Frequently Asked Admission Questions

To apply for the Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD or MS program, submit the UCLA application for graduate admission and select “Electrical and Computer Engineering MS” or “Electrical and Computer Engineering PhD” as your intended major. Applications are due by December 15 at 11:59 pm (Pacific Time).

It is the prospective applicant’s responsibility to do their research and review this page, frequently asked questions, to determine their admission competitiveness, and academic and research fit with the university/program they are applying to. Due to the volume of applications and in fairness to all our applicants, we do not provide application feedback or “pre-application” reviews.

Due to the competitive nature of admission to the Electrical Engineering graduate programs, applicants with Electrical Engineering backgrounds have a slight advantage over other applicants. However, it is common for students in closely related fields to gain admission. Closely related fields are other branches of engineering, mathematics, computer science, physics, etc. Students with a background outside of these areas are encouraged to gain a strong background before applying for admission.

Yes. Any student with a genuine interest in pursuing a PhD may apply directly to the PhD program. If admission is not granted to the PhD program, these applications will automatically be considered for MS admission (assuming they do not already hold a MS degree).

An applicant for admission must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, must have the necessary academic preparation to complete graduate level courses in computer science, and must be able to score competitively on the GRE test. The university requires at least a scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used. We expect at least a 3.50 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in the junior and senior years, and at least 3.50 in any graduate study.

The GRE will not be required for the 2025-2026 Admissions cycle. Previously, there were no minimums required for GRE.
International students must submit a TOEFL with a score of at least 87 (computer-based) or 560 (paper-based), or an IELTS with a score of at least 7.0.

Full requirements can be found at the ECE Application Requirements webpage.

Conditional admission is not offered. A transitional or pre-master’s program is not available.

No. Applicants may apply to only one academic program, and within that program, only one degree objective.

No. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department accepts applications for Fall quarter only. Applications should be submitted only between mid-September and the deadline of December 15.

Letters are due December 15. Late letters will be accepted until January 1 5:00PM Pacific Time. In fairness to applicants and to assure the efficacy of the selection process, we cannot guarantee that your file will be reviewed if application materials such as letters and test scores are submitted after the January 1 final deadline.

Modifications/edits to the admissions application or materials (i.e. statement of purpose, personal history, etc) are not allowed. The number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of available seats.

No. In order to be fair to all applicants and make efficient use of staff and faculty time, we require all applications to be paid and submitted by the midnight deadline. No exceptions are made to this policy.

Fee Waiver criteria may be found here:
https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/research-requirements/#fee-deferrals

It is the applicant’s responsibility to upload all the required documents (i.e. letter from Program Director confirming program participation for eligible programs, letter from financial aid officer from university/college you are currently enrolled in, statement from the registrar’s office confirming certain information, etc) as stated on the Fee Waiver Criteria webpage, in your online application before submitting your admissions application (the deadline to submit your admission application is December 15).

It is the applicant’s responsibility to redact or block out all U.S. Social Security numbers before submitting the document that have social security numbers on it. If a U.S. Social Security number is visible on the document, the UCLA Graduate Division cannot accept it and the ECE department cannot redact or block out this information for an applicant.
Due to the heavy volume of applicants, If you submit your fee waiver materials to the ECE dept after the deadline we cannot guarantee it will be reviewed. This information on Fee Waiver criteria is on our webpage and the UCLA Graduate Division’s webpage all year long thus applicants are fully aware of deadlines for the application and fee waiver materials months prior to the admissions application deadline.

If you do not meet the criteria for a Fee Waiver as specifically stated on the Fee Waiver requirement page then unfortunately you do not qualify for a fee waiver (no exceptions).

No. Due to the overwhelming number of qualified applicants, a transitional or pre-master’s program is not offered.

You will not be considered for admission into the MS program if you already have or enrolled in a master’s degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering or a similar discipline. As with many Electrical & Computer Engineering departments, the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of available seats.
Due to the high volume of applicants and in fairness to all applicants and limited number of spots each year, we do not allow transfers into our MS program. You are welcome to apply to the PhD program.

