Graduate Application Procedures
Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media
University of California, Los Angeles
The Department admits new students once each year in the Fall Quarter. Applications must be filed one year in
advance. No late applications are accepted. Graduate applicants must have a four-year university degree and at
least a "B" average in the last two years of study. As the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of
available slots, students are encouraged to have alternate plans in the event they are not admitted. Please read all
application instructions carefully. Every year, applicants are disqualified because of incomplete applications. All
applicants must file both the University Application and a Departmental Application.
The University Application
All applicants must submit the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission to the UCLA Graduate Admissions
Office. This application can only be filed on-line and is available at http://www.gradadmission.ucla.edu. The
application will be available in early September.
Enter 473 as the major code. Enter MFA (if your specialization is Production/Directing,
Production/Cinematography, Screenwriting, Producers Program, or Animation); or MA or PhD (if you are applying
to Cinema and Media Studies).
Please note: you must complete the Fellowship Application for Entering Graduate Students and/or the Diversity
Fellowships Supplemental Application, as appropriate, at the same time. These applications will be electronically
submitted to the UCLA Graduate Admissions Office.
Print all application materials submitted online and send them via surface mail to the
Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media along with the other required supporting
materials.
The Departmental Application
All applicants must submit the following Supporting Materials directly to the Department of Film, Television, and
Digital Media, Attn: Graduate Counselor, 103E East Melnitz, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622, as a complete
package if possible. THE SUPPORTING MATERIAL WILL NOT BE RETURNED.
1.
The Departmental Application for Graduate Admission (one page). Please print this form off the
Department’s website at http://www.tft.ucla.edu.
2.
Two official transcripts from colleges/universities from which you received a degree. This includes the
bachelor’s transcript for Ph.D. applicants. NOTE: Community College transcripts are not necessary.
3.
Supplementary Information
4.
Statement of Purpose
5.
Three Letters of Recommendation
6.
Cross Reference Sheet (if applicable) (Form available on UCLA Graduate Application web site)
7.
Graduate Record Examination test results (General Test) – REQUIRED for M.A. and Ph.D. applicants
ONLY, as well as all applicants with less than a 3.0 GPA in previous college work. (Department Code 4505,
University Code R4837). Scores from the December test are acceptable.
8.
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS whose first language is not English must submit scores from the Test of
English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or scores from the International English Language Testing System
Examination (IELTS). The minimum required TOEFL score for graduate admission is 87. ALL
INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS MUST ALSO SUBMIT THE CONFIDENTIAL FINANCIAL
STATEMENT.
Supporting Materials Required for Each Program
MFA - Production (Film Directing, or Cinematography)
1) Statement of purpose no longer than 2 pages in length, 12 point font; 2) No more than three letters of
recommendation; 3) "An original treatment that is no longer than 2 pages in length, 12 point font, describing
a short film that might be produced during graduate residence at UCLA. No adaptations or feature script
treatments will be accepted. Materials that are longer than the above guidelines may not be read. Do not
combine the statement of purpose and film proposal; they are two separate documents. No material will be
returned. Do NOT send scripts, DVDs or tapes. The statement of purpose should reveal the applicant’s creative
background and abilities; artistic and professional objectives, and present a clear and accurate picture of the
student as an individual. Production faculty will be reviewing all applications; approximately 65 finalists are then
invited for an interview.
MFA - Screenwriting
A statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation; samples of creative writing such as screenplays, short
stories, plays, poetry, etc.
MFA - Producers Program
Statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation; a complete resume; a portfolio consisting two treatments (3
pages max.) for feature film or television. Feature film treatment must include title, logline, genre, and story
synopsis. Television treatment must include title, logline, genre, premise, short character description of major
characters, and a brief synopsis of pilot episode. (Please do not send scripts, DVDs or tapes).
MFA - Animation
Statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation; a description of an animation project, preferably in
storyboard form, that might be undertaken during graduate residence at UCLA. Other creative work may be
submitted. See the Animation Workshop’s web site at
http://animation.filmtv.ucla.edu/NewSite/WebPages/portfolio.htm for portfolio submission guidelines.
MA – Cinema and Media Studies
Statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation; a sample of scholarly writing, official Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) test results.
PhD – Cinema and Media Studies
Statement of purpose; three letters of recommendation; samples of scholarly writing; official Graduate Record
Examination (GRE) test results Applicants should demonstrate scholarly potential as indicated by academic
achievement, advanced course work, and quality of scholarly writing.
All written Supporting Materials must be typed and on 8½ by 11 paper with at least a 12-point font. The lengths
indicated are the maximum allowed. Make sure your name is on each page and that all pages of each
section are stapled together. Letters of recommendation may be submitted electronically or by mail.
Please do not call the department to check on the status of your application. We cannot give out information
by telephone. Admission decisions are no longer sent by mail. Applicants will be notified by email by the
University’s Graduate Admissions Office. Admitted students will receive additional information from the
department.
Please make sure the UCLA Graduate Admissions Office and the Department of Film, Television, and
Digital Media have your current address and telephone number so that we can contact you immediately if
necessary.
Deadlines
The filing/postmark deadlines for the UCLA Graduate Application and the Departmental Application with all
Supporting Materials are:
November 1
for MFA Production, Screenwriting, and Producers Program
December 1
for MA and PhD in Cinema and Media Studies
February 1
for MFA Animation