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The UCLA MSW degree requires a total of 91 academic units taken over a two-year period of full-time study or a three-year period of part-time study. First-year foundation courses are required for all students, whereas program attendees have considerable discretion in selecting their advanced year(s) concentration courses, electives, and practicum placements. UCLA Luskin’s MSW program blends theory, leadership, and research with generalist practice and three unique advanced concentrations. We have a commitment to anti-racism and effective practice with diverse populations. Two separate year-long practicum placements with social work agencies allow our students to actualize what they are learning in the classroom, providing a holistic, integrated experience.

Admission to the Social Work program is restricted to the fall term only. Each fall, roughly 125 new students enter the MSW program and approximately 6-8 enter into our Ph.D. program. Admission to the Luskin School of Social Work is competitive. The selection process includes a holistic evaluation of each applicant’s demonstrated and potential abilities as a student, practitioner and leader in the social work practicum.

The Department of Social Welfare at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs seeks to:

  • Train the next generation of change agents
  • Lead the development of knowledge for the profession
  • Strengthen social institutions and services in Los Angeles and beyond

Areas of Concentration in the MSW Program include:

  • Child and Family Well-Being
  • Health and Mental Health Across the Life Span
  • Social and Economic Justice

View a statement of purpose workshop, application walk-through, information session, and access more resources here

Admissions Requirements – MSW

Applicants must meet the following requirements for admission:

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 (B) in all courses.
  • Completion of one course in elementary statistics with a grade of B or better.
  • Completion of a total of four (4) courses in the Socio-Behavioral Sciences (including one (1) course with Human Cognitive Development content), and a minimum of three (3) courses in the Humanities, as a prerequisite undergraduate preparation for graduate study in the field of social work. (e.g., anthropology, economics, ethnic studies, education, gerontology, political science, public health, psychology, social ecology, social welfare, sociology, women’s studies).

Important Notes

Applications for the Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) generally open in early-September. Please check the Division of Graduate Education website for the most up to date information.

Applications must be complete and all letters of recommendation received by the final deadline, January 15th.

To be considered for the Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP), applications are due December 15th. Incomplete or late applications received after the final deadline will not be reviewed.

We do not require the GRE and submitted scores will not be considered during the review process.

While the department can recommend whether a student should be offered admission, the Division of Graduate Education has final authority in all admission decisions.

Immunization Clearance/COVID-19 Vaccine Exemptions:

The UCLA MSW program requires that all students obtain a health clearance.  In certain limited circumstances, students may be granted a medical exception, an accommodation based on religious beliefs or disabilities, or a deferral based on pregnancy.  While we do understand that UCLA is allowing for exemptions under special/certain circumstances, please be aware that your agency may or may not allow such exemptions.  While we will do our best to find an agency that will allow an exemption or that does not have a vaccination policy, please be advised that practicum education is an integral part of the MSW program and that if we are unable to find a suitable placement, you will not be able to meet the program requirements.

Application Process – MSW

Begin your application to the Master of Social Welfare.

The application process begins with the UCLA Graduate Division Online Application. Here you will submit basic information including your academic history and the degree program to which you wish to apply, as well as the payment of an application fee ($120 for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents or $140 for for all other applicants).

Application fee must be submitted online by credit or debit card before the application can be processed. Note: Fees are subject to change.

Please see the MSW Application Checklist for details.

For all students applying for the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship, the final application deadline is December 15.

For MSW applicants, the final deadline for submitting your application is January 15.

Decisions will begin to be sent beginning mid-February through mid-March.

MSW Checklist

Students applying to the Combined MSW/PhD program should use the PhD application checklist.

The MSW Program at UCLA seeks to educate:

  • skilled practitioners with a solid foundation in theory, research and social policy
  • future leaders of the field of social welfare
  • change agents in the profession of social work and the communities they serve

The program also seeks applicants experienced in working with diverse groups around issues of social justice.

Due to the pandemic, e-transcripts are the preferred method to receive official transcripts. Official transcripts will be required to be sent in after admission. Please request transcripts sent directly to sw@luskin.ucla.edu.

Community College transcripts are not necessary.

Transcripts must contain the name of the institution, name of the student, conferral date, and degree awarded need to be included when applicable. Student progress reports are not accepted.

If physical official transcripts are the only option offered by your institution, please request they be sent to:

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Department of Social Welfare Admissions
3250 Public Affairs Building, Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656.

1.   Complete the UCLA Graduate Online Application

2.   Upload one copy of transcripts to the UCLA Graduate online application. All transcript uploads are considered unofficial. Official transcripts will be required only after admission into the program. Community college transcripts are not necessary. Transcripts must contain the name of the institution, name of the student, conferral date, and degree awarded need to be included when applicable. Student progress reports are not accepted.

Evaluations are not necessary for international transcripts as we will evaluate them internally.

3.   Complete the GPA Worksheet for Calculating Jr/Sr GPA (Grade Point Average). Upload on the UCLA Graduate Online Application with transcripts or in the additional document section. The worksheet must be converted and uploaded to the application portal as a PDF. Do not include P/NP grades. International transcripts not on the 4.0 scale do not require a worksheet as these will require internal review.

4.   Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores, if the applicant is a student whose native language is not English. (The TOEFL or IELTS) is required of all non-native speakers unless they have completed two years of university-level coursework in an English-language institution).*

*TOEFL/IELTS scores can take several weeks to verify, therefore we consider self-reported scores during the review process. We will then verify scores directly if an offer of admission is to be made.

5.   Resume or chronological list (starting with the most recent) of all relevant employment, including summer jobs and internships you consider significant. Please also include all relevant volunteer or other experience with service-oriented groups. For each job or volunteer experience, please include your title, the number of months and/or years you held the position, and the number of hours worked each week. Upload on the UCLA Graduate Online Application.

6.  Three letters of recommendation submitted directly by individuals who have supervised your work (academic, scholarly, and/or professional). At least one academic letter and one professional letter are preferred. Academic letters can be from a professor or doctoral student. Letters from colleagues, peers, and general character recommendations are not suitable. Enter your recommender’s name and email address on the UCLA Online Application. Do not provide more than three recommenders. Upload instructions will be sent to them through the online system. Applicants do not need to wait for all letters of recommendation to come in before submitting their application.

7. Statement of Purpose:

What is the statement of purpose, and what is it used for?

The statement of purpose is an integral part of your application for graduate admission and consideration for the Graduate Opportunity Fellowship. It is used to understand your academic interests, and to evaluate your aptitude and preparation for graduate work, as well as your fit with the proposed program of study. It is also used to assess your ability to write coherent and convincing prose.

Instructions: Please respond to the following.  Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font). You do not need to answer every question; focus on the elements that you feel are most relevant to your candidacy.

  • What is your purpose in applying for graduate study in your specified degree program?  Describe your area(s) of interest, including any subfield(s) or interdisciplinary interests.
  • What experiences have prepared you for advanced study or research in this degree program? What relevant skills have you gained from these experiences? Have your experiences led to specific or tangible outcomes that would support your potential to contribute to this field (examples:  performances, publications, presentations, awards or recognitions)?
  • What additional information about your past experience may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA?  For example, you may wish to describe research, employment, teaching, service, artistic or international experiences through which you have developed skills in leadership, communication, project management, teamwork, or other areas.
  • Why is the UCLA graduate program to which you are applying is the best place for you to pursue your academic goals? If you are applying for a research master’s or doctoral program, we encourage you to indicate specific research interests and potential faculty mentors.
  • What are your plans for your career after earning this degree?

8. Personal Statement:

What is a Personal Statement and what is it used for?

The Personal Statement is an opportunity for you to provide additional information that may aid the selection committee in evaluating your preparation and aptitude for graduate study at UCLA. It will also be used to consider candidates for the Cota-Robles and Graduate Opportunity fellowships.

Instructions:  Please respond to the one or more of the following prompts.  Your statement can be up to 500 words in length (approximately 1-page, single spaced, using 1-inch margins and 12-point font).  To be considered for a Cota-Robles or Graduate Opportunity fellowship, be sure to describe your contributions to diversity.

