Frequently Asked Questions For International Students
Important Dates
Course Adds/Drops
Impacted Courses
Grading Options
URSA
Requisites
English Language Requirements
Unit Transfers and Transcripts
Orientation
Special campus events
UCLA Summer Sessions vs. UCLA Extension
Visiting student and fall admits
Cancellation and Refund Policy
Additional questions
1. What is the Summer Sessions calendar? What are the relevant deadlines for international students?
|
|
SESSION A |
SESSION C |
|---|---|---|
| Registration open to international students |
March 1 |
March 1 |
| Deadline to apply | May 17 | June 14 |
| Enrollment before May 17: Full payment for all Non-UC students due by 5:00 p.m. Please pay on URSA. | May 17 | May 17 |
| Enrollment after May 17: Full payment for all students due by 5:00 p.m. For enrollments and adds after June 21, full payment is due by Friday of the week in which you enroll. |
June 21 |
June 21 |
| Session begins |
June 24 |
August 5 |
| Week 1 | ||
|
June 24-28 |
August 5-10 |
| Week 2 |
|
|
|
July 5 (5:00 p.m.) |
August 16 (5:00 p.m.) |
| Last day to change grading option: 6-week session 8 & 9-week session 10 week session |
July 19 July 26 August 2 |
August 30 (Week 4) |
| No Classes - Independence Day |
July 4 | September 2 |
| Last day to drop and receive refund of 100% of course fees, IEI fees, and partial Registration/Campus Fees (see fee chart) |
July 5 (5:00 p.m.) |
August 16 (5:00 p.m.) |
| Session
ends: 6-week session |
August 2 |
September 13 |
2. How can I add or drop classes or change the grading option for a course?
After you register and receive your welcome packet via e-mail, you can make changes to your records by using URSA (University Records System Access) or by submitting a Student Update Form in person at 1332 Murphy Hall. The calendar above lists the deadlines for each of these transactions. Some transactions will require an approval signature or a PTE (Permission to Enroll) authorization number. If you registered through one of our registration centers, please note that any changes you make prior to your arrival at UCLA must be made through your registration center. After arrival at UCLA, please make changes in person at Murphy Hall. If any additional fees are incurred, you will be required to pay them when you request the change.
Impacted courses are defined by one or more of the following:
- Meet once a week and are difficult to complete if a student has not attended by the end of the second week of classes
- Have high enrollment demand that deny qualified students enrollment because of limited resources
- Have high instructor/student ratios, and/or
- Involve large commitments of other resources
Each impacted course is clearly indicated in the Class Listings section by a Y in the IM (Impacted) column. In the online Schedule of Classes, the designation is listed under "Crs Info" or the "ID Number" which links to expanded information about a course.
Students may not drop an impacted course after Friday of the first week of a term for other than exceptionally extenuating circumstances. Dropping impacted courses after the first week will require a written request by petition.
4. Do I have to take my courses for a letter grade? Can I audit a course (attend a course without getting credit or a grade)?
In most cases, students have the option to take a course either for a letter grade (A,B,C, etc.) or for credit (Pass/No Pass). Some courses require that you take it for a letter grade. Please visit the Registrar's Schedule of Classes to determine if your courses have any grade option restrictions. To attend a course, you must be enrolled either for a letter grade or for credit; students are not allowed to audit courses in the summer.
URSA (University Records System Access) is a computerized system that provides students access to their academic records. URSA is accessed through the Web at www.ursa.ucla.edu. Use URSA to check your enrollment status, grades, and course information (including day, time, and location). To use URSA, you need your UCLA logon ID and password. Step-by-step instructions for using URSA are available on the URSA Web site.
6. Do I need to have the requisites to enroll in a class?
During the summer, if you have had courses or practical experience comparable to the listed requisites, you may enroll in the course. Transcripts are not required. If you are uncertain about the level of difficulty of a particular course, consult either the UCLA General Catalog or the instructor before enrolling to determine whether the course is appropriate for you.
7. Are there English Language requirements to attend UCLA Summer Sessions?
UCLA Summer Sessions requires proof of your proficiency in English only if you intend to take regular academic summer sessions classes. If you are taking only ESL classes then there is no English Language requirement.
TOEFL: We require a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score of 550 or higher for the paper-based test or 213 or higher for the computer-based test and 79 or higher for the internet-based test. Details may be found at: www.ets.org/toefl/
IELTS: a minimum score of 6.5. Details may be found at: www.ielts.org
iTEP: a score of 5.0. Details may be found at: www.itepexam.com
Countries or institutions in which the language of instruction is English are exempted from these requirements, as are those students who are able to prove fluency in the language. Students taking the International Baccalaureate are also exempted. If you are asked to upload documents relating to English Proficiency you may upload a note that states that you are exempted for one of the above reasons.
