The UCLA Scholarships 2027 provide funding opportunities for international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes at the University of California, Los Angeles in the United States. UCLA does not offer its regular university financial aid to international undergraduate students, but enrolled international students can apply for selected departmental and donor-funded scholarships, including more than 100 annual scholarships administered by the Samueli School of Engineering. Graduate students have wider funding opportunities through UCLA merit-based fellowships, teaching assistantships, graduate student researcher positions, and departmental awards, while some PhD programmes provide admitted international students with comprehensive funding covering tuition and living expenses. Most undergraduate scholarships are accessed after admission, while graduate applicants indicate their interest in funding within the UCLA graduate application and are considered by their academic department. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the UCLA Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The main funding routes covered in this guide are:
- UCLA Undergraduate and Departmental Scholarships
- UCLA Graduate Merit-Based Fellowships and Assistantships
- UCLA PhD Funding
International undergraduate applicants should understand the distinction between admission funding and scholarships available after enrolment. UCLA states that it does not award its regular financial aid or scholarships to undergraduate students who are not US citizens or permanent residents. However, international students who enrol at UCLA can apply for scholarship opportunities offered by individual schools, departments, donor funds, and the UCLA Scholarship Portal.
UCLA Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD
- Institution: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
- Study Destination: Los Angeles, California, United States
UCLA offers programmes across engineering, computer science, physical and life sciences, business, economics, arts, humanities, social sciences, public health, public policy, education, law, medicine, and many other fields. Graduate funding varies substantially by department, so applicants should check the funding information for their specific programme rather than assuming one standard UCLA scholarship applies to every degree.
Application Deadline
For Fall 2027 undergraduate admission, the University of California has published the following schedule:
- Application opens: August 1, 2026
- Application submission period: October 1 to November 30, 2026
- Application deadline: November 30, 2026
UCLA does not offer Early Action or Early Decision.
The UCLA Scholarship Application for admitted and continuing undergraduate students generally opens during the spring. Departmental scholarships use different schedules. For example, UCLA Samueli Engineering scholarships are generally open during June.
For graduate students, applications for the 2027–2028 academic year will become available after October 1, 2026. Graduate programme deadlines generally fall in December, although the exact application period differs by department.
UCLA Scholarship Coverage
UCLA Undergraduate and Departmental Scholarships
International undergraduate students are not eligible for UCLA’s standard federal, state, or regular university financial aid programme. UCLA therefore requires international applicants to demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to pay their educational and living expenses.
However, after admission, international students can search and apply for scholarships offered through:
- UCLA academic departments
- Individual schools
- UCLA Scholarship Application
- Donor-funded scholarships
- Scholarship Center programmes
- Research centres
- External organisations
The UCLA Scholarship Application contains more than 2,000 scholarship, fellowship, stipend, grant, and prize opportunities across the university. Prospective students cannot access the application until they have been admitted.
Scholarship amounts vary significantly. Some awards provide a small contribution toward educational expenses, while selected scholarships may provide considerably larger support.
UCLA Samueli Engineering Scholarships
One of the clearest scholarship opportunities for international undergraduate students is offered by the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.
Samueli administers more than:
100 undergraduate scholarships each year.
International students, permanent residents, newly admitted students, transfer students, and continuing engineering students can be eligible for selected awards.
Scholarships may be:
- Merit-based
- Need-based
- Based on leadership
- Based on extracurricular involvement
- Linked to a particular engineering major
- Supported by individual donors
Applicants complete one Engineering Scholarship Application and are considered for the scholarships for which they meet the criteria rather than applying separately for every Samueli award.
The standard minimum requirements include:
- Enrolment in a UCLA Samueli engineering major
- Minimum cumulative GPA of approximately 3.0
- Good academic standing
Leadership, extracurricular involvement, community service, and financial circumstances may also be considered depending on the award.
The exact scholarship amount varies by donor and award. UCLA does not publish one standard value for all Samueli scholarships.
Other UCLA Scholarships for International Students
International students can also find scholarships through the UCLA Scholarship Application and their individual academic departments.
For example, the Allen and Emily Man Undergraduate Scholarship specifically supports financially needy and academically strong continuing international undergraduate students, with preference given to students from Greater China. The award amount varies.
The Dashew Center also lists the Kurnitz Foreign Student Creative Writing Award, which is specifically available to current undergraduate students who are foreign-born and non-US citizens.
