Application Process

Domestic Students

To apply for federal financial assistance, U.S. citizens and permanent residents must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  Applications are evaluated on an on-going basis upon your acceptance into the program starting April.
Guidelines for Completing the FAFSA
  • UCLA's Title IV School Code is 001315
  • Parental information not required for graduate students
  • File your federal income tax return as soon as possible in order to use IRS data retrieval, which populates specific income-related questions on the FAFSA
  • IRS data retrieval is available starting in February
  • IRS data can be retrieved in 1-2 weeks after e-file and 6-8 weeks after paper file

Electronic Provisional Aid Letter (e-PAL)
Beginning in April of each year, the UCLA Central Financial Aid Office begins sending out electronic Provisional Aid Letters (e-PALs) which reflect your estimated award. 

Electronic Financial Aid Notification (e-FAN)
Beginning in August of each year, the UCLA Central Financial Aid Office begins sending out electronic Financial Aid Notifications (e-FANs) which reflect your actual award. On this form, you are required to accept or decline awards offered. All financial aid packages are awarded for the nine-month annual budget regardless of your expected contribution. You may borrow the expected contribution in a Graduate PLUS or private loan.

Master Promissory Note (MPN)
All first-time federal loan borrowers  are required to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov. 

Debt Management / Entrance Interview Session
All first-time federal loan borrowers  are required to complete a Debt Management / Entrance Interview Session that can be accessed at www.loans.ucla.edu. This session is a federal requirement and consists of three components (Perkins Loans, Direct Loans, and Grad PLUS Loans). Failure to complete this requirement will cause a delay in your federal loan disbursement.

Bruin Direct
In order to receive the remainder of your aid once your fees have been paid, we recommend that you sign up for Bruin Direct, a service whereby the university deposits any refund directly into your checking account.  You can sign up for Bruin Direct at www.sfs.finance.ucla.edu.