About Master’s Program,
Ranked No. 1 by U.S. News & World Report in the publication’s 2020 list of best art schools, the Department of Art’s M.F.A program attracts gifted and motivated students who thrive in an environment that encourages autonomy. They are drawn not only to the outstanding creative faculty, the University’s resources, and its location in one of the world’s leading art centers, but also to a program that encourages them to develop as artists in ways that are meaningful in the social context in which they live and work.
Master’s Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,
Admission to the department is based on acceptance by the UCLA Division of Graduate Education and a faculty review of complete applications.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. For the M.F.A degree, applicants are evaluated on their creative work, and all applicants must submit a portfolio of work consisting of a maximum of twenty still images. Applicants whose work is time-based should submit film stills, video stills, and/or performance documentation as still images in addition to their time based work. Please refer to the Department’s Portfolio Guidelines for detailed instructions. The portfolio should represent both the artistic medium the applicant is planning to emphasize and their potential for advanced specialized study.
Applicants are asked to provide the names and addresses of three references, but letters of recommendation are not required. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required. For the M.F.A program, applicants with a bachelor’s degree in art are preferred, but those who hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution with only some previous study in art may be admitted on the basis of a review of their work.
Master’s Funding Coverage,
Please refer to the following website for information about estimated Annual fees: https://sa.ucla.edu/RO/Fees/Public/public-fees
UCLA offers several kinds of financial assistance for graduate students. M.F.A applicants are encouraged to complete the fellowship section of the UCLA Graduate Application for campus-wide award opportunities. Admitted candidates are considered for merit-based support in the form of scholarships and departmental awards. Additionally, all students are given the opportunity to apply for Teaching Assistantship positions which offer a quarterly salary and a partial fee remission during the term(s) of employment.
Award recommendations and departmental TA assignments are made by faculty. Factors considered include creative work, potential, and, in some cases, financial need; effort is made to distribute awards among all areas of study, and all M.F.A students in the department. For assistantships, special abilities are also factored into the decision.
For the 2024-25 academic year, all M.F.A students received award support covering approximately 50% of their student fees and tuition, as well as one or two quarter-long Teaching Assistant assignments. Students also are considered for additional competitive award opportunities.
The UCLA Financial Aid Office administers financial support for eligible US citizens and permanent residents based upon need. For graduate students, need-based financial aid is awarded primarily in the form of loans and work-study. Please visit the UCLA Financial Aid Office Website for detailed information.
Extramural fellowships also are made available by many off-campus agencies and foundations. Applicants should contact the funding organizations directly for information regarding extramural fellowship opportunities.
More detailed information on financial support is available in the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission and at the UCLA Division of Graduate Education Web site.
Scholarships
Department of Art and School of the Arts and Architecture scholarships, made possible through the generosity of private individuals, firms, or foundations, are available annually to undergraduate and graduate students. These prestigious awards are made by faculty nomination, and in some cases, by student application or competition. Examples of these awards are as follows:
Application Requirement,
Statement of Purpose
Letters of Recommendation
Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
Application Deadline,
Jan 09, 2025
Application Fee,
$135.00: U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents
$155.00: All other applicants
