Applying for Graduate Admission

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in our program.

The Department offers a Ph.D. degree in Hispanic Languages and Literatures. The M.A. degree in Spanish or Portuguese is awarded upon successful completion of the first phase of the doctoral program; there is no terminal M.A. program.

Applications are accepted for Fall quarter only. The Fall 2023 admissions, the submission deadline for all application materials is December 31, 2023. 

Please use this application checklist to prepare and submit all materials.

There is a $135 application fee for U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents, and $155 for all other applicants.

Waivers of UCLA’s application fee are available for U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents and others who a) participate in one of the programs or b) demonstrate financial need as described on the UCLA Graduate Division website.

The following materials must be uploaded online, to https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/admission-application-for-graduate-admission/

·   Optional – GRE/TOEFL scores

·   TOEFL/IELTS scores (for international students whose first language is not English or who did not receive their Bachelor’s Degree in an Anglophone country)

·   Statement of Purpose

·   3 letters of recommendation

·   Transcripts

·   Writing sample

·   Award application (optional: select any that you might be eligible for beyond your basic support package)

Decisions are typically announced in early February. Admitted students are invited to attend an open house later that month.

Please contact us with any questions at spgradoffice@humnet.ucla.edu. We look forward to assisting you with the application process.

Readmission (for former UCLA S&P graduate students only)

If you are a former UCLA Spanish and Portuguese graduate student who wishes to resume graduate studies, you may reapply through the readmission process. You are considered a former student if you have interrupted the completion of our Ph.D. program in Hispanic Languages and Literatures and wish to return. You must file for readmission and being readmitted to the program before you can resume your studies.

When your readmission application and payment have been submitted by the deadline, a confirmation email will be sent to you. The department and the Graduate Admission Office will review your file and make a readmission decision. The Graduate Admissions Office will then send you a decision email. Response time from the Graduate Admissions Office will vary based on your academic situation, and receipt of transcripts or other required items. If you are approved for readmission, the Office of the University Registrar will activate your readmit term. If your readmission is denied, no further action will be taken.

Please review the 2023 Spanish & Portuguese Readmission Guidelines and complete all steps in order to achieve a successful readmission application submission.

The deadlines for readmission application during 2023-2024 academic year are:

  • October 20, 2023 for the 2024 Winter semester
  • January 26, 2024 for the 2024 Spring semester
  • April 19, 2024 for the 2024 Fall semester