If you are a current UCLA graduate student in another department, friendly reminder we do not allow transfers into the MS program. Only formally admitted MS students who applied for the MS program during admissions are allowed to obtain a degree in the ECE MS program.

Applicants who are in their last year of study for a bachelor’s degree are eligible to apply for graduate admission. The ECE MS and PhD programs begin in September. As long as an applicant’s degree is conferred by August, then they are eligible to apply.
Applicants should upload their transcripts showing any courses in progress. Please do not email us, sending us updated grades as we do not accept updates of the transcript or any other aspects of the application after submission. If an applicant is recommended for admission, they will be asked to send the department updated official transcripts (and diploma, if applicable) showing degree conferral.

The deadline to submit an application for admission is DECEMBER 15, 11:59 pm, Pacific Time.

Applicants who fail to meet the application deadline are not offered admission.

Letters are due December 15. Late letters will be accepted until January 1 5:00PM Pacific Time. In fairness to applicants and to assure the efficacy of the selection process, we cannot guarantee that your file will be reviewed if application materials such as letters, test scores, and transcripts are submitted after the January 1 final deadline.

We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting our office regarding the status of materials, or to verify if materials have been received. Due to the high volume of applications we receive each cycle, we are unable to respond to these requests. Doing so will only delay the review of all applications. Our office will contact an applicant via email if additional material is needed.

In order to ensure your GRE/IELTS/TOEFL scores sync up with your online application, make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration and on your online graduate admissions applications. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not sync up to your graduate admissions application. The number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of available seats.

All supplemental material must be received in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department Office of Graduate Student Affairs by January 1 5:00 PM (PST) at the latest. Materials submitted after this date may not be reviewed.

The faculty begin reviewing PhD applications in late-December and MS applications in January. PhD and MS application reviews will continue through March.

The timing of the review process adjusts slightly from year-to-year. However, all faculty have access to review files and make recommendations for admission decisions. The admissions committees then review the recommendations and all complete files. Admission decisions are released as files are processed. This process begins in mid-January and ends in late-March.

PhD and MS applicants will be notified by mid-April.

We kindly ask that you refrain from contacting our office regarding the status of your application, or to verify if materials have been received. Due to the high volume of applications we receive each cycle, we are unable to respond to these requests. Doing so will only delay the review of all applications.

Only official notification from the UCLA Division of Graduate Education (DGE) constitutes approval of admission. When a decision is made, applicants will receive an email, directing them to the DGE’s application site to check their “Decision Status.” Applicants should sign-in to their application account to read the official decision letter. If admitted, information and instructions concerning registration (via a link to the Statement of Intent to Register – SIR) will be included as part of the offer of admission letter. Admission letters are only available electronically and are not mailed to applicants.

The deadline for admitted students to submit the intent to register (SIR) is April 15th.

We encourage applicants who have received an offer of admission to submit the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) as soon as they have decided on a graduate program.
To view important dates/deadlines for each quarter, please visit:
https://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Term-Calendar

The average length of time in the MS program is 5 quarters. The maximum time allowed for completing the MS degree is 2 academic years (6 quarters).

Applicants who are admitted into the PhD and do not hold a MS are required to complete and earn a MS degree within the first two years (6 quarters) of enrollment with UCLA. These students would then be expected to complete and earn the PhD within 5 years (15 quarters) of earning the MS.

Applicants who are admitted into the PhD and hold a MS are expected to complete and earn the PhD within 5 years (15 quarters) of earning the MS.

Please visit the university’s academic and administrative calendar.

Entering students are required to have completed a bachelor’s degree with at least an overall 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale)

Applicants for the PHD program must have an overall GPA of at least 3.5 in their undergraduate & Graduate (if applicable) coursework.

My university does not assign grades on a 4.0 grade scale. Should I calculate my GPA? Make sure the grading scale is on the official transcripts uploaded in your online admissions application. Staff in the ECE Student Affairs Office review and convert, as necessary, the marks or grades of all applicants. The Graduate Division online application asks applicants to submit their grade point average on the scale used by their institutions.

Applicants are expected to enter their overall GPA. The ECE Office of Graduate Student Affairs will verify and review the transcripts you provide on your application to make sure the GPA is accurate.

