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🇺🇸 USA · Public

University of California, Los Angeles

📍 Los Angeles, CA, USA · QS World Rank #42 · #15 nationally · ucla.edu
9%
Acceptance rate
~$32k
Tuition / yr
7
IELTS required
30%
Intl students
1919
Founded
#42
QS World rank

Top public university in California. This guide covers University of California, Los Angeles's courses, fees, English & academic requirements, scholarships, the step-by-step admission process, student-visa and post-study-work rules, and tips to get in — everything in one place.

▶ Predict my admission chances (free)

📚 Courses & programs at University of California, Los Angeles

University of California, Los Angeles is best known for CS, Film, Business. Popular programs for international students include:

Class profile: Highly selective intake.

✅ Entry requirements

IELTS (Academic)7
TOEFL iBT94
PTE Academic65
Duolingo English Test120
GREOptional
GMAT (MBA)710
Min GPA / grade3.3/4.0
Work experience2–4 yrs (MBA only)
💡
Below the English score? Don't pay to find out — take a free full-length IELTS mock (or PTE / TOEFL) and see your gap instantly. Full breakdown: IELTS score for University of California, Los Angeles.

💰 Fees & cost of studying

Tuition (international)$30–35k/yr
Application fee$50–100
Living costs (est.)$12,000–20,000/yr
ScholarshipsGraduate Division fellowships

Plan your budget for tuition + living + health insurance + the visa fee. Compare funding with the free scholarship finder.

📝 Step-by-step admission process

  1. Shortlist programs & note GRE/GMAT policy
  2. Take IELTS/TOEFL + GRE/GMAT if required
  3. Prepare SOP, 2–3 LORs, CV & transcripts
  4. Apply online (Fall deadlines Dec–Jan)
  5. Pay application fee; submit
  6. Receive decision → I-20 → F-1 visa

📄 Documents checklist

🛂 Student visa & post-study work · USA

🎯 Tips & tricks to get admission

📅 Intakes & deadlines

IntakesFall (Sep)
Typical deadlineDec 1 (Fall)
Acceptance rate9% (competitive)

All figures are indicative and change year to year — always confirm on the official site (ucla.edu) before applying.

How University of California, Los Angeles compares in USA

The figures on this page mean little on their own. Set against the 30 other USA universities in our dataset, they say something more useful about where an application to University of California, Los Angeles is likely to be won or lost.

Programme areas: MS Computer Science · MS Data Science · MBA (Anderson) · MS Electrical Eng · MS Engineering. Entry requirements are set per programme, not per university, so the figures above are the institutional baseline — a competitive department inside an accessible university can run far tighter than the headline rate suggests.

Practical order of work for University of California, Los Angeles: clear the English requirement first, because it gates everything and is the only part of the application you fully control; then confirm which of the Fall (Sep) intakes you are targeting, since the typical deadline is Dec 1 (Fall) and funding decisions usually close before admission decisions; then build the application around one specific programme rather than the institution. Budget the application fee of $50–100 per programme, and living costs of $12,000–20,000/yr on top of tuition of $30–35k/yr.

Figures here are indicative and compiled for comparison. Acceptance rates in particular are institution-level estimates and move year to year — confirm anything you are deciding on against the university's official pages.

Frequently asked questions

What IELTS score do I need for University of California, Los Angeles?
University of California, Los Angeles typically requires IELTS 7 (TOEFL 94, PTE 65). GRE: Optional.
How much does University of California, Los Angeles cost?
International tuition is approximately $30–35k/yr, plus living costs of $12,000–20,000/yr. Application fee: $50–100.
What is the acceptance rate at University of California, Los Angeles?
University of California, Los Angeles has an indicative acceptance rate of about 9% (Highly selective intake).
What are the intakes and deadlines at University of California, Los Angeles?
Intakes: Fall (Sep). Typical deadline: Dec 1 (Fall).
Is University of California, Los Angeles hard to get into?
University of California, Los Angeles is competitive, with an indicative acceptance rate of about 9%. Aim above the minimum scores and build a standout profile.
Does University of California, Los Angeles require GRE or GMAT?
GRE: Optional. GMAT (for MBA): 710. Always confirm the exact policy for your specific program on the official site.
Can I work after studying at University of California, Los Angeles?
OPT: 12 months (36 months for STEM degrees) (USA). You can typically also work part-time while studying: 20 hrs/week on-campus during term; full-time in breaks.
What documents do I need to apply to University of California, Los Angeles?
Typically: Academic transcripts, Statement of Purpose, 2–3 Letters of Recommendation, Resume / CV, GRE/GMAT (if required), IELTS / TOEFL, Application fee, Passport copy, Financial proof (I-20). Check program-specific requirements before applying.

Keep going — free practice

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