advisors are here to answer your questions and support you in your decision-making process. You can contact our team via email at fssp@summer.ucsb.edu or sign up to receive a phone call via Qless via our Contact Us page.