Summer Bruin Guide – Precollege Summer Institutes
We are thrilled to have you join us this summer through your Precollege Summer Institute to help you achieve your academic goals! Our welcoming faculty, diverse students, and beautiful campus all make UCLA one of the best universities in the world and a wonderful place to call your home as a Summer Bruin.
Please see below for important information to review before the summer begins. All deadlines, unless otherwise stated, are at 5PM Pacific Time.
In addition to reviewing this Bruin Guide, we encourage you to watch our pre-recorded Orientation for Precollege Summer Institutes.
Rest assured that our dedicated staff stands ready to assist you with questions; you can reach us at info@summer.ucla.edu.
Before Summer
Registration Portal vs. MyUCLA: To make Summer Institute registration and enrollment changes (i.e., adding, switching, or dropping programs), you must access your existing registration. You will not have access to make registration and enrollment changes on MyUCLA.
To access your existing registration, use the five-digit registration number emailed to you upon initial submission of the registration form. If you can’t locate your registration number, please contact us at info@summer.ucla.edu with your full legal name, date of birth, and the name of your program(s).
However, contact information (i.e., email address, mailing address, phone number) cannot be updated by accessing your registration. These updates must be completed on MyUCLA.
MyUCLA is our university’s online student portal where you can:
- Review your balance and make payments via BruinBill
- View your final grades and GPA
- Order academic and/or verification transcripts
- Update contact information, including your email and address
Please note:
- The Summer Sessions system automatically enrolls you in the course(s) included in your Summer Institute upon the initial payment during registration. You do not need to add the course credit for your program via MyUCLA.
- If you enroll in any Summer Courses via MyUCLA, those courses will be in addition to your Summer Institute enrollment, resulting in an additional fee assessment.
Add or Switch Programs: You may add or switch programs through the first day of instruction. To do so, you must be eligible, space must be available, and you must be accepted if it is an admission-based program. You may not add an additional program that overlaps session dates with your existing program.
To add a new program or switch your program, access your existing registration with the 5-digit registration number provided in the email you received after registering. Once you see your registration, select “Add Program” or “Switch My Program” on the left side.
Enrollment Deadline: Students must enroll through the registration portal no later than June 15. No enrollments in Precollege Summer Institutes will be accepted after this date.
Waitlists: If the program you wish to take is at capacity, you may add yourself to the waitlist, if available. Waitlisted students are not required to submit payment unless a space becomes available.
If a space becomes available, you will be emailed with instructions to pay the $350 registration fee to reserve your space in the program within a 24-hour window.
Drop a Program: If you wish to drop your program and have not completed the final requirements (e.g., final exam, paper, or project), please notify your instructor that you plan to drop. You may drop through the last day of instruction by accessing your registration and selecting “Cancel My Registration.”
NOTE: The $350 registration fee is non-refundable at all times. Additionally, if the program is dropped after the refund deadline, the total cost will no longer be refundable.
Payment Information: Summer fees vary by program and are viewable in the “Fees” section of your program page. You may also view the associate program fees using the Fee Calculator. You may view and pay your summer charges on your BruinBill account via MyUCLA under the “Finances and Jobs” tab.
Adding an additional program or switching programs may change your summer balance. Please review your BruinBill account on MyUCLA after every enrollment transaction.
Please note that fees are not assessed via MyUCLA BruinBill until mid-March, and it may take 2-3 business days for fees to appear.
The $350 registration fee is assessed per each Summer Institute program, is required to enroll officially, and applies towards your summer balance within 48 hours (do not pay the registration fee twice for an individual program).
Additional summer fees, including the program fee, IEI fee, document fee, and housing fee (if applicable), will be charged via BruinBill after enrollment.
Payment Deadline: May 1 (5PM PDT).
If enrolling after May 1, payment is due immediately. Please take the time and time zone (PDT) into account when arranging payment. Failure to submit payment by the deadline may result in canceling your registration.