No, official transcripts are no longer required at the time of the application. Students without a conferred degree can upload unofficial transcripts to the application portal. Only applicants who are admitted into our program will be asked to submit official transcripts.
Transcripts must: have been generated by your institution’s Registrar’s Office, be clearly legible, include the word transcript, the name of the institution, the institution address, your name, program of study, and the major field of study. It should also include a complete list of courses/terms/corresponding grades/units, and the cumulative GPA calculations.
Degree audit reports, advising/progress plans, academic summaries, web pages, screenshots, and degree plans cannot be accepted.
Applicants with a conferred degree must upload a transcript that lists their “degree awarded” or “degree conferred” date. International students who have completed their degree, must also upload their diploma and degree certificate.

Applicants should upload their transcripts showing any courses in progress. Do not email us, sending us updated grades as we do not accept updates of the transcript or any other aspects of the application after submission. If an applicant is recommended for admission, they will be asked to send the department updated official transcripts (and diploma, if applicable) showing degree conferral.

UCLA’s GRE institution code is 4837. The GRE department code is 1203. If you are unable to submit the department code, we will still be able to receive your score report.

When viewing the online application checklist, it may indicate “missing” items from your application. Currently, the test score section of the checklist is not accurately displaying the actual receipt of test scores (GRE, TOEFL). Please disregard this information. We will email you directly if we are missing materials.

**GRE Requirement for Fall 2026-2027 Admissions Cycle Only**

Students who wish to apply for admission to our graduate program for the 2026-2027 academic year (applications are due December 15, 2025) are not required to take the GRE or submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. However, students may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration. The applications with GRE scores will not be given greater weight than those that do not include scores.

No. The admissions committee does not review scores of this exam.

No. There are no minimum GRE scores required. GRE is optional.

No. There is no minimum GRE score requirement. However, the most competitive applicants earn average or above average scores compared to the computer science applicant pool.

I will not receive official GRE scores until after the application deadline. As long as you complete the exam before the December 15 deadline, we will accept the scores. As a reminder, GRE scores are not required for admissions.

In order to ensure your scores sync up with your online application make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration and on your online graduate admissions applications. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not sync up to your graduate admissions application and we cannot guarantee your scores will be received by the deadline.

If you plan to take or have already taken an additional exam, please make sure that ETS has already sent your first exam report to UCLA before December 15.

The test must have been taken within five (5) years of the submission date of the UCLA Graduate Division online application. For example, if you took the exam on October 30, 2015, you would need to complete the UCLA Graduate Division online application no later than October 30, 2020.

All scores will be reviewed. However, only the most recent scores will be used for admissions consideration. If you plan to take or have already taken an additional exam, please make sure that ETS has already sent your first exam report to UCLA before December 15.

To avoid delays up to several weeks in matching your report to your application, it is important to use the correct institution code, 4837, and the correct department code, 1203. If you did not use the correct codes, we eventually will be able to match your report to your application but not guaranteed to do so by the deadline. We recommend that you upload student reports to the Graduate Division application and email a copy of your student report to the Computer Science Department.

Yes. We will be able to match your score report to your online application. In order to ensure your scores sync up with your online application make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration and on your online graduate admissions applications. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not sync up to your graduate admissions application and we cannot guarantee your scores will be received by the deadline.

UCLA’s TOEFL institution code is 4837. In order to ensure your scores sync up with your online application make sure your last name, first name, middle name (if any) and email address match exactly on your ETS registration and on your online graduate admissions applications. If you leave out your middle name or use a different email address the scores might not sync up to your graduate admissions application and we cannot guarantee your scores will be received by the deadline.

Any applicant whose first language is not English must certify proficiency in English when applying to UCLA. 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).
IELTS is administered by local IELTS test centers throughout the world. Applicants should consult IELTS for the nearest test center.

The UCLA Graduate Division’s website outlines which applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirements. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department will document applications when TOEFL/IELTS is waived.

Applicants are asked not to make email or phone inquiries about TOEFL/IELTS waivers. It is the prospective applicant’s responsibility to review the UCLA Graduate Division’s website for

The minimum TOEFL score is 87.