  • Are there educational, personal, cultural, economic, or social experiences, not described in your Statement of Purpose, that have shaped your academic journey?  If so, how? Have any of these experiences provided unique perspective(s) that you would contribute to your program, field or profession?
  • Describe challenge(s) or barriers that you have faced in your pursuit of higher education. What motivated you to persist, and how did you overcome them? What is the evidence of your persistence, progress or success?
  • How have your life experiences and educational background informed your understanding of the barriers facing groups that are underrepresented in higher education?
  • How have you been actively engaged (e.g., through participation, employment, service, teaching or other activities) in programs or activities focused on increasing participation by groups that have been historically underrepresented in higher education?
  • How do you intend to engage in scholarly discourse, research, teaching, creative efforts, and/or community engagement during your graduate program that have the potential to advance diversity and equal opportunity in higher education?
  • How do you see yourself contributing to diversity in your profession after you earn your advanced degree at UCLA?

Notes:

Required courses can be taken at any community college.

Courses may be in progress during the application process. However, all courses must be completed by the end of spring quarter to be considered for admission.

In some cases, proof of enrollment may be required and/or a letter from the instructor stating that the applicant is on track to complete the course with a grade B or better.

Application Process – PHD

Applications for the Doctoral program in Social Welfare (PhD) generally open in early-September. Please check the Division of Graduate Education website for the most up to date information.

Applications must be complete and all letters of recommendation received by the deadline: December 15th.

Our doctoral program receives numerous applications from highly qualified applicants around the world. The majority of our admitted students have an MSW degree but we also accept students with a master’s degree in a related field (such as public policy or psychology). The doctoral committee seeks applicants who have a commitment to a research career in social welfare and who show great scholarly promise. Applications are assessed individually based on all components of the portfolio. Contact with potential faculty mentors is invited, but not required for admission to our program.

For applicants to the MSW/PhD program, please note that space in this program is often limited to 1-2 students per year. The admissions committee may refer some very well qualified combined applicants to the MSW program, with an option to reapply to the PhD program in the future.

For technical information regarding admissions to the doctoral program, please contact Oliver Ike oliver@luskin.ucla.edu. For more information about the program as a whole, view our Social Welfare PhD page or contact Todd Franke, doctoral program chair at tfranke@ucla.edu.

1.   UCLA Graduate Online Application.

2.   ONE official copy of transcripts from each college or university attended in the United States or abroad. Unofficial transcripts are uploaded on the UCLA Graduate Online Application.

Evaluations are not necessary for international transcripts as we will evaluate them internally.

Due to the pandemic, e-transcripts are the preferred method for official transcripts. Please upload unofficial transcripts to your application for admissions review purposes. Official transcripts will only be required if admitted. Please request e-transcripts sent directly to sw@luskin.ucla.edu

If physical official transcripts are the only option offered by your institution, please request them mailed to:

UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
Department of Social Welfare Admissions
3250 Public Affairs Building, Box 951656
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656

3.   GPA Worksheet. This worksheet calculates Grade Point Average for the end of your undergraduate education and graduate school. Use separate worksheets for each. Upload this form with transcripts or in the supporting documents section of the online application.

4.   Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores, if your native language is not English taken within the last two years. (The TOEFL or IELTS is required of all non-native speakers unless they have completed two years of university-level coursework in an English-language institution).*

*TOEFL/IELTS scores can take several weeks to verify, therefore we consider self-reported scores during the review process. We then verify scores directly if an offer of admission is to be made.

5.  The PhD in social welfare is a research degree. At least one letter of recommendation should come from an instructor who has overseen your academic work. The remaining two letters of recommendation should come from academic and/or professional references that can speak to your qualifications for doctoral training, including research skills, practice experience, community and policy-related endeavors.

