Financial Aid at UCLA is provided to graduate students in the form of grants, fellowships, traineeships, teaching assistantships and graduate student researcher appointments. Support based solely on need is also provided, in the form of work-study and loans, through the Financial Aid Office.
The Financial Aid Office administers financial support based on need to domestic, full-time students. Further information on funding graduate study can be found on the Graduate Division website, and current fee information may be accessed online at the Registrar’s Office website.
To apply for financial aid, submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or the FAFSA Renewal Application by March 2nd. Completion of the FAFSA or the FAFSA Renewal Application is required for all financial aid programs.
Undocumented/DACAmented students should apply through the California Dream Act
Additionally, selected partner agencies provide stipend funding for practicum work in the specific areas of public child welfare, veterans affairs, mental health, and gerontological social work.
Click here for additional information on extramural funding.
Click here for additional information on the cost of attendance.
UCLA Graduate Opportunity Fellowship Program
The diversity of the people of California has been the source of innovative ideas and creative accomplishments throughout the state’s history into the present. Diversity – a defining feature of California’s past, present, and future – refers to the variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. Such differences include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, and geographic region, and more. Regents Policy 4400: Policy on University of California Diversity Statement | Board of Regents
Entering students pursuing terminal or professional master’s degrees or the JD who meet the diversity criteria above are encouraged to apply.
– One year of funding from the Graduate Division.
– $25,000 stipend + fees/tuition + non-resident supplemental tuition (if applicable).
– If awardee is in a professional degree program, the professional degree supplemental tuition is not provided by this fellowship.
– Fellows may not work in the first term of the fellowship.
Eligibility:
– U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or undocumented students who qualify for nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions under AB 540.
The deadline to apply is December 15th.
To apply, review the GOFP Application Instructions and complete the appropriate sections within the online admissions application, including the Personal Statement.
For more information, visit https://grad.ucla.edu/funding/financial-aid/funding-for-entering-students/graduate-opportunity-fellowship-program-gofp/.
David Bohnett Fellowship
The David Bohnett Fellowship was established in 2007 for outstanding Luskin graduate students to complete a yearlong fellowship in the Los Angeles Mayor’s Office. This fellowship is established as a hands-on experience in the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office for exceptionally promising social welfare students. This opportunity offers students a high level fellowship experience in city government.
- Total Award Amount: $40,000
- Number of Awards: 3 Awards Annually
The Mayor’s Office provides students with access to high levels of city government in where they are supervised by the Mayor’s senior staff. The Fellows are matched to an office that coincides with the Fellows’ expertise and the needs of the Mayor’s Office. The assignments are fast-paced, rigorous, and may expand or change based on the evolving needs of the City.
Past offices that hosted Fellows include: Budget & Innovation, City Services, Economic Opportunity, Homelessness Initiatives, Immigrant Affairs, Reentry, and Transportation. In addition to the academic yearlong Fellowship, Fellows also receive the opportunity to attend the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) winter meeting, typically held in Washington D.C..
For more information about the current and former Bohnett Fellows from UCLA Luskin please visit: http://www.bohnettfoundation.org/ucla-luskin/.
Liberty Hill Foundation Fellowship
Award amount:$7,500.
Number of awards: 1-5
How to apply: CareerHub
Liberty Hill is a non-profit organization that advances social change through a strategic combination of grants, leadership training and campaigns. Liberty Hill is first to identify community leaders at the frontlines of change. They invest in changemakers and equip them with the skills and relationships they need to build power and advance social justice. With a near 40-year track record, Liberty Hill is uniquely positioned to bring together forces for change and forge a common agenda for equality and opportunity in Los Angeles.
Luskin Leadership Fellowship at the Office of Child Protection, Los Angeles County
Award amount: $35,000 for 2022-23. 2023-2024 amount is TBA.
Number of awards: 1 annually
UCLA Luskin Leadership Fellowship is a high-level apprenticeship program for exceptional public policy, social welfare and urban planning graduate students that serve within selected government agencies and nonprofit and civic organizations to work on research, policy, advocacy and applied projects tailored to the students’ tracks of study and consistent with the mission and goals of the organization. For 2022-2023, the host organization will be the Los Angeles County, Office of Child Protection. The Fellow will completes 10 weeks of full-time (40 hours/week) over summer and 20 hours/week during the academic year and will receive $35,000. Link to full Fellowship Description. The application link is here.
The Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation
The Luskin Fellowship at the Office of Child Protection is generously funded by the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation. The Foundation aims to enrich their community with a particular focus on health, higher education, the environment, and the arts. In 2014, the Foundation launched the Pritzker Foster Care Initiative to highlight its commitment to supporting transition age foster youth and the families that care for them.
Stipend Programs
Public Child Welfare
CA Title IV-E Education Program
Stipend Amount: $25,000
Years of Funding: 2 years
Post-degree Work Commitment: 2 years
LADCFS + UCLA Academy of Workforce Excellence Stipend Training Program
Stipend Amount: $26,000.
Years of Funding: 2 years
Post-degree Work Commitment: 2 years
Gerontological Social Work
Southern California Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC)
Stipend Amount: $4,000 – $6,000
Years of Funding: 1 year (second year only)
Post-degree Work Commitment: none
Veterans
Veterans Administration*
Stipend Amount: $4,000
Years of Funding: 1 year (second year only)
Post-degree Work Commitment: none
*Participants are eligible for employment at the V.A.
Mental Health
Los Angeles County’s Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) Stipend Program
Stipend Amount: $18,500
Years of Funding: 1 year (second year only)
*For MSW students in an accredited LA program.
HCAI APHSP Scholarship Program
Scholarship Amount: Up to $25,000
Years of Funding: Can apply either in 1st or 2nd year
Post-degree Work Commitment: 1 year
*Advanced Practice Healthcare Scholarship Program (APHSP) is an externally funded scholarship, and not affiliated with the UCLA SW HCAI Stipend Program.
HCAI SWECE Behavioral Health Stipend Program
Stipend Amount: Between $15,000 – $17,500 (total)
Years of Funding: 2 years (starting in Fall 2024)
Post-degree Work Commitment: None
Departmental Fellowship Opportunities
For applicants and entering students, student financial support funds at UCLA are provided to graduate students in the form of grants, fellowships, traineeships, teaching assistantships and graduate student researcher appointments. Support based solely on need is also provided, in the form of work-study and loans, through the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office.
The Luskin School also provides a number of Schoolwide Fellowships to current students in the MSW program.
Please note all awards are based on available funding.
Kathleen Lewis Memorial Fellowship – 1 Award of $4,000
The family of Kathleen Lewis, a pre-social welfare student who graduated in 1960 has very generously donated an endowed gift for MSW fellowship support. It is the wish of Mrs. Lewis’ husband and daughters that that this gift will, for generations to come, provide fellowship support for students seeking a Master of Social Welfare degree.
Criteria for Applying for This Award:
1. Financial Need
2. Courage in Overcoming Obstacles
3. Preference – Not a Requirement
- Female
- First in Your Family to Attend College
- Former Foster Youth or Have Been an Independent Minor
Bergman Mental Health – 3 Awards of $3,000 – $5,000 each
Mr. and Mrs. Bergman have generously endowed a fellowship to help support students interested in issues relating to mental health and programs and services dedicated to helping the mentally ill.
Criteria:
1. Commitment to Mental Health Services and Practice.
2. History of Volunteering or Employment Serving the Mentally Ill.
Olive M. Stone Scholarship – 1-2 Awards of $2,000.
The UCLA Luskin Department of Social Welfare is pleased to offer the Olive M. Stone Award in the amount of $2,000 to second-year MSW students who demonstrate academic ability and financial need.
Criteria for Applying for This Award:
1. Must file FAFSA and have a calculated financial need above $20,000.2. Hold a first year GPA of 3.8 minimum.
2. Hold a first year GPA of 3.8 minimum.
3. Be over 29 years of age. 4.
4. Parent Supporting a Minor Child(preferred).
Fertig Social Justice Award – 1 Award of $4,000
The Fertig Fellowship for social justice was established to support students who have a demonstrated interest in diversity, equity and inclusion in service to marginalized and underserved communities.
Criteria:
1. Paid or unpaid work relating to equity, diversity and inclusion to address and improve issues related to vulnerable, marginalized and underserved communities.
