International Applicants (2024)

Students come from all over the world to attend UCLA. Indeed, part of what makes UCLA great is the wide variety of experiences and backgrounds our students bring to our campus community. Each year we admit students from nearly 90 countries. UCLA is truly an international institution located in one of the world’s most international cities.

Read on to learn more about being an international applicant.

Academic Requirements

As an undergraduate, you may apply for admission as a first-year or a transfer student.

You’re a first-year applicant if you completed secondary school and have not enrolled in a regular session at any college or university. UCLA does not admit students into any undergraduate program who already hold Bachelor’s degrees, nor do we admit students who have the equivalent of three years (130 quarter-units or more) of transferable university work. You may not disregard your college record and apply as a first-year.

Transfer applicants need to be at the junior level, that is, have taken college level coursework amounting to 90-130 quarter (60-90 semester) units of credit. UCLA gives preference to students transferring from California community colleges, including international students. Historically, over 80% of admitted international transfers were attending a California community college when they applied.

To learn more about applying, including important dates and deadlines, visit the first-year or transfer page.

Education System Requirements

Depending on your country and educational system, you may have to meet additional admission requirements. Learn more about country-specific requirements.

Language Requirements for International Students

English language proficiency is critical to your success at UCLA. If all of your high school/secondary school education was completed in English, you are considered proficient and do not need to satisfy this requirement. However, if you've completed all or some high school or secondary school in a country where English wasnotthe language of instruction, you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency if you have hadless than 3 yearsof instruction in English. To demonstrate English language proficiency, students are required to take theTest of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL), theInternational English Language Testing Service(IELTS),or theDuolingo English Test.

We look for a competitive score above 100 (with sub-scores above 22) on the TOEFL,7 or above on the IELTS, or a 120 or higher on the Duolingo English Test (DET).

Current Applicants: TOEFL, IELTS, and DET scores can be updated post-submission directly through the UC Application website. Note that while official test scores are not required to be sent along with the application for our review process, all test information must be accurately self-reported on the application site no later than January.You may send your TOEFL scores to one UC campus, and all campuses you apply to will receive them. Conversely, IELTS and DET results must be sent to each campus you apply to. DET scores must be submitted through the DET testing portal. Be sure to include your UC Application ID when sending DET scores.

If you’re admitted to UCLA and your native language is not English, we may also require you to take UCLA’sEnglish-as-a-Second-Language Placement Examination (ESLPE)immediately before the term in which you enter. If your score indicates a weakness in English, several terms of your program may include special courses in English for international students. If your score shows that you are seriously deficient, you’ll be required to gain proficiency in English before you’re allowed to pursue your studies at UCLA.

Financial Information

UCLA does not award scholarships or financial aid to undergraduate students who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States. International students must prove that they have sufficient funds available to them to pay for their educational and living expenses. For example, students admitted to Fall Quarter 2024 will need a minimum of about $76,327 (with an additional $5,000 recommended for additional personal expenses, contingencies and summer expenses). This minimum amount usually grows each year.

UCLA also requires that all international students on non-immigrant visas have adequate medical insurance during all periods of enrollment. More information about these requirements will be sent to students when they are admitted.

Learn more about tuition

Transcripts and Official Records

We require records from the secondary schools you have attended that show subjects taken and grades received, as well as any national or government certificates earned.

Documents of all college or university coursework must also be sent in the original language, along with English translations. Please do not send these documents now. If you apply and are admitted, your admission packet will have instructions.

Message About Agents and Consultants

UCLA Undergraduate Admission does not partner with agents to represent the University or to administer any part of the application process. The engagement of agents or private organizations for the purpose of recruiting or enrolling international students is not endorsed by UCLA.

UCLA expects an application to be the work of the student and any deviation violates University policy which may lead to rejection of application materials, revocation of an admission offer, cancellation of admission, or involuntary withdrawal from the University. There is no formula for gaining admission to UCLA. Students with vastly different credentials come from thousands of secondary schools across the country and around the world. What unifies our students are the talents they bring to UCLA and their passion to explore all that UCLA has to offer.

Admitted International Students

If you’re an international student who has already been admitted, visit the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars to find out more about the international community UCLA.

Resources

As another resource, you can find the same information in our International Admission Guide (PDF).

International Applicants (2024)

FAQs

What is an international applicant? ›

You will be considered an International Student if:

You are not a citizen of the United States of America, and. You are not a permanent resident of the United States of America at the time you apply for admission.

Am I an international applicant? ›

If you graduate from a high school outside of the U.S., then you are considered an international applicant. If you graduate from a high school located in the U.S., you are considered a domestic applicant.

Are you a US domestic or international applicant? ›

You are considered a domestic applicant if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. (Note: If you are an international applicant, please see the international application.)

Who is considered an international student? ›

Students who are already in the U.S., or who plan to enter the U.S., on non-immigrant visas such as the E2, H2 or L2 are also considered international students. Please note that students with DACA or other undocumented statuses are not considered international students.

Is an international student a U.S. person? ›

In general: F and J student visa holders are considered resident aliens after five calendar years in the U.S. J researchers and professors are considered resident aliens after two calendar years in the U.S. H-1, TN, and O-1 visa holders are considered resident aliens once they meet the “substantial presence” test.

What is an international person? ›

An international person is a term used in international law to describe an entity that has legal rights, duties, and powers on the international level. This means that they are recognized as a subject of international law and have the ability to act in accordance with it.

Do US citizens count as international students? ›

No, permanent residents are not typically considered international students.

What counts as international? ›

International applicants are citizens or permanent residents of a country to which they intend to return other than the United States.

Are immigrants considered international students? ›

International students are defined as "non-immigrant" visitors who come to the United States temporarily to take classes or take online courses virtually from anywhere in the world. A non-immigrant is someone who meets one or more of the following criteria: intends to stay in the US temporarily.

Is United States international or domestic? ›

For those that live in the US, domestic travel would be considered traveling anywhere within the 50 states, including US territories (Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, etc.). International travel is when you leave the US border and enter a new country, like leaving the US and going to London or Nigeria.

Am I an international student if I live in the US? ›

Am I an international student? We typically have three categories of “international” students: non-U.S. citizens abroad, non-U.S. citizens living in the U.S., and U.S. citizens/permanent residents abroad.

What is a domestic applicant only? ›

U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents (such as green card holders) are considered to be “domestic” applicants, regardless of where they have studied or reside.

What is international student status? ›

Your status relates to the purpose, or reason for why you want to come to the United States. The U.S. Department of State issues you your visa based on your intended purpose. If the Department of State issues you an F or M student visa, this means that you are coming to the United States to study.

Is an international student a non immigrant? ›

F-1 nonimmigrant: an international student in the United States to pursue a full course of academic or professional study (including a language training program) at an SEVP-certified school. An F-2 nonimmigrant is a foreign national who is the spouse or qualifying child of an F-1 student.

What category is international student immigration? ›

The International Students Category is divided into the following three streams: International Student with a Job Offer Stream. International Student - Master's Graduate Stream. International Student - PhD Graduate Stream.

Am I an immigrant if I am an international student? ›

International students are defined as "non-immigrant" visitors who come to the United States temporarily to take classes or take online courses virtually from anywhere in the world. A non-immigrant is someone who meets one or more of the following criteria: intends to stay in the US temporarily.

What is an international transfer applicant? ›

You are considered an international transfer applicant if you: Require an 'F visa' (or I-20) to study at Cal State LA; and. Attempted college coursework after high school graduation, but have not completed a Bachelor's degree.

What is the meaning of foreign applicant? ›

More Definitions of Foreign applicant

Foreign applicant means a person who is not a citizen of Country x or a legal entity where citizens of Country x; one or more of its directors or shareholders are not citizens of Country x.

Are green card holders considered international students? ›

No, permanent residents are not typically considered international students. Permanent residents, also known as green card holders, have legal permanent residency status in a country, allowing them to reside and work there indefinitely.

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