Study Abroad Programs

How to Apply

Study Abroad at UCLA Extension Program

Admission Requirements

To enroll in Study Abroad at UCLA Extension, you must be at least 18 years of age before the start of the program; enrolled in a full-time undergraduate degree program; meet English Language Proficiency and GPA requirements, complete the application process, and submit the required documents as outlined below.

How to Apply

The application process has several phases. To participate in a UCLA Extension Study Abroad program, each step must be completed in its entirety by the mandated deadlines. If you need assistance at any stage during the application process, please contact studyabroad@uclaextension.edu

Phase 1: Study Abroad Program Application

If you have not already created a UCLA Extension student account, you will need to create one in order to begin the application process.

Create a new student account

You will be asked to fill in the following information to complete your student profile:

  • Section 1: Personal and Emergency Contact Information
  • Section 2: International Representative Information. If you are working with a representative, agency, or a UCLA Extension university partner on your application to UCLA Extension, enter their information in this section.
  • Section 3: Why UCLA Extension? We are excited to get to know you better! Answer a few brief questions about why you chose UCLA Extension and what you hope to accomplish with us.
  • Section 4: Academic Information and Supporting Documents. Upload your proof of English Language Proficiency, your Grade POint Average from your most recent school, and your most recent transcripts. Students participating in courses offered solely by UCLA Extension must meet the English Language Requirements, have a 2.5 GPA, and submit academic transcripts for review. 
  • Section 5: Program Selection. Select your program year and the quarter in which you will begin.
  • Section 6: Acknowledgements and Policy Statements. Read about the application process and policies. 

Submit New Study Abroad Application

Once your Phase 1 application is reviewed and approved, you will be emailed a link to complete the Phase 2 application. Review the Phase 2 application thoroughly, complete the application steps, and pay a $500 non-refundable program deposit. The $500 deposit is part of the total $4,500* International Program Fee. After you pay your $500 deposit, you will secure your placement in the program and will have a remaining program fee balance of $4,000 which will be paid during Phase 5 of the application process.

*Please note that the quarterly program fees are separate from and do not include program tuition.

Scores that are equal to or higher than the listed minimum scores from the following tests, taken within the past two years, can satisfy the English proficiency requirement.

  • TOEFL: 80 (iBT or Home Edition)
  • IELTS: 6.5
  • iTEP: 4.5
  • CAE: B (CEFR C1)
  • CPE: C (CEFR C2)
  • TOEIC: 685 (Listening & Reading or Speaking & Writing)
  • DUOLINGO (DET): 105

While no other type of test score is accepted in general, students who are affected by test center closures may request an exception to submit an alternate test score.

Students currently enrolled in an academic institution where the primary language of instruction is English or International Baccalaureates (IB) students, may submit an official academic transcript or verification of enrollment from their school as proof of English proficiency.

 

Students must submit an English translation of their high school or university transcript with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4-point scale or the equivalent.

You will be required to upload a screenshot of your GPA verification in your application. Please use the GPA Calculator to convert your international GPA to a 4.0 scale.

UCLA Extension recognizes English as the official language from any of the following recognized countries and territories, and as such are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.

Applicants who are citizens of the following countries and territories and identify with/use English as their first/primary language do not need to establish English language proficiency via examination.

  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Australia
  • Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Bermuda
  • Botswana
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • British Virgin Islands
  • Canada (excluding Quebec)
  • Cayman Islands
  • Cook Islands
  • Dominica
  • Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
  • Fiji
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Gibraltar
  • Grenada
  • Guam
  • Guernsey
  • Guyana
  • India
  • Ireland
  • Isle of Man
  • Jamaica
  • Jersey
  • Kenya
  • Kiribati
  • Lesotho
  • Liberia
  • Malawi
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Micronesia
  • Montserrat
  • New Zealand
  • Nigeria
  • Norfolk Island
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Pitcairn Islands
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • Saint Helena, Ascension, and Tristan da Cunha
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Seychelles
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • South Africa
  • South Sudan
  • Sudan
  • Swaziland (Eswatini)
  • Tanzania
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • Tuvalu
  • Uganda
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Students can request additional waivers for the English language proficiency by emailing intlcertificates@uclaextension.edu with details for our review.

 

Study Abroad students are eligible to enroll in undergraduate courses offered by the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences. The College offers a wide variety of courses in the Humanities, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. 

Enrollment for all UCLA courses is on a space-available basis. Study Abroad students must also meet English Language requirements, course prerequisites, and have the instructor's consent to enroll. Please also note that restrictions apply to some courses and programs.

