FAQ for Theater: Graduate

Please note: The Theater Department at UCLA's School of Theater, Film and Television will NOT be accepting applications to our MFA Programs in Acting and Lighting Design for 2010.

How do I request an application to the graduate programs in Theater?

All application materials for the Theater graduate programs are available on the web. The application is available online for electronic submission at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu and at http://www.tft.ucla.edu.

What is the application deadline for the Theater graduate programs?

The application deadlines vary depending on your chosen degree program and area of specialization. Please go to http://www.tft.ucla.edu/admissions/3/ for the specific program deadlines.

Does the School offer spring admissions for the Theater graduate programs?

No. Applications are only accepted for the fall quarter.

What are the application requirements for the Theater graduate programs?

There are specific requirements for each department, degree program, and area of specialization. The general application requirements can be found under admissions. For information about the admissions and program requirements for each degree program in the School, visit www.tft.ucla.edu/admissions/.

How can I find out whether my application materials have been received?

Applicants will receive an e-mail notice from the department on the status of the application materials 4-6 weeks after the application deadline. Note that the Graduate Division website may not give you updated information about your application materials.

Does the Departmental Application need to be mailed to UCLA with all of the supplemental application materials?

No. The departmental application is available online for electronic submission, and does not need to be mailed to the department. If you are applying to an MFA program in Theater, please indicate which area you are applying to in your statement of purpose. The three MFA areas are as follows: Directing, Playwriting, and Design for Theater and Entertainment Media (Costume, Scenic and Sound only).

Can I apply to more than one department and degree program in your School?

No. Applicants may only apply to one department and one degree program within our School.

What is an appropriate length for my statement of purpose for the Theater graduate programs?

Ideally, the statement of purpose should not be over two pages. The statement can be single- or double-spaced.

What are the degree and GPA requirements for applicants to the Theater graduate programs?

The general requirement for admission for a U.S. student is a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a bachelor's degree from the University of California. A scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better is required — or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used — for the last 60 semester units or last 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post-baccalaureate study.

Do I need to mail all of my application materials to the department in one envelope?

To expedite the process of reviewing your application, we prefer that all of your supplemental materials (statement of purpose, resume, letters of recommendation, transcripts, etc.) be sent collectively in one envelope to our department.

When can an applicant check to see if his/her application is complete?

An applicant may inquire on the status of his/her application materials after February 1, 2010, by sending an e-mail to info@tft.ucla.edu.

When are admissions offers made to the applicants?

This varies by department and by degree. Typically, admissions offers are made by mid-March.

I am applying to an MFA program in Theater and am unable to meet the application deadline. Can I still submit my application?

Applications and supporting materials received after the deadline may be considered at the discretion of the Department. Consideration for fellowship and other financial support will depend on availability of funds and cannot be guaranteed for late applicants.

Will the portfolio I submitted with my application materials be returned to me?

No. Please make sure you do not submit original copies, as all application materials submitted in support of an application (including creative work, original or otherwise) will not be returned to the applicant. The Department will not be responsible for the retention of those materials.

Should I submit my portfolio along with my application or bring it with me to my interview?

This varies by program. If you apply to the MFA Costume Design program, you must submit copies of your drawings with your application materials. All other applicants will be asked for design examples if and when they are invited for an interview. You may bring to your interview the following: sketches, renderings, photographs, production books, plots, technical papers, reviews, or other appropriate exhibits.

Will UCLA be attending any of the University/Resident Theatre Association (URTA)? If so, can you tell me which city or cities (New York, Chicago, Las Vegas) UCLA will attend for design interviews?

UCLA is a member of U/RTA and we will be attending the directing and design interviews in most cities. Please go to http://www.tft.ucla.edu/admissions/3/ for information on the U/RTA dates.

NOTE TO U/RTA APPLICANTS: U/RTA applicants may apply to UCLA past the deadline and should apply directly to the University AFTER their U/RTA interview.

I wish to apply to UCLA’s MFA program and would like to visit your facilities, meet the faculty, and audit classes. Is this possible?

Our classes are open only to currently enrolled students or students who are newly admitted to the program. If you are admitted to the program, you will be invited for a campus visit, which includes auditing classes, meeting with faculty, and meeting with current students.

If you are planning to visit Los Angeles prior to your audition/interview, you may schedule a campus tour and a tour of the School. For more information, visit our Tours page.

If I am accepted into your graduate program, how long will it take me to get my MFA degree?

UCLA’s MFA programs (in the area of Design, Directing, and Playwriting) are three years in length, although some students are able to complete their program in two years plus one quarter. UCLA is on the quarter system, and each academic year is three quarters in length.

Do you offer teaching assistantships and other forms of financial support?

We do offer assistantships and recruitment funding to many MFA students, depending on their qualifications.

How soon do we declare our focus for the MFA program?

Applicants must declare an emphasis at the time of their application to the program.

What kinds of opportunities will I have to work on realized productions?

All MFA students are actively engaged in the production process on all levels. That said, we are a training program, as opposed to a producing program. There are more theaters in Los Angeles than any other city in the world, so we have no need to produce entertainment product. Our productions are selected and realized to foster student training — not to promote a season of plays. We do produce plays for the public, but we’re interested more in student training than in entertaining the public.

Are there opportunities for working in the Los Angeles community?

Many of our current and former students work in the Los Angeles theater community. Theater faculty member Jose-Luis Valenzuela (and the Latino Theater Company) recently took control of the Los Angeles Theater Center, which has four theaters in Los Angeles. Some of our productions are presented at this Center.

We are also aligned with the Geffen Playhouse, which is a professional theater. The Producing Director is Gil Cates. Professor Cates is on the Theater faculty and is the most frequent producer of the Oscars for the Motion Picture Academy.

If you have additional questions about the application process, please contact our Graduate Counselor, Natasha Levy.