Graduate Admisions FAQ

What is the deadline for applications?

The postmark deadline to submit application materials for the MFA in Dance is December 1st. The postmark deadline to submit application materials for the MA/PhD in Culture and Performance is December 1st.. Review of application materials sent after the deadline cannot be guaranteed.

How can I apply?

Applicants enroll online using the application found on the Graduate Division Web Site at www.gdnet.ucla.edu.

Should I arrange a campus visit to meet with faculty members or advisors before applying?

While we would love to meet you in person, we simply cannot visit personally with prospective students. Doing so unfairly favors local applicants and takes our time away from current students and work. Please read the information provided on this website closely. Then, for any further questions, contact our Student Affairs Office. If your question is research specific, you may also email Professor David Shorter, the Vice Chair of Graduate Affairs. In addition, we have compiled the following URLs that may help you learn more about our campus.

UCLA Campus Tours.

UCLA Arts Campus Tours

UCLA Parking

Undergraduate & Graduate Information Request (Emailing list)

UCLA Arts Recruitment Calendar.

What is the acceptance rate is for the MA/PhD in Culture and Performance program?

The department admits approximately 10 students each year out of a pool of 75 to 100 applicants.

What is the acceptance rate for the MFA in Dance program?

Admission varies according to the number of those already enrolled in the program. The number of applicants also varies each year. In general, the department aims to admit 6-8 students per year.

Could you provide me with more information about the required writing sample for the MA/PhD application?

The writing sample is a very important part of your application materials. It should demonstrate the clarity of your analytical thinking and its expression. It is taken as a strong indicator of a prospective student's ability to engage with scholarly materials. In general faculty reviewers can comfortably read up to about 20 pages. Longer documents such as master's theses might be excerpted or sent in full with sections to read specified. We are looking for quality in whatever genre is submitted. We would be particularly interested in writing that demonstrates the kind of research, analysis, and synthesis that is essential in the scholarly aspects of our doctoral program. But, if you feel your best writing falls into other genre categories, you might consider a portfolio approach to provide a good sense of the character and range of your writing skills.

What are you looking for in the Statement of Purpose for the MA/PhD application?

This section of the application is your chance to tell us what you want to do here in the Culture and Performance program. Describe your research interests in particular. What questions do you want to investigate in relation to what materials? What new knowledge and skills that apply to this interest area are you expecting to develop through graduate study in our program? Do you see evidence that the necessary resources are available at UCLA? Of course you should also address the topics given in the application materials: your purpose in applying, your area of specialization, your plans for future occupation or profession, and any additional information that may aid us in evaluating your preparation and your aptitude for graduate study at UCLA.

What are you looking for in the Statement of Purpose for the MFA application?

This section of the application is your chance to tell us what you want to do here in the MFA program. Describe your choreographic research interests in particular. What questions do you want to investigate in relation to what materials? What new knowledge and skills that apply to this interest area are you expecting to develop through graduate study in our program? What do you see as evidence that the necessary resources are available at UCLA? Of course you should also address the topics given in the application materials: your purpose in applying, your area of specialization, your plans for future occupation or profession, and any additional information that may aid us in evaluating your preparation for graduate study at UCLA.

Does the Statement of Purpose have any maximum or minimum word count or page lengths?

We do not have a maximum word count for the requested Statement of Purpose. However, we reasonably expect the Statements not to exceed three pages.

For the MFA applicant, is a research paper sample required?

A writing sample, while optional, is useful to the extent the paper relates to the applicant's area of research interest(s) for the purpose of assessing the applicant's aptitude for graduate study at UCLA.

What types of creative work should I send if I am applying to the Culture and Performance (CAP) Program?

Please keep in mind that sending in creative work is optional. Sending in samples of creative work makes sense for applicants who are working in mediums outside of solely text-based analysis and representation. We are not asking for creative work unrelated to the proposed CAP research project. Some examples include applicants' photographs from their fieldwork or if they are using film in their work they can send us a link to their uploaded video clips. For students working with digital projects, they might want to send us a DVD with samples of their work or proofs of concept. If you have particular questions on this matter, feel free to contact the Vice Chair of Graduate Affairs.

Do you have a minimum GRE score requirement?

The Department does not have a minimum GRE score requirement. The GRE is just one part of the overall application that is reviewed by faculty. It would not be the sole criteria for admission or denial. The faculty evaluates it as an indication of how applicants score on a "registered" exam.