Because many undergraduate scholarships require applicants to already be enrolled at UCLA, international students should not treat these awards as guaranteed funding when planning how to pay for their first year.
UCLA Graduate Merit-Based Fellowships and Assistantships
Funding opportunities are considerably broader for international graduate students.
UCLA states that merit-based graduate support is available through:
- Fellowships
- Traineeships
- Teaching assistantships
- Graduate Student Researcher positions
- Departmental scholarships
- Privately endowed awards
International graduate students are eligible for merit-based support when they meet the academic and programme requirements.
Need-based federal financial aid and work-study are generally restricted to eligible US citizens and permanent residents, so international students should focus primarily on merit-based university funding, departmental funding, assistantships, and external fellowships.
Graduate Fellowships
UCLA’s Division of Graduate Education provides merit-based awards to selected incoming graduate students.
Applicants are normally considered through their graduate admission application and must be nominated by their academic programme. Awards are competitive and reviewed by faculty.
Privately endowed graduate awards currently include examples such as:
- Charles F. Scott awards of up to US$20,000
- Dr. Ursula Mandel awards of up to US$15,000
- Kasper and Siroon Hovannisian award of up to US$10,000
- Rose and Sam Gilbert awards of up to US$10,000
Eligibility differs by individual fellowship, and international students should confirm the restrictions attached to each award.
Teaching and Research Assistantships
Teaching Assistant and Graduate Student Researcher appointments are among the most important funding sources for international graduate students at UCLA.
Eligible graduate students appointed as teaching assistants, graduate student researchers, tutors, readers, or similar academic employees for at least 25% time during an academic quarter can receive:
- Salary
- 100% of eligible student services fees
- 100% of eligible tuition charges
- Medical insurance coverage
Qualified Graduate Student Researchers with appointments of at least 45% may also receive nonresident tuition remission, which is particularly valuable for international students.
The amount of salary depends on:
- Appointment percentage
- Academic title
- Experience
- Programme
- Collective bargaining agreement
Assistantships are not automatically guaranteed across every UCLA graduate programme.
UCLA PhD Funding
PhD funding at UCLA is administered mainly through individual academic departments rather than through one university-wide scholarship.
Funding packages can combine:
- Departmental fellowships
- Teaching Assistantships
- Graduate Student Researcher appointments
- Faculty research grants
- Graduate Division fellowships
- Tuition and fee remission
- Nonresident tuition support
- Health insurance
UCLA encourages prospective students to review departmental funding arrangements because the amount and duration of support vary between programmes.
Some UCLA PhD programmes provide particularly comprehensive support.
For example, the UCLA Computer Science Department states that all international PhD applicants who are offered admission receive financial support that meets the anticipated cost of attendance. Applicants are automatically considered for departmental funding based on academic merit and research potential.
The funding may come from:
- Department resources
- Faculty research grants
- Fellowships
- Teaching appointments
- Research appointments
The specific funding package is provided with or shortly after the PhD admission offer.
This does not mean that every UCLA PhD programme guarantees the same level or duration of funding. Applicants should check their own department carefully before accepting an offer.
UCLA also provides eligible doctoral students with up to US$1,000 in reimbursement for approved conference travel, off-campus research, or professional development during their doctoral programme.
Eligibility Criteria for UCLA Scholarships
Undergraduate Applicants
International students applying to UCLA must:
- Complete an acceptable secondary-school qualification
- Meet the University of California academic requirements
- Complete the required college-preparatory subjects
- Demonstrate strong academic performance
- Meet English-language requirements where applicable
- Submit the UC application
- Meet any additional requirements for their intended major
UCLA uses comprehensive review and considers academic achievement together with leadership, extracurricular involvement, personal experiences, achievements, and the information provided through the UC Personal Insight Questions.
SAT and ACT scores are not used for UCLA admission or scholarship selection.
Samueli Engineering Scholarship Eligibility
Applicants generally need to:
- Be admitted to or enrolled in UCLA Samueli
- Be studying an eligible engineering major
- Maintain a minimum GPA of approximately 3.0
- Maintain good academic standing
- Complete the UCLA General Scholarship Application
- Complete the Engineering Scholarship Application
- Meet any additional criteria attached to individual awards
International students are explicitly eligible for selected Samueli scholarships.