7.  Personal Statement (*UCLA requirement uploaded as a separate document. Please see prompts above in the MSW section and in the application)

8.1  Statement of Purpose (*UCLA requirement uploaded as a separate document. Please see prompts above in the MSW section and in the application)

8.2  Research Essay (*Departmental requirement accessible within the application in a text field) Please provide your reasons for pursuing doctoral education at UCLA Luskin at this time. Please provide more information related to your past research experience, current research interests, and long term professional research objectives and how they have prepared you for doctoral education, you can type an essay up to 1,000 words in length. For past research experience, your essay should include the major problem being addressed, the specific aims/goals/questions your project addressed and how these help address the major problem, what approaches you used (no need to go into technical details), the results you obtained, and how these results advanced understanding of the major problem. Please also include your educational and research objectives while in the doctoral program.

*The Statement of Purpose can be an abbreviated version of your Research Essay and both will be reviewed and graded as one essay.*

10.  Curriculum Vitae

11.  Writing Sample

Notes:

Although a personal interview is not normally required as part of the application procedure, it may be arranged at the request of the doctoral committee. Applicants will be notified in writing as soon as possible regarding decisions on admission.

The department should be notified immediately of any change of plans or address after the application is submitted.

Ph.D.: Applicants are expected to hold a Master of Social Work (M.S.W.) degree from an accredited school of social work with a superior academic record. Students who possess a master’s degree in social science and professional experience in a related field may also be admitted under one of the following plans:

(1) Applicants who wish to obtain an M.S.W. (Combined MSW/Ph.D. option) are required to complete the first-year M.S.W. program. Students can be exempted from some second-year M.S.W. Requirements via examinations on the basis of preparation received in doctoral courses. This plan is also available to applicants with a BA degree who possess an outstanding academic record.

(2) Applicants who do not wish to obtain an M.S.W. may be required to take certain M.S.W. courses as prerequisites to doctoral courses.

A typewritten statement of professional and educational objectives is required including relevant research experiences. To exemplify communication skills, applicants may submit any of the following: published articles, a master’s thesis, unpublished papers, or term papers written in graduate courses.

Admission criteria include quality of performance in previous undergraduate and graduate study, capacity for doctoral-level scholarship, ability to express oneself clearly in writing, success in professional employment and other qualifications indicating eligibility for advanced study and research

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Application CodesCode Numbers
UC Major Code for Social Welfare864
FAFSA001315
TOEFL Institution Code4837
TOEFL Department Code95
Application

The departmental deadline for Masters in Social Welfare (M.S.W.) applicants who want to be considered for the Graduate Opportunity Program is December 15th.

The final deadline for M.S.W. program consideration only is January 15th.

The deadline for the Ph.D program is December 15th.

Please note that incomplete or late applications received after the deadline will not be reviewed.

We understand that applying to graduate school is an expensive process.

The nonrefundable application fees are as follows:

Domestic applicants (U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) is $135.

The fee for all other applicants is $155.

Application fee must be submitted online by credit or debit card before the application can be processed.

*Note: Fees are subject to change. Check here for the most current fee schedule.

Waivers will only be granted to those who fall under one of the categories listed on the UCLA Graduate Division application and on the Admissions FAQ’s. Alternatively, the university will grant fee waivers for students currently enrolled in school who can submit a letter from their financial aid officer indicating that payment would be a hardship. This should be uploaded directly to the website.

All fee waivers are administered and determined by the UCLA Graduate Division at the time of application submission. You can read more about how to qualify for a fee waiver here.

No.

No. Students are admitted for the Fall Quarter only.

For concurrent degrees, you need to submit a complete application to each school separately. If you are admitted to both programs, the graduate advisor in each program will tell you which courses you need to take for the concurrent degree program. 

Address Your Audience

  • Your primary audience is the faculty in the program to which you are applying. Treat your statement of purpose as an application to work with a specific professor in that department or scholarly field.

Show That You Know Something

  • The main section explains what you know and who you are. Show knowledge of your field (e.g., a specific research focus) or your profession. Show how you will impact the field, or what has impacted you in the pursuit of your field.
  • Describe your research and how graduate school will help you reach your career goals, as well as the contribution you will make to the program. The introduction of your essay should clearly describe the degree you want to earn and the topic you want to study. Summarize your undergraduate accomplishments, research projects, classes, or work that stimulated your desire for graduate study. Mention the encouragement you’ve received from professors in the program you wish to enter.