8. Will UCLA Summer Sessions courses transfer for credit at my home institution?
UCLA courses are generally accepted for transfer credit, but you should get advanced approval of your courses from your home institution. Transfer of credit is at the discretion of the receiving institution. It may help to give your home institution the syllabus and course description of the courses you plan to transfer. This will aid the institution in evaluating your courses. Course descriptions and many of the syllabi from prior years are available online. To access this information go to Schedule of Classes and select the class of your interest. The link "View Course" will take you to a page with more information about that course. Click on "Course Webpage" and it will take you to the syllabus.
9. What is a transcript and how can I get one?
A transcript is a permanent record of your academic work. Transcripts are maintained by the Registrar's Office. To order a transcript, visit URSA Online. Questions concerning transcript orders may be sent to transcripts@registrar.ucla.edu. Each transcript costs $15; additional fees apply for transcripts requiring special delivery services. Although fax services are available, transcripts that are faxed are not considered official. Transcript fees are subject to change, and requests are not processed if students have outstanding financial, academic, or administrative obligations. For further information, please contact the Registrar's Office at (310) 825-1091, menu option 6 or visit their Web site: www.registrar.ucla.edu.
10. Will there be an orientation meeting after I arrive?
There will be an orientation meeting shortly after arrival. Details will be given as the beginning of each session approaches.
11. What special activities are available for Summer Sessions students who live on campus?
One of the benefits of residing in UCLA Housing is that the Office of Residential Life organizes several optional trips and activities for Summer Sessions students on weekends and evenings. Some examples are trips to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, Catalina Island, and outlet mall shopping excursions on the weekends. There are also trips to local attractions such as the beach, movie nights, baseball games, and bowling alleys. There are often trips scheduled for outside the LA area. Past trips have included Las Vegas, San Francisco, and the Grand Canyon. Sign-up sheets and tickets will be available in Sproul Hall, and all Summer Sessions students are welcome to participate. There are extra fees for these trips, and transportation is typically included in those costs.
12. What is the difference between UCLA Summer Sessions and UCLA Extension?
UCLA Summer Sessions offers regular university-level courses, the same courses taken by UCLA students during the regular academic year. These courses are typically taught by UCLA faculty and are usually transferable for credit to other universities.
UCLA Extension courses are geared toward adult continuing education and professional development. The majority of Extension courses are in the evening. UCLA Extension courses do not appear on the official UCLA transcript. UCLA Extension issues its own transcripts and some of their courses will transfer for credit. UCLA Extension offers various certificate programs and ESL Courses: Academic Intensive English Program (AIEP), Intensive English Communication Program (IECP), and others (AIEP students do receive UCLA credit for the Summer Sessions course associated with AIEP-Plus.) For further information about AIEP-Plus, see www.uclaextension.edu/alc. For further information about UCLA Extension Certificate programs, see www.uclaextension.edu/iso.
13. I already have an I-20 and student visa through another school in the U.S. Am I considered an International Student?
If you are returning to your home institution in the fall and your I-20 and student visa is valid, you will not be considered an International Student. You will need to provide a letter from your international advisor, authorizing you to take summer courses at UCLA.
Please indicate on your registration form that you are attending another school in the United States; do not answer "yes" when it asks if you are an International Student. You will pay the Non-UC registration fee.
14. I have been admitted to UCLA for the fall -- how do I get my I-20 to attend Summer Sessions?
You will need to contact the office of Undergraduate or Graduate admissions and notify them of your intent to start in the summer. Your I-20 will need to be issued with an earlier start date to allow you to participate in Summer Sessions. Once you have completed your SIR, you will receive instructions for competing an I-20 Request online.
15. What are the cancellation and refund policies?
Upon registration you will be charged a $750.00 registration fee. $400.00 of this is nonrefundable under any circumstance other than through visa denial or for medical reasons. In both cases correct documentation must be provided to support the refund request. All tuition fees are fully refundable within the first two weeks of each session (see precise dates under 'Important Dates' above).
The Housing Office charges a fee of $400.00 for termination of a housing contract. Cancellation after the program has started incurs additional charges. Please see Housing Cancellation Fees for further details.
16. Can I work if I have a student visa?
As an F-1 student, you are eligible to work on campus for up to 20 hours per week, provided that you are in good academic standing with grades of "C" or better. To apply for on-campus employment, go to 219 Kerkhoff Hall. If a department is hiring and is interested in you, a representative will contact you for an interview. Please understand that employment opportunities are limited and you should not rely on a job to support yourself while you are a student here.
17. Who can I contact at UCLA if I have questions?
UCLA Summer Sessions
310 267-4880
Fax: 310 825-1528
Web site: www.summer.ucla.edu
E-mail: international@summer.ucla.edu