UCLA Admission Requirements for International Students

UCLA attracts students from across the globe, enriching the campus community with a wide array of experiences and backgrounds. Each year, the university welcomes students from nearly 90 countries. For international students aspiring to join UCLA's undergraduate programs, understanding the specific admission requirements is crucial. This article outlines these requirements for both first-year and transfer applicants.

First-Year and Transfer Student Definitions

As an undergraduate, you may apply for admission as a first-year or a transfer student. A first-year applicant is defined as someone who has completed secondary school and has not enrolled in a regular session at any college or university. UCLA does not admit students into any undergraduate program who already hold Bachelor’s degrees, nor do we admit students who have the equivalent of three years (130 quarter-units or more) of transferable university work. It is not permissible to disregard your college record and apply as a first-year student.

Transfer applicants need to be at the junior level, that is, have taken college level coursework amounting to 90-130 quarter (60-90 semester) units of credit. UCLA gives preference to students transferring from California community colleges, including international students. Historically, three out of four admitted international transfers were attending a California community college when they applied.

To learn more about applying, including important dates and deadlines, visit the first-year or transfer page.

Academic Preparation

To be competitive in the UCLA admission process, applicants should present an academic profile much stronger than any minimum UC admission requirements. You must complete 15 A-G courses with at least 11 courses finished prior to the beginning of your last year of high school. Competitive applicants earn high marks in the most rigorous curriculum available to them. Each application for admission is reviewed within the context of courses available to that student. UCLA looks for students who take advantage of the academic opportunities available to them. If you have advanced courses, we encourage you to take advantage of them.

A-G Requirements

The University of California system requires applicants to complete specific high school courses, known as A-G courses, to be eligible for admission. These courses ensure that students have a solid foundation for college-level work. The A-G requirements are as follows:

2 years history/social science
4 years of college-preparatory English
3 years of mathematics (4 years recommended)
2 years of laboratory science (3 years recommended)
2 years of language other than English (3 years recommended)
1 year of visual and performing arts (if available)
1 year of college-preparatory elective

Keep in mind that there is no single academic path we expect all students to follow.

GPA and Coursework

At a minimum, you must earn a 3.0 GPA or better (3.4 for nonresidents) in all college preparatory courses. The UC schools do not consider ACT and SAT scores in their admission decisions. You will record your scores for AP exams, IB exams, TOEFL or IELTS, and International exams on separate pages. The average GPA of admitted UCLA freshmen rose to 4.5 with an average of 52 terms of college-prep courses, including 23 terms of AP courses. If you have exceptional grades and receive high scores on your AP exams, you can stand out from the rest by showing how you align with UCLA’s values.

English Language Proficiency

English language proficiency is critical to your success at UCLA. If all of your high school/secondary school education was completed in English, you are considered proficient and do not need to satisfy this requirement. However, if you've completed all or some high school or secondary school in a country where English was not the language of instruction, you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency if you have had less than 3 years of instruction in English.

The most common exams we receive to demonstrate English proficiency are TOEFL, IELTS and DET. To be as competitive as possible for admission to UCLA, we highly recommend taking one of these exams and achieving the recommended scores outlined in our International Admission Guide.

Read also: PIC: Your Path to Higher Education

Note that while official test scores are not required to be sent along with the application for our review process, all test information must be accurately self-reported on the application site no later than January. You may send your TOEFL scores to one UC campus, and all campuses you apply to will receive them. Conversely, IELTS and DET results must be sent to each campus you apply to. DET scores must be submitted through the DET testing portal. Be sure to include your UC Application ID when sending DET scores.

If you’re admitted to UCLA and your native language is not English, we may also require you to take UCLA’s English-as-a-Second-Language Placement Examination (ESLPE) immediately before the term in which you enter. If your score indicates a weakness in English, several terms of your program may include special courses in English for international students.

Financial Resources

UCLA does not award scholarships or financial aid to undergraduate students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. International students must prove that they have sufficient funds available to them to pay for their educational and living expenses. For example, students admitted to Fall Quarter 2026 will need a minimum of about $80,739 (with an additional $5,000 recommended for additional personal expenses, contingencies and summer expenses). This minimum amount usually grows each year. UCLA’s in-state tuition and fees are $13,268 per academic year.

The Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement require that persons entering this country on a student visa demonstrate that they have sufficient funds available to them to support their living and education expenses.

Each applicant is required to show a minimum of funding for school tuition and living expenses while enrolled as an F-1 student enrolled at UCLA Extension.

Read also: USA Degree Programs

Statement of Financial Support

You and/or your sponsor are financially responsible for your educational and living expenses for the duration of your program and must provide financial certification meeting the minimum funds for you and any dependents you may seek to bring with you. This financial statement is a federally required part of the visa-seeking process.

You will find a link to this form in the Form I-20 application. Please download this form and complete it. Once complete, upload this form with an accompanying bank document or letter outlining your ability to cover the costs for your chosen program.

We will accept bank documents and letters dated within 6 months of your submitted Form I-20 application. All supporting bank documents or letters must show available funds to meet or exceed the amount of your program as outlined on the form. Types of acceptable support documents are outlined on the form.

Health Insurance

UCLA also requires that all international students on non-immigrant visas have adequate medical insurance during all periods of enrollment. All students (international included) must be covered by health insurance. Most students will be automatically enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). This fee will appear on your tuition statement. You may waive this fee if you can prove you have equivalent private insurance.

Application Process

The UC schools do not consider ACT and SAT scores in their admission decisions. UCLA does not accept the Common App. If you want to apply to UCLA, you will need to fill out the UC Application. This universal application allows you to apply to any of the nine UC schools at one time. You should apply to more than one UC school because it will significantly increase your chances of getting into the UC system.

In addition to your UC application, we take both your academic record and your personal experiences into consideration during the review process.

UCLA makes its freshman admissions decisions by April 1. Students have until May 1 to commit to the school.

Documents

Documents of all college or university coursework must also be sent in the original language, along with English translations. Please do not send these documents now. However, once admitted, students are required to submit official transcripts from any high school or college they have attended. If admitted to UCLA, applicants must submit official, final academic records. These are defined as original documents issued by the institution-not photocopies-which bear the actual signature of the Registrar and the seal of the issuing institution. Instructions and deadlines for submission are included with official offers of admission. If your academic record cannot be replaced, obtain a properly certified copy. Keep the original for yourself!

Personal Insight Questions

The UC schools put together a list of eight personal insight questions. You must respond to four of these questions and each response is limited to 350 words. These questions help personalize your application and show the admissions officers a little bit about your personality, interests, background, and achievements.

These personal questions are just that - personal. This is your chance to augment the information elsewhere in your application and give us more insight into you during the review process. Our hope is to hear your true, authentic voice in your responses. As a first-year applicant, you may respond to four of eight questions. Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words. Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you.

Comprehensive Review

The University of California uses a system called a 13-Factor Comprehensive Review System to evaluate applicants. UCLA seeks to enroll students who will contribute to their dynamic learning community. They look for applicants with leadership skills, initiative, tenacity, and intellectual curiosity. While grades and curriculum choices indicate academic achievement, UCLA considers a broad range of criteria when determining who they admit. Professionally trained readers review each application using the following faculty-approved criteria. Admissions officers look at thousands of applications each year.

UCLA is looking for independent thinkers who want to make a real difference on the campus, in the community, and worldwide. Most students take advantage of learning opportunities on campus and in the surrounding Los Angeles area.

Avoiding Agents

UCLA Undergraduate Admission does not partner with agents to represent the University or to administer any part of the application process. UCLA expects an application to be the work of the student and any deviation violates University policy which may lead to rejection of application materials, revocation of an admission offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the University.

Additional Information for Admitted Students

The first step for international undergraduate students begins with New Student Orientation. The supportive staff at the Dashew Center will help you obtain and maintain your F-1 visa throughout your attendance at UCLA.

I-20 Application

Once you have paid the $500 deposit, you will receive instructions to complete the I-20 Application within 3-5 days. Complete this application to begin the process of obtaining an F-1 student visa. It is important to complete your I-20 application fully and as soon as possible so you have plenty of time to go through the visa process.

If you are already in the United States on F-1 visa status and plan to transfer your I-20 to UCLA Extension, you will also be required to upload:

Copy of your most recent I-94
Copy of your F-1 Visa
Copy of your most recent I-20

We request that your current immigration advisor not release your SEVIS record to UCLA Extension until you are fully admitted and make your $500 depsoit.

Study Abroad at UCLA Program

Students applying to the Study Abroad at UCLA program primarily enroll in UCLA Extension classes and have the option to explore the possibility of taking UCLA undergraduate courses on our main campus through concurrent enrollment. Students must submit an English translation of their high school or university transcript.

Students must submit an English translation of their high school or university transcript. The minimum grade point average (GPA) requirement is as follows:

UCLA Extension only classes: 2.5 on a 4-point scale or the equivalent. You will be required to upload a screenshot of your GPA verification in your application.
UCLA Main Campus classes: 3.0 on a 4-point scale or the equivalent. You will be required to upload a screenshot of your GPA verification in your application.

The $500 deposit is part of the total $3,850 International Program Fee. The deposit is due upon acceptance into the program and must be received within 2 weeks of your admission date.The International Program Fee is separate from and does not include program tuition.

Resources and Support

The UCLA Dashew Center is the central hub for resources, support and advocacy for international students and scholars. The Dashew Center serves the international community by providing visa services and support to students and scholars prior to their arrival and throughout their time at UCLA. The Dashew Center also enhances the UCLA experience for international students and scholars through our inclusive and multicultural programs, student leadership roles and language advancement programs.

tags: #UCLA #international #students #admission #requirements