Name: Master's
Price: 59764 USD

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University of California, Santa Barbara

California

United States

Program Rank

163

Overview

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At Bren, we develop interdisciplinary solutions to environmental problems, train environmental leaders, and work for a sustainable future.

Located steps from the beach on the beautiful UCSB campus, the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management is home to two professional master’s programs, the Master of Environmental Data Science and Master of Environmental Science and Management, a dynamic PhD in Environmental Science and Management, and research leaders who contribute meaningful work in their fields.

Bren is a leading center of environmental research. Bren faculty are experts in their disciplines of environmental and natural resources research, collaborating across disciplines from the natural sciences, social sciences, and data science, as well as environmental economics, policy, and law

Bren’s Master of Environmental Data Science degree is ideal for students entering with a background in environmental science, environmental studies, or similar disciplines with exposure to data science and mathematics. A background in computer science, statistics, or data science is not required; the MEDS program is intended to give students a comprehensive education in leading-edge practices of data science from the ground up. An educational background in environmental disciplines will help MEDS students apply their data science skills and tools to solve environmental problems. The 11-month MEDS program begins in Summer Quarter and students are enrolled full-time.

Total Tuition Fees

$59,764

Duration

11 Months

Median Salary

$1,51,000

Ranking

#67

US World and News Report

Intake

Summer ( July - Sept )

Class Profile

Class Size

Average Age

Average Work Experience

2 Years

Diversity

Others:

29%

California:

44%

International:

27%

Career Outcomes

Median Earnings After Graduation

$1,51,000 / year

Graduation Rate

83%

Job Placement

90%

Prospective Job Roles

Statistician

Data Engineer

Research Scientist

Database Administrator

Data Scientist

Marketing Manager

Big Data Engineer

Big Data Specialist

Financial Manager

Bioinformatician

Data analyst

Top recruiters

Eligibility Criteria

English Proficiency Tests

TOEFL
80
IELTS
7

Application Requirements

Here's everything you need to know to ensure a complete and competitive application—covering the key documents and criteria for a successful submission.

Application Fee: 95

Transcript

Statement of Purpose
Personal History Statement
Curriculum Vitae
Professional LOR
Academic LOR
Academic LOR
TOEFL
IELTS
Passport

Application Deadlines

	Standard Deadline
Summer	Sep 1, 2025

Fees and Funding

Tuition Fees

$59,764 / year

Overall Cost

$86,571 / year

Average Total Aid Awarded

$24,178 / year

Funding Options

Department Funding

Scholarships

UCSB's Basic Needs Resources provide assistance with housing, financial concerns, food security, and more.

One of the most comprehensive sources for locating funding sources is Edupass which began as the international student section of The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid.

International Education Financial Aid is a database that identifies scholarship opportunities and banks that have loan programs for which international students qualify.

Financial Aid for Undergraduate International Students is a resource provided by the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA) on various funding sources for international students studying in the U.S.

The International Education Finance Corporation offers loans to international students with a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen.

The UCSB Graduate Division provides information on fellowships, scholarships, and other campus-based sources of financial support that are available to all graduate students including international graduate students.

The International Student Award assists students who are experiencing economic hardship during the course of their studies at UCSB. The award is open to UCSB students in the F-1 or J-1 non-immigrant student status. Candidates must be a full-time graduate or undergraduate student pursuing a UCSB degree (EAP reciprocity students are ineligible). Awards will be dispersed based on need and amount of qualified candidates. Apply online.

Students have access to ScholarshipUniverse, an easy-to-use, personalized hub that makes applying for external scholarships and UCSB-specific scholarships quicker and easier.

To activate your account, simply login using your UCSB Net ID and password. You will then be prompted to answer some questions about yourself, which ScholarshipUniverse will use to match you with scholarships tailored to your unique profile. All scholarships on the site are vetted for legitimacy, so you can rest assured that your information is safe while applying to a wealth of funding opportunities within the ScholarshipUniverse database.

For more information about ScholarshipUniverse, feel free to visit the OFAS website, where you’ll find step-by-step instructions for how to use the tool, FAQs, and more.

All internal scholarships managed by the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships are awarded on the basis of need.

FAQs

While work experience is not a requirement for admission, it is highly valued and significantly strengthens your application. Although professional experience in the environmental field suggests that your goals are well matched to the Bren School, we also highly value experience in other professional settings provided you have an environmental background through other means, such as coursework. If your experience is in an area that is not related to environmental science, make sure to provide an explanation in your Statement of Purpose that clearly conveys how the Master of Environmental Data Science will help you pursue an environmentally-related career path. Please include all relevant academic, work, volunteer, or leadership experience. Formatting style (e.g., line spacing, typeface, and font size) is up to your discretion.
The Statement of Purpose essay is your chance to explain why you want to attend a graduate program and earn a MEDS degree from the Bren School at UC Santa Barbara. You should include your specific interest in applying data science to environmental issues and how it relates to your ambitions. Explain how your past experiences have prepared you for a rigorous graduate program and how the MEDS program will help you achieve your professional goals. Please review the UCSB Graduate Division’s statement prompts before applying. There is no specified word limit for the Statement of Purpose or the Personal History and Diversity Statement; however, the prompt does say "brief statement" and the average document size we see is around two pages in length so it is recommended to not make it too much longer than that. UC Santa Barbara accepts PDF and Microsoft Word (.doc and .docx) documents for upload in the online application. The maximum file size allowed is 4 MB per document. You can see more document specifications from the Graduate Division
Applying for a Fee Waiver Application fee waivers are available to qualified U.S. citizens and permanent residents who demonstrate evidence of financial need or proof of participation in an undergraduate research program. McNair Scholars and Project 1000 applicants are among those eligible. Fee waivers are not available to international applicants. To apply for a fee waiver, follow this procedure within your online application: click on the Payment Information tab and scroll down to the fee waiver information. Then, select the option relevant to you and upload your supporting documentation. Do not submit a fee waiver the day before the application deadline; it will not be processed in time and your fee waiver request will not be reviewed. Please submit a fee waiver request at least two weeks before the application deadline. For more information, read FAQs about the UCSB graduate application fee.
Yes, although the opportunities are limited. More information is available on our Financial Aid and Scholarships page.
Estimated Annual Cost The adjusted current University estimate of the cost of attendance, including tuition, fees, and living expenses for the academic year, varies based on degree program. Work-study opportunities for international students are limited. Most grants or scholarships are limited to U.S. students, and some visas include restrictions on the type of work you can do in the U.S.
GRE scores* Please note the GRE requirement has been waived for the 2023-24 admissions cycle.
Newly admitted students can review the Steps to Enrollment web page for details on things to consider before and after you decide to enroll at UCSB.
The General Catalog has information about fees and expenses, as well as residency requirements.
The Graduate Division website has information on all of the graduate programs and admissions requirements, in addition to on-line publications and an on-line application