TOEFL is a university requirement for admission. The Electrical and Computer Engineering Department cannot recommend admission for any international student who does not meet the university TOEFL requirement. Details on the TOEFL/IELTS requirements are available on the UCLA Graduate Division’s website.

There are no minimum scores for each section. There is only an overall minimum total score of 87.

All scores will be reviewed. However, only the most recent scores will be used for admissions consideration.

The online application will allow you to enter three names and their corresponding e-mail addresses. The application system will then send an email notification, prompting the designated individuals to complete a recommendation on your behalf (where letters can be uploaded/transmitted to the application portal).
You cannot upload the letters yourself.
Only three letters of recommendation are required.

Most applicants submit only 3 letters, which is the department’s preference. The Graduate Division online application does allow the names of 4 recommenders to be submitted, and the department will review all letters received.

If you are a UCLA ESAP applicant to the ECE MS program, you will need two letters of recommendation from ECE faculty/instructors/lecturers or faculty from outside the department that have a joint appointment with the UCLA ECE Dept (i.e. Professors Achuta Kadambi and Mani Srivastava are CS faculty with joint appointments with the ECE Dept). If the faculty member does not have a joint appointment with the UCLA ECE Dept they cannot serve as one of your two letters of rec for the ECE MS program as an ESAP applicant.

Yes. The Graduate Division online application allows you to change recommenders and send reminders as needed through the recommendation provider list.

No, letters must be submitted through the Graduate Division online application.

We prefer to receive letters from faculty members who are familiar with your academic history; however, we understand that applicants who have graduated several years ago, and/or applicants who have work experience may have recommenders outside of academia. Regardless of who writes the letter, the content should relate your achievements and skills to your potential for success in your degree and career objectives.
For UCLA ESAP applicants, letters of recommendation should be from ECE faculty/instructors.

Letters are due by December 15. Late letters of recommendation received through January 1 will also be reviewed.

Applicants to the PhD program will automatically be considered for departmental funding; no departmental scholarship application is needed. PhD international students offered admission will be provided funding that meets the anticipated cost of attendance. Awards will be given based on the PhD applicants’ academic merit and potential. PhD applicants are informed of their financial support in their admission offers.

MS applicants and MS students are not eligible for departmental financial support. To qualify for a visa to study in the U.S., international MS applicants must demonstrate personal or agency financial support of at least over $55,000 for the first year. Prospective MS applicants should apply for admission ONLY if they can provide such documentation, which will be requested if admission is offered, in early March. Information on the cost of attendance is available on the UCLA Graduate Division Cost of Attendance webpage.

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to apply for University and external funding opportunities. Information about university-wide fellowships and grants, and external fellowships may be found at the UCLA Graduate Division funding webpage.

Funding information is located on the ECE Funding Information web page.

TA positions are reserved for 2+ year students. First year students are expected to focus on their coursework.

The department accepts applications from current students in summer for TA positions to be assigned the following academic school year. PhD students fill nearly all TA positions. Assignments are contingent on your eligibility which includes passing the 495 course: Teaching Assistant Training Seminar, and for non-native speakers of English, passing the university’s Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP).
All MS admittees may explore TA opportunities in other academic departments (i.e EE, Math, STAT). TAing is not part of the Electrical & Computer Engineering Masters Program and MS students (both incoming and continuing) are not guaranteed TAships/GSRs (i.e. Dept funding) for any year.
MS applicants and MS students are not eligible for departmental financial support. To qualify for a visa to study in the U.S., international MS applicants must demonstrate personal or agency financial support of at least over $55,000 for the first year. Prospective MS applicants should apply for admission ONLY if they can provide such documentation, which will be requested if admission is offered, in early March. Information on the cost of attendance is available on the UCLA Graduate Division Cost of Attendance webpage.

Applicants are also strongly encouraged to apply for University and external funding opportunities. Information about university-wide fellowships and grants, and external fellowships may be found at the UCLA Graduate Division funding webpage.

GSR stands for Graduate Student Researcher. Each faculty member determines if he/she has the funding available and whom to hire as GSR.

