UCSB Accelerated English Language Program

The UCSB Accelerated English Language Program (AELP) is a rigorous six-week, full-time, credit-bearing intensive English program designed for students intending to join the UCSB Connect Program, offered by KSE Global in collaboration with UCSB PaCE (Professional and Continuing Education). AELP focuses on significantly enhancing all critical English proficiency areas, including speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. Successful completion of the program, demonstrated by passing the UC Santa Barbara Professional and Continuing Education English Exit Test, allows students to fulfill the English proficiency requirement for the subsequent UCSB Connect Program.

About KSE Global

Founded on a commitment to fostering global access to education while promoting academic excellence, KSE Global serves as the gateway to a world of opportunities for students seeking to enhance their academic skills. Since 2012, KSE has partnered with top-tier academic institutions and professors worldwide to offer a range of innovative learning enrichment solutions including on-campus summer programs, Connect pathway programs, math camps, and online research opportunities.

About UCSB

As a member of one of the world’s largest and most prestigious university systems, the University of California, Santa Barbara is renowned as both a research and undergraduate liberal arts institution. Founded in 1891 as an independent teacher’s college, it joined the University of California in 1944. It is the third oldest undergraduate campus in the UC system after UC Berkeley and UCLA.

About UCSB Connect

The UCSB Connect Program, offered by KSE Global in collaboration with UC Santa Barbara Professional and Continuing Education (PaCE), provides a streamlined pathway for global high school graduates to enroll at a top-15 U.S. public university. The program provides structured, comprehensive undergraduate-level courses and English proficiency enhancement. It also improves students' college readiness in a rigorous academic environment, with a guaranteed pathway to full-time enrollment (pending students' academic performance).

UCSB Rankings

#12

12 in Forbes Top 25 Public Colleges (Forbes Magazine, 2025-2026)

#40

40 in National Universities (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)

#12

12 in Career Placement for Public Universities (Princeton Review, 2025)

#14

14 in Top Public Universities (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)

8 UCSB faculty members have won Nobel Prizes for landmark research in chemistry, physics, and economics

UCSB Campus Life

UCSB's 1,000-acre campus is located in beautiful Santa Barbara County, California, perched on a coastal bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This scenic setting, coupled with Southern California's warm climate, creates an ideal environment for outdoor activities and sports. The campus features an extensive system of paths for walking and bicycling, as well as its own campus beach. With nearly 25,000 students on campus, UCSB also offers over 500 student organizations, various outdoor adventure programs, and five Cultural Resource Centers, among many other campus resources.

Program Details

Pathway to UCSB

AELP Program

UCSB Connect Program

Matriculation into UCSB

Please note that acceptance to the UCSB Connect Program after completing the AELP program is contingent upon passing the UCSB PaCE English Exit Test.

Please note that guaranteed acceptance to the full-time undergraduate degree program at UCSB is contingent upon several factors, including successful completion of the UCSB Connect program and maintenance of a 3.4 GPA by the end of the first and second years in the program. Additional information about the UCSB Connect Program can be found at ucsb-connect.ksedu.co.

Application Requirements

English Proficiency Scores

High School Transcripts from grade 9 through the present

Application Deadline: April 30, 2026

Key Dates

July 12th: Arrival & Check-In

July 13th: Orientation & Classes Begin

August 21st: Closing Ceremony

August 22nd: Check-Out

English Proficiency Requirements

TOEFL: 60 (iBT or Home Edition); TOEFL New Scoring System (Jan. 2026): 3.5

IELTS: 5.5 - 6

iTEP: 3.6

Cambridge English Qualifications: First (FCE)

CEFR: B2

CET-4 (China): 500 - 550

GEPT: Intermediate (Listening & Reading Tests - 210; Writing & Speaking Tests - 100)

TOEIC: 550

Duolingo English Test (DET): 90

Tuition and Fees

Application Fee

$40

Program Fees

$12,500 (includes non-refundable deposit of $2500)

Program fees cover tuition, housing, meals, teaching and course materials, administrative services, health insurance, and airport pick-up and drop-off

Program fees do not cover transportation to/from Santa Barbara, visa fees, student personal expenses or any costs arising from itineraries or activities not explicitly listed in the schedule

Withdrawal and Refund Policy

1	More than eight (8) weeks prior to the start date of the program	The student is entitled to a refund of the program fees minus the non-refundable deposit.
2	More than four (4) weeks but not exceeding eight (8) weeks prior to the start date of the program	The student is entitled to 50% of the remaining program fees after the non-refundable deposit has been deducted from the total fee.
3	Within four (4) weeks prior to the start date of the program	Student is not entitled to a refund.

Note:

1. For the purposes of this policy, the “Refund Application Date” shall be deemed the date on which the student or his/her parent or legal guardian formally submits a written request for a refund by email to either the Finance Department or the Admissions Department.

2. If a student encounters a visa refusal before the start date of the program, he/she is entitled to a refund equal to paid program fees minus the non-refundable deposit.

Contact:

financial.team@ksedu.co

admission@ksedu.co