Fellowships, Scholarships & Grants for Entering Students

Division of Graduate Education Fellowships and Programs

Entering students should apply for most of these Division of Graduate Education Fellowships and programs from within the online application for admission. If you have already submitted the online admission application without indicating that you’d like to be considered for any of the fellowships, then submit a hard copy of the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students directly to your prospective department by December 15 or by the department’s deadline for admissions. Consult your department for exceptions.

Summary

Summary

Most fellowship, scholarship and grant awards are for one academic year (three terms or two semesters). Entering students may, however, receive offers covering all the years of study through degree attainment. Some federally funded awards provide additional summer coverage. Departmental fellowships, scholarships and grants are awarded in varying amounts and may include fees/tuition and nonresident supplemental tuition.

Awards are competitive and open to all graduate students. Recipients of fellowships, scholarships, traineeships and grants must maintain satisfactory progress throughout their tenure. They must be registered and continuously enrolled each term for a minimum of 8 units (12 if you’re awarded a fellowship or scholarship from the Division of Graduate Education) and are expected to devote full-time to study and research.

UCLA seeks to achieve a student body and faculty which is inclusive of individuals from all cultural, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds. Our commitment to academic excellence places a high value on sustaining the diversity of experience and perspective which is critical in promoting lively intellectual exchange and the breadth of new ideas that are essential for creative research and scholarship.

Some of our available fellowship funding (specifically the Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship, Graduate Opportunity Fellowship and University of California-Historically Black Colleges & Universities Initiative Fellowship programs) is intended to help ensure access to graduate study for students who have experienced significant socioeconomic disadvantages or overcome other major educational or physical disadvantages in their pursuit of higher education. All qualified applications will be considered for these fellowships without regard to gender, color, race, ethnicity or national origin.

Cota-Robles

Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship

Applicants should review the Eugene Cota-Robles Application Instructions. Complete the appropriate sections within the online admissions application. Your prospective home department will determine if it will nominate you to the Division of Graduate Education (applicants must be nominated by their department/school). The deadline is the same as the deadline for your admissions application. Contact your prospective home department for any exceptions.

GOFP

Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program (GOFP)

Applicants should review the GOFP Application Instructions. Complete the appropriate sections within the online admissions application. Your prospective home department will determine if it will nominate you to the Division of Graduate Education (applicants must be nominated by their department/school). The deadline is the same as the deadline for your admissions application. Contact your prospective home department for any exceptions.

Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship

Generously funded by the Chuck Lorre Foundation, The Big Bang Theory Graduate Fellowship supports graduate students who have completed the Big Bang Theory Scholars undergraduate program at UCLA and who wish to pursue graduate education in the STEM fields within the University of California system. Eligible students may receive up to $20,000 per year, for up to five years, and must be enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program in a qualifying UC graduate program.

Eligible applicants must submit an application via the Office of Scholarships and Student Support Initiatives (SSI), which will be verified and administered in partnership with the UCLA Division of Graduate Education. Once admitted, students must submit an annual progress report to SSI in order to qualify for continued funding, for up to five years.

Qualified applicants who are admitted into a part-time graduate program may submit an application for partial to full funding (up to $20,000) and will be subject to review by the Chuck Lorre Foundation on a case-by-case basis.

UC-HBCU

University of California-Historically Black Colleges & Universities (UC-HBCU) Initiative Fellowship

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the UCLA Division of Graduate Education, and the student’s home department/program at UCLA collaborate to offer six-year funding packages for entering PhD students as part of the University of California–Historically Black Colleges and Universities (UC–HBCU) Initiative Fellowship.

Fellows must have been participants in an eligible UC–HBCU summer program. Eligible applicants are US citizens, permanent residents, international students or registered California AB540 students.  Funding for the latter will be provided only if AB131 is still in effect for the duration of the fellowship.

The fellowship provides full tuition and fees (and nonresident supplemental tuition if applicable) plus an annual stipend to match the stipend amount that is provided to students in their respective academic programs.

Interested individuals should contact their prospective home department/program staff Graduate Student Advisor/Student Affairs Officer.

Division of Graduate Education Privately Endowed Fellowships

One should apply for the following programs from within the online admissions application. There are special eligibility requirements. If financial need is one of the eligibility criteria, please also submit a copy of the web submission confirmation page of your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA, for U.S. citizens or permanent residents) or a copy of the CA Dream Act application (for California AB540 students). The prospective home department will decide if it will nominate the applicant to the Division of Graduate Education.

Upload into the online admissions application the following documents:

  • A statement of your eligibility for the fellowship(s) for which you are applying (maximum one page for each fellowship, double spaced, no less than 11 pt font and 1” margins).
  • A personal statement of your goals, coursework completed and research activities (two pages maximum, double spaced, no less than 11 pt font and 1” margins).

Other required documents, such as transcripts, c.v., letter(s) of recommendation, will be pulled from your admissions application by your department before it submits its nomination to the Division of Graduate Education.

Charles F. Scott Fellowship

Several awards of up to $15,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students with baccalaureates from UCLA. Applicants must provide evidence that they are enrolled in a course of study that prepares them for leadership in national, state or local governmental administration.

Gordon Hein Memorial Scholarship

Several awards of up to $5,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students in any field of study who are blind or who have a severe vision impairment. Awards are made on the basis of the student’s financial need during the fellowship year, academic record and the availability of funds. At the time of application, include verification of the condition (e.g., letter from a physician or from UCLA’s Center for Accessible Education) and proof of financial need via copy of FAFSA web submission confirmation page (for U.S. citizens and permanent resident) or DREAM Act Application (for California AB540 students).

Kasper and Siroon Hovannisian Fellowship

One award of up to $10,000, from which fees are paid, for a graduate student with a focus in Armenian Studies, with preference given to Armenian history. Applicants should provide a statement of their projected plan of study.

Dr. Ursula Mandel Scholarship

Several awards of up to $15,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students in scientific fields related, allied or of value to the medical field. Applicants must have a doctorate as their degree objective. DDS, JD and MD students are not eligible.

Rose and Sam Gilbert Fellowship

Approximately two awards of up to $10,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students who attended UCLA as undergraduates for at least two years and participated on men’s or women’s NCAA athletic teams . Eligibility is verified with UCLA’s Department of Athletics. Club and intramural teams are not eligible.


Fellowships Offered by Centers & Departments

Fellowships Offered in Specific Disciplines

Many academic departments and centers at UCLA also offer fellowships. Please contact the department you wish to apply to for information on departmental fellowships.

Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (TITLE VI)

Assists individuals who are undergoing advanced training in modern foreign languages and related area studies. For further information visit the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship page.

Nonresident Tuition Fellowships/ Registration Fee Grants

A limited number of fellowships are awarded by departmental recommendation to cover either the nonresident tuition or the registration fees and living expenses of graduate students with distinguished academic records. Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time program of study and may not be recipients of awards from federal, state or private foundations that provide tuition coverage. Nonresident tuition fellowships are not available for students financially sponsored by foreign governments. Please contact the home department for details.