Graduate Admissions
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.
The Department of Art accepts applications only for the fall quarter.
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.
The 2025-26 UCLA Application for Graduate Admission is due by January 9, 2025, 11:59pm PST.
For a complete outline of degree requirements, see Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees available in the departmental office and accessible on the graduate division webpage.
Financial Support
General Information
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:
- Laura Andreson Scholarship
- Samuel Booth Art Scholarship
- CAA Foundation Scholarship
- Martha Matthias Denny Scholarship
- Department of Art Scholarship
- Lorser Feitelson and Helen Lundeberg Feitelson Arts Foundation Award
- Helen Frankenthaler Scholarship
- Fine Arts Trust Award
- Edna and Yu-Shan Han Award
- D'Arcy Hayman Scholarship
- Werner Z. Hirsch Award in Drawing
- Hoyt Scholarship
- Emma B. Keller Fine Arts Scholarship
- Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Scholarship
- Lilian Levinson Foundation Scholarship
- Toby Devan Lewis Fellowship
- Elizabeth Heller Mandell Memorial Scholarship
- Nancy Tokar Miller Scholarship
- Moss Scholar
- Barbara and Joseph Naar Scholarship
- Alfredo Orselli Memorial Scholarship
- Evelyn and Mo Ostin Performing Arts Award
- Dr. Hyman Eugene Oxman Scholarship
- Aubrey Penny Scholarship
- Resnick Scholarships
- Placita Salais Scholarship
- Edward J. and Alice Mae Smith Scholarship
- Charles Speroni Memorial Scholarship
- Judith and Milton Stark Scholarship
- S.A. Temple Award
- UCLA Art Council Award
- Clifton Webb Fine Arts Scholarship
- Robert J. Webster Art Scholarship
- Weiser Family Foundation Scholarship
- Harold M. Williams Endowed Scholarship
For Prospective M.F.A Students Interested in Visiting:
Prospective M.F.A Student Information Sessions:
Information sessions for prospective Fall 2026 M.F.A applicants are being offered remotely via Zoom. During these sessions we will share information about the program and application process, and take any questions you may have. Please register in advance:
There are no meetings for prospective students January through March, during our busy admissions review season.
Past Faculty and Student Panel Discussions may be viewed online
Areas of Study: Faculty Interviews
View faculty discuss the MFA Art areas of study.
- New Genres Area: Vishal Jugdeo and Gelare Khoshgozaran
- Interdisciplinary Studio Area: Andrea Fraser and Cauleen Smith
For Prospective M.F.A Students Interested in Visiting the UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios:
The UCLA Margo Leavin Graduate Art Studios building is located at 3600 Hayden Avenue, Culver City, CA 90232. Interested prospective students may arrange visits during the hours of 2pm on Wednesdays only. Please text Ed Beller, Manager, at 310-753-0623. In your message, please leave your name and indicate what date (Wednesdays 2pm only) you intend to visit. Unscheduled visits are not permitted.
Interested applicants are invited to attend student exhibitions and open studios , watch a Faculty and Student Panel Discussion for Applicants to the M.F.A Art Program, and to attend live in person and Zoom artist lectures
Campus maps and parking information are available online at transportation.ucla.edu/campus-parking.