Maximum Limit of Merit-Based Support

The Graduate Council has established a policy of Maximum Limit on the total amount of support a graduate student may receive. It includes any fee/tuition awards, special fellowships, remissions, stipends, and TA/RA earnings. The maximum limit will vary for each student. In general, a student may not hold two major awards at the same time.

To calculate the maximum limit of support that a student may receive, use the following equation:

Maximum Limit = Tuition/Fees + [1.75 (Room/Board + Books + Travel + Personal + Add-On)]

Need-based stipend is the estimated budget for living expenses established by the Financial Aid Office and published annually in the UCLA Application for Graduate Admissions - Fees and Living Expenses section. These limits are generous. For example, the average 2009-2010 maximum limit for a single California resident, depending on major and on- or off-campus residency is $47,527.25

In the example below, the graduate student is a non-resident living off-campus:

Maximum Limit = $25,692.50 + [1.75 ($13,968 + $1,941 + $2,559 + $2,601 + $447)] = $63,345.50

If an exception to the Maximum Limit is required, the department must submit a letter of exception.