FAQ

• Full-Time MBA,
• Fully Employed MBA,
• Executive MBA
• Global EMBA for Asia Pacific

• Visit the MBA website
• Sign up for a Group Information Session
• Register for a class visit
• Attend a UCLA Anderson event in your area
• Connect with students in clubs in your area
• Check out the UCLA Anderson admissions blog
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram

Yes, UCLA Anderson is home to the following centers of excellence, each concerned with a unique aspect of the business world and serving students with additional resources and real-world training for our students:

• Center for Global Management
• Center for Management of Enterprise in Media, Entertainment & Sports (MEMES)
• Laurence and Lori Fink Center for Finance & Investments
• Harold and Pauline Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• UCLA Ziman Center for Real Estate
• UCLA Anderson Forecast
• Easton Technology Management Center
• Morrison Family Center for Marketing and Data Analytics

• Computer Science: MBA/MSCS
• Dentistry: MBA/DDS
• Latin American Studies: MBA/MLAS
• Law: MBA/J.D.
• Library & Information Science: MBA/MLIS
• Medicine: MBA/M.D.
• Nursing: MBA/MSN (note: Not available for the upcoming year)
• Public Health: MBA/MPH
• Public Policy: MBA/MPP
• Urban Planning: MBA/MURP

Visit  Concurrent Degrees for more information.

UCLA Anderson offers only fall intake.

No, we do not accept transfer credits. However, it is possible to test out of some core courses to be replaced by MBA elective courses of your choice.

The MBA program is a full-time format. Students find themselves on campus from 8:00 a.m. until late into the night during their first year. Hours that are not scheduled for class are typically used for club meetings, recruiting and homework. Although the schedule does not leave enough time to work a part-time job, academic internships are available as early as winter quarter of the first year. If you are interested in a more flexible format that allows you to work while attending classes, please explore UCLA Anderson's Fully Employed MBA and Executive MBA formats.

You can view the current brochure online here.

Yes, if you can, we encourage you to visit campus and we offer several different options for your visit. You can attend a Group Information Session (GIS), conducted by either an admissions representative or current student, to learn about UCLA Anderson's full-time MBA program, student life and the admissions process. You can attend classes, meet professors and interact with current MBA students Monday through Thursday from mid-October through early May, excluding holidays and exam periods. Class visits fill up quickly so please schedule your visit two to three weeks before you plan to be on campus. Campus tours are available on Wednesday afternoons. Sign up for a GIS, a class visit or campus tour here.

You may apply to only one UCLA Anderson program in a given year. There are separate application processes for each program.

Although we do not have formal admissions advisors, you can send an e-mail to mba.admissions@anderson.ucla.edu with your specific questions, and we will reply to you promptly. While we cannot accommodate individual counseling sessions, we encourage you to connect with admissions representatives by attending one of our recruiting events — an on-campus Group Information Session (GIS) or an off-campus Information Evening, or a meeting with us on the road at one of the many fairs, forums and conferences that we attend. To sign up for a GIS, Information Evening or other recruiting event, visit: MBA Events.

No domestic and international students pay the same program fees. See the student budget here: Financing.

Only U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States who fulfill the residency requirements can qualify as California residents.

We have extended our third round deadline to June 1, 2020 due to the circumstances. We will continue to accept all test scores through July 1, 2020 for Round 3 applicants on extension. If you do not have a test score, you may put June 1, 2020 as the default test date on your application and have the official score from the actual test date sent to us electronically when available. Decision Release date is May 21, 2020 (or 5 weeks after application submission, once we have your test scores).

The incoming class is expected to start on time.

To be considered for admission, you must take the GMAT or GRE, hold the equivalent of a four-year bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, and submit a completed application for admission. International applicants with a three-year undergraduate degree may be admitted if the Admissions Committee determines that their academic profile and overall application are strong enough. The TOEFL or IELTS is also required for the majority of international applicants.

For more information, please visit our Admissions Requirements page.

The application is available from August 1, 2019, through April 16, 2020, with  three application rounds to choose from. Completed applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on the deadline date to be evaluated in that round.

