Navigating the UCLA Graduate Application Fee: A Comprehensive Guide

Applying to graduate school at UCLA involves understanding various aspects of the application process, including the associated fees. This article provides a detailed overview of the UCLA graduate application fee, potential waivers, and other related information for prospective students.

Standard Application Fee

The application fee for graduate programs at UCLA varies depending on the applicant's status and the specific program. The fee is $155 for all applicants, however, there are exceptions: $135 for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, and $200 for the Global Executive MBA for Asia Pacific, the Master of Financial Engineering, and the MS in Business Analytics programs.

Fee Waiver Opportunities

UCLA offers fee waivers to applicants who meet certain criteria, primarily based on participation in specific programs or demonstrated financial need. Here's a breakdown of the programs that qualify applicants for fee waivers:

Program Participation

Applicants who have participated in the following programs are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. In the Fee Waiver section of the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission, applicants should select the appropriate program under Program Participation:

American Political Science Association Ralph Bunche Summer Institute Scholars
CSU Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program
Florida A and M University Graduate Feeder Scholars Program (FAMU GFSPP)
Gates Millennium Scholars
GEM Scholar (deferral only)
Louis Stokes Alliances/California Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP/CAMP)
McNair Scholars
Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Program (MMUF)
Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC)
Minority Biomedical Research Support (MBRS)/Research Initiative For Science Enhancement (MBRS RISE)
National Institutes of Health Build/Prep applicant
Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR)
UC-HBCU Initiative participant
UC Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS)
UCLA Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP)
UCLA STAR program

Applicants who are sponsored by the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship Program are also eligible for a deferral of the application fee. In the application, on the Plans for Graduate Study page, select PPIA under Program Participation.

Financial Need

Fee waivers are also granted for students who demonstrate financial need. The Federal Income Tax return must be less than $23,828 for a one-person household (yourself), less than $32,227 for a two-person household (yourself and one other person), $40,626 for a three-person household (yourself and two other persons), etc.Federal Income Tax return must be less than Family Income maximum per family size as listed on the Income Limits table on UCLA Division of Graduate Education site.

To apply for a need-based fee waiver, applicants may need to provide a statement from their Financial Aid officer or Registrar, along with their most recent FAFSA.

Event-Based Waivers

Event-based waivers may be available for PhD and state-supported doctoral programs. Inquire about these waivers at designated conferences and recruitment events. Note that this program is subject to change or termination.

Application Submission and Deadlines

It is crucial to submit the application by the specified deadline for the intended graduate program. Applicants should consult their specific UCLA graduate program for the specific deadline for their proposed major. While applications to some programs may be considered if received after the stated deadline, this is contingent on enrollment limitations.

Required Application Materials

The UCLA application for graduate admission requires applicants to upload several documents electronically. These include:

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Transcripts (unofficial for initial submission)
Supplemental information
Department-specific material (such as a portfolio)
Statement of purpose
Letters of recommendation

Official transcript(s) must also be sent from your university’s Registrar to the address of the Home Area that is reviewing your application. Some Home Areas require both official and unofficial transcripts before the December 1st deadline.

Test Scores

GRE, TOEFL, and IELTS

GRE requirements vary by graduate program. UCLA receives most official test scores (GRE, TOEFL) electronically from ETS, and IELTS scores directly from IELTS. The institution code for UCLA is 4837.

For the scores to match up electronically, applicants must use exactly the same personal information (name, date of birth, gender) on the GRE application as on the UCLA graduate application. They must also request that scores be sent to UCLA, the GRE institution code for UCLA R4837.

If you have taken the GRE, TOEFL or IELTS more than once, and the testing agency transmits your scores to UCLA, all of the scores will appear as part of your application.

English Proficiency

The English proficiency requirement must be met regardless of citizenship. Applicants should visit the English Requirements page to determine if they are required to prove their English proficiency. Information about the TOEFL and GRE is available at Educational Testing Service (ETS), and information on the IELTS is available by visiting IELTS International.

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Admitted applicants who have not met UCLA’s English language requirement must, upon arrival at UCLA, take the UCLA English as a Second Language Placement Examination (ESLPE), an English diagnostic test, before being permitted to register. Depending on the results of the ESLPE, you may be required to complete English as a Second Language courses beginning in your first term at UCLA.

Readmission and Renewal

If an applicant has previously applied to UCLA as a graduate student or was admitted but did not register, the application process differs slightly.

First-Time Applicants: If applying to UCLA as a graduate student for the first time, or if having applied before but were not admitted, complete all parts of the application.
Renewal Applicants: If having filed an application for graduate admission at UCLA within the last year and were admitted but did not register, be sure to select Renewal from the dropdown menu at Application Type in the application. Submit only the application, and any additional or updated information or records. After the first renewal the application fee must be submitted with each subsequent application.
Returning Students: If ever registered as a graduate student at UCLA, whether a graduate program was completed or not, complete all parts of the application. Formal application for readmission is not required of a student returning from an official leave of absence. If readmission is needed in the spring (or winter) term, but the program isn’t listed for that term, complete the application for the next fall term.

Additional Information

Statement of Purpose and Personal Statement

Applicants are required to submit a Statement of Purpose describing their motivation for graduate training, academic preparation, research experience, career goals, and other important experiences that have shaped their academic career and prepared them for graduate school. Statements are typically about 2 pages, single spaced (1000 words).

The Personal Statement is an opportunity to provide additional information about background, accomplishments and life experience. This 500 word (1-page, single spaced) statement is separate from the Statement of Purpose and serves to provide additional information about background, accomplishments and life experience.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation must be submitted through the online application and received by the application deadline. The system will contact recommenders with instructions for uploading letters. It is strongly suggested that applicants discuss their request for a letter with each recommender before the system contacts them.

Home Area Interests

If there is a strong interest in a Home Area other than the one to which applying, there is the option of entering it. It is not necessary to enter a secondary Home Area. This should only be done if graduate research interests are broader than the Home Area applying to.

Residency for Tuition Purposes

Residence for tuition purposes is determined solely by residence deputies in the Registrar’s Office. Admitted students wishing to qualify as California residents must be physically present in the state (and intend to make California a permanent home) for one year prior to the beginning of their entering term and have established legal state documents to demonstrate intent.

Non-resident undocumented students with AB 540 status, like other CA residents, are exempt from paying nonresident supplemental tuition. citizens and permanent residence, through documenting 366-day physical presence in CA.

Deferrals

In most cases, UCLA does not offer deferrals for graduate admission. However, admitted students with active military orders may request a deferral for the duration of their service. On occasion, the Graduate Council may authorize programs to offer deferrals under specific circumstances.

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