Do you offer a Masters degree in Psychology? No. The Department of Psychology only offers a Ph.D. program, and does not offer a Master’s only program.
Do you need a Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree to apply? No. A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university is not required to apply to our program, but it is required to enter our program. For domestic applicants, a Master’s degree is not required to apply to or enter our program. For international applicant educational requirements, please see https://grad.ucla.edu/gasaa/admissions/ACADRECS.HTM.
Do you offer a degree in counseling/therapy? No. This is a research-oriented program that aims to train researchers who will expand the body of scientific knowledge upon which the discipline of psychology rests. If you are seeking training as a psychotherapist or a career in counseling psychology, this may not be the program that fits your interests.
Do you offer a graduate degree in Forensics? Industrial/Organizational Psychology? No, we do not offer a degree in these areas.
When is the application deadline for Fall 2025 admission? November 1, 2024 (Clinical only) December 1, 2024 (All other areas)
How do I apply? The application for Fall 2025 admission will open in September and will be available at https://grad.ucla.edu/apply. Please pay particular attention to the Application Instructions.
How many applicants apply for admission? For the entering class of Fall 2024, the admissions committee reviewed 1,317 applications.
How many students enroll each year? Enrollment varies each year. There are 28 incoming students in Fall 2024.
Can I apply to the program for entry beginning Winter or Spring quarters? No, we only accept applications for entrance in Fall quarter.
Can I attend part-time? No, this is a day-time, full-time program and has no provision for part-time or limited status students.
What is the length of the program? The program is described as a six-year program. However, it is flexible enough to permit considerable individual variation.
Is an interview required as part of the admission process? The Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive, Developmental, Health, Quantitative, Social, and Social and Affective Neuroscience areas do conduct interviews as part of their applicant evaluation process.
Must I have been a psychology major to be eligible to apply? No, you do not need to have been a psychology major to apply to the program. However, ideal preparation for the Ph.D. program consists of a solid background of coursework in the realm of psychology, including lab courses and classes in statistics and research methods. A broad knowledge of mathematical, biological, and social sciences is also recommended.
Are there any minimum GPA or GRE score requirements? The Division of Graduate Education stipulates that you must have a minimum of a 3.0 GPA to be eligible to apply. There are no minimum scores cut-offs for the GRE.
Is the GRE General Test required? No. The GRE is not required. Applicants for admission to our graduate program are not required to submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. Applicants may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as one part of the holistic application consideration. The applications with GRE scores will not be given greater weight than those that do not include scores.
Do I need to take the GRE Psychology Subject Test? Consistent with the policy of the UCLA Department of Psychology, applicants to the clinical psychology doctoral program at UCLA will not be required to take the GRE. The GRE Psychology Subject Test is not required and will not be used to make admissions decisions. However, applicants who score above the 70th percentile can use the GRE Subject Test to partially fulfill Discipline-Specific Knowledge requirements (e.g., cognitive, social) that are part of accreditation by the American Psychological Association. In this way, admitted students may be able to reduce the amount of, or more flexibly select, coursework needed to complete program requirements. Students may elect to take the GRE Subject Test after their admission into our program and all program requirements can be fulfilled without taking the test.
I’m applying to the Quantitative program. Should I consider submitting a GRE score report? GREs are not required for admission to the PhD program at UCLA for Fall 2025. Quantitative psychology is by definition very reliant on quantitative skill sets which can be demonstrated in a number of ways: performance in mathematics and other quantitative courses, performance on the quantitative section of the GRE, and/or your personal statement and letters of recommendation speaking to your quantitative expertise. When reading applications, we will look for demonstrated ability in quantitative skills, but this should not require a GRE score if other parts of your application speak to these skills. If you are unsure whether you should or should not include GRE scores in your application to UCLA, please feel free to contact the quantitative area faculty.
What materials must I submit in order for my application to be complete?
UCLA Division of Graduate Education Application for Graduate Admission along with an application fee of $135 (for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents) or $155(for all other applicants)
Statement of Purpose & Personal Statement
At least 3 letters of recommendation
TOEFL or IELTS Exam (if applicable)
Unofficial transcripts from each school (community college, college, university) you have attended; official transcript is required if applicant is offered admission
CV
Is funding or financial aid available? Upon admission, the Department strives to provide some type of funding for every student either through fellowships, training grants, or program-related employment (i.e. teaching or research assistantships). Candidates are also strongly encouraged to apply for extramural awards, such as fellowships from the NSF, DoD, NIH and APA. Please see Fellowships & Other Support for more information.
What career(s) do most graduates from this program go into with their degree? Graduates of this Ph.D. program are trained for careers in both academic and applied settings, and are prepared for positions at universities and colleges, in research and government organizations, and in business and industry.
If I take the GRE test more than once, will you average my test scores or pick the highest scores from each test? No. We accept the most recent GRE scores from the test you have taken. We do not average the scores or pick the highest scores. Official scores for the GRE Psychology Subject Test must not be more than five years old.
How do I contact professors in the program about their research interests? If you are interested in the research interests of a certain professor in our department, view the faculty page on our website. It is not required to confirm a mentor in order to submit an application.
Does the department offer group information sessions or tours? The department does not offer group information sessions or tours. However, UCLA does offer tours of the campus.
Does the department offer an online program or online classes? No. This is a full-time, campus based program which requires the physical presence of the student.
Is the Psychology doctoral program at UCLA considered a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degree under the US Department of Homeland Security Optional Practical Training Extension for students with F-1 visas? No. Our program’s current Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code (General Psychology 42.0101) is not classified by the US Department of Homeland Security as a STEM program. Students with an F-1 visa that graduate from the Psychology doctoral program can only stay in the United States for 12 months after graduation.
