Scholarships: Incoming graduate students may apply for departmental fellowships and grants by checking the appropriate boxes on the application. Most other departmental awards and scholarships are distributed at the end of the academic year; our students submit a special application for these awards during Winter Quarter.
T.A.'s: We do offer assistantships and recruitment funding to many MFA students, depending on their qualifications.
International: The Theater Department offer several types of financial aid to both international and domestic students. This aid typically includes teaching assistantships, donor awards, stipends, various fellowships, and partial fee remissions. Details vary with the program and the applicant.

Information an international student must submit with the application: All international applicants must submit a Confidential Financial Statement with their application. The Confidential Financial Statement can be found at: http http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/antexp.htm.

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APPLICATION & ADMISSIONS

Application

Graduate Programs & Deadlines:: The Theater Department at UCLA offers both professional (MFA) and academic (MA and PhD) degrees. All of our programs are full-time, day-time programs. We do not have part-time or correspondence programs to get a degree. We accept applications for the Fall Quarter only and applications in almost all of our areas, application deadlines are due the year prior to the year you plan to start. Below are the areas, degrees and application deadlines for Fall 2011:

Professional Degrees

Acting, MFA degree, due January 15, 2011
Design for Theater and Entertainment Media (specializations in Costume, Lighting, and Scenic Design), MFA degrees, due December 1, 2010
Directing, MFA degree, due December 1, 2010
Playwriting, MFA Degree, due December 1, 2010

Academic Degrees
Theater, MA Degree, due December 10, 2010
Theater and Performance Studies, Due, December 10, 2010
Late Applications:: Applications and supporting materials received after the deadline will still 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 such applicants.
BA in Theater?: If you have a BA or equivalent degree from any accredited University, you are eligible to audition/apply to our MFA Acting program. Your degree does not need to be in Theater.
Applying to Multiple Depts:: Applicants may only apply to one department and one degree program within our School and at UCLA.
Applications:: 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/admissions/gt/.
Application Updates:: The department does NOT update Graduate Division website that designates which application materials have arrived for the different graduate programs. Applicants will receive an e-mail notice from the department on the status of the application materials 8 weeks after the application deadline.
Application Requirements:: 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/gt/.
Does the online departmental application for the Theater graduate programs need to be mailed to UCLA?: No. The online Theater Departmental Application does NOT need to be mailed to UCLA. If you are applying to an MFA program in Theater, please indicate which area you are applying to in your statement of purpose. The four MFA areas are as follows: Acting, Directing, Playwriting, and Design for Theater and Entertainment Media.
May I call to check the status of my application?: Due to the high volume of applications, we request the applicants refrain from calling us regarding their application status. The Theater Graduate Counselor will contact applicants in February via e-mail if key application materials are missing.

Admissions

Application Review:: Faculty who teach in each specific area review the applications for that area. In addition, admits to the graduate program must be approved by the UCLA Graduate Admissions Office.
Supporting Materials:: Due to the high volume of applications, supporting materials will not be returned.
When are applicants notified?: Theater graduate applicants are usually notified in March. Please do not call the department to check on the status of your application materials or your admissions decision. We cannot give out information by telephone. Applicants will be notified via email once a decision is made on their application.
Re-applying:: Yes. Students applying a second time are not given special consideration; they must compete with the new field of applicants. Graduate students must file a new graduate application and may use supporting materials from their previous application, which we keep on file for three years.
May I attend part-time or in the evening?: Part-time study is not permitted for any degree programs in Theater at UCLA. The majority of our classes are taught during the day. UCLA Extension offers classes in theater, film, and television that are taught in the evening and on weekends. Their program, however, does not lead to a degree.
When to apply?: Applications are only accepted for the fall quarter.
Number of Apps:: This varies each year and within each program:
330 MFA

10 MA

30 PhD

Approximate number of new students accepted:
40 MFA

10 MA/PhD

Requirements

Average GPA:: All applicants must have at least a 3.0 grade-point average or the equivalent in work completed after the first two years of a bachelor’s degree program and in all post-baccalaureate course work.
GRE:: The GRE is only required of applicants applying to the MA and PhD programs in Theater. However, the GRE is highly recommended for MFA applicants with a GPA below 3.0 in their last two years of undergraduate coursework.
GRE School & Dept Codes: UCLA Code: 4837
Film & Television Code: 4505
Theater Code: 2403
TOEFL Requirements: Information on the TOEFL exam, including the required minimum test scores, can be found at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/ENGREQ.HTM.
TOEFL scores required: 87 (Internet), 560 (Paper & Pencil), 220 (Computer)
IELTS score at least 7.0.
TOEFL School & Dept Codes: UCLA Code: 4837
Film & Television Code: 83
Theater Code: 99
Supporting Materials
Supplemental Material:: 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 the UCLA Department of Theater.
Express Mail:: The street address for our office is: Natasha Levy, UCLA Department of Theater, 103 E. Melnitz, Box 951622, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622.
Statement of Purpose Length:: Ideally, the statement of purpose should not be over two pages. The statement can be single- or double-spaced.
Transcripts & LORs:: Yes, transcripts and letters of recommendation must be in signed-sealed envelopes.
Portfolio Returns:: No. All application materials submitted in support of an application (including creative work, original or otherwise) will not be returned to the applicant, nor will the Department be held responsible for the materials.
Portfolio Submissions:: All applicants to the MFA program in Design must submit a portfolio. This should include evidence of your ability appropriate to the area of emphasis as demonstrated by sketches, renderings, photographs, sound recording, production books, plots, technical papers, reviews, or other exhibits appropriate to the field of study. All Costume Design applicants must submit drawing samples.

If you are asked to interview, it will be at this time when large design exhibits can be shown to demonstrate evidence of your ability and creative work. You may bring the following: sketches, renderings, photographs, production books, plots, technical papers, reviews, or other appropriate exhibits.
Interviews:: An interview may be required, at which time large design exhibits can be shown to demonstrate evidence of ability and creative work appropriate to your emphasis. If you are asked to interview, it will be at this time when large design exhibits can be shown to demonstrate evidence of your ability and creative work. You may bring the following: sketches, renderings, photographs, production books, plots, technical papers, reviews, or other appropriate exhibits.

FAQ for Theater: Graduate

GENERAL

How do I apply for departmental awards and scholarships? Teaching Assistantships Do you offer teaching assistantships and other forms of financial support? International Students Does the Theater Department offer financial aid for international students?

Do you offer teaching assistantships and other forms of financial support? International Students Does the Theater Department offer financial aid for international students?

APPLICATION & ADMISSIONS

Application

Admissions

Requirements

MISCELLANEOUS

GENERAL

Information an international student must submit with the application: All international applicants must submit a Confidential Financial Statement with their application. The Confidential Financial Statement can be found at: http http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/antexp.htm.

APPLICATION & ADMISSIONS

Application

Admissions

Requirements

MISCELLANEOUS

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Get in Touch

How do I apply for departmental awards and scholarships?
Teaching Assistantships
Do you offer teaching assistantships and other forms of financial support?
International Students
Does the Theater Department offer financial aid for international students?

Do you offer teaching assistantships and other forms of financial support?
International Students
Does the Theater Department offer financial aid for international students?