Exchange guide University of California, Los Angeles
Courses, housing, visa, campus life and exchange basics for studying at University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, USA.
City
Los AngelesCountry
United StatesFull-degree tuition
EUR 42,000 / year
International
UCLA’s official Facts & Figures page currently lists 6,347 international students; check the page for the reporting year.
Study abroad at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): overview
UCLA is a public research university in Westwood, Los Angeles. In 2025–26 it reported 49,013 students, including medical and dental interns and residents. UCLA Exchange is distinct from UCEAP: it is a small program built around departmental partner agreements, most of which focus on graduate exchange. Before applying, verify that your university and field are covered, then confirm the department’s dates, course access, insurance, and housing terms.
Enrollment
49,013 students in 2025–26, including undergraduates, graduate students, and medical and dental interns and residents.
International Mix
UCLA’s official Facts & Figures page currently lists 6,347 international students; check the page for the reporting year.
Why students choose it
UCLA is in Westwood, Los Angeles. Its separate UCLA Exchange program is small, built on department-level partner agreements, and mostly focused on graduate exchange; check whether your field and study level are covered.
Language of instruction: English (primary)
Exchange & application at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
For UCLA Exchange, start with your home university: only students nominated by a UCLA partner university are eligible. The program is separate from UCEAP, and partner agreements are managed by UCLA departments. Confirm your field, study level, nomination route, application materials, and courses with the two coordinators.
✅Requirements
UCLA does not publish one GPA or English-test threshold for every UCLA Exchange agreement. Eligibility, language evidence, course access, and documents vary by partner agreement and UCLA department; confirm the current requirements with both coordinators.
📨Nomination Process
Contact your home university’s international office first. Visiting students are eligible only when nominated by a UCLA partner university. UCLA Exchange is distinct from UCEAP; follow the participating UCLA department’s instructions rather than a UCEAP portal.
🧭Orientation Week
Recommended arrival: There is no shared arrival date for all UCLA Exchange partners; use the dates confirmed by your UCLA department and home university.
J-1 students must complete the Dashew Center’s online iSTART and check-in, with check-in due by the end of week two of the first quarter. Follow your UCLA Exchange department for any additional program orientation.
Events hub: https://internationalcenter.ucla.edu/j-1-students/check-in-orientation
🗓️Deadlines by intake
| Intake | Nomination deadline | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Varies by UCLA Exchange agreement | Ask your home-university coordinator for its nomination cutoff; UCLA Exchange eligibility depends on a participating departmental partnership. | UCLA states that UCLA Exchange deadlines vary by program; confirm the date with the relevant UCLA department before planning. |
Arrival Checklist
- Confirm program dates, registration steps, and any department orientation with your home coordinator and UCLA sponsoring department.
- If UCLA assigns you J-1 status, request the DS-2019 only after UCLA registration and follow Dashew Center instructions; UCLA advises allowing about two to three months before the program starts.
- For J-1 status, complete iSTART and check in with the Dashew Center by the end of week two of your first quarter.
- Keep health, accident, medical-evacuation, and repatriation coverage active for the full DS-2019 period; UCLA says UC SHIP meets the J-1 insurance requirement.
Academics & courses at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Academics combine credits, calendar, seats and faculty-level rules. Check prerequisites, real teaching language and course-list changes before final enrolment.
📝Course Registration
Students register for classes online using the MyUCLA portal during their assigned enrollment windows. Enrollment occurs in two passes (Pass 1 and Pass 2). Classes can be highly competitive and impacted; students must ensure they meet prerequisites.
🎓Credit System
US Quarter Unit system. A full-time academic workload is a minimum of 12 units per quarter (usually 3 classes of 4 units each). Most standard lecture courses are worth 4 or 5 units. Conversion: 1 UCLA Quarter Unit ≈ 1 ECTS (or 1 UCLA Quarter Unit ≈ 0.67 semester credits).
💯Grading System
Standard US A-F letter grading scale: A (Excellent), B (Good), C (Fair), D (Poor), F (Fail), with plus/minus modifiers. GPA is calculated on a 4.0 scale (A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, etc.).
✍️Exam Culture
Regular attendance and active participation are highly valued and often count towards the final grade. Quarters move very quickly: mid-term exams occur in weeks 4-6, and final exams are held in week 11 (Finals Week).
📚Library Access
Library, digital resources and study spaces after activating the university account.
Tuition & fees at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Do not treat a general UCLA budget as an exchange fee. UCLA does not publish one universal exchange price; confirm charges with your agreement. For 2026–27, UC SHIP costs USD 1,295.34 per quarter for undergraduates or USD 2,505.66 for graduates. UCLA’s USD 84,770 nonresident figure is an undergraduate nine-month cost-of-attendance estimate, not an exchange price.
