International Student Services
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UCSB is an internationally recognized university that draws together students, scholars, and others from a variety of cultures from within the United States and around the world for the purpose of sharing their knowledge, experience, attitudes, and values with each other. Through such exchanges, we begin to realize more clearly that our understanding and ways of perceiving the world can be greatly expanded by interacting with people who are different from ourselves. These interactions are not always easy, but they can be tremendous opportunities for learning.
At UCSB you will have the opportunity to meet people from other countries since our campus is, in itself, an international multicultural community in which approximately 1,000 non-immigrant students come from over 70 countries. One in six graduate students is from a country other than the United States and there are more than 700 visiting international scholars in residence each year. We encourage you to make the effort to move beyond the limitations of your own cultural boundaries by reaching out to someone who is unlike yourself, yet from whom you may learn the most about yourself, your culture, and the global community of which we are all a part.
Students and Scholars (OISS)
 The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS), serves the international student population and assists foreign postdoctoral scholars engaged in research and teaching activities at the university. The Office assists students with immigration and personal concerns such as finances, housing, and adjustment and makes referrals, where appropriate, for other areas of concern such as academic and health matters. OISS makes arrangements with the local offices of the Internal Revenue Service and Social Security Administration to assist students and scholars on campus at selected times during the academic year. OISS maintains a web page (www.oiss.ucsb.edu) that provides up-to-date information about its services, programs and immigration regulations and also publishes an electronic newsletter. Students are encouraged to contact OISS (893-2929) or come in to speak to a staff member about their individual concerns. The following programs and activities that are either organized or sponsored by OISS are of particular interest to new international students.
International Student Orientation
This three-day program is held just before Discovery Days on the UCSB campus. It is designed to help new international students learn about the university's educational system, so that there will be fewer problems in accomplishing academic goals. During these three days, international students will meet continuing students, professors and advisors from departments, learn about registering for classes, preparing for exams and writing papers, responsibilities as a student, immigration requirements, how to find a place to live and how to get involved in some of the hundreds of clubs and activities that will help provide relaxation and fun. Perhaps most importantly, parties and receptions are held to help international students make new friends and get to know other students who are also strangers in a strange land.
English Conversation Program
Students who would like the opportunity to practice their English conversation skills are welcome to join the English Conversation Program, which offers informal classes Monday through Friday in the OISS classrooms. All the teachers and tutors are volunteers from the Santa Barbara community who enjoy meeting and working with people from other countries. The program includes regular monthly social activities such as tours, parties, dinners, etc. all of which provide a chance to get to know fellow students and to participate in American cultural events.
International Friendship Program
International students have opportunities to become involved in activities that are meant to introduce them to people in the nearby community of Santa Barbara. The International Friendship Program was created by OISS so that international students can become friends with individuals and families in the local community who are interested in learning about another culture while helping students to understand more about American customs and values. It is not a "homestay program" in which students actually live with the family. However, the family will invite a student to their home and to activities that will reveal a lot about life in the U.S. Many times international students have expressed that their most memorable experiences were those spent with their IFP friends.
International Speakers Bureau
This program enables students to speak about their culture at local elementary schools and secondary (high) schools. The children and teachers are very interested in meeting people from the countries that they are studying in their classes.
International Students Association
All international students automatically belong to the International Students Association (ISA) which plans trips to national parks and other places of interest like Disneyland. They also have parties, go on hikes in the local mountains and sponsor sports teams. The ISA hosts the Welcome Party during the Orientation Program, which gives new international students a chance to meet the members. The Association hosts a coffee/conversation hour every Friday at 4pm at the MultiCultural Center.
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