BS Financial Mathematics and Statistics at University of California, Santa Barbara

Programme overview

The Financial Mathematics and Statistics B.S. is a joint major between the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Statistics and Applied Probability, in cooperation with the Department of Economics. This degree is a good fit for you if you would like to learn how mathematics, probability, and statistics play a key role in pricing and hedging securities in the financial markets.

Faculty: College of Letters and Science | Department: Department of Mathematics | Study mode: full-time | Location: Santa Barbara, CA, United States

What you will study

Major requirements are organised as Pre-Major: MATH 4A, MATH 4B, MATH 6A, MATH 6B, MATH 8, PSTAT 8; Preparation For The Major: CMPSC 8, CMPSCW 8, CMPSC 9, CMPSC 16, ENGR 3, ECON 10A, PSTAT 10; Upper-Division Major: MATH 104A, MATH 104B, MATH 104C, MATH 117, PSTAT 120A, PSTATW 120A, PSTAT 120B, PSTAT 126, PSTAT 160A, PSTAT 160B, PSTAT 170, ECON 100B, ECON 101, ECON 130. To be admitted into the full major students must complete all pre-major courses with a 2.5 or higher UC grade point average.

Career pathways

Graduate and professional pathways include Insurance (actuary); Financial advising; Probability & Statistics; Business. Top employers include Mercer, Willis Towers Watson, Brighthouse Financial.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Admission to UCSB is to the university and a college (College of Letters and Science, College of Engineering, College of Creative Studies), not to the individual major; applicants must meet the University of California subject requirements for first-year or transfer applicants and apply through the UC Application. Selective-major and second-choice-major rules are described by UCSB Undergraduate Admissions.

Entry term: fall. First-year and transfer applicants apply for fall 2027 through the UC Application.

First-year and transfer applications for fall 2027: UC Application filing period October 1 - November 30, 2026 (opens August 1). Application fee: $80 per campus for U.S. residents, $95 per campus for international students. Transfer applicants also submit the UCSB TAG Application September 1-30. First-year decisions mid-March; transfer decisions mid-April; Statement of Intent to Register May 1 (first-year) and June 1 (transfer).

SAT and ACT scores are not used in admission selection or scholarships; submission is optional and may be used for course placement. Students applying to College of Creative Studies majors submit a supplemental application; Dance and Music B.M. applicants complete an audition.

Graduate applicants apply through the UCSB online graduate application; the deadline is set by each department. Application fee: $135 for US citizens and permanent residents, $155 for all others, payable by credit card, check or money order. GRE required only by some programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/

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