Full-degree tuition
EUR 42,000
Exchange students usually pay tuition to their home university. Confirm your agreement.
| Student Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EXCHANGE | No universal UCLA Exchange fee published | UCLA’s public exchange pages do not list one fee for every departmental agreement. Confirm tuition and other charges with your home university and sponsoring… |
| Undergraduate nonresident cost of attendance (not exchange) | USD 84,770 estimated for 2026–27, per nine-month academic year | UCLA’s estimated undergraduate nonresident budget for a nine-month academic year, updated July 2026. It includes university fees, nonresident supplemental tu… |
No universal UCLA Exchange fee published
UCLA’s public exchange pages do not list one fee for every departmental agreement. Confirm tuition and other charges with your home university and sponsoring…
USD 84,770 estimated for 2026–27, per nine-month academic year
UCLA’s estimated undergraduate nonresident budget for a nine-month academic year, updated July 2026. It includes university fees, nonresident supplemental tu…
Fees change annually — verify current rates on the official exchange office page
Student housing at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
UCLA lists a 2026–27 full-year classic residence-hall double contract at USD 18,951.36–20,264.64 per person, including room, meal plan, and social fee. This is not a monthly price or a guarantee of exchange eligibility. UCLA’s off-campus guide gives no current exchange-specific rent amount.
Full housing guide
Find housing in Los Angeles
Official contacts, student residences, private platforms, tips & red flags.
Insurance & campus support at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Use the international office, faculty coordinator, library, wellbeing services and student groups from week one. Asking early prevents small admin issues from becoming blockers.
🛡️Mandatory Insurance
For J-1 exchange visitors, required coverage must remain active for the full DS-2019 period; UCLA states that UC SHIP meets this requirement.
🏥Campus Clinic
Use university student health/wellbeing services first for local care routing, prevention, counselling, and referrals.
🧠Mental Health
Most universities route students through student health, wellbeing, or counselling services. Ask early, not only during exam stress.
UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP)
2026–27: USD 1,295.34 per quarter (undergraduates); USD 2,505.66 per quarter (graduates).
Standard UC SHIP premium per academic term; the charge is billed through BruinBill. Verify the rate for your program and term. A waiver removes the charge only after UCLA approves it.
Campus services
Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars
Visa advising (J-1/F-1), social events, workshops, cultural integration programs, and tax workshops.
UCLA Library System
Access to Powell Library, Charles E. Young Research Library, and other specialized libraries containing millions of volumes, study spaces, and research help.
UCLA Student Affairs Resource Directory
Official directory of student resources, including career services, international students, health and well-being, campus life, and accessibility.
Campus Resources (UCLA)
UCLA campus resources for graduate and undergraduate students: research support, career development, health, wellness, and student life programs.
Student life at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Student life depends on repeatable routines: associations, sport, exchange groups or faculty channels. Join repeated groups early instead of waiting for campus life to happen automatically.
Student Clubs
- UCLA International Student Association (ISA)
- Various cultural student clubs
- Bruin sports clubs and outdoor recreation clubs
- Student government associations (USAC)
Buddy Program
Dashew Center Global Siblings Program: pairs incoming international students with domestic students for cultural exchange.
Sports & Recreation
- John Wooden Center (main campus gym, rock climbing, group fitness)
- Sunset Canyon Recreation Center (outdoor pools, volleyball courts)
- Drake Stadium (running track)
Public Groups & Communities
UCLA Housing / Sublets / Roommates
Active Facebook community for finding rooms, sublets, and roommates in Westwood.
UCLA Free & For Sale
Facebook marketplace group for UCLA students to buy/sell furniture, books, and campus gear.
Dashew Center Programs & Events
Official listing of recurring programs, workshops, and events for the UCLA international community.
Your First 2 Weeks
- Fly into LAX and take a rideshare or the FlyAway bus to Westwood.
- Complete the mandatory visa check-in with the Dashew Center.
- Get your BruinCard (student ID) at Kerckhoff Hall.
- Buy UCLA gear at the UCLA Store in Ackerman Union and attend the Enormous Activities Fair.
Key exchange dates at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
There is no universal UCLA Exchange deadline: UCLA says dates vary by program. Ask your home university and sponsoring UCLA department for nomination and application cutoffs. If you need J-1 status, follow the DS-2019 and check-in timeline from the Dashew Center.
-
1
UCLA Exchange nomination and application
Varies by agreement
UCLA says exchange deadlines vary by program. Ask your home coordinator and the relevant UCLA department for the current nomination and application dates.
-
2
UCLA quarter dates
Check the official academic calendar
Use UCLA’s academic calendar for quarter dates, then confirm which term your specific departmental agreement supports.
-
3
J-1 documents and check-in
Before the program and first two weeks
After UCLA registration, follow instructions to request the DS-2019 about two to three months before the start; complete iSTART/check-in by the end of week two of the first quarter.