Understanding the UCLA Cota-Robles Fellowship: Requirements and Opportunities

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) stands as a leading public university, deeply committed to fostering an inclusive academic environment that mirrors the diverse communities it serves. With a strong emphasis on teaching, research, and public service, UCLA's faculty members are recognized globally for their scholarly achievements. This commitment is reflected in the numerous accolades received by its faculty, including Nobel Prizes, Fulbright Scholarships, and Guggenheim Fellowships.

The Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship at UCLA is named in honor of Dr. Eugene V. Cota-Robles, a distinguished microbiologist and higher education leader who championed minority students and faculty. This fellowship aims to support students who have overcome significant socioeconomic disadvantages and demonstrate a commitment to diversity.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

To be eligible for the Cota-Robles Fellowship, prospective students must first apply and be admitted to a Ph.D. program at UCLA. The fellowship is specifically designed for students entering Ph.D. programs who are interested in pursuing careers in college or university teaching and research.

The application process involves completing both the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students and the Diversity Fellowships - Supplemental Application. The deadline for the application is the same as the deadline for the admissions application to the UCLA graduate program.

Key Requirements:

Admission to UCLA: Cota-Robles awardees must first accept their admission to UCLA. This involves taking action to accept each component of the award, including tuition/fees, financial support, and Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) if applicable.
Demonstrated Commitment to Diversity: Applicants must provide evidence of a demonstrated record of advancing issues of inclusion, equity, and diversity; actively supporting underrepresented communities; and showing a commitment to pursuing these efforts throughout their career. This evidence should be detailed in a maximum two-page, double-spaced document.
Academic Achievements: Submission of published and submitted manuscripts (if any) while a doctoral student at UCLA, including full citations. Conference presentations (if any) while a doctoral student at UCLA, indicating the conference date and place, and whether it was a poster or oral presentation.
Transcripts: An unofficial transcript that includes Fall Quarter 2024 grades.
Letters of Recommendation: Two signed letters of reference on department letterhead, one of which must be from the dissertation chair.

Financial Support

The Cota-Robles Fellowship provides substantial financial support to its recipients. The fellowship includes a tuition-paying award plus a $25,000 stipend per year for four years. In addition to the fellowship, departments provide funding in subsequent years.

Departmental Funding:

Year 2: A minimum of $30,000 in funding, in addition to in-state tuition/fees and health insurance.
Years 2 & 3: A minimum of $30,000 in funding each year, in addition to in-state tuition/fees and health insurance.
Funding Distribution:
- Fall: Departmental Funding
- Winter: Division of Graduate Education Funding
- Spring: A 50-50 split of funding between the department and the Division of Graduate Education.

Non-California residents will be assessed Nonresident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) for the first year.

Opportunities and Resources at UCLA

UCLA offers a wealth of opportunities and resources to support graduate students, including those who are part of the Cota-Robles Fellowship program. These resources are designed to enhance the academic, professional, and personal development of students.

Diversity Programs

UCLA is dedicated to supporting students from diverse backgrounds through various programs and initiatives. These programs provide mentorship, guidance, and a sense of community for students who may have faced challenges in their academic journeys. Programs like EOP/EOPS, SACNAS, LSAMP, and MARC-U-STAR are specifically designed to support first-generation, low-income, and historically marginalized students.

Research Opportunities

As a leading research university, UCLA offers numerous opportunities for graduate students to engage in cutting-edge research. Students can work with renowned faculty members and utilize state-of-the-art facilities to explore their research interests.

Professional Development

UCLA provides resources to help graduate students develop the skills and knowledge necessary for successful careers in academia and beyond. These resources include workshops, seminars, and career counseling services.

Extramural Funding Opportunities

The GRAPES database catalogs extramural funding opportunities of interest to prospective and current graduate students, students working on a master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation, and postdoctoral scholars. It contains information on over 500 private and publicly funded awards, fellowships, and internships. Advanced search options allow users to refine their search by field, academic level, award type, award amount, and other criteria. The COS database of funding opportunities contains information from federal and regional governments, foundations, professional societies, associations, and corporations.

UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship

As part of the DDI, the UC President’s Pre-Professoriate Fellowship supports academic Ph.D. students each year who are California HSI alumni, have advanced to candidacy, and have an expressed interest in joining the professoriate. The program’s goal is to enhance faculty pathways for historically underrepresented groups, particularly Chicanx/Latinx, African Americans, American Indians/Native Americans, Filipinx, and Pacific Islanders in all disciplines; women in STEM; and Asian Americans in the humanities and social sciences.

Personal Perspectives: Cota-Robles Fellows

Hearing directly from Cota-Robles Fellows offers valuable insights into the impact of the fellowship and the experiences of students who have benefited from it. Here are a few examples:

Austin M.: A first-generation Latina in STEM, Austin started from community colleges and eventually completed her undergrad at San Jose State. Her journey inspired her to pursue a Ph.D. at UCLA.
Sonya A.: Born in Armenia and raised in a small village, Sonya immigrated to the United States and developed an interest in neuroscience. She is continuing her studies at the Psychology Department’s Cognitive Neuroscience Ph.D. Program and is thankful for the support of the Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship.

Additional Funding Opportunities

Besides the Cota-Robles Fellowship, UCLA students have access to various other funding opportunities, including:

Federal Direct Loans: Available to most students regardless of income, with other qualification criteria applying.
Institutional Student Loans: Some UC campuses offer their own private student loans.
AAUW Fellowships: The AAUW is among the world’s most significant sources of funding for graduate women.
American Indian Graduate Center Scholarships: This program for American Indian or Alaska Native tribal members provides up to $20,000 for undergrad and $30,000 for graduate study in STEM fields.
Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Graduate Fellowship Program: Offers a graduate fellowship for pre-doctoral students looking to learn about and make an impact in public policy.
Ford Foundation Fellowship: Supports applicants with legal US status, including those with protection under the DACA program.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund: Awards $500 to $5,000 based on need.
Spencer Dissertation Fellowships: Awards 35 fellowships of $27,500 to support dissertations that can bring fresh perspectives to formal or informal education anywhere in the world.
Queens Road Foundation Undergraduate Fellowships: Each year, one student from each department within the Division of Physical Sciences will be selected to receive a fellowship.
The Gates Scholarship: Will assist 300 applicants from at least one of the following ethnicities: African-American, American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian & Pacific Islander American, and Hispanic American.