About PhD Program,

The UCLA Gender Studies Ph.D. Program is designed for students preparing to work in the intellectually rigorous atmosphere of post-secondary teaching and research.  Admission to the Ph.D. Program is highly competitive; we typically admit three to five students per year.  In addition to the doctoral program, we offer a Graduate Concentration in Gender Studies for UCLA graduate students pursuing degrees in other departments.

Our courses are taught by Gender Studies faculty, including core faculty and  those who hold joint appointments in a wide variety of UCLA departments and professional schools.

PhD Program Degree Eligibility with GPA,

For Fall 2025 admission, the deadline for application to the Ph.D. Program is December 12, 2024.  Applications should be submitted through the UCLA Graduate Division (www.grad.ucla.edu). Admitted students are expected to enroll the following fall.  Before submitting the various parts of the application to Gender Studies and the Graduate Division of UCLA, please read all forms and instructions carefully.

Prior to submitting your application, we also recommend consulting the program description, course listings, and the information provided on the UCLA Graduate Division homepage www.grad.ucla.edu

Eligibility

All individuals with a BA degree or equivalent are eligible for admission to the Gender Studies Graduate Program. To apply for the Concentration, you must be a graduate student enrolled in another UCLA department, program or professional school.  Admission to the Ph.D. Program is based upon intellectual ability, past performance and, most important, the fit between the Gender Studies graduate program and the candidate’s personal and professional goals. Please identify any UCLA faculty members you are interested in working with in your Gender Studies supplementary essay.  All applications to the Ph.D. Program are reviewed by the Gender Studies Department admissions committee.  The committee considers the following factors: letters of recommendation from the applicant’s former or current professors and/or supervisors or colleagues; undergraduate/MA grade point average. High importance are the Statement of Purpose, Gender Studies supplementary essay and writing sample.

Because of the highly competitive nature of the program, applicants are expected to have a strong GPA. The Admission Committee expects a GPA of 3.5 or better for the junior and senior years.

PhD Funding Coverage,

The right financial funding package during graduate school will allow you to focus on your academic and intellectual pursuits. In the past, UCLA’s Department of Gender Studies has consistently been able to provide a minimum floor of funding for tuition and living expenses for all of its incoming graduate students for four years. This bare minimum guarantee to all incoming graduate students ensures that no one in the Department is “paying to play” while others are fully supported. Graduate education, however, is expensive and the cost of living associated with being in an international metropolitan center like Los Angeles can be overwhelming. This means that some students take out loans while they attend UCLA.

UCLA’s Department of Gender Studies, however, has consistently recruited top candidates from all over the country with impressive credentials and fascinating research interests. The high quality of our graduate students and the cutting edge nature of their work has enabled many students to find outside funding in the form of fellowships and grants and avoid taking on loans. This page contains a number of fellowship and grant opportunities that incoming graduate students should keep in mind when applying. Many of these fellowships are only accessible BEFORE you enter graduate school or during your first few years. Some of them are not offered every year so you should check with the sponsoring organization. We urge you to apply for these fellowships and seek outside funding because the right funding package can make all the difference.

Application Requirement,

The online application is submitted through the UCLA Graduate Division: www.grad.ucla.edu

Application materials required by the Graduate Division and the Department of Gender Studies:

• Online application which includes submission of basic information, including your academic history and the degree program to which you wish to apply, as well as the application fee of $120 ($140 for international).
• Fellowship and Diversity application now called Personal History Statement(if you are eligible for Graduate Division fellowships).
• Transcripts (upload online AND mail 2 original hard copies to the Department of Gender Studies – address below)
• Three letters of recommendation are required by the Department of Gender Studies.  Indicate a minimum of 3 names and emails for your recommenders.

Please upload these Gender Studies supplemental materials to the online application under “Supporting Documents” if there is no other specified section to upload:

• Statement of Purpose
• Gender Studies Supplemental Essay
• CV or resume
• International Applicants are also required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.

Statement of Purpose – The statement of purpose is very important and is carefully considered in the selection process.  Be concise and specific.  It should be 3-pages double-spaced, and focus on what has brought you to pursuing a doctoral degree.

Fellowship Application – Available through the graduate division, please apply for all scholarships you feel are applicable.  Be sure to include the Diversity Supplemental form if applicable (www.grad.ucla.edu).

Letters of Recommendation – Your recommenders will be sent an email request with instructions on how to submit their letters online.  They do not need to mail hard copies.

Transcripts –   Transcripts (upload scanned copies online, if admitted, you will be asked to request originals  – electronic preferred if possible – to be sent to Department of Gender Studies at jenna@gender.ucla.edu) Hard copy sealed official transcripts can be mailed to Gender Studies Graduate Program:

UCLA Department of Gender Studies
Box 951504
1120 Rolfe Hall
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1504

CV or resume – include your current address, telephone number, email, your educational experience, and your work experience.

Gender Studies supplementary essay (in addition to the Statement of Purpose) – The Gender Studies Supplementary Essay should tell the admissions committee about your background in and proposed focus in Gender Studies – answer the question “Why Gender Studies?” It can also give the committee information about your work and professional experience. The essay should be no more than 3 double-spaced pages and should address the following:

• How did you become interested in Gender Studies?
• What work or academic experiences prompted you to apply for a graduate degree in Gender Studies?
• In what area of Gender Studies do you plan to specialize?
• What are your career goals?

Writing Sample – Research papers or other written materials (not to exceed 25 pages in length) expressing your academic or professional interests.  These materials should not exceed 25 double-spaced pages.

International Applicants

TOEFL scores (required of international applicants whose first language is not English) – Official Score Reports can be ordered from ETS.  Institutional code for UCLA: R4837; Department/Major Field Code : 2201 Social Sciences—Area, Ethnic and Gender Studies

Application Deadline,

Dec 12, 2024

Application Fee,

Application fee of $120 ($140 for international).