Fees

Although the exact cost of attending UCLA varies according to academic program, personal habits, tastes, and financial resources, there are some fees that all UCLA students must pay. Each entering and readmitted student is required to submit a Statement of Legal Residence to the Registrar's Office. Legal residents of California are not required to pay tuition at the University. Students classified as nonresidents must pay annual tuition of $8,984. For a full definition of residence and nonresidence, see the Appendix.

Fees are current as of publication date but are subject to change without notice by The Regents.

Other Fees

Miscellaneous fees charged to UCLA graduate students include a $50 charge for late payment of registration fees (after the fee deadline) or late filing of the Study List (after Friday of the second week of classes); $50 for advancement to doctoral candidacy; a $20 late fee if the UCLA Billing Statement has an unpaid balance in excess of $25; and $5 or less for most petitions and other special requests. A $60 fine is assessed if any check for registration fee payment is returned by a bank (i.e., stopped payment, insufficient funds, etc.). A complete list of fees may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

Reduced Nonresident Tuition

Effective fall 1997, the annual nonresident tuition fee for graduate doctoral students who have advanced to candidacy is reduced by 75 percent. Doctoral students may receive this reduced nonresident tuition rate for a maximum of three years. After three years, the full nonresident rate is assessed.

Fee Refunds

Students who formally withdraw from the University or take an approved leave of absence may receive partial refunds of fees. For the refund schedule and more information, see Withdrawal in the Academics section of this catalog or consult the Schedule of Classes for policy details and specific refund dates for each term.

Estimated Annual Budgets for Graduate California Residents

Expenses cover the three regular session terms of the 1997-98 academic year and do not include Summer Sessions. Students admitted in fall 1997 to the D.D.S., J.D., M.B.A., and M.D. degree programs must add the professional school fee (varies by school), and nonresidents must add $8,984 annual tuition to their total expenses for an accurate estimate. Budgets for the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing are higher, reflecting the expense of specialized books and supplies; figures are available from the health professions counselor. The budgets are designed to serve as a guide and are subject to change.

Financial Support

Graduate Student Support
1228 Murphy Hall
(310) 825-1025

As a major center for graduate study, UCLA offers its qualified graduate students substantial support through several types of financial assistance.

Information on available funding for entering students is included in the Application for Graduate Admission. Readmitted students should also request the Application for Graduate Admission, and continuing graduate students should complete the Fellowship and Assistantship Application for Continuing Students. Completed applications must be returned by January 8. (Some departments have earlier deadlines; consult the application brochure for details.)

UCLA Graduate Student Support, a booklet describing the full range of financial assistance available, is published annually and mailed to continuing students by the Graduate Division. Students should contact their department for more detailed information.

Fellowships

The University administers several awards on the basis of scholarly achievement. Most awards are available in open competition, though some are restricted to new students or to specific departments. Some fellowship and scholarship awards are made from University funds; others are made from endowment funds held in trust by the University and given by interested friends and alumni. Still others come from annual donations by educational foundations, industry, government, and individual benefactors.

Most fellowship, traineeship, and grant awards are for one academic year (three terms). Fellowships and grants provide stipends in varying amounts for qualified students. Nonresident tuition fellowships cover the tuition, for periods of one to three terms, of selected graduate students who are not California residents.

Assistantships

Academic apprenticeships train qualified students for careers in teaching and research, and compensate them for their services. Teaching assistantships provide experience in teaching undergraduates, with faculty supervision. (Teaching assistants, associates, and fellows are eligible to receive partial payment at the beginning of the term in the form of an interest-free advance loan check. Interested students should apply to their departments.) Graduate student researcher appointments give students experience working on faculty-supervised research projects.

Awards Based on Financial Need

Because the cost of a graduate education may present a financial hardship, students who require assistance in meeting educational costs are encouraged to apply for aid based on their financial need. Need is defined as the difference between allowable school-related expenses and financial resources. Financial aid applicants must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Financial aid awards include work-study and low-interest loans. Students are usually awarded a financial aid "package" which is a combination of these forms of assistance. Further information is available from the Financial Aid Office, A129J Murphy Hall.