Graduate Applicants
International graduate applicants generally need:
- A bachelor’s degree from a recognised university
- An academic record above the minimum required by the selected programme
- Appropriate preparation in the intended academic field
- English-language proficiency where required
- Recommendation letters
- Statement of purpose
- Programme-specific documents
Individual UCLA departments can impose requirements beyond the Graduate Division minimum.
Graduate merit funding is primarily awarded according to academic achievement and programme assessment rather than financial need.
English-Language Requirements
Undergraduate Students
International applicants who need to demonstrate English proficiency can submit TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo English Test results.
UCLA currently considers the following competitive scores:
- IELTS: 7.5 or higher
- Duolingo English Test: 135 or higher
- TOEFL iBT under the previous scale: Above 100, with subscores above 24
- Revised TOEFL scale: 5 or higher overall, with subscores of 5 or higher
English-testing requirements depend on the applicant’s previous education and language of instruction.
Graduate Students
The UCLA Graduate Division minimum is:
- IELTS Academic: 7.0
- TOEFL iBT under the previous scale: 87
- Revised TOEFL: 4.5
Individual graduate programmes may require higher results.
You can also review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but UCLA makes the final decision on whether an applicant satisfies its English-language requirement.
How to Apply for UCLA Scholarships?
Undergraduate Scholarships
(1) Review the UCLA international admission requirements and confirm that your secondary-school qualification and subjects meet UCLA’s requirements.
International applicants should report their academic record exactly as it appears in their national education system.
(2) Complete the University of California application.
Select UCLA and your intended major, enter your academic record, and complete four of the eight UC Personal Insight Questions.
Your responses should provide specific evidence of your:
- Academic interests
- Leadership
- Initiative
- Community contribution
- Challenges overcome
- Creativity
- Personal development
(3) Submit your application during the official UC application period.
Do not submit unsolicited recommendation letters, transcripts, or additional documents unless UCLA specifically asks for them.
(4) If admitted, activate your UCLA account and review the UCLA Scholarship Application.
Prospective students cannot access the scholarship system before receiving admission. Once admitted, complete the General Application so the system can match your profile with scholarships for which you may be eligible.
(5) If you are admitted to UCLA Samueli, complete the separate Engineering Scholarship Application when it becomes available.
You need both:
- UCLA General Scholarship Application
- Samueli Engineering Scholarship Application
One engineering application can place you into consideration for multiple eligible Samueli scholarships.
(6) Continue checking UCLA AcademicWorks after enrolment.
Different colleges, departments, research centres, and donor scholarships open throughout the year. International students should also consult the Dashew Center funding resources.
Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships
(1) Search the UCLA Graduate Program directory and select a degree closely aligned with your academic background and career or research interests.
Review the programme’s:
- Admission requirements
- Faculty
- Research areas
- Funding information
- English requirements
- Required supporting documents
(2) For research degrees, identify faculty members working in your proposed area.
Read recent publications and research-group pages before contacting professors.
Where appropriate, send a concise email explaining:
- Your academic background
- Previous research
- Proposed research interests
- Relevant technical experience
- Publications or conferences
- Why the professor’s research aligns with your interests
Attach a focused academic CV.
(3) Complete the UCLA Graduate Application.
The current graduate application fee is:
US$155 for international applicants.
(4) Complete the funding and fellowship sections carefully.
Entering graduate students can be considered for UCLA merit-based awards through their admission application. Departments then nominate eligible applicants for appropriate Graduate Division fellowships.
(5) Prepare a strong statement of purpose.
Explain:
- Your previous academic preparation
- Research or professional experience
- Proposed field of study
- Why UCLA is suitable
- Relevant faculty or research groups
- Long-term goals
Use our statement of purpose guide when preparing your application.
(6) Arrange strong academic recommendations.
Select professors, research supervisors, or professionals who can provide detailed evidence of your academic ability, research potential, independence, and suitability for graduate study.
Our scholarship recommendation letter guide can help you approach referees professionally.
PhD Funding
(1) Select a UCLA PhD programme and check its specific funding policy.
Do not assume that funding offered by Computer Science, Engineering, Economics, or another department automatically applies to your programme.
(2) Submit the standard graduate application and indicate all relevant fellowship and funding information.
Most departmental PhD funding does not require a completely separate scholarship application.
(3) If shortlisted, complete an interview where required.