Concurrent Enrollment Requirements

For students applying to the Study Abroad at UCLA Extension program and who plan on enrolling in courses offered by the UCLA College of Letters and Sciences, the English requirements are as follows.

  • TOEFL: 100
  • IELTS: 7
  • iTEP: 5
  • DUOLINGO (DET): 120

Official TOEFL iBT results can be sent by TOEFL to UCLA Extension (School Code 4910-0000); For Academic IELTS results, send them to UCLA Extension directly.

Students must also submit an English translation of their high school or university transcript with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale or the equivalent. 


Students will be required to upload a screenshot of their GPA verification in their application. Please use the GPA Calculator to convert your international GPA to a 4.0 scale

Scores must have been achieved within 24 months of your application date.

Please Note: Payment of the program fee is due six weeks before the start of the program. Admission to Study Abroad at UCLA, UCLA Extension, and/or individual UCLA courses does not constitute admission to UCLA or any UCLA degree.
 

 

Phase 2: International Student Commitment to Participate Application

Once your Phase 1 application is reviewed and approved, you will be emailed a link to complete the Phase 2 application. Review the Phase 2 application thoroughly, complete the application steps, and pay a $500 non-refundable program deposit. The $500 deposit is part of the total $4,500* International Program Fee. After you pay your $500 deposit, you will secure your placement in the program and will have a remaining program fee balance of only $4,000 which will be paid during Phase 4 of the application process.

*Please note that the quarterly program fees are separate from and do not include program tuition. 

 

Phase 3: I-20 Application

Once you have completed Phases 2 of the application process, you will receive an email from the International Student Services office with instructions to complete Phase 3: I-20 Application. Complete this application to begin the process of obtaining an F-1 student visa.

It is important to complete your I-20 application fully and as soon as possible so you have plenty of time to go through the visa process. If you have any questions about the I-20 Application or F-1 visas, please contact the International Student Services Office at iss@uclaextension.edu.

Prepare Supporting Documents

Before beginning your I-20 application, review the information below. 

Please note that all supporting documents uploaded with your application must be in either .pdf or .jpg format

Make a clear, readable copy of your passport biographic page containing your name, birth date, expiration date, and the bottom two lines filled with letters and numbers.

If you are currently in the U.S. without an F-1 visa and want to change your current visa status to F-1, you will also be required to upload:

However, we strongly recommend that you return to your home country to obtain an F-1 student visa. 

You and/or your sponsor are financially responsible for your educational and living expenses for the duration of your program and must provide financial certification meeting the minimum funds for you and any dependents you may seek to bring with you. This financial statement is a federally required part of the visa-seeking process.

Statement of Financial Support Form

You will find a link to this form in the Form I-20 application. Please download this form and complete it. Once complete, upload this form with an accompanying bank document or letter outlining your ability to cover the costs for your chosen program.

We will accept bank documents and letters dated within 6 months of your submitted Form I-20 application. All supporting bank documents or letters must show available funds to meet or exceed the amount of your program as outlined on the form. Types of acceptable support documents are outlined on the form.

Calculation of Financial Support

Each applicant is required to show a minimum of funding for school tuition and living expenses while enrolled as an F-1 student enrolled at UCLA Extension. Proof of additional funds for a spouse and/or children is required for F-2 dependents.

The costs for each program are outlined on the Statement of Financial Support form (pdf), which is required as part of the application process.

You are required to have health insurance for the duration of your studies. Health insurance fees are included in the quarterly international program student fee. 

To view policy details, visit the Relation Insurance Services website or call (877) 246-6997 to speak to a representative.

If you plan to bring any dependents with you (spouse or children), the following must be provided for each family member:

  • Name (as it appears on passport)
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Country of citizenship
  • Passport photo copy

 

If you are already in the United States on F-1 visa status and plan to transfer your I-20 to UCLA Extension, you will also be required to upload:

  • Copy of your most recent I-94
  • Copy of your F-1 Visa
  • Copy of your most recent I-20

We request that your current immigration advisor not release your SEVIS record to UCLA Extension until you are fully admitted and make your Commitment Deposit (Phase 2 of the application). If your SEVIS record is in anything but "Active" status, please contact International Student Services at iss@uclaextension.edu for more information.

 

You are a returning student if you have previously applied for an I-20 and paid the Study Abroad program fee. If you are a current or former student but never applied for an I-20 at UCLA Extension, complete the new student application.

