Off Campus Meal Plans

Please read all the information on this site before requesting a meal plan.

• We will start accepting Winter Quarter meal plan requests on 12/15/2025.
• Winter Quarter Meal Plans will activate on 01/05/2026.
• Once purchased, no meal plan change requests may occur until Week 1 of the Quarter, 01/05/2026, with the change going into effect on Monday of Week 2, on 01/12/25. Meal plan changes can be made up until Sunday, January 18th. Requests made in the current week will take effect the following Monday.
• Once purchased, no meal plan cancellation requests may occur until Week 2 of the Quarter, 01/12/2026, with the cancellation going into effect on Monday of Week 3, on 01/19/2026. Cancellations can be made up until Sunday of Week 7 of the Quarter, 02/22/2026, with the cancellation going into effect on Monday of Week 8, on 02/23/2026. 
• If a meal plan is changed during the allowed period, any previously rolled-over meals will be forfeited due to software system limitations.
• Meal plan holders may rollover up to 3 unused meals per week throughout the quarter. Rollover meals are cumulative. Rollover meals expire and must be used by the end of the current quarter.

• Meal plan holders receive a specific number of guest meals per quarter, depending on the meal plan selected. Guest meals can only be shared with UCSB students and family members of the meal plan holder.

  Guest limits per quarter vary by plan:
  • 5-meal plan: 2 guests
  • 7-meal plan: 2 guests
  • 10-meal plan: 3 guests
  • 14-meal plan: 4 guests
  • 17-meal plan: 5 guests
     
• The meal plan is for the meal plan holder only, except for the granted guest meals that are determined by the meal plan selected. The meal plan holder must be present with their guest when using a guest meal. Guests are not permitted to use the meal plan holder’s access card on their own.
• Meal plan holders can participate in the meal donation program. Learn more here.
• Sign up online anytime during the quarter. Please refer to the grid below as an example of our weekly meal plan rates. The planned start week that you select indicates the rate for the remainder of the quarter.
• Meal plans are offered on a quarter by quarter basis, please sign up each quarter. Plans will automatically cancel at the end of each quarter.
• The purchase of this meal plan is for the meal plan holder only.
• The Off-Campus Meal Plan may be used at De La Guerra, Carrillo, and Portola Commons, and Takeout at Ortega Commons.
• Meal plans run Monday-Sunday.
• Excess meals are charged to the BARC account at the guest meal rate.
• A color photo ACCESS card with an RFID chip that will tap at the dining commons card reader is required for every meal. Cards printed after October 2020 have the necessary RFID chip.
• Black & White Access ‘ID’ cards, or cards without an RFID chip are not accepted.
• NOTE: you may begin accessing meals during the week selected on your online application, however, it may take up to 5-7 business days before charges appear on your BA/RC statements. At the dining commons lobby, please present the email confirmation received to your U-Mail account as a meal plan proof of purchase, until the meal plan has been assigned on to your Access Card.

• Meal plan changes must be made at least one week in advance of the desired change. No changes will be permitted for the current or past weeks.
• The change link will appear on the Off-Campus Meal Plans website starting the first week of the quarter, 01/05/2026.
• The first opportunity to change a Meal Plan occurs during Week 1 of the Quarter, 01/05/2026, with the change going into effect on Monday of Week 2, on 01/12/25.
• The last opportunity to change a Meal Plan occurs during Week 2 of the Quarter ending on 01/18/2026, with the change going into effect on Monday of Week 3, on 01/19/2026.
• Requesting a change to your meal plan means you are changing the number of meals purchased each week. If you need to change the dates of your meal plan you will need to cancel and purchase a new meal plan.

• Meal plan cancellations must be made at least one week in advance of the desired change. No cancellations will be permitted for the current or past weeks.
• The cancel link will appear on the Off-Campus Meal Plans website starting the second week of the quarter, 01/12/2026.
• The first opportunity to cancel a Meal Plan occurs during Week 2 of the Quarter, 01/12/2026, with the change going into effect on Monday of Week 3, on 01/19/2026.
• The last opportunity to cancel a Meal Plan occurs during Week 7 of the Quarter ending on 02/22/2026, with the change going into effect on Monday of Week 8, on 02/23/2026.
• When canceling online, please select from the price grid the week you wish to cancel your meal plan, your meal plan will be canceled for the remainder of the quarter based on the week selected. Only one cancellation request is necessary to cancel your meal plan for the remainder of the quarter.
• Only one cancellation per quarter is permitted.

• Learn more about how we design meal plans.