Admissions - Anticipated Expenses for Studying at UCLA

To qualify for a visa to study in the United States, you must provide the United States consulate or embassy with substantial proof of adequate funding for the entire course of your study in the U.S.

According to U.S. Immigration and Naturalization regulations, the University may issue Certificates of Eligibility for visas only to applicants who:

1) have been offered admission and have formally accepted the offer (completed the online Statement of Intent to Register and Statement of Legal Residence),

and

2) have submitted documented evidence (e.g., bank statements, letters of sponsorship, etc.) of sufficient funds for their first year of study at UCLA.

The total amount of money needed for living and educational expenses for the 2009-2010 academic year for most academic programs at UCLA is US $44,967.50. This includes 1) US $24,675.50 for tuition and fees for three quarters, and 2) US $20,292.00 for basic living costs (food, rent, laundry, local transportation, books and supplies, etc.).

New students in professional degree programs such as Architecture, Film and Television, Management, Nursing, Public Policy, or Theater will need to prove additional funding to meet professional school fees and other program-related fees, depending on the program and should plan for this when preparing their financial documents.

If you have a sponsor who intends to provide monthly living expenses, that amount must be at least $2,254.67 per month (i.e., $2,254.67 multiplied by nine months equals $20,292.00).

If you plan to bring your family, you should add the following costs: US $4,500.00 for your spouse, plus US $2,000.00 for each child. Health insurance is mandatory and is included in the above figure for tuition and fees.

Please note: These figures are subject to change without notice.

It is best to plan to have additional funding well beyond the minimum currently required and to indicate this on the Confidential Financial Statement.

Please note that you should not expect any financial support from UCLA unless you have been officially notified, in writing, of such an award by the department or by the Graduate Division. Teaching Assistantships, Graduate Student Researcher appointments, fellowships, and stipends, as well as tuition fellowships, are not guaranteed for the full academic year or for subsequent years of study, unless stated in writing.

The difficulty of gaining off-campus employment, and of non-immigrant visa holders obtaining permission for such employment, is strongly emphasized. Spouses of F-1 visa holders, who hold F-2 visas, are not permitted to work under any circumstances.

At certain times of the year, you must have large sums of money available to cover payment of required expenses: Upon arrival, plan to spend US $11,000.00 — 13,000.00 on initial rental deposits, your first month's living expenses and the first term's tuition and fees. Tuition and fees for each term must be paid during the registration period prior to the beginning of the term, so you should plan your budget accordingly.

Confidential Financial Statement (PDF-204KB)