How to obtain a Matlab License - UCSB Physics Department


The UCSB Academic licenses for MatLab are ordered once per year by the Campus Office of Software Licensing (COSL). The license is structured in such a way as to preclude ordering licenses midyear. Anyone can order an Academic license directly from Mathworks at any time.

Academic pricing is available from MathWorks at any time

Students can order online or through the bookstore. The student version comes with limited toolboxes. License for research are available at academic prices, at the time of this writing, the base package is around $500.00.

Best pricing - use the Campus License Pool and License Server


The campus licenses are pooled and must use the network license server.
IMPORTANT:  The license server will NOT work when you are away from UCSB.


New licenses are expensive - though not as expensive as the individual licenses above. They also expire every year, and must be renewed. Fortunately, renewal costs are moderate. However, if you let your license expire, you are required to pay the new license fee to acquire one in any succeeding year.
Licenses for the base package and all the toolboxes follow the same procedures.
For 2007, the Physics Department ordered a total of 18 Matlab licenses and a total of 27 toolboxes. New base licenses were about $200.00. Renewal base licenses were about $30.00. Toolboxes vary in price, with new ones running about $200.00 and renewals from $6.00 to $90.00, depending on their complexity.

PCS Ordering has a small time window

When COSL calls for renewals, PCS e-mails all Faculty, PostDocs and Grads, calling for renewal and new license requests. Usually we have a 4-5 day window in which to respond. If you are interested in Matlab, please have your list of toolboxes, license counts and recharge account numbers ready before September.

Campus does not order mid-year

Please do not ask for PCS to request a new license on the campus license server before the e-mail call, or after the closing date. It cannot be done. If you need Matlab on a computer before the license call, order an individual Matlab license from the Mathworks academic price list.


Last Updated: December 4, 2007
Questions:  pcs@physics.ucsb.edu