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 Grad Division) 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.

Graduate Division Fellowships and Programs

Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship

This four-year fellowship program, funded by the University of California Office of the President, the UCLA Graduate Division, and the UCLA home department, supports a limited number of students who are entering PhD programs and are interested in a career in college or university teaching and research. The fellowship currently provides a stipend of $25,000 plus tuition and, for the first year only, nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary. Professional degree supplemental tuition, if the awardee is enrolled in a professional degree program, is not covered.

Eligible applicants are US citizens, permanent residents 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. Students pursuing master’s, MD, DDS or JD degrees are not eligible for this program.

Fellows may not be employed during the first quarter of this fellowship. During the student’s fourth year, the Graduate Division provides a second year of support at the same funding level. The student’s department is obligated to provide two or more years of equivalent support.

Applicants should review the Eugene Cota-Robles Application Instructions. Complete the appropriate sections within the online admissions application. If you’ve already submitted the online admissions application, complete the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students and send it to your prospective home department. Your prospective home department will use the form and your Personal Statement (submitted within the online admissions application) to determine if it will nominate you to the Graduate Division (applicants must be nominated by their department/school).

Individuals from cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education are especially encouraged to apply.

Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program (GOFP)

This one-year fellowship program supports a limited number of entering students pursuing terminal or professional master’s degrees or the JD. Awardees receive a $20,000 stipend plus tuition (and nonresident supplemental tuition if necessary). Professional degree supplemental tuition, if the awardee is enrolled in a professional degree program, is not covered.

Fellows may not be employed during the first term of this fellowship. Eligible applicants are US citizens, permanent residents 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. Students pursuing doctoral degrees (e.g., PhD, MD, DDS, etc.) are not eligible for funding.

Applicants should review the GOFP Application Instructions. Complete the appropriate sections within the online admissions application. If you’ve already submitted the online admissions application, complete the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students and send it to your prospective home department. Your prospective home department will use the form and your Personal Statement (submitted within the online admissions application) to determine if it will nominate you to the Graduate Division (applicants must be nominated by their department/school).

Individuals from cultural, racial, linguistic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds that are currently underrepresented in graduate education are especially encouraged to apply.

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

The University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the UCLA Graduate Division, 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.

UCLA Graduate Division Fellowship for UCLA Undocumented AB540 Graduate Students (AB540 Fellowship)

The UCLA Graduate Division offers funding for UCLA graduate students with undocumented AB540 status. The current funding period is July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020.

Doctoral students: Partial funding available for one or more terms of stipend and/or standard tuition and fees. If your degree program has professional degree supplemental tuition, this funding will not cover that expense.

Master’s students: Partial funding available for one or more terms of stipend and/or standard tuition and fees. If your degree program has professional degree supplemental tuition, this funding will not cover that expense.

The following programs have 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), a copy of your UCLA Graduate Student Support Financial Statement (for international students) or a copy of the CA Dream Act application (for California AB540 students).

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 (intramural teams are not eligible). Eligibility is verified with UCLA’s Department of Athletics.

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), UCLA Financial Statement (for international students) 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.

Paulson Scholarship Fund

One or more awards of up to $6,000 for graduate students who are from Sweden.

Will Rogers Memorial Fellowship

Several awards of up to $10,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students with disabilities in any field of study. Applicants must submit verification of their disability (e.g., letter from a physician or from the UCLA Center for Accessible Education) with the application.

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.

Werner R. Scott Fund

One or more awards of up to $8,000 each, from which fees are paid, for graduate students who are residents of Hawaii with demonstrated financial need. At the time of application, include proof of financial need via copy of FAFSA web submission confirmation page (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents) or DREAM Act Application (for California AB540 students).

Malcolm R. Stacey Memorial Scholarship

Several awards of up to $5,000 each, from which fees are paid, are available for engineering graduate students with preference given to Jewish graduate students in any field of engineering. Amount of award is based on financial need during the fellowship year. At the time of application, include a copy of FAFSA web submission confirmation page (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents), UCLA Financial Statement (for international students) or DREAM Act Application (for California AB540 students).

For all of the above awards (except the UCOP AB540 Fellowship), submit 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. For the UCOP AB540 Fellowship, submit your application to uclafellowship@grad.ucla.edu by December 15 or by the department’s deadline for admissions.

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.