If you are currently in the U.S. and are seeking a Change of Status to F-1, you will also be required to upload:

If you are an F-1 student transferring back to UCLA Extension, you will also be required to upload:

If your SEVIS record is in anything but "Active" status, please contact International Student Services at iss@uclaextension.edu for more information before having your record transferred to UCLA Extension. 

 

Entry Quarter* New Students
Outside the U.S.
Transfer Students
with Current I-20
Fall Quarter
September-December
August 15 August 31
Winter Quarter
January-March
November 15 November 30
Spring Quarter
March-June
February 1 March 1
Summer Quarter
June-September
May 15 May 31

*Instructional dates for each quarter can be viewed on the UCLA Extension Academic Calendar

 

 

Phase 4: Pre-Arrival and Course Identification Application

In the Phase 4 application, we will ask you to identify the courses you plan on taking for your first quarter at UCLA Extension. This application will help you plan and prepare for your time at UCLA Extension. Lastly, in Phase 4, you will make your final program fee payment of $4,000. You must pay the balance of your program fee before you can register for your classes.

UCLA Campus Courses (Concurrent Enrollment Courses) Additional Documents

Download and complete your Immunization Form (PDF).

*Financial certification documents and an immunization form are not required for students attending UCLA Extension only courses.
 

Submit an English translation of your high school or university transcript with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4-point scale or the equivalent. You will be required to upload a screenshot of your GPA verification in your application. Please use the GPA Calculator to convert your international GPA to a 4.0 scale.

 

Once you have completed Phase 4 of the application process, you will receive a welcome letter from the International Student Services Office with your digital Form I-20 attached.

You will receive another email from the IP-GEO with instructions to complete Phase 5 of the application process: Pre-Arrival and Course Identification Application.

 

Phase 5: Class Registration

The IP-GEO will notify you when it is time to register for your UCLA Extension courses.

 

Subsequent Quarters

Study Abroad students who want to study at UCLA Extension for more than one quarter must complete a returning student application for each quarter they attend UCLA Extension. Study Abroad students should notify the ISS office as soon as they have made the decision to extend their program beyond one quarter, so they can update their I-20 and ensure that their student visa is extended for the additional quarter(s) of study. Please contact the International Student Services Office at iss@uclaextension.edu.

If the Study Abroad student does not complete the returning application, they will not be admitted into their program and will no longer be enrolled as a UCLA Extension student. This will impact their F-1 student visa status. Students should not register for any courses, until they have completed their returning student application and are fully admitted into their program.

International Fees: International students participating in a UCLA Extension Study Abroad program will be charged International Program Fees in addition to the fees outlined on the individual certificate program web pages. The International Program Fee is $4,500 for your first quarter and $3,500 for each subsequent quarter at UCLA Extension. This fee includes a variety of services, programs and activities, access to campus facilities, health insurance, etc. The fee does not include tuition, the certificate candidacy fee, or housing costs.

The International Program Fee charged by UCLA Extension for international students enrolled in certificate and study abroad programs are higher than fees for U.S. and California residents. That is because the higher fees cover the costs of providing additional student services for international students, such as visa support, health insurance, access to campus services, advising support (academic, visa, housing, etc.), social and cultural programming developed specifically for international students, etc. These higher fees are common for public institutions in the U.S.

 

Refunds

Refund Schedule

The $500 program deposit is non-refundable.

UCLA Extension will reserve your space in the program upon completion of the Confirmation to Participate: Statement of Responsibilities (Phase 2) and payment of your $500 non-refundable program deposit. Individual students canceling their application (prior to the program start date) will be refunded according to the following refund schedule:

Days Prior to Program Start Date Percentage of Program Fee to be Refunded*
60+ 100%
59-45 75%
44-30 50%
29-15 25%
14 or less 0%
 
*Fees incurred to process a refund will be deducted from the amount refunded to the student; this could include but is not limited to wire transfer fees, postage fees, etc.

Denial or delay of visa does not waive a student from the refund policy. Students are advised to purchase airfare after obtaining their visa (when applicable).

Tuition Refunds

Tuition refunds will adhere to and follow the UCLA Extension Tuition Refund Policy.

Health Insurance

You may submit a refund request to Relation Health Insurance if you will not be studying with us on F-1 status. Refunds are only possible within 30 days from the program start date and if you have not utilized the coverage.

 

Contact Study Abroad

Speak to a program representative. Hours: Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm.

Learn more about our international programs.

 

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