Acceptable payment methods online using MyUCLA include:
- Credit card*
- Electronic check (e-check)
- Foreign payment, such as Travelex
*All credit card payments are subject to a 2.75% non-refundable service charge per transaction. This charge is assessed by Higher One, Inc. and may not be refunded under any circumstances. No service fees are applied to e-check payments.
Refund Deadline: June 15 (5PM PDT)
The $350 registration fee is non-refundable at all times. All other program-based fees are refundable through 5PM (PDT), June 15.
After the refund deadline, no fees are refundable. Students will be held liable to pay any remaining balance if enrolled at any point after the refund deadline.
If you drop before the refund deadline, any resulting credit you may have will be issued back to you in one of the following ways:
- BruinDirect: BruinDirect is the fastest way to get any refund by direct deposit into a U.S. checking or savings account. It’s convenient, free, and automatic. You can sign up online on BruinBill.
- Credit Card: Payments made with a credit card will be returned to the credit card that made the original payment.
- Check Refund: If payment is made using a method other than credit card and if not signed up for BruinDirect, a refund will be issued as a paper check and mailed to the mailing address on file.
Mandatory Housing vs. Commuter Programs: If your program is listed as having mandatory housing, you must live on campus in residential housing. If your program is commuter only, Summer Sessions does not provide housing and you may instead contact UCLA Housing for more information on a separate housing contract.
If you are enrolled in a Precollege Summer Institute with mandatory housing, you will automatically be included in housing arrangements and do not need to add it manually. Housing fees should be available to pay on BruinBill and are due by the payment deadline of May 1.
Meals: The Residential Plan includes breakfast (7AM-9AM) and dinner (5PM-8PM), which are provided in the UCLA dining halls, recognized nationally for excellent cuisine. Most food allergies, intolerances, and diets can be accommodated in the dining halls. For more information, visit the UCLA Dining Services website.
Please note that lunch is not included in the cost of the residential plan. Participants may purchase lunch at any of the eating establishments on campus. In any direction you walk on campus, you will find a place to grab lunch. Check out the eating establishments on campus on the ASUCLA website.
For students will dietary restrictions or food allergies, please contact the UCLA Registered Dietitian (RD) at AsktheRD@ha.ucla.edu or 310-206-3193 (Office) / 424-535-4286 (Mobile).
Packing List: Please see the following suggested items to bring:
- Bathrobe, towel, washcloth, and toiletries
- A plastic caddy or bag for carrying shower items
- Swimsuit and a beach towel
- Sunscreen
- Hangers (if desired)
- Laundry supplies
- Sandals and comfortable shoes
- Notebook, pens/pencils
- Water Bottle
- Extra pillows or blankets (Twin XL sheets, blanket, and pillow are provided)
- Sweater, sweatshirt, or light jacket
- Any necessary medication
If you choose to bring an electronic device(s), we strongly recommend documenting the serial number to prove ownership in the event of a lost and recovered device. Your sole responsibility is to keep track of all your belongings; we are not responsible for lost items. We do not recommend bringing expensive jewelry or irreplaceable items.
Check-In and Check-Out: Please reach out to the program contact from the department of your specific program to confirm check-in time and location.
We do not allow for early arrivals for residential check-in, therefore we recommend exploring the campus or Westwood until the official check-in time. If you need to leave earlier before check-out time, you may do so as long as all mandatory programming and final requirements have been completed.
If you are attending back-to-back Precollege Summer Institutes, you may submit a Stayover Request for the night in between institutes to info@summer.ucla.edu; the deadline to submit this request is June 15.
Roommate Assignment: Students will be assigned roommates based on age and gender and will be notified of the roommate assignment during check-in. In order to better foster a learning community that exposes students to a broader network of peers, we do not accommodate any specific roommate assignment request.
Residential Activities: Many of our precollege programs with mandatory housing (only) also feature non-curricular evening and weekend activities, the availability of which is at the sole discretion of the academic department offering the program, and are not operated by UCLA Summer Sessions. To learn more about whether (and when) your selected program will host such activities, please consult the schedules for each program or contact the department in question directly.