Focus On Your Specific Research or Professional Interests Within a Particular Field

  • Detail how your academic and professional experiences have developed those research or professional interests and prepared you to pursue them at a higher academic level. Include courses, experts whose work you admire or who aligns with your interests, and factors such as internship opportunities or opportunities provided by the school’s location

Be Compelling & Clear

  • Be positive and concise. Write using an active voice. You want to instill confidence that you are prepared to undergo graduate-level research in your desired area. The most compelling essays are thoughtful, clear, and concise. 

Provide Specific Examples

  • Rather than simply saying you are a high achiever, for example, describe a project on which you exceeded a professor’s expectations.
  • If your grades suffered because of a misfortune, such as an illness, explain how you persevered. You can describe a mistake that taught you a valuable lesson — but don’t make excuses.

Tell your story

  • This is your opportunity to expand on your background, highlight unique experiences, challenges and triumphs and give the committee a more compelling reason to accept you. If a personal statement is not requested, consider incorporating this content into your statement of purpose. It is in your best interest to offer supplemental information when given an opportunity.

Describe goals, achievements & challenges

  • Describe your academic and career goals and highlight how graduate school will advance them. Tell how personal experiences shaped your aspirations, and don’t shy away from discussing poor grades or large time gaps in your resume.
  • Address any particular challenges you’ve faced, and how you worked to overcome them. Focus on issues that have had an impact on your education, such as being raised in a single-parent household, working to help support family, thriving in unsafe environments, persevering with physical or other challenges, or coming from an underrepresented minority group.

Have An Angle 

  • Even if your life has been less than dramatic, you still have a story to tell. The best approach to the “angle” is to find a THEME that can unify all your paragraphs.

Showcase experiences related to diversity

  • Mention your engagement in programs that increase diversity in your chosen field, such as participation in undergraduate academic preparation, diversity and equity programs, higher education pipeline and summer research opportunities, and mentoring underrepresented students.
  • Highlight research you have conducted that addresses underserved populations, such as issues of race, gender, equity and inclusion, disparities in health or educational access, and human rights. Mention artistic and cultural works you have produced that reflect diverse communities and voices not well represented in the humanities.

Pay Special Attention to Your “LEAD”

  • In the first paragraph, you will either grab attention or you will lose it. Use the lead to set the tone and direction for the statement. Note: the lead can, but does not have to be an attention-grabbing story. The goal of the lead is for the readers to know who you are and what your goal is by the end of the first paragraph

How to fill out the GPA worksheet

  • Do not include non-graded classes. It is okay if you are under the 90/60 units but please do not include more than the 90/60 units you are being asked to provide.

I have over the 90/60 units being asked, which do I include?

  • You can count backward from the end of your degree and leave off the first couple of units that would push you past the maximum threshold. It is okay if the total is not perfect, again, do not include more than the 90/60 units being asked.
Transcripts

If you or your university will be mailing hard copies of the official transcripts, please have them sent to:

UCLA Department of Social Welfare

3250 Public Affairs Building

Box 951656

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1656

Having your transcripts sent electronically?

Please have them sent to: sw@luskin.ucla.edu

Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded to your online application portal. They do not have to be mailed in. Official transcripts will be required only after admission into the program. Community college transcripts are not necessary.

Evaluations are not necessary for international transcripts as we will evaluate them internally.

Your transcript should include the following information:

Your Name

Name of the School

Degree Awarded

Conferral Date

Admissions Timeline

Applicants can expect to be notified late February through mid March.

All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time on deadline date.

Please note: Servers for our Slate application operate on Eastern time.

Applications generally open in early-September.

PhD applicants are generally notified of their admission status in February. MSW applicants can expect to be notified of their admission status mid-late March.

Prerequisites

Please review the MSW requirements here.

Do not include any grades prior to junior year even if that leaves you below 90 quarter units or 60 semester units. You must convert the excel file to a PDF in order to upload it to the application portal. Do not include P/NP. The worksheet is only for undergraduate transcripts. If you completed an advanced degree, please simply upload them to the application portal.