I will be submitting my application materials by the deadline, but my GRE scores or Letters of Recommendation may come later. Will that be okay?

Our process for reviewing applications begins on December 1st. While it obviously takes time to fully review the applications, we cannot hold certain applications to be reviewed later. So in the case of late materials, while your file may still be reviewed without a Letter of Recommendation or GRE score, there is always the possibility that such an absence will result in a negative evaluation since we have less materials to make a fair, comparative assessment. All applications are weighed by the same standard, including the announced deadlines.

Does the Foreign Language requirement have to be completed before entering the MA or PhD program?

No, MA students have to complete the requirement before advancing to candidacy (completing all courses being applied to the degree) - www.wac.ucla.edu/ma_program.php, and PhD students must complete the requirement no later than the end of the fifth quarter of residence in the major - www.wac.ucla.edu/phd_program.php.

What kind of funding is available for entering graduate students?

Entering students apply for fellowships in conjunction with their admission application. Nominations for campus-wide awards as well as Departmental support are made by faculty and forwarded to the necessary faculty committees for decision. Factors considered include academic strength, creative work, and in some cases, financial need.In general, teaching assistantships and graduate student researcher positions are offered to our second year graduate students. Unfortunately, we are not able to fully fund all of our students.

Please visit the Graduate Division Website at www.gdnet.ucla.edu, which provides extensive financial information for the prospective student.

When would I be notified if I am accepted or not?

The Graduate Division notifies students of their decision status online. Paper letters of admission or denial will not be mailed.

Check your decision status

For a variety of reasons admission can often take a few months. This is a long process. Generally, applicants are informed sometime in March.

How many units of coursework taken outside of the University can be applied towards the graduate program?

This is something that is considered individually, through faculty advisement. In general, the Graduate Division accepts up to two courses (a maximum of 8 quarter units or five semester units) for coursework completed outside the UC to be applied toward a student's graduate degree.

I would like to visit the department before being admitted. What do you suggest?

Applicants understandably would like to visit with faculty and students before deciding to apply. You should first determine which faculty members are most suited for your research interests, and then check the UCLA class schedule for our department to see if those faculty members are teaching courses that you may request permission to visit. If they are not teaching during your available visit dates, it may indicate them being away that particular quarter. Feel free to email those individual faculty members that interest you to see if they will be around either for your campus visit, and significantly for your considered term of graduate study. Please note that no funds are available to support campus visits prior to acceptance. In addition to the information on this website about our program description and degree programs, you may also find it helpful to talk with our Student Affairs Officer. And if your questions pertain to the specifics of your training and research interests, particularly how they may or may not be fostered by graduate study in our department, contact the Vice Chair of Graduate Affairs, Professor David Shorter. Faculty, staff and student contact information is listed on this site under "People."

Is there a way of enrolling in classes without already being admitted to the program?

Opportunities to enroll are based upon space availability and instructor consent through the "concurrent enrollment" program offered through UCLA Extension : 711 Extension Admin Building (310) 206-8456.

Can I arrange to visit to meet with an advisor in person? Would I be able to sit in on some classes, etc. if I do that?

You are welcome to visit our Department and visit classes with instructor consent. You may be better served by contacting one of our faculty members before your visit to arrange a time to meet and/or with specific questions about the particular area of study that you are interested in.

What if I have technical difficulties submitting my documents?

You are advised to create a Technical Support ticket (there's a link in the application) if you encounter a technical issue. That will ensure the university vendor is aware of the problem and can work with you to resolve.

I recently received notification that I was denied admission. Is it possible to learn any factors that influenced the decision or specific ways to improve my application for future admissions cycles?

We regularly admit a very small percentage of those applying and it remains difficult to address in a general manner the varied reasons why an application fares better in our review process. More often than not, the contours of an applicant's research do not align with the short term availability or research interests of our faculty. Perhaps an applicant proposed working with a faculty member who is shifting their research focus or planning to be away from the campus in the upcoming years. Often, an application is rated lower if the proposed project could be developed in a more standard academic department since we necessarily want to favor those applications that particularly need our department's curriculum or the influences provided by our campus and community. Before writing us regarding your admission denial, please recognize that we will not reverse any acceptance decisions for this academic year. Additionally, many factors cannot be discussed such as contents of letters of recommendation. Lastly, do feel free to apply again in future academic years.

Back to Previous Page