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UCLA is a vital part of the fast-paced, global city of Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a hub of culture, technology, and entertainment with a fascinating history and rich heritage. Each summer, thousands of visiting students from around the world join our diverse and inclusive UCLA community, earning UCLA credit through over 800 course and program options that represent UCLA’s academic excellence and prestige. Explore your passions and advance your academic goals, studying alongside like-minded UCLA students.
Please view the International Student Summer Bruin Guide for more information.
For questions regarding your visa status or to request an update on your I-20 portal, please reach out to the UCLA Dashew Center.
I-20 and Visa Requirements
UCLA Summer Sessions welcomes international students from all over the globe. If a student is enrolling in F-1 eligible courses and programs, Form I-20 (also known as Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant F-1 Student Status) and F-1 visa requirements may apply.
To plan for UCLA Summer Sessions:
- Select a course or program type you are interested in and determine if you are subject to I-20 and F-1 visa requirements.
- Register and enroll.
- If applicable, complete I-20 application by May 1 (courses/programs that start before August 5) or June 1 (courses/programs that start after August 5) and obtain an appropriate visa.
- Make full payment by the deadline.
International students who do not meet the following criteria must satisfy the I-20 requirements (see I-20 and Visa Application below) if enrolling in F-1 eligible courses and programs.
- A U.S. citizen or permanent resident (a Green Card holder); or
- A student currently studying in a school in the U.S. and returning to the same school after attending UCLA Summer Sessions
International students who are subject to I-20 requirements for enrollment in F-1 eligible courses and programs are additionally assessed the service fee, iStart fee, BruinCare, and Health Insurance. For fee details and estimates, see Fees.
Only courses and programs which are held on the UCLA campus and open to UCLA and other college-level students are F-1 eligible.
To qualify for F-1 visas, international students should select the following course and program types:
- Summer Courses
- Summer Intensives
- College/Professional Summer Institutes*
- Summer College Immersion Program
If any of these courses or programs change to online instruction, they will remain open for international students but become F-1 ineligible.
*Certain College/Professional Summer Institute programs do not quality for F-1 visas. Unless otherwise noted on the program page, College/Professional Summer Institute programs are F-1 eligible.
International students enrolling in courses and programs that meet online only or Precollege Summer Institutes, do not qualify for F-1 visas.
- Online Courses: International students who enroll in courses and programs that are offered exclusively online are expected to participate from where they are without traveling to UCLA.
- All components of the Precollege Summer Institute programs are open to high school students only, and enrollment in Precollege College Summer Institutes is not eligible for F-1 visas. Participants should apply for the B-2 tourist visa in consultation with the local U.S. embassy or consulate.
I-20 Application Requirements
- Full-Time Enrollment
- Copy of Valid Passport Photo Page
- Proof of English Proficiency
- Confidential Financial Statement
- Proof of sufficient funds to support travel to and from the U.S. and Summer Sessions tuition and fees, as well as living expenses for participation in UCLA Summer Sessions (Living expenses are estimated at $1,000 for 1-4 weeks of study, $2,000 for 5-8 weeks of study, and $3,000 for 9-12 weeks of study).
- If Transferring F-1 from another U.S. Institution
- SEVIS Transfer Form
- Previous/Current School’s I-20
I-20 Application Deadlines
- Courses and programs that start before August 5: May 1
- Courses and programs that start after August 5: June 1
I-20 and F-1 Visa Steps
- Check for an email from the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students & Scholars with steps to access the Form I-20 portal and apply for the Form I-20. Students will receive the email in 3-6 business days after successful registration and full-time enrollment (See Full-Time Enrollment below).
- Upload the required documents.
- Allow 3-4 weeks after completing Steps 1 & 2 to receive your Form I-20.
- Upon receipt of the Form I-20, follow the instructions to set up an appointment with a local U.S. Embassy/Consulate to formally apply for the visa.
International students follow the same registration and enrollment steps.
Summer Courses, Summer Intensives, and Summer College Immersion Program
In order to achieve the full-time student status, international students must:
- Enroll in at least the same number of units as the number of weeks in a session, e.g., minimum 6 units if enrolling in Session A6 or minimum 3 units if enrolling in Session A3; and
- Enroll in the next available session if enrolling in more than one session to avoid a gap between sessions, e.g., Session A3 and B, not Session A3 and C3.