No.

To bypass the writing sample, please do the following:

  • Upload a research, term paper or publication (if applicable)

OR

  • Upload a word document that states “ not applicable”

While there is no set number, the majority of our students have at least 1-2 years of social work related experience.

Yes.

This is a University requirement.

Applying for fellowship (GOFP or   Robles) consideration (12/15 deadline) you are required to submit the following:
1-Department Statement of Purpose (500 words max for MSW)
1-University required Personal Statement (500 words max) *choose a prompt(s) which speak to diversity
Applying by the general application deadline– Dec 15 (PhD) or Jan 15 (MSW) the following are required for submission:
1-University required Personal Statement (500 words max for MSW, 2-3 pages for PhD) *For PhD, please follow the instructions on our website and ignore the 500 word limit on the application
1-University required Statement of Purpose (500 words max)
1- Research Essay: Research Essay (*Departmental requirement accessible within the application in a text field) Please provide your reasons for pursuing doctoral education at UCLA Luskin at this time. Please provide more information related to your past research experience, current research interests, and long term professional research objectives and how they have prepared you for doctoral education, you can type an essay up to 1,000 words in length. For past research experience, your essay should include the major problem being addressed, the specific aims/goals/questions your project addressed and how these help address the major problem, what approaches you used (no need to go into technical details), the results you obtained, and how these results advanced understanding of the major problem. Please also include your educational and research objectives while in the doctoral program.*The Statement of Purpose can be an abbreviated version of your Research Essay and both will be reviewed and graded as one essay.*

No. AP coursework is not acceptable for graduate admission. Please consider taking any outstanding prerequisites at your current university, or a local community college.

Yes, you are still eligible to submit an application. All outstanding prerequisites must be completed by the end of the Spring term leading into the entering Fall. (Example: Applicant for Fall 2018 must have all requirements met by end of Spring 2018.)

Our Program

Yes, we have an 8-quarter option for the MSW and a 9-quarter option for the MSW and PPSC. Please check here for more information.

Yes. For details see page 11 of the MSW Handbook.

UCLA Luskin’s Master of Social Welfare is a full-time, two-year program. In addition to our core curriculum, you can participate in an advanced research course or research project focused on an issue of interest to you. Two field placements with social work agencies let you put into action what you have learned in the classroom, providing invaluable real-world experience.

MSW graduates work in variety of settings along the social welfare continuum. MSW alumni from UCLA have worked in the public and private sectors, and have held jobs as child and adult therapists, children’s social workers in protective services, psychiatric and medical social workers, probation officers, community organizers, program planners, researchers, and executive directors.

We offer four interdisciplinary Certificates in Global Public Affairs, which can be obtained in addition to the MSW degree from the Luskin School.  The academic clusters that the certificates encompass are: Global Processes and Institutions, Global Urbanization and Regional Development, Global Environment and Resources, and Global Health and Social Services.

Yes. Information regarding our capstone project could be found here.

Information based on Employment results could be found here.

The average debt is approximately $53,228 as of 2021-22.

The median salary after graduation ranges between $70,000-$80,000.

For concurrent degrees, you need to submit a complete application to each school separately. If you are admitted to both programs, the graduate advisor in each program will tell you which courses you need to take for the concurrent degree program. 

The Department admits approximately 100 students to the MSW program each year. This is about 20-25% of the applicant pool.

General

For more UCLA fee information, visit the UCLA Registrar’s Office Web site.

Although very limited, there is a variety of financial aid available. If you are applying for Fellowships through the Graduate Online Application, the  deadline to submit your application is December 15th. The Luskin School also provides a number of Schoolwide Fellowships to current students in the MSW program. In addition, the Department has stipends for MSW students through the CALSWEC and UCCF Child Welfare programs, CALSWEC Mental Health, Geriatric Social Work Education Center and through a few of the agencies it uses for field placements. The application for stipends are sent to all admitted MSW students. For doctoral students, there are various sources of financial aid including fellowships, tuition waivers, and research and teaching assistantships.

For information on university fees and tuition for graduate students visit the Registrar’s website at http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/fees.

Interested in a campus tour? Please visit UCLA Graduate Campus Tours for details.

The Department admits approximately 100 students to the MSW program each year. This is about 20-25% of the applicant pool.

Please visit our Registrar’s Residency page for more information.

We welcome your inquiry at sw@luskin.ucla.edu.

Undocumented/DACAmented FAQ

Yes! There are no citizenship restrictions to apply.

No. Background information and residency/citizenship status are not part of the application review process and have absolutely no bearing on an applicant’s admission decision.

UCLA is committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their citizenship status, are receiving the resources that they need. The Undocumented Students Program serves as a hub to provide resources and support to all Undocumented/DACAmented students.

All financial aid opportunities are available to Undocumented/DACAmented students. All departmental merit based fellowships, TAships, and RAships do not have citizenship as a requirement. For need based aid, applicants should fill out a Dream Act application instead of a FAFSA.

No. The application is the same for all applicants. The welcome screen of the application will provide additional guidelines to those who are uncertain how to discuss their citizenship status.

You could find more information here.

Admission Information Events

Are you thinking about an MSW program? Join us at an in-person session below.

*All dates are subject to change. All times are PDT.

Information Sessions for Fall 2025 Applications:

Saturday, September 21, 2024 (10-12pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process, and answer all of your questions)

Thursday, October 17, 2024 (6-8pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process, and answer all of your questions)

Saturday, November 9, 2024 (10-12pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process, and answer all of your questions)

Thursday, November 14, 2024 (6-8pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process, and answer all of your questions)

Are you thinking about an MSW program but can’t make it to campus? Join us at an online session below.

*All dates are subject to change. All times are PDT.

Information Sessions for Fall 2025 Applications:

Tuesday, October 1, 2024 (6-8pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process and answer all of your questions)

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 (6-8pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process and answer all of your questions)

Thursday, December 12, 2024 (6-8pm) – RSVP (A faculty member and department representative will talk about the program, application process and answer all of your questions)

Watch a past recorded information session here

*Dates and attendance subject to change:

July 26 – McNair Conference UCLA

August 17 – Youth Conference New York

September 10 – California State University, Los Angeles

September 25 – California State University, Dominguez Hills

October 2 – California Lutheran University

October 3 – California State University, Long Beach

October 9 – University of California, Berkeley

October 10 – California State University, Northridge

October 10 – Atlanta University Center Consortium

October 16 – USC Graduate Schools Fair

October 19 – The California Forum for Diversity in Graduate Education, University of California, Riverside

October 22 – Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles

October 23 – University of California, Davis

October 24 – California State University, East Bay

October 30 – California State University, Fullerton

November 5 – University of California, Santa Barbara

Saturday, November 23, 2024 (10:00a-3:00p) – RSVP

Are you thinking about a Ph.D. in Social Welfare? Join us for two info-sessions this Fall.

An information session will help answer these questions and more, and let you meet the people behind the UCLA Luskin Ph.D. program. This is an informal, relaxing setting that is ideal for asking questions and gaining information about our department.

Information Session for Fall 2025 Applications:

Info-session #1: Wednesday, October 9th from 6pm – 8pm PDT. (VIRTUAL)

RSVP: https://forms.gle/NER3gTp7AcS6JHd9A

A Zoom link will be sent out on October 8th to registered participants.

Info-session #2: Wednesday, November 13th from 6pm – 8pm PDT. (VIRTUAL)

RSVP: https://forms.gle/UQ8UG8sU2eJZouA56

A Zoom link will be sent out on November 12th to registered participants.

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Connect With Us

Have additional questions? Want to see if you are a good fit for our program? Feel free to contact Oliver Ike, Associate Director of Admissions and Recruitment, with any questions or to set up an appointment. You can reach Oliver via email at oliver@luskin.ucla.edu or schedule an appointment immediately via the Calendly app below.

*Please check the FAQ section before scheduling a meeting as answers to most questions can be found there.