Students come from all over the world to attend UCLA. Indeed, part of what makes UCLA great is the wide variety of experiences and backgrounds our students bring to our campus community. Each year we admit students from nearly 80 countries (and that number increases to over 100 countries if we include domestic students who were born outside the US). UCLA is truly an international institution located in one of the world's most international cities.
UCLA also offers an enormous breadth of areas to study: more than 125 majors spread across five academic divisions.
UCLA receives more undergraduate applications than any other school in the United States. As such, admission is highly selective in all majors.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
As an undergraduate, you may apply for admission as a freshman (first-year) or as a transfer student. You are a freshman applicant if you completed secondary school and have 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. You may not disregard your college record and apply as a freshman.
Freshmen (first-year) students...
Secondary School Requirements
To be considered for admission to UCLA, international students must have completed secondary school with a superior average in academic subjects and have earned a certificate of completion which enables the student to be admitted to a university in the home country.
Students who have attended school under the British system must present five GCSE/Ordinary-Level examinations and at least three Advanced-Level examinations with superior grades. Results of Advanced-Subsidiary or Higher-Level exams should also be submitted. Students enrolled in the India/Pakistan post-secondary system must apply as undergraduates unless they have earned a Bachelor’s degree in engineering or a Master’s degree in any other area, in which case they should apply for admission to a graduate program.
Test Requirements
All freshman applicants are expected to take the following tests:
The ACT Assessment plus the ACT Writing Test.
- or -
The SAT Reasoning Test with critical reading, mathematics, and writing scores from the same sitting.
Applicants to the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science are also strongly encouraged to take the following SAT Subject Tests: Math Level 2 and a science test (Biology E/M, Chemistry, or Physics) that is closely related to the applicant's intended major.
In order for your test scores to be available in time for our review, all tests must be taken by December of the year before you plan to enroll. Arrangements to take the tests in your country may be made with the Educational Testing Service. You should request that your test scores be sent directly to the UCLA Undergraduate Admission Office.
Transfer Students...
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, and international students are no exception. In fact, almost three out of four of our international applicants for Fall Quarter 2015 were attending community college in California when they applied.
TRANSCRIPTS AND OFFICIAL RECORDS
UCLA requires records from all secondary schools attended, showing subjects taken and grades received as well as any national or government certificates earned. Documents of all college or university coursework must also be sent in the original language, along with English translations. Do not send these documents now. If you apply and are admitted to UCLA, your admission packet will contain instructions on how to send your original records to us.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
A proficiency in English will be critical to your success. UCLA requires one of the following proficiency exams from all international students coming from non-English speaking countries:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
a score of 7 or higher on the academic module
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
a score of 83 or higher on the Internet-based test (iBT)
a score of 550 or higher on the paper-based test (PBT)
When you take the test, have your scores forwarded by the testing service to the UCLA Undergraduate Admission Office.
If you are 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. If your score shows that you are seriously deficient, you will be required to gain proficiency in English before you are allowed to pursue your studies at UCLA.
FINANCIAL INFORMATION
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 2016 will need a minimum of about $60,000 (with an additional $5,000 recommended for additional personal expenses, contingencies and summer expenses). This minimum amount usually grows each year.
UCLA also requires that all international students on non-immigrant visas have adequate medical insurance during all periods of enrollment. More information about these requirements will be sent to students when they are admitted.
