Summer Junior English Program at UCSB
The ELC Summer Junior Program at the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB) offers a spectacular and sunny location that gives students access to outdoor activities and is within walking distance to the beach. During June and July, students enrolled in our Summer Junior Program at UCSB will live in a UCSB dormitory. Summer Junior Program students will take English classes in the mornings and be able to choose one of three activity programs in the afternoon: our Classic Program or Surf Explorer Program. On the weekends, students will be able to participate in optional Saturday activities and an included full-day excursion on Sunday.
About UCSB
World famous university located in Goleta, California, 1.5-hour drive from Los Angeles
World Rankings: Ranked 37th in the world by The Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and 41st in the World by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU)
National Rankings: Ranked 10th best public university in the United States by U.S. News and World Report and 23rd in the U.S. by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings
UCSB Facilities
Access to UCSB library and bookstore
Outdoor tennis courts, basketball court, pool, field space and sand volleyball court, walking distance to beautiful beaches
- City: Santa Barbara, CA
- Dates: June 29, 2026- July 24, 2026
(Saturday to Saturday, minimum 1-week enrollment) - Ages: 11 – 13 and 14 – 17 years old
- Morning Course: Semi-Intensive English Course- Two 40-minute lessons and two 60-minute lessons per day (total hours 15 hours per week)
- Accommodation: UCSB dormitory or day student (self-arranged accommodation)
- Meals: 18 meals per week (full-board Monday – Friday, half-board Saturday, breakfast only Sunday)
- UCSB Dormitory: Santa Catalina Dorm
- Occupancy: Single and double (single room supplemental fee of $120 per week)
- Afternoon Activities: Afternoon activities Monday-Friday and full-day excursions each Sunday
- Optional evening activities Monday-Friday and optional Saturday excursions (additional fees may apply)
- Classic Program: Consists of a mix of cultural, sports, sightseeing and shopping activities
- Surf Explorer Program: Take advantage of Santa Barbara’s world-famous beaches with group surf lessons (requires supplemental fee – $350 per week) two lessons a week, wetsuit, and transportation inclueded
- Airport transfer: Included in the transportation fee, valid for Saturday arrivals and departures between 9am – 7pm
ELC offers two choices of accommodation options at our UCSB Summer Junior Program. Students in our UCSB program can choose a UCSB dormitory or can participate in our program as a day student, without accommodation.
UCSB dormitory
Most students in our Summer Junior Program stay on campus in our dormitory. The UCSB dormitory has the following features:
- Double occupancy, full-board (half-board on Saturday and breakfast only on Sunday)
- Rooms are furnished with beds, desks, chairs and closets
- Bathrooms are en suite (bathrooms adjoin two double rooms, 4 students share each bathroom)
- Linens and bath towels included, students can receive fresh linens from the front desk upon request
- Bathrooms and common areas cleaned daily
- Laundry facilities located in the dormitory (estimated $1.25 per wash, $0.25 per dry per 10 minutes)
- Free wireless internet in each room
Day Student
Students can register without accommodation and meals as Day Students. Day students are students who stay with family or family friends while they participate in the Summer Junior Program. Day students can choose to join our Summer Junior Program and take morning courses only or morning courses and activities only. A student in our morning courses only program will need to arrive on campus by 8:30AM Monday through Friday to join their Morning Courses and be picked up on campus after their morning courses at 1PM. The student is responsible for their own transportation. A student in our morning courses and activities program will need to arrive on campus by 8:30AM Monday through Friday and depart campus by 6pm, once afternoon activities are completed. Students who chose to participate in both morning courses and activities can also participate in optional Saturday activities and our Sunday excursions.
Students participate in Morning Courses Monday-Friday. Morning Courses are compulsory and are included in the Summer Junior Program package. Morning Courses do not occur on Saturdays or Sundays.
Summer Junior Program Morning Course Options:
- Semi-Intensive Course: Two 40-minute lessons and two 60-minute lessons per day (total hours 16.67 hours per week)
Junior Program students participate in activities Monday-Friday after their courses. Afternoon activities are compulsory and are included in the Summer Junior Program package. Evening and Saturday activities are always optional and offered to all students. ELC always offers a combination of free and low-cost evening and Saturday activities. Please refer to the sample calendar for sample activities.
Afternoon Activities Program
Students at UCSB may choose from up to three different Activities Programs for their afternoon activity at no additional cost. Students may choose up to one program each week. Students must choose their selection at enrollment to ensure availability.
UCSB Activities Program options:
- Classic Program
- Surf Explorer Program
Evening Activities
- Students enrolled in the Junior Program have the opportunity of joining optional evening activities during their program.
- ELC offers a combination of free and low-cost evening activities, which are determined on campus based on students’ interests.
Examples of Evening Activities include:
- Dance parties
- Shopping trips
- Talent shows
- Concerts
- Tie-Dye T-Shirts
- Movie nights
- Sports on campus (basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, etc.)
**Some optional evening activities may have fees associated with participation**
Saturday Activities
- Students enrolled in the Junior Program have the option of joining optional Saturday excursions during their stay.
- Students who do not wish to participate in optional Saturday activities can enjoy spending time with other ELC students and staff on campus.
- Some optional Saturday activities, including the excursion to Disneyland, should be reserved in advance during the registration process to ensure availability.
UCSB Optional Saturday Activities
- Disneyland (Saturday optional +$280)
- Examples of other Saturday optional activities include: Kayking, hiking, bike tours, beach trips, shopping trips, movies, museums, and more!
Sunday Excursions
- Junior Program students are required to participate in the full-day Sunday excursion.
- Full-day Sunday excursions are included in the Junior Program package.
UCSB Weekend Excursions
- Universal Studios
- JBeach BBQ Day
- Los Angeles
- Six Flags Amusement Park
- Beach BBQ Day
Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
7:00 – 8:30 | BREAKFAST | 8:00 – 12:00 BRUNCH | BREAKFAST | ||||
9:00 – 10:30 | Grammar Structure and Usage | Full-day Excursion | |||||
10:30 – 10:45 | BREAK | ||||||
10:45 – 11:30 | Communication Skills | ||||||
11:30 – 11:45 | BREAK | ||||||
11:45 – 12:30 | Communication Skills | ||||||
12:30 – 2:00 | LUNCH BREAK | 12:00 – 6:00 OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES | |||||
2:00 – 6:00 | AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES | ||||||
5:00 – 7:00 | DINNER | ||||||
7:00 – 10:00 | OPTIONAL EVENING ACTIVITIES (additional fees may apply) | ||||||
UCSB Morning Courses
Students in our Semi-Intensive Course will improve their English skills using the communicative approach. They will study grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, speaking and listening comprehension in real-life situations.
UCSB Afternoon Activities
In the Classic Program, students will enjoy the diversity that each city offers through participating in a variety of cultural, sports, sightseeing, and shopping activities.
Classic Program Sample Activities
- Santa Barbara Zoo
- Paddle Boarding
- Santa Barbara Mission
- Shopping on State Street
- Beach Day
Surf Explorers will learn to surf in the waters off the coast of Santa Barbara that are famous for their mild temperatures and great waves. Surfing activities include professional surf instruction, boogie-boarding and other exciting outdoor activities.
Requires a supplemental fee
Activities:
- Surfing
- Boogie-boarding
- Biking
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Volleyball
- Beach games
Location: UCSB