Yes. Applicants are notified on a continuous basis throughout each application period, so you are advised to apply for admission as early as possible. Historically, fewer applicants are admitted in the last round, which tends to be especially competitive. Candidates who are denied admission during one deadline period cannot reapply during another deadline period in the same academic year. However, denied applicants may reapply the following year.

Applications are completed and submitted online only. The application fee is $200.

Application fee waivers are available for all U.S. military applicants. Please e-mail the admissions office to request a waiver prior to submitting your application.

Unfortunately, we do not accept updates to the application once it has been submitted. If you must add information after your application has been submitted, then your application will be moved to a later round for consideration.

You will be notified of our decision via email by the appropriate decision release date for the round in which you applied.

The Admissions Committee selects a diverse community of students who will succeed in managerial leadership and bring unique contributions to enrich UCLA Anderson. The committee carefully evaluates: biographical and academic background information; your GMAT/GRE score and, for most international applicants, TOEFL/IELTS score; achievements, awards, and honors; employment history; letter of recommendation; essay(s); and college and community involvement, especially where you have served in leadership capacities.

Please visit our Admissions page to find out more.

We recommend that all admitted students complete a differential calculus course prior to the start of MBA studies. Knowledge of statistics also is recommended to prepare for MBA coursework. Finally, all students are expected to have a working knowledge of word processing, as well as spreadsheet and presentation software applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Components of an application are not weighted. All of the factors are important aspects of the application. The Admissions Committee conducts a comprehensive review and considers the total application holistically.

Yes, feedback sessions are available at the end of the admissions cycle. Requests for feedback sessions will be accepted May 14–28 and those interested will be scheduled for 15-minute phone sessions.

GMAT/GRE test date must be within 5 years of your application submission date.

TOEFL/IELTS test date must be within 2 years of your application submission date.

No. Many factors are considered in the decision process. Admissions decisions are not made solely on the basis of grades and test scores. However, you may want to note our average and range of scores in our most recent class profile and ensure that your GMAT or GRE score (including Writing Assessment) represents your ability. If your score doesn't reflect your ability, we recommend that you consider retaking the test.

We will see all of your scores and, although we will not average them, we will primarily consider your highest score.

The GMAT is a computer-adaptive test (CAT) that is administered frequently throughout the year at approximately 400 computer-based testing locations around the world. To make testing arrangements, visit www.mba.com and please note that the GMAT code for UCLA Anderson School of Management is 2NZ-2F-24.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of all applicants EXCEPT those from a select list of countries. For more information please refer to UCLA Graduate Division Office English requirements.

Applicants who were educated in countries where English is not the primary spoken language of daily life are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS, no matter the language used at their school.  This includes applicants with degrees from multilingual countries such as India, Nigeria and Pakistan.  

Please note that work experience in English is not sufficient for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver. For more information about the TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl or, for the IELTS, visit www.ielts.org.

Almost all admits score over 100 on the TOEFL IBT, 610 on the TOEFL paper-based test, or 7.0 overall on the IELTS. For more information about the TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl or, for the IELTS, visit www.ielts.org.

Although work experience is not required for admission, the average is five years. It is important for you to assess your own readiness when deciding to apply. Recent college graduates who have exceptional academic records and GMAT scores, who have demonstrated strong leadership in college, and who are ready to pursue their MBA are encouraged to apply. We seek to admit outstanding leaders at different points in their professional careers. We feel it is not the quantity of experience that counts but rather the quality, and how the experience translates into your goals.

Internships can provide valuable experience, but should not be counted as full-time work experience.

Please submit only two letters of recommendation, preferably from direct supervisors or managers at your current place of employment.

If you have been out of school for less than two years, you may include an academic recommendation in place of a work-related one. Ideally, an academic recommender should know you beyond the classroom through research, internships or other interactions. Early-career applicants should also consider asking club advisors, internship supervisors or other employers who can comment on your leadership skills.

In your optional essay you can explain your reasons for not including a letter of recommendation from your direct supervisor. You may request a letter of recommendation from another work-related source such as a client or a manager from another department who knows your skills, or a former boss who has left the company. We are looking for letters of recommendation from people who know your work well, preferably from a supervisory perspective. Remember that family and friends/peers at work are not the best sources.