Antonia Tu Social Welfare Award – 1 Award of $4,000
The UCLA Luskin Department of Social Welfare is pleased to offer the Antonia Tu Social Welfare award in the amount of $4,000 to one second-year MSW student who is in financial need. This is a need based award, however, merit will be considered as well.
Criteria for Applying for This Award:
1. Must File FAFSA
2. Have a calculated financial need above $20,000.
William Randolf Hearst Endowed Scholarship Fund for Gerontology Studies $3,000-$8,000
Funds are to be used to support graduate students specializing in Aging in the Department of Social Welfare.
Criteria:
1. 1st or 2nd Year Gero Placement
2. Required Coursework (SW 231P – Gerontology Practice)
MSW Department Fellowship – 2-3 Awards of $5,000-$10,000
A select number of social welfare fellowships, totaling 5,000-10,000 each, will be available for students facing extreme financial hardship; including those who with undocumented statuses, who are houseless, former foster youth, formerly incarcerated and/or unable to apply for other fellowships or training programs based on citizenship or other consideration. Please explain your reasons for seeking this fellowship, how you would use the fund to further your education, and your professional aspirations.
Criteria for Applying for This Award:
1. Financial Hardship
2. In your statement, please explain your reasons for seeking this fellowship, how you would use the funds to further your education, and your professional aspirations.
Loan Repayment
Allied Healthcare Loan Repayment Program (AHLRP)For more information about this program go to:https://hcai.ca.gov/loans-scholarships-grants/loan-repayment/ahlrp.Licensed Mental Health Services Provider Education Program (LMHSPEP)For more information about this program go to:https://hcai.ca.gov/loans-scholarships-grants/loan-repayment/lmhspep.
Other Funding Opportunities for Students
The California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) offers eligible students looking to pursue a career as a Teacher, School Social Worker, School Counselor, School Psychologist, and School Child Welfare & Attendance Official up to $20,000 in funding through the Golden State Teacher Grant (GSTG) Program.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Students currently enrolled in a professional preparation program approved by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and working towards earning their preliminary teaching or pupil personnel services credential.
Other Requirements:
- Students must complete their program and obtain their credential within 3 years from the 1st distribution of GSTC funds and commit to work at a priority school in California for 4 years within 8 years of completing their program.
Financial Aid for Ph.D. Students in Social Welfare
The Doctoral Program of the Department of Social Welfare provides various sources of financial aid, including fellowships, tuition waivers, research and teaching assistantships and training grants. In additional, each year the Program awards the Ruby and Toby Gold Fellowship to a student studying gerontology and the Jim and Judy Bergman Fellowship to a student interested in research on social work practice. In the Department of Social Welfare, allocation of financial aid is based on both academic performance and promise and financial need. Priority for financial aid is given to first and second year students.
Financial aid to cover resident tuition fees is considered a higher priority than non-resident tuition fees. Some financial aid is handled by the Director of the Doctoral Program, on behalf of the Doctoral Committee.
Doctoral students who are interested in acquiring experience in teaching as preparation for an academic teaching role are provided with the opportunity to assist faculty members in the instruction of selected undergraduate and graduate courses. Such an experience includes preparation of material for classroom presentation, actual presentation of the material, and opportunities to interact with the students. Requests for a teaching experience should be made to the Director of the Doctoral Program well in advance of the quarter during which students want to teach.
The UCLA Financial Aid Office administers grants-in-aid and loans to students. Students should pick up an application in November for the following academic year. Specific instructions will be available to students each year prior to the deadline date.
The Fellowship and Assistantship Office of Graduate Division administers University fellowships and is also a source of information and application forms for many fellowships offered by private foundations and agencies. The deadline for application for University fellowships is mid-January a half year before the fellowship year. Deadlines for privately funded fellowships vary, but are usually one year in advance of the actual fellowship award. Interested students should check with the Fellowship and Assistantship Office regularly to keep informed of opportunities as they become available. Much of this information will be distributed by the Director of the Doctoral Program through e-mail.
Regulations and procedures regarding fellowships and financial aid are quite varied and are subject to change. Therefore, further information should be requested from the specific administrative office involved.
