University of California, Los Angeles

First-year admission

Applicants apply through the University of California application (UC Application), which opens August 1 and accepts submissions October 1 to November 30. UCLA does not offer early action or early decision. Admission is by comprehensive review using 13 faculty-approved criteria. Applicants complete 15 A-G courses with at least 11 finished before the final year of high school: 2 years history/social science, 4 years college-preparatory English, 3 years mathematics (4 recommended), 2 years laboratory science (3 recommended), 2 years of a language other than English (3 recommended), 1 year visual and performing arts and 1 year college-preparatory elective. The unweighted GPA for Fall 2025 admits averaged 4.0. UCLA does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes (test-blind). Letters of recommendation and interviews are not part of the process; the Schools of the Arts and Architecture, Music, Nursing, and Theater, Film and Television require supplemental applications. Admission notification comes in late March; the enrolment deposit and housing application are due May 1; final transcripts July 1 and AP/IB results July 15.

Transfer admission

Transfer applicants need junior standing (60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units) by the end of the spring before transfer, a UC transferable GPA of 3.2 or higher, major preparation completed and a 7-course pattern (two English composition/critical thinking courses, one mathematics course, four courses across at least two of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences). The average GPA of admitted transfers is above 3.5, and priority goes to California community college applicants. The application period is October 1 to November 30 for fall entry; decisions are released in late April and the Statement of Intent to Register is due June 1.

International applicants

Students whose secondary education was not in English for at least 3 years must show English proficiency by TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test. UCLA looks for a TOEFL iBT score of 5 or higher with sub-scores of 5 or higher on the revised scale effective January 21, 2026 (above 100 with sub-scores above 24 on the previous 120-point scale), IELTS 7.5 or higher, or Duolingo 135 or higher. Admitted students may sit the English-as-a-Second-Language Placement Examination (ESLPE). Secondary-school records showing subjects and grades plus national or government certificates are required, with English translations of non-English records. Applicants must also meet country-specific education system requirements set by the University of California. International students on non-immigrant visas must have adequate medical insurance. Undergraduates cannot hold a Bachelor's degree or have three years or more (130 quarter units) of transferable university work.

Graduate admission

Applicants apply online through the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission to one programme per application period; programme-specific requirements, fees and deadlines are set by each department. DDS, MD, JD, LLM, SJD and MBA candidates apply through the Dentistry, Geffen Medicine, Law and Anderson schools. English proficiency is required of all graduate applicants unless they hold a degree from an accredited university in the United States or a country where English is the sole language of instruction: minimum TOEFL iBT 87 (exams before January 21, 2026) or 4.5 (on or after that date), or IELTS Academic overall 7.0; some programmes set higher minimums. International applicants upload unofficial transcripts with the application and submit official records on admission.

UCLA's main campus is in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, a short distance from Hollywood and downtown Los Angeles. The university describes the setting as combining the atmosphere of a public research university with the opportunities of a major city.

The campus is organized around the College of Letters and Science and professional schools including Architecture, Education, Engineering, Law, Management, Music, Public Affairs, and Theater, Film and Television, alongside health sciences schools in Dentistry, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health.

Campus arts venues include the Hammer Museum, the Fowler Museum and the Center for the Art of Performance, and the campus provides on-campus housing, dining, libraries and shuttle services.