Frequently Asked Questions


About the Department


Is there a master's program in economics at UCLA?

No, the Department of Economics at UCLA does not offer a terminal master's degree. We only accept applications for the doctoral program. Students who are accepted into our doctoral program earn their master's degrees on their way to earning their doctorates, but we do not admit students whose final goal is to earn a master's degree in economics.

What are the graduate courses and fields offered in the program?

A listing of our graduate courses offered can be found in the Graduate Program Handbook.

The different fields offered and their requirements can be found on the department website under Field Requirements.

How can I find out about the faculty in the program?

The entire faculty is listed under the Faculty section on the department website. Some faculty members have individual websites you could link to, others list some basic information about their background and research. To contact any of the faculty, please email or call them directly.

Application for Graduate Admission


How do I take the GRE or TOEFL?

These tests are administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Visit their website to find information about registering and preparing for the exams.

Do I need to submit a TOEFL score?

Any applicant whose first language is not English must certify proficiency in English when applying to UCLA, and, if admitted, upon arrival.

Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). http://www.ets.org/toefl. IELTS is administered by local IELTS test centers throughout the world. Applicants should consult IELTS for the nearest test center. http://www.ielts.org/ The results of these tests help applicants determine whether they are prepared to undertake graduate study conducted in English before making extensive plans for graduate study in the U.S.

Applicants who hold a bachelor's or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country in which English is both the primary spoken language of daily life and the language of instruction (i.e., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from both the TOEFL/IELTS requirement and the English as a Second Language Placement Examination.

Please be sure to include such information in your application.

My TOEFL iBT score is above 87, but not all of my section scores meet the minimum passing requirement.

For the internet-based TOEFL (TOEFL iBT), the minimum total passing score is 87. The Graduate Division has a list of minimum score requirements for each section of the exam, but these minimum section score requirements are not enforced-only the total passing score of 87.

An IELTS overall band score of at least 7.0 is the minimum required.

Should I send in a writing sample?

Please do not submit a writing sample¡ªit is not required and it will not be reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Is a CV or resume required for the application?

Submitting a CV or resume is optional.

What is the minimum GPA requirement for the program?

By Graduate Council action, a minimum grade point average of "B" (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), or its equivalent, in upper division undergraduate study and in graduate level study, if any, is required for graduate admission.

Should I apply if I am currently finishing my last year of undergraduate study?

Applicants who have completed three years of undergraduate course work, or the equivalent, are considered when they specify they have the remaining year of course work in progress, and describe the proposed course work for that year.

When is the official deadline to turn in all of the application materials?

All of the application materials (including letters of recommendation, official test scores, official transcripts, etc.) must be uploaded online by December 1, 2011.

To check the status of your application and to see what letters of recommendation have been uploaded, you can log on to the Graduate Division Application and review your status.

Can I receive the application fee waiver?

Waivers of UCLA's application fee are available for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents. To receive a need-based waiver, you must

Be currently enrolled in a college or university

and

Receive need-based financial aid

and

Submit a statement from your Financial Aid officer confirming all of the above and stating that payment of UCLA's $80.00 application fee would be a financial hardship.

If you meet all of these criteria, select Fee Waiver in the application, upload the statement from your Financial Aid officer and submit the application.

Don't submit income tax returns, unemployment documents, copies of your FAFSA Expected Family Contribution or other financial estimates; these cannot be accepted as documentation of eligibility for a fee waiver.

In addition, the following applicants are eligible for a waiver of the application fee.

California State University (CSU) Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program Applicants

Applicants who participate in the California State University Sally Casanova Pre-Doctoral Scholars Program are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. In the application, on the Plans for Graduate Study page, click CSU Casanova Predoc in the drop down menu at Application Type. Upload a letter from the program officer verifying participation in the Supporting Documents Upload section of the application.

McNair Scholars

Applicants who are current McNair Scholars are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. In the application, on the Plans for Graduate Study page, click McNair in the drop down menu at Application Type. Upload a letter from your McNair director verifying participation in the Supporting Documents Upload section of the application.

Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) Applicants

Applicants who participate in the Graduate Division's Summer Programs for Undergraduate Research (SPUR) are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. In the application, on the Plans for Graduate Study page, click GRD SPUR in the drop down menu at Application Type. Upload a letter from the program officer verifying participation in the Supporting Documents Upload section of the application.

UC Leadership through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) Applicants

Applicants who participate in UC Leadership through Advanced Degrees (UC LEADS) are eligible for a waiver of the application fee. In the application, on the Plans for Graduate Study page, click UC LEADS in the drop down menu at Application Type. Upload a letter from the program officer verifying participation in the Supporting Documents Upload section of the application.

What are all of the details regarding transcripts?

If you transfer to another institution, the original transcripts from both schools need to be submitted. For example, if you attended a community college then transferred to a four-year university, both transcripts need to be submitted.

A copy of all of your transcripts should be uploaded in the application.

One copy of the official transcript must be mailed to the Economics Graduate Office by December 1, 2011.

Attn: Economics Graduate Office Department of Economics 8292 Bunche Hall Box 951477 Los Angeles, CA 90095

If you would like to submit an updated transcript after the December 1st deadline, the updated transcripts may be e-mailed, in PDF format, to the grad-office@econ.ucla.edu An official copy of the updated transcript will only be required from the applicants are admitted to the program.

How should I submit my letters of recommendation?

The letters should be uploaded by the letter writer to the online application. If the letter writer is unable to or uncomfortable with uploading the letter for some reason, there are two alternative options for submitting the letters. For either of these options to be accepted, you must first email the Economics Graduate Office for permission.

The two options are as follows:

1. Have the writer send in the letter by mail. Make sure the cover sheet that we provide is included and the letter is printed on letterhead, and is sent in a sealed envelope.

2. Have the writer directly e-mail the letter in PDF format to the Economics Graduate Office. The letter must include the cover sheet we provide and be printed on letterhead.

What are my chances of getting accepted into the program?

Every year we receive anywhere from 400 to 500 applications, admit 100 to 110 applicants, and enroll approximately 20-25 students.

When will I know if I have been admitted to the program?

Decisions will be released sometime in March 2012.

The most efficient way to track the progress of your application is to personally log on to the application and check the status.

Other Questions?


If you still have questions regarding the application process, please visit the UCLA Department of Economics website. If the information provided on the website does not answer your specific question(s), please contact Economics Graduate Office.