PhD admittees are offered financial support as either a graduate student researcher (GSR) or departmental fellow. All MS admittees may explore GSR opportunities in other academic departments (i.e Math, STAT) and campus departments.

Annual fee chart information is available at the UCLA Registrar’s Office website. A sample budget for most programs, including Electrical & Computer Engineering, is available on the Graduate Division fees and living expenses webpage. Specific charges for tuition and fees and non-resident supplemental tuition are listed on the Registrar’s fee page.

PhD applicants need not submit a CFS, as funding is offered to all PhD applicants offered admission. Unfortunately, MS applicants are not eligible for departmental financial support. To qualify for a visa to study in the U.S., international MS applicants must demonstrate personal or agency financial support of at least $55,000 for the first year. Prospective MS applicants should apply for admission ONLY if they can provide such documentation, which will be requested if admission is offered, in early Spring (February-May). Information on the cost of attendance is available on the UCLA Graduate Division Cost of Attendance webpage. Specific charges for tuition and fees and non-resident supplemental tuition are listed on the Registrar’s fee page.

Information about university-wide fellowships and grants, and external fellowships may be found at the UCLA Graduate Division funding webpage. .

No. UCLA does not require a security deposit..

A list of faculty members who teach for Electrical & Computer Engineering can be found at the ECE Faculty Directory.

Faculty do not inform the ECE Office of Graduate Student Affairs of their plans to/not to accept new students into their labs. Students who have researched faculty interests, may email them directly to inquire if a position is currently open in the lab.

A searchable database of UCLA Research Expertise is available online. Please note it will contain information from all departments on campus. Clicking the Contact Information link in this database will take you to the UCLA Directory.

Details on ECE Research is located here.

Applicants and students who have research interests in the same area as a particular faculty member, may wish to email him/her as an introduction to the application process. However, many faculty schedules (teaching, research, travel, etc.) do not permit them to reply to the many requests they receive. We encourage applicants to be considerate when emailing faculty.

Admitted students who SIR, can log-on to MyUCLA in late-June to enroll in courses for the Fall term.

Yes, students are required to either enroll in UC SHIP or complete the UC SHIP waiver. Students are also required to comply with the campus immunization requirement.

Unfortunately, you cannot defer your admission to UCLA. If you are unable to attend in the quarter you were admitted, you will need to submit a renewal application for the next admission cycle.

If you decide to reapply, we can re-use the supplemental materials that were previously submitted, i.e. official transcript, personal history statement, letters of recommendation, etc..

Admitted applicants who do not attend for the quarter they are admitted, may renew their application during the next academic year’s admission cycle. Students must apply as they did the previous year (meeting all stated deadlines). However, selecting the application type as RENEWAL will waive the application fee. NOTE: Only admitted students may “renew” their application.

Applicants who are not admitted for one academic year may reapply for the following academic year. The application and application fee must be submitted and paid as was done for the previous application.

Renewal applicants will not be required to upload a new statement of purpose, Resume/CV, and scanned transcripts as part of the application process. If final, official transcripts were previously received by the EE Office of Graduate Student Affairs, they will be held on file for 3 years.

Many students may find it beneficial to gain new letters of recommendation outlining any additional achievements and skills earned to strengthen their application.

Reapplying applicants will be required to upload a statement of purpose and scanned transcripts as part of the application process. If final, official transcripts were previously received by the EE Office of Graduate Student Affairs, they will be held on file for 3 years.

Many students may find it beneficial to gain new letters of recommendation outlining any additional achievements and skills earned to strengthen their application.

Space in university housing is limited. If you are interested, please submit an online housing lottery application immediately after admission to the university. The application requires a $30 non-refundable fee. Information is available at the university housing website.

Information on the different buildings and room types can also be found at the UCLA Housing website. For information on room assignments and lottery results, you can email UCLA Housing directly at uclahousing@housing.ucla.edu.

The Electrical & Computer Engineering Department has limited guaranteed housing slots, which are offered to our most highly recruited PhD students. These PhD students are contacted directly by email regarding housing slots.

A good place to start is the UCLA Community Housing Office (CHO) which provides an online rental database and maintains additional resources to assist those searching for housing in the Los Angeles area. Please visit the community housing website.