Yes, your completed application, including your letters of recommendation, must be submitted to us by the deadline in order to be considered for evaluation. It is your responsibility to inform your recommenders of the deadline and ensure that your letters of recommendation are submitted by the deadline for the round in which you are applying.

All candidates being considered for admission will be interviewed, but an interview is not a guarantee of an offer.

Interviews are by invitation only. If you are selected for an interview, you will be notified after the admissions committee has reviewed your application, which could be at any time during the admissions round. If you cannot come to campus for the interview then one will be arranged via Skype. There is no difference between interviews conducted on-campus or Skype, as all interviewers are trained to evaluate communication skills, focus, reasoning, passion, and understanding of the opportunities that a UCLA Anderson MBA provides.

Interviews take place in every round. It is possible to receive an interview invitation at any point before the decision release date of the round in which you applied.

Fellowship support is available to exceptional admitted applicants. Last year, approximately 40 percent of the incoming class received fellowships. Second-year students also are offered fellowships based on academic performance and leadership activities in the first year. Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant positions also can significantly supplement student budgets, along with student loans. For more information, contact the UCLA Anderson Financial Aid office at (310) 825-2746 or 825-0629, or visit our financial aid website.

We offer a private loan through Eli Lilly Credit Union. No co-signer is required.We also have various outside aid for which you can apply. For more information, please visit our financing website.

All admitted students are automatically considered for fellowships. No separate application is needed.

Visit our International Applicants page.

No, you are evaluated in the context of your own country's school system. Grades are never converted to the U.S. 4.0 scale.

Upload a complete transcript and degree certificate or diploma in the native language of the country in which your degree was earned, as well as a certified translation in English. The degree certificate or diploma should show the exact degree received and date awarded. To facilitate our evaluation of your degree(s), you may choose to supply a credential evaluation report from World Education Services.

Yes.

TOEFL or IELTS scores are required of all applicants EXCEPT those from a select list of countries. For more information please refer to UCLA Graduate Division Office English requirements. Please note that work experience in English is not sufficient for a TOEFL/IELTS waiver; the key factor is being educated in English. For more information about the TOEFL, visit www.ets.org/toefl or, for the IELTS, visit www.ielts.org

Yes, we offer the following financial aid options:

1. UCLA Anderson Fellowships: All admitted students are considered for fellowships based on the overall strength of their admission application. No separate application is necessary.
2. Private Loans: We offer a private loan through Eli Lilly Credit Union. No co-signer is required.
3. We also have various outside aid for which you can apply. For more information, please visit our financing website.

Yes, upon admission, UCLA Anderson works with newly admitted students to obtain a visa from the U.S. government. Almost all international students get an F-1 visa. Students sponsored by an organization or firm may get a J-1 visa instead. For information regarding student visa information please consult the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars.

It is normal in the admission process for some candidates to be placed on the waitlist. This gives the Admissions Committee additional time to evaluate more applications and assess which candidates would fit best into the overall balance and class size that we are aiming to achieve. 

If your application status indicates that you have been placed on our waitlist, you will remain on the waitlist until a final decision is made on your application (or until you request that your application be withdrawn). Waitlisted candidates are re-considered for admission on a regular basis as the emerging context of the new class becomes clearer. When each application round's decisions are released, applicants on the waitlist receive a status update too. Those who are still on the waitlist when Round 3 ends in May can decide at that time if they want to stay on the waitlist during the summer, in case space opens up in the class before August.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we cannot give individualized feedback to waitlisted applicants. Chances of being admitted off the waitlist are difficult to predict since the number of students admitted from the waitlist varies from year to year depending on the size and strength of the application pool, the number of admits who enroll, and other factors.

Waitlisted candidates may submit updates to their application anytime by filling out the Waitlist Interest Form.  We ask that you use your best judgment and discretion in submitting additional information that is relevant to your application. Some examples include (but are not limited to): updated GMAT/GRE/TOEFL/IELTS scores, promotions at work, and recent extracurricular accomplishments.

Before submitting additional information, please remember that every interaction we have with you can be a data point on your file, so make sure your communications are meaningful and add value to your profile. Quality of information is more important than quantity.

We thank you for your continued interest in UCLA Anderson!