Outside of the academic program schedule, participants may plan their time and travel on- or off-campus independently or choose to participate in evening or weekend programming activities offered by the residential supervision team so long as they abide by the terms of the Participant Agreement and are back by curfew checks at 11pm.
Supervision and Curfew: UCLA Precollege Summer Institutes are NOT youth summer camps. Rather, UCLA Precollege Summer programming is intended for highly motivated, mature high school students who are ready for college-level experiences and capable of making their own decisions, as well as accepting the consequences for those decisions.
Participants are expected to manage themselves with a high level of independence and self-sufficiency comparable to matriculated UCLA students.
Outside of the program schedule, participants may plan their time and travel on- or off-campus independently or choose to participate in evening or weekend programming activities offered by the residential supervision team so long as they abide by the terms of the Participant Agreement.
A skilled team of UCLA undergraduate students and fulltime staff will be assigned to residential participants and will reside locally in the residence halls. All staff have undergone an extensive background check and training. Their duties include:
- Enforcing evening curfews (11pm)
- Coordinating and facilitating optional evening and weekend activities (see Residential Activities section)
- Responding to incidents and emergencies in a timely manner
In accordance with the Program Participant Agreement, participants must abide by the evening curfew of 11:00 PM, which is to ensure sufficient rest for successful participation in the program’s activities, and must sleep in the assigned room each evening. Curfew violations without prior approval may result in disciplinary actions.
A parent/guardian may use a Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form (see below) to request an exception to the evening curfew. Approval will not be granted if forms are incomplete or submitted by someone other than the student’s parent/guardian. After receiving the request, the residential staff will contact the parent/guardian for verification purposes.
Students may be absent from the program’s required activities due to medical reasons, emergencies, or personal reasons. However, absences may affect successful performance, and full participation in program activities is essential to your success in the program. Any foreseeable absence from a mandatory activity must receive prior approval via the Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form (see below).
PROGRAM LEAVE AND CURFEW REQUESTS MUST BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN THE END OF THE FIRST DAY/START DATE OF THE STUDENT’S PROGRAM/COURSE SESSION.
Leave & Curfew Exception Requests:
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Architecture
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Art
Leave Request Form – Critical Thinking
Leave Request Form – Computer Science
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Design Media Arts
Leave Request Form – Economics, Investments, & Python
Leave Request Form – Engineering Design
Leave Request Form – Environmental Engineering
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Film and Television
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Game Lab
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Hip Hop/Street Dance
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – International Development
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Immersive International/Model UN
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Mock Trial
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Nanoscience Programs
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Political Science/World Politics
Leave and Curfew Exception Request Form – Sci|Art Lab+Studio/Biotech & Art
Leave Request Form – Social Software
In the weeks leading up to the start of your Precollege Summer Institute, we recommend completing everything in our Pre-Arrival Checklist to best guarantee a smooth start to your summer!
During Summer
We are committed to offering all participants an educational experience of the highest quality and maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment. With that in mind, please recognize that UCLA Precollege Summer Institutes are NOT youth summer camps. Instead, our programs are intended for highly motivated, mature high school students ready for college-level experiences.
Students should be capable of making their own decisions and conducting themselves in a manner of respect for themselves, their fellow participants, UCLA’s faculty and staff members, program administrators, and the local community. We expect Summer Institute students to manage themselves with a high level of independence and self-sufficiency.
If you are participating in Summer Sessions, you are considered a member of the UCLA community regardless of your UCLA matriculation status. You are expected to conduct yourself in a manner that demonstrates True Bruin Values, as well as respect for yourself, your fellow students, faculty, staff, and the learning environment.
You must abide by the rules and regulations set forth by UCLA, including, but not limited to, rules and regulations of the UCLA Office of Summer Sessions and UCLA Student Code of Conduct. You will be expected to meet the highest standards both academically and behaviorally, and will be held fast to a commitment to academic and personal integrity; respect for all members of our Bruin Community and teaching, research, administration, disciplinary procedures, or other University activities; regard for the basic rules of physical safety; and compliance with directions of University or other public officials.