- Online courses do NOT count towards full-time enrollment.
To avoid gaps students must avoid the following combinations of sessions:
- Session A3 & Session C3/C6
- Session A3 & Session D
- Session A6 & Session D
- Session B & Session D
College/Professional Summer Institutes
Enrollment in F-1 eligible College/Professional Summer Institutes automatically satisfies the full-time student status.
Acceptable Tests and Minimum Scores
Scores that are equal to or higher than the listed minimum scores from the following tests, taken within the past two years, can satisfy the English proficiency requirement.
- TOEFL: 60 (revised PT) or 80 (iBT)
- IELTS: 6.5
- iTEP: 5.0
- CAE: B (CEFR C1)
- CPE: C (CEFR C2)
- TOEIC: 685
- DUOLINGO (DET): 105
While no other type of test score is accepted in general, students who are affected by test center closures may request an exception to submit an alternate test score.
International Baccalaureates (IB) students or students currently enrolled in an academic institution where the primary language of instruction is English may submit an official academic transcript or verification of enrollment from their school as proof of English proficiency.
Exemptions
UCLA Summer Sessions offers a number of English as a Second Language (ESL) and Communication courses to help students with various English proficiency needs. Students enrolling only in ESL courses or Communication 1A and 1B are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency.
Citizens from any of the following countries are exempt from providing proof of English proficiency:
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- United Kingdom
Health Insurance
The Summer BruinCare program allows unlimited access to certain core services provided by the UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center on campus at no additional cost. Please note that services that are not covered under the Summer BruinCare program will incur nominal fees for service and will be billed to the student’s BruinBill account for payment. Students must show their BruinCards or provide their 9-digit University ID number (UID) with a valid form of identification to receive services.
Except in the case of a serious emergency, students must always visit the Arthur Ashe Student Health Center on campus first. If it is necessary to go to the hospital, an Ashe Center representative will refer students for further treatment.
GeoBlue: Blue Cross/Blue Shield (provided by Relation Insurance Services) covers students for scheduled doctor’s visits and emergency care anywhere in the United States. The Plan Snapshot summarizes the insurance plan coverage and the booklet How to Use Your Plan gives detailed information on how the plan works.
- Specific insurance coverage dates will be emailed to the students prior to their participation in UCLA Summer Sessions.
- Insurance ID cards are sent by GEOBLUE via email. After receiving the email, students may set up an account at geobluestudents.com to access their ID card anytime and locate participating providers.
- For questions regarding insurance ID cards, contact Relation Insurance Services at 1-800-537-1777 or customerservice.la@relationinsurance.com.
In compliance with federal requirements, international students who are subject to I-20 requirements for their participation in UCLA Summer Sessions must have health insurance with no exception and are automatically enrolled in a two-part health insurance plan -Summer BruinCare and GeoBlue: Blue Cross/Blue Shield (PPO). Students may not opt out of this healthcare requirement and use personal healthcare.
Registration Centers
International students may enroll in UCLA Summer Sessions as students affiliated with the following institutions and organizations that help UCLA Summer Sessions promote the participation of qualified international students. The institutions and organizations listed below are referred to as registration centers, which provide assistance and advice locally.
Australia
- Center for International Studies
- The United States Studies Centre *Admission is currently open only to students at the University of Sydney, the University of New South Wales, and The University of Western Australia.
Brazil
China
- Any Time Education
- Can Achieve
- CUHK, Shenzhen
- Excel Orange Education & Technology Group Inc.
- Global Scholar Exchange
- Hangzhou Normal University
- International Study Partners
- Shangdong University
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University
- The University of Shanghai for Science and Technology (USST)
- Shinyway International
- Wuhan Ouzhong International Education Communication Ltd.
- Zhejiang University City College
- Zhejiang University, Honors Program
France
Germany
Hong Kong
- CUHK, Chung Chi College
- CUHK, United College
- Hang Seng University of Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
- The University of Hong Kong
Italy
Japan
Lebanon
Netherlands
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
- Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST)
- Overseas Education and Culture Center of Korea (OECKO)
Spain
Turkey
Taiwan
United States