An applicant for admission must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must have the necessary academic preparation to participate successfully in graduate level courses.
There are no specific course requirements for admission. However, prospective students interested in applying to the Physics program should demonstrate a solid background in undergraduate physics. Similarly, prospective students interested in applying to the Astronomy program should demonstrate a solid background in undergraduate astronomy.
The application fee must be paid before an application can be considered. UCLA accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover.
The Astronomy division and Physics division have separate admission committees. Both committees begin evaluating applications mid-January. Offers of admission are typically made in February and March.
Both divisions look at undergraduate grades (official transcripts), letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose. Students may voluntarily submit GRE general and subject (physics) test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration.
Yes. Although we are one department, each division has its own admission committee and its own curriculum.
All applicants use the same application form. The department will recognize graduate level courses completed in other institutions if verified by an official transcript.
We strongly suggest you submit your application form online by December 15 and scores & letters by the first week of January.
We require these materials:
Applications are not submitted to the committee until the application fee is paid and the department has received all application material.
If you have already uploaded a form (for example, the statement of purpose) in the online application, please do not mail in a copy.
CVs, resumes, copies of awards and publications are not required documents and should not be uploaded or mailed to the department.
At least two of your letters of recommendation should be from academic references. If you have a Master of Science, we would like letters from both your Bachelor and Master of Science institutions.
U.S. citizens or permanent residents can usually become California residents after living in the state for one year. If you are admitted to the graduate program, you should contact the Registrar's Office, Residence Classifications (1113 Murphy Hall) upon arrival at UCLA for complete details on establishing California Residency.
If you are recommended for admission, the department will inform you of its decision and financial package via email. Typically, all recommendations for admission are made by April 1. You may also check admission decision status online using your same email address and password as when you applied.
Typically graduate students are awarded at least a Teaching Assistantship for up to 12 quarters. International students are eligible for a Teaching Assistantship after they pass the Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) administered by UCLA's Office of Instructional Development.
We will accept GRE scores from tests taken within the last 5 years and TOEFL scores within 2 years. If test taken multiple times, enter the most recent scores on the online application. If not taken yet, enter expected test date.
Unofficial copies of scores are acceptable for review purposes but official copies from ETS are required for official admission to the university.
Applicants who hold a Bachelor or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country in which English is the spoken language and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from both the TOEFL requirement and the ESLPE. Please be sure to include such information and transcripts in your application.
Questions? Contact us by email or phone 310-206-6994.