A breach of conduct or the Participant Agreement signed by you and your legal guardian will result in disciplinary action, up to suspension from UCLA Summer Sessions and administrative action against your status in the University. Examples of violations include: academic dishonesty, theft/damage of property, use of offensive language (racial, homophobic, sexist), use of illegal substances and tobacco products, possessions of weapons, and discrimination.
If there is anything you would like to discuss with our staff confidentially, you may contact us at confidential@summer.ucla.edu. Otherwise, you can reach us at info@summer.ucla.edu.
UCLA is a large campus with many resources that are available to all summer students! Please be sure to look through our Summer Resource page, as well as review the specific resources listed below:
- ASUCLA & Textbook Store
- ASUCLA is the student union center which includes many restaurants for eating options while on campus.
- ASUCLA also includes a textbook store, making it a convenient place to purchase necessary class materials.
- BruinCard Center
- We strongly recommend residential students to get a BruinCard once on campus. BruinCards can be used as a form of identification, library card, gym pass, debit card, and laundry card.
- The BruinCard Center is located at at 123 Kerckhoff Hall is open weekdays from 9AM to 4PM. You may start the process online from June 1 onward, but card pickup is required in-person.
- Bruins Safe Online
- A website and mobile app to provide access to campus safety resources, emergency contact information, and up-to-date safety notifications during any incidents on campus.
- The UCLA Police Department (UCPD) offers evening walking escort on campus (310-794-WALK). Students can report safety concerns or any suspicious activities/behavior to UCPD at 310-825-1491. For non-emergency medical needs, students may visit the UCLA Ashe Student Health Center during regular hours.
- Residential participants will be assigned to residential halls with 24-hour front desk service, surveillance cameras, and key-access entry. In addition, UCLA Housing & Hospitality Services has put together Safety and Emergency information, including safety protocol you should follow.
- UCLA Libraries
- UCLA’s biggest libraries are Powell Library and Charles E. Young Research Library. At both libraries, you can reserve study spaces, equipment lending, and research consultations.
- UCLA Transportation & Campus Map
- Visit this office website to learn more about parking and getting to campus; please note UCLA does not provide transportation services to/from the airport.
- You can view the Interactive Map to help familiarize yourself with campus.
- We do not generally recommend bringing a car to campus as parking can be limited and pricy. Participants must use campus-approved transportation for all off-campus excursions and events unless otherwise authorized. Participants will not be permitted to use their vehicles during the hours of the program except for personal emergencies. Participants are not allowed to transport other participants without all parents/guardians’ written permission.
After Summer
Most programs award credit as either Pass/No Pass (P/NP) or letter grade. Select programs offer an optional grading basis which is viewable on the program page under the “Curriculum” section. If this applies to your program and you wish to change the grading basis, you may request it via email before the specified deadline.
A UCLA official academic transcript is a permanent record that reflects all undergraduate and graduate work completed at UCLA. Transcripts can be ordered online through MyUCLA or by mail.
You can order an official transcript once grades are posted ten days after the last day of the session by logging on to MyUCLA, clicking the “Classes” tab, then selecting “Grades and Transcripts.” Please visit the UCLA Registrar’s Office website to learn more about ordering a transcript.
You may view your program’s UCLA college course credit on the “Curriculum” section of the program page. UCLA courses are generally accepted for transfer credit at most universities and colleges, but all decisions on transferability rest with the receiving institution (i.e., the high school, university, or college to which you plan to transfer the UCLA credit).
Please get advance approval from the receiving institution before registration if you wish to transfer your UCLA Summer Sessions credit. It is your responsibility to verify whether the credit earned from the program can transfer to your desired institution. UCLA credit is transferrable to any University of California (UC) campus.
UCLA is on the quarter system. As a general guide, a semester unit is worth approximately 1.5 quarter units (e.g., 4 quarter units = 2.5 semester units).