Eligibility

The program is open to UCLA graduate students who must:

• Be currently registered and enrolled UCLA graduate students in any program except the D.D.S., M.D., J.D., S.J.D, and L.L.M. and self-supported programs. 
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. 
• Be continuously registered/enrolled in 12 units each quarter during the award year.  
• This award has no citizenship restrictions and is open to all students enrolled in eligible departments. 

Awards 

Sam and Rose Gilbert Award

For graduate students who attended UCLA as undergraduates for at least two years and participated on men’s or women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) teams (intramural & club teams are ineligible). Students must include the NCAA team and years in the Eligibility Statement section. Eligibility will be verified with UCLA’s Department of Athletics.

Approximately two awards of up to $10,000 each, which are applied to standard tuition unless the awardee has another tuition-payment source. In some years, award amounts may be higher due to funding availability.

Charles F. Scott Award

Graduate students with baccalaureates from UCLA. Students must provide a statement that details the student’s course of study and how it prepares them for leadership in national, state or local governmental administration in the Eligibility Statement section.

Several awards of up to $20,000 each, which are applied to standard tuition unless the awardee has another tuition-payment source. In some years, award amounts may be higher due to funding availability.

Kaspar and Siroon Hovannisian Award

Any graduate student in any field with a focus in Armenian studies, with preference given to Armenian history, and demonstrated financial need based on the Student Aid Index. Students should provide a statement of their projected plan of study. US citizens and permanent residents must complete a FAFSA form at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Undocumented students with an AB540 exemption must complete the DREAM Act Application.

One award of up to $10,000, which is applied to standard tuition unless the awardee has another tuition-payment source. In some years, award amounts may be higher due to funding availability.

Dr. Ursula Mandel Scholarship

For graduate students in scientific fields related, allied, or of value to the medical field. Preference is given to entering students. DDS, JD and MD students are not eligible.  The student must upload a statement on how they meet the eligibility requirements for this award in the Eligibility Statement section.

Several awards of up to $20,000 each, which are applied to standard tuition unless the awardee has another tuition-payment source. In some years, award amounts may be higher due to funding availability.

How to Apply 

By applying, students understand that they are giving their consent to disclose application information to University officials and to relevant funding committees.

NOTE: Applications that are not submitted on time, fail to follow the submission procedures listed below or are forwarded as incomplete will be disqualified and not reviewed. Students/departments will not be notified. Revisions to applications after submission are not allowed, no exceptions.

Students must be nominated by their department, IDP or school in order to be considered for the award.

Continuing students will apply for nomination as follows:

1. Students must go to the 2027-28 Award Application for Continuing Graduate Students
2. Select the award application option.
3. Review the instructions entirely prior to starting the application.
4. Complete each section in the required order. The application sections are dynamic, so the application will change according to the entries and selections that are made.
5. Fill out the Basic Information, Citizenship & UID, Major & GPA sections.
6. Review the Privately Endowed section closely for specific instructions and required materials, especially for details about the awards.
7. Personal Statement. A three-page-, double-spaced statement that illustrates how the applicant contributes to their communities through education, research, leadership, creative work, and public service. Students must also address how they fulfill the requirements of the Privately Endowed Awards that they wish to be considered for. See the award descriptions and ensure that the personal statement includes the required information for all awards the applicant is applying for. Statement must be in an accessible font, such as Calibri, Arial or Aptos. Minimum font size is 11 pt., with at least 1-inch margins.
8. Upload an unofficial copy of the Graduate Transcript with Fall 2026 grades posted to the Transcript section. The transcript printed from MyUCLA is acceptable. Do not submit a Degree Progress Report (DPR).  If Fall Quarter is the student’s first graduate term at UCLA, they must include an unofficial transcript from the last college/university attended (even if the last college/university was UCLA).
   • Students who have incomplete grades that remain unresolved (i.e., “I” grades) are strongly encouraged to provide a statement explaining the context surrounding the incomplete(s) and how the student is moving forward with their degree progress.
9. Provide an updated Resume or Curriculum Vitae in the Resume/CV section. Include a list of all extramural, departmental and DGE awards that have been received, including the year and amount awarded.
10. ONE letter of recommendation from the faculty mentor, signed and on department letterhead. The mentor should address the student’s academic record and public service activities in the letter of recommendation. Enter the personal information for the recommender in the application portal. This will generate an automatic email from the application portal.
11. If there is a document that should be in landscape position and it is in portrait position, please rotate it.

Applications that are not submitted on time, fail to follow the submission procedures listed above or are forwarded as incomplete will be disqualified and not reviewed. Students/departments will not be notified. Revisions to applications after submission are not allowed, no exceptions.

Deadline

Applications for 2027-2028 funding are due by February 12, 2027, 4 pm PST. 

Letters of recommendation are also due by February 12, 2027, 4 pm PST.  

Incomplete applications will not be forwarded for review.