Be prepared to discuss:
- Previous research
- Proposed research questions
- Methodology
- Faculty fit
- Technical preparation
- Long-term research interests
You can use our scholarship interview questions guide when preparing.
(4) Review the funding offer carefully if admitted.
Confirm:
- Annual stipend or salary
- Tuition coverage
- Nonresident tuition coverage
- Health insurance
- Teaching requirements
- Research requirements
- Funding duration
- Renewal conditions
Do not describe your PhD as fully funded until these elements are clearly included in your individual funding offer.
Documents Required for UCLA Scholarships
Undergraduate Documents
International undergraduate applicants should prepare:
- UC Application
- Complete secondary-school academic record
- National examination information where applicable
- Four Personal Insight Question responses
- English-language test result where required
- Passport and citizenship details
- Supplemental application for programmes that require one
- Official academic documents after admission
UCLA does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship selection.
After admission, scholarship applications may additionally request:
- UCLA General Scholarship Application
- Personal statement
- Academic achievements
- Leadership activities
- Community service
- Extracurricular activities
- Financial information for awards that consider need
Graduate Documents
Graduate applicants generally need:
- UCLA Graduate Application
- Bachelor’s degree transcript
- Master’s degree transcript where applicable
- Statement of Purpose
- Personal Statement where required
- Academic CV
- Recommendation letters
- TOEFL or IELTS result where required
- GRE or other examination where required by the programme
- Research proposal where applicable
- Writing sample where required
- Publications or research evidence
- Programme-specific materials
International applicants whose academic documents are not in English should follow UCLA’s instructions for submitting the original records together with acceptable English translations.
Applicants can use these ScholarshipRoar guides:
Website
For more information about UCLA Scholarships, visit:
- UCLA International Undergraduate Admission
- UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships
- UCLA Samueli Engineering Scholarships
- UCLA Dashew Center Financial Aid Resources
- UCLA Graduate Funding
Frequently Asked Questions
Does UCLA offer scholarships to international students?
Yes, but the opportunities differ by study level.
International undergraduate students are not eligible for UCLA’s regular university financial aid programme. However, admitted and enrolled international students can apply for selected departmental, donor-funded, and school-level scholarships.
International graduate students can receive merit-based fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and departmental funding.
Are UCLA Scholarships fully funded?
There is no general fully funded UCLA scholarship for every international student.
Some PhD programmes provide comprehensive financial packages. For example, UCLA Computer Science states that international PhD students offered admission receive funding that meets the anticipated cost of attendance.
Undergraduate departmental scholarships generally vary in amount and should not be treated as guaranteed full funding.
Does UCLA give financial aid to international undergraduate students?
UCLA states that international undergraduates who are not US citizens or permanent residents are not eligible for its regular university financial aid programme.
They may still apply for selected departmental and donor-funded scholarships after admission.
Can international students apply for UCLA Samueli Scholarships?
Yes. UCLA Samueli explicitly states that selected scholarships are available to international, newly admitted, transfer, and continuing engineering students.
How many scholarships does UCLA Samueli offer?
The Samueli School of Engineering administers more than 100 undergraduate scholarships annually.
One scholarship application is used to match students with multiple eligible awards.
Are UCLA PhD programmes fully funded?
Funding varies by department.
Many PhD students receive combinations of fellowships, teaching appointments, research appointments, tuition remission, and health benefits. Some departments provide comprehensive funding to all admitted PhD students, but UCLA does not publish one universal funding guarantee for every doctoral programme.
Do I need a separate application for UCLA PhD funding?
Usually, the graduate admission application is also used to assess applicants for departmental and Graduate Division funding.
Individual departments may have additional procedures, so applicants should check their programme’s funding page.
Can international master’s students receive UCLA scholarships?
Yes, selected international master’s students may receive merit-based fellowships, departmental awards, or assistantships, but funding is limited and is not guaranteed.
Some professional or self-supporting master’s programmes have different funding arrangements.
Is SAT or ACT required for UCLA?
No. UCLA does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.
Is IELTS compulsory for UCLA?
Not always.
International applicants may be exempt depending on their previous education. Students who need to demonstrate English proficiency can submit an accepted TOEFL, IELTS, or, for undergraduate admission, Duolingo English Test result.
What is the UCLA graduate application fee for international students?
The current graduate application fee for applicants who are not US citizens or permanent residents is US$155.
