Navigating UCLA Graduate Admissions: A Comprehensive Guide to Requirements

Applying to graduate programs at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) can seem daunting. UCLA is one of the country’s highest-ranked public schools, and it has strong grad programs in a number of areas. For STEM, its medical-related grad programs are especially highly-ranked. This comprehensive overview breaks down the essential requirements, processes, and considerations for prospective graduate students, drawing from official UCLA resources.

Application Process and Deadlines

The UCLA application for graduate admission should be used to apply for all programs with the exception of the M.D. in Medicine, the J.D., S.J.D, and L.L.M. in Law, the D.D.S. in Dentistry, and M.B.A. and M.F.E. The UCLA Graduate Division has launched a new online application process in recent years. The online Application for Graduate Admission must be completed, including uploading required documents such as transcripts, test scores (if applicable), statements of purpose, and letters of recommendation. It's crucial to pay close attention to deadlines, which vary by department. Be sure to consult your specific UCLA graduate program for the specific deadline for your proposed major. The deadline to submit an application for admission for many programs is DECEMBER 15, 11:59 pm, Pacific Time. Students are admitted only once a year to start in the Fall quarter only. Applications should be submitted only between mid-September and December 15. Before you submit a late application, please contact the program directly to learn whether it can be considered.

Application Fee

A fee is required to apply for graduate admission. As of now, the application fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, $200 for specific programs like the Global Executive MBA for Asia Pacific, the Master of Financial Engineering, and the MS in Business Analytics, and $155 for all other applicants.

Fee Waivers

UCLA offers fee waivers to applicants who meet specific criteria. Participants in the following programs are eligible for fee waivers. If you do not meet the criteria for a Fee Waiver as specifically stated on the Fee Waiver requirement page then unfortunately you do not qualify for a fee waiver (no exceptions). If you do meet the criteria as stated on the Fee Waiver requirement page, it is the applicant’s responsibility to upload all the required documents (including redacting SSN) in their graduate admissions application. Here's a breakdown of programs that offer fee waivers:

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

Additionally, event-based waivers may waive the application fee for PhD and state-supported doctoral programs. Inquire about event-based fee waivers at designated conferences and recruitment events.

Read also: Cracking the UCLA Admission Code

Application Renewal

If you 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.

Readmission

If you have ever registered as a graduate student at UCLA, whether you completed a graduate program 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.

Academic Requirements

GPA

The university requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for consideration. The department reviews all applicants who have earned a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The most competitive applicants have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 (on a 4.00 scale),and at least a 3.50 in any graduate study. Graduate admission through the regular process requires an overall scholastic average, including any post-baccalaureate study, of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better, or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used. However, through the “Dean’s Special Action” (DSA) process, departments are able to admit applicants who do not meet this GPA requirement when other aspects of the applicant’s file suggest readiness for graduate study. The DSA process requires no additional action on the applicant’s part; it is at the department’s discretion to initiate it.

Transcripts

All applicants are required to upload ONE (1) official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. Official transcripts should be uploaded to your online application only. International applicants should refer to the “Requirements for International Students” section of the Graduate Division webpage for information about submission of foreign academic records. Most applicants are in the process of completing a degree. Official transcripts are due December 15 along with the application (officially transcripts should be uploaded in your graduate application before you submit the application). UCLA students and alumni please note: You do not have to submit an official UCLA transcript.

Degree

student is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor’s degree from the University of California.

Standardized Tests

GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)

GRE requirements vary by graduate program. GRE Requirement for Fall 2025-2026 Admissions Cycle OnlyStudents who wish to apply for admission to our graduate program for the 2025-2026 academic year (applications for this cycle are due December 15, 2024) are not required to take the GRE or submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. However, students may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration. All students applying for fall who wish to take the GRE test early in the fall before the application deadline (Dec. 15). The test must have been taken within five (5) years of the submission date of the UCLA Graduate Division online application. Check the testing schedule and registration information on the GRE homepage. The UCLA institution code is 4837. The Computer Science department code is 0402. Official scores should be sent to UCLA as soon as possible. The GRE computer science subject exam is not reviewed by the department. Applicants must take the exam well before the December 15 deadline. Reports on exams taken in November will be received in time for review.

TOEFL/IELTS (English Proficiency)

If your first language is not English, you must submit a TOEFL with a score of at least 87 (computer-based) or 560 (paper-based), or an IELTS with a score of at least 7.0. Exams must be taken within two (2) years of the date of the online application submission. The UCLA institution code is 4837. The Computer Science department code is 78. Official scores should be sent to UCLA as soon as possible. Meanwhile, applicants are encouraged to submit unofficial student score reports on the Supporting Documents Upload section of the online application. Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from a university within the United States or in another country in which English is both the primarily spoken language of daily life (for the country) AND the medium of instruction, or have completed two years of full-time study at such institutions (i.e. accredited US university or accredited university where English is the primary spoken language of daily life (for the country) and the medium of instruction), are exempted from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. Applicants must take the exam on or before the December 15 deadline. Reports on exams taken in November will be received in time for review.

Supporting Documents

Statement of Purpose

All CS applicants submit an SOP (500 word limit) in their online application. The SOP is considered to be the writing sample. What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program? What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you to pursue your academic goals?

Personal Statement

All CS applicants submit a personal statement (500 word limit) in their online application. The Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA. Are there educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, not described in your Statement of Purpose, that have shaped your academic journey? If so, how? Describe challenge(s) or barriers that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education.

Letters of Recommendation

At least THREE (3) letters of recommendation must be submitted using the graduate application link above. For M.S. If you are an ESAP applicant to the CS MS program, you will need two letters of rec from CS faculty/instructors or instructors from outside the department that have a joint appointment with the UCLA CS Dept (i.e. Professors Achuta Kadambi and Mani Srivastava are ECE faculty with joint appointments with the CS Dept). For Ph.D. applicants: We urge that all your letters be from academic or professional references as recent as possible and from people who can comment on your recent professional accomplishments and your qualifications for graduate study in Computer Science. If you have an M.S. degree, letters from professors who have served on your M.S. Letters are due December 15. All applicants are required to upload ONE (1) official transcript from each post-secondary institution attended. Official transcripts should be uploaded to your online application only. International applicants should refer to the “Requirements for International Students” section of the Graduate Division webpage for information about submission of foreign academic records.

Read also: UCLA Law School GPA Guide

Additional Information

Matching Test Scores

UCLA receives most official test scores (GRE, TOEFL) electronically from ETS, and IELTS scores directly from IELTS. In order for your official scores to be matched to your application, be sure that the personal information you give on the Application for Graduate Admission is exactly the same as the information you gave at the time you took the test. You may submit your application if you have not yet taken the GRE (if required by your program) or TOEFL or IELTS tests and plan to take the test in the future. 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.

International Students

International applicants must meet the university’s minimum requirement for the TOEFL or IELTS. Please visit this page for detailed information. International applicants must upload copies of both English and native/original international transcripts per country- or educational system-specific guidelines. International applicants should refer to the Graduate Division’s “Required Academic Records for International Students” webpage to determine the correct official documents to submit based on the institution’s country of origin.

Computer Science Department Specifics

Students may apply for either the Ph.D. program or the M.S. program but not both. Admission to the Ph.D. program is more selective than for the M.S. program. In general, the admissions committee does not consider Ph.D. applicants for admission into the M.S. program and vice versa. CS PhD applicants should select their anticipated major field from the list above. CS FACULTYApplicants to the CS MS or PhD program are asked to identify which three CS faculty they are interested in working with. Your selections will be used to help the department identify potential faculty who may serve as a faculty advisor. CS does not require a writing sample.

Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) Department Specifics

All ECE applicants must submit a Statement of Purpose (2-page maximum) in their online application. The Statement of Purpose (SOP) should be precise and brief. It should contain only those personal details that would aid the admissions review process. The SOP is considered to be the writing sample. The Personal Statement is part of the University application. However, it is not required by the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.

Art History Department Specifics

UCLA’s Graduate Division has launched a new online application process in recent years. The UCLA Department of Art History is highly competitive. On average, 100 applicants apply each year. The Graduate Review Committee (GRC) values applications that reflect a serious engagement with art historical questions and problems, a focused intellectual direction, and a strong scholarly record. At the discretion of the Graduate Review Committee (GRC), applicants demonstrating exceptional promise who are short on the 3 required courses in art history could still be admitted to the program. Yes. Students with a MA degree in art history or another discipline can apply for admission to the PhD program.

Financial Support

Applicants to the Ph.D. program will automatically be considered for departmental funding, and awards will be given based on the applicant’s academic merit and potential. All Ph.D. applicants who are offered admission are provided financial support from either department resources or the research grants of individual faculty members. Ph.D. admittees are provided a funding offer shortly after being notified of their admission. Domestic Ph.D. applicants are strongly encouraged to explore university-wide fellowships, especially the Eugene V.

Housing and Parking

There is a variety of both University and privately-owned housing available to UCLA graduate students. Student parking assignments are made on a need-based point system that considers such factors as class standing and commute distance, and favors those students who demonstrate the greatest need.

Key Considerations for Applicants

Truthfulness and Originality: Your application must be truthful and reflect your own work. Essays that rely heavily, or entirely, on AI may be treated as academic dishonesty.
Holistic Review: Application materials are reviewed by faculty admissions committees in each major program who select the best qualified applicants.
Communication: As a courtesy, please do not send the same question to multiple staff/faculty throughout the CS Department. Please send your question that is not listed on the Grad FAQ webpage to the CS Grad Student Affairs Office only.
Disability Services: The University of California, Los Angeles actively encourages persons with disabilities to apply for admission.

Understanding GRE Scores for UCLA

While some programs may not require the GRE, understanding how UCLA views GRE scores can be helpful for those who choose to submit them.

Average GRE Scores

The chart shows the average GRE scores of accepted applicants for various graduate programs at UCLA. Not every UCLA grad provided this information.

Setting GRE Goals

In order to determine the UCLA GRE scores you should set as your goal, first find the average GRE scores for the program you want to apply to in the chart above. If your program isn’t listed in the chart, look at the GRE scores of the closest program to it, or look up GRE scores of programs with a similar US News ranking. Then, add 2-3 points to both Verbal and Quant scores. Adding a few points to the average GRE scores of accepted students ensures that your scores will be high enough above the average to strengthen, not weaken, your application.

Beyond GRE Scores

Most graduate programs, including those at UCLA, care more about your undergraduate transcript, the research or work experiences you’ve had, your personal statement, and your letters of recommendation than what you got on the GRE. Spend more time improving those areas of your application as opposed to spending all your time aiming for perfect GRE scores. Additionally, if you have low GRE scores but are exceptional in other areas, such as research or work experience, you still have a solid chance of getting into UCLA.

tags: #ucla #gre #requirements #overview