Application Instructions

Fall 2024 graduate admissions cycle is now closed. Application deadline was December 1, 2023. Please check back for information on Fall 2025 graduate admissions cycle in September 2024.

Application deadline: December 1, 2023


UCLA Graduate Admissions

All applicants are required to submit a UCLA online Application for Graduate Admission, upload all required and supplemental material to the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission site, and mail all official transcripts and GRE scores to the department. Be sure to follow all the directions indicated on the application website or your application will not be considered.

Note:  When submitting the online application, your degree objective should be Ph.D.not MA as Asian Languages and Cultures does not offer a terminal MA program. Your application will not be reviewed if you choose MA.  Please see link below if you are interested in obtaining an MA in East Asian Studies:

http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gasaa/pgmrq/eas.asp

Required Application Fee:

U.S. citizens & Permanent Residents:  $120.00 USD
All other applicants: $140.00 USD
**Applications will not be considered if application fee is not submitted.

To begin your UCLA Application for Graduate Admission

Click Here

The Online UCLA Application for Graduate Admission must be completed and submitted by December 1, 2023. Late applications will not be considered.

All official electronic test scores and transcripts will be accepted directly from the respective institution and testing service (ex: ETS, GRE). Please direct them to ALC Graduate Advisor, Fatin Zubi, fzubi@humnet.ucla.edu. Any copies of transcripts delivered directly by the applicant will not be accepted. Please note if you submit unofficial copies of transcripts, and are admitted to the program, your admission will be pending upon receipt of official transcripts.

If you are unable to request an official electronic transcript, please have official sealed copies mailed to the following address:

Graduate Advisor
UCLA Department of Asian Languages & Cultures
290 ROYCE HALL
BOX 951540
LOS ANGELES, CA. 90095-1540


Department Supplemental Materials

All applicants must submit supplemental materials online to the “UCLA Application for Graduate Admission” website by application deadline: December 1, 2023.

For detailed information about supplemental materials, please visit:
Graduate Division Admission Materials

Supplemental Checklist

1. Personal Statement
2. Statement of Purpose
3. Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
4. Writing Sample, minimally 20 pages in the applying subject area.
5. Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship (Optional)

  • Supplementary Information Sheet
    Include the cross-reference sheet if you have used multiple names.
  • Statement of Purpose
    TOPIC: In provided space in the online application, describe the following:1. The field to which you are applying: Buddhist Studies, Chinese Language and Culture, Cultural and Comparative Studies-China, Japan or Korea focus, East Asian Linguistics, Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies,Korean Language and Culture.2. The reason why you have chosen this field.3. How you have prepared yourself for this area of study by previous academic training and experience.4. If possible, demonstrate your knowledge of the field, issues that have influenced your intellectual development, and how you hope to contribute to the field’s future
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation should: 1. Attest to the applicant’s readiness for graduate study.2.  Establish the applicant’s intellectual abilities and knowledgeable of the expectations of graduate education programs in the applicant’s chosen area of specialization.3.  Be written in English.Recommendations MUST include the UCLA letter of recommendation cover form, which is also available online for your recommender. The Graduate Division will send them an email with instructions once you enter the names and email addresses of your recommenders on your online application. Hard copies are no longer required or accepted for letters of recommendations.
  • Writing Sample
    Writing sample must be written in English. You may submit additional English or non-English writing samples should you wish. The writing sample is typically a scholarly work such as a term paper or master’s thesis in a field closely related to the proposed subject of study. It should be at least 20 pages which should demonstrate the applicant’s skills as a researcher, thinker, and writer. It should also demonstrate the applicant’s readiness to undertake research at a graduate level.
  • Eugene V. Cota-Robles Fellowship
    Students who wish to be considered please address the following: any aspects of your personal background, accomplishments, or achievements that will allow the department to evaluate your contributions to the University’s diversity mission. If applicable, describe how your academic pursuits may serve the under-represented and disadvantaged communities. In addition, please describe any aspects of your personal background that might add to the diversity of the graduate student population. See the UCLA Diversity website for more information on its mission. UCLA Diversity


All applicants must take their GRE exam by December if they wish to be considered. GRE scores older than 5 years will not be accepted. There is no minimum GRE score required to apply to our department.

GRE Codes

UCLA institution code (4837)

Asian Languages department code (2601)

  • Transcripts

1. One copy of the official transcript is REQUIRED of each graduate and undergraduate institution attended where you received a degree/diploma. Include one official copy of any other undergraduate transcripts that you have. If you are unable to obtain electronic official copies then official transcripts must be in a sealed envelope with the seal of the registrar across the back. DO NOT open your transcripts before mailing them. Unofficial copies will be accepted with your online application, however, please note if you are admitted to the program, your admission will be pending upon receipt of official transcripts from both undergraduate and graduate institutions.

International Applicants must submit:
1. One (1) copy of your transcripts/academic records in your native language
2. One (1) copy of a certified English translation of your transcripts/academic records
3. One (1) official diploma certificates showing degree conferred and date of conferral if your transcripts does not list the degree conferred (such as China, etc.).

Please see this link on requirements for international transcripts: Required Academic Records For International Applicants.

  • Fellowship Application(s) for Entering Students You are strongly encouraged to apply for every fellowship to which you are eligible. You do not need to complete this form if you completed the fellowship section on your online application. See Fellowship Application page for more information, visit Fellowship Application.

International Students

In addition to the materials outlined above, you will need to submit the following:

  • Confidential Financial Statement

Download form at Confidential Financial Statement. While this is not required in order for your application to be reviewed, you are strongly encouraged to submit this with the rest of your application materials. If admitted to the program, you will be required to submit this form in order for your visa eligibility certificate (I-20) to be processed. The bank letter and the confidential financial statement must be dated AFTER the UCLA online application submission date, or else it will not be valid. For more information, visit: Visa Process Details.

  • TOEFL or IELTS

International applicants whose first language is not English must certify their proficiency in English when applying to UCLA through the TOEFL or IELTS. Scores must be sent to the department by December 1, 2023.

TOEFL/IELTS codes

UCLA institution code (4837)

Asian Languages department code (29)

TOEFL scores are only valid for two years. Scores taken before December 2021 will not be accepted. Students must receive the minimum TOEFL or IELTS scores in order to be considered for the Ph.D. program. Please see the Graduate Division TOEFL/English Requirements website.

EXCEPTIONS: International 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 spoken language and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement.