University of California Los Angeles — UCLA

• Location: Los Angeles, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1881,
• Number of students: more than 33,500,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

The University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is a research university with a long history and traditions, and many research achievements. The institution is ranked among the leading US higher education institutions not only nationally but also internationally.

UCLA was created by the efforts of California state senators in 1881, when Reginaldo Francisco del Valle decided to establish the southern branch of the California School, now called the University of San Jose. A few years later, during which several campus relocations and name changes took place, in 1927 the institution was named the University of California Los Angeles.

Today, UCLA is considered one of the best universities in the United States, has received numerous awards and international recognition from rating agencies. About 33,500 students are enrolled in higher education programs taught on campus and online. The university is in demand among foreign students: part of the student community is represented by more than 12,000 foreigners from 107 countries, which is 7.7% of the total number. They come to California to earn competitive bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degrees and expand their career prospects.

UCLA offers modern conditions for studying various scientific fields, including dentistry, art, engineering, and medicine. Based on a personal approach to each student, the teaching staff of 5,000+ qualified specialists provides comprehensive support: from additional classes in subjects to adapting the academic plan to the needs of the student. Administrative offices that provide career recommendations, directions for additional education, and internship opportunities also provide assistance.

The strong academic component is added with a wide variety of extracurricular areas for development: UCLA students are famous as excellent athletes, creative personalities, and active participants in charity.

Valentina Nikitina

Senior Marketing and Recruitment Manager at Kaplan Pathways with a focus on students from Russia and the CIS.

What factors are considered when evaluating U.S. universities, and how reliable are current rankings?

That's an interesting topic. The criteria used to evaluate universities vary by ranking. For nationwide rankings, factors like class size, teacher salaries, and the number of faculty members with advanced degrees in their field are common considerations. If a ranking focuses on student satisfaction, the criteria will differ. However, rankings don't always align with individual student needs and should be considered alongside other factors.

From the moment of application to employment or enrollment in the next academic stage, students are in an atmosphere of comprehensive support from teachers, counselors, and administrative staff. Various departments operate here, providing assistance with housing, psychological well-being, academic planning, internships and employment, extracurricular development, and more.

UCLA includes a preparatory college and 12 professional schools. More than 85% of undergraduate students study at the college across four academic divisions:

• Humanities,
• Social Sciences,
• Physical Sciences,
• Life Sciences.

Vocational schools focus on specific areas of study:

• Art, architecture,
• Education, information research,
• Dentistry,
• Engineering,
• Law,
• Management,
• Pharmacy,
• Music,
• Nursing,
• Public relations,
• Healthcare,
• Theater, cinema, television.

UCLA — #1 among the country's public research universities. Research activities play an important role in the institution’s operations and involve both qualified researchers and students of all majors.

Research is conducted at each of the specialized faculties: from humanities and social sciences to public health, law, and ecology. 

The University has several residential buildings, united into four large residences with different types of rooms and comfort levels.

Classic Residence Hall

Four buildings on the campus offer double and triple occupancy with shared bathrooms, study halls on each floor, living rooms with board games, and quiet study areas. The rooms are fully furnished and overlook the ocean.

Plaza Residences

The residence in the central part of the campus consists of five buildings: De Neve, Sunset Village, Rieber Terrace, Rieber Vista, Hedrick Summit. A combination of double and triple rooms with private and shared bathrooms is offered. De Neve and Sunset Village are divided into smaller buildings with courtyards and clearings between them. The buildings have study halls and shared laundries. Rieber Terrace, Reiber Vista and Hedrick Summit are high-rise buildings with classrooms on each floor and a laundry room on the ground floor. All residential buildings are equipped with public spaces and halls for classes and recreation.

Deluxe Residences

This residence consists of six high-rise buildings with double and triple rooms, shared bathrooms, study halls, recreation areas, and laundries.

Suites

The Hitch and Saxon Apartments are unique residential buildings: each complex is divided into smaller buildings with external entrances to each room. The apartments have a common living room, two double and triple bedrooms with a shared bathroom; students have access to a shared laundry room, outdoor exercise areas, and a living room.

There are more than five dining halls and cafeterias on the UCLA campus, and food trucks with international cuisine regularly arrive. Upon check-in, students of the residences receive a choice of several meal plans already included in the price of housing: from 11 to 19 meals per week on different terms. The award-winning UCLA Dining Services nutrition program, known for its commitment to high-quality food, prioritizes convenience and flexibility to meet the diverse needs of students. The menu of campus restaurants is constantly changing, offering a wide variety of dishes, including vegan and vegetarian recipes. Most cafeterias also provide students with an alternative list of dishes prepared based on most dietary, medical, and religious considerations.

UCLA students have a wide range of areas for developing their talents, abilities, and ideas. There are more than 1,200 themed clubs on the campus, national sports teams and solo athletes regularly train, creative teams rehearse and organize events. About 74% of students take part in some kind of extracurricular activity, trying new hobbies or focusing on existing hobbies.

Themed clubs are represented in a variety of directions, including:

• Academic communities,
• Business,
• Career planning,
• Community service,
• Dentistry,
• Cultural, ethnic groups,
• Attitude to the environment,
• Fitness,
• Media,
• Music,
• Dances,
• Theatrical art,
• Technologies,
• Social sciences,
• Leadership.

The directions cover small thematic groups in which students are united by one hobby, be it cooking, ecology, books, faith, languages and much more.

Students have the opportunity to maintain an active lifestyle or excel at a more professional level in more than 50 sports. Training takes place on modern grounds, in halls and pools located both on and off campus. National teams in women's and men's fields regularly participate in interuniversity and regional competitions, winning prizes. You can choose from sports such as:

• Horseback riding,
• Gymnastic,
• Archery,
• Judo,
• Sailing,
• Badminton,
• Tennis,
• Triathlon,
• Table tennis,
• Basketball,
• Cricket,
• Water polo,
• Football,
• Beach volleyball,
• Taekwondo.

To develop technical skills in art and creative abilities, a number of specialized communities are offered: students can work on university radio, publish UCLA magazine, study lighting and sound equipment for theater and concert halls. Music and theater groups are considered to be the main areas of art, which take part in most of the events on campus. Students realize their potential by playing musical instruments, performing in an orchestra or solo, staging productions and participating in theater groups.

Through the UCLA Volunteer Center, students embody one of the university's core values — service to the community. Volunteer Day opens the school year, with a total of more than 5,000 students engaged in charitable activities at facilities throughout Los Angeles. Throughout the year, volunteers work with local organizations to support the community in a variety of ways, from providing medical care and services to the homeless to serving Thanksgiving dinners to veterans.

• No. 1 among the country's public universities for eight years in a row, including 2025, in the ratings of US News & World Report, Niche,
• No. 15 in the list of the 1000 best universities in the world is ARWU,
• No. 15 in the ranking of institutions with a global reputation according to the Times Higher Education (THE) World Reputation Ranking,
• No. 11 in the list of leading American research universities,
• No. 13 according to the results of the best value for money — Forbes 2024-2025,
• More than half of the students participate in research activities,
• International student community with representatives from 107 countries,
• Less than 30 students in each group, excluding collective seminars,
• Study abroad programs in 40+ countries thanks to international cooperation,
• There are more than 130 bachelor's degree courses and about 90 master's degree fields.,
• Comprehensive student support, including career recommendations, internships during their studies,
• Among the teachers, graduates and researchers there are 16 Nobel Prize laureates, more than a dozen specialists with other high awards.,
• Diverse extracurricular activities, including strong sports teams and creative teams.

The UCLA campus is 163 buildings on a 419-acre area, including open spaces and sports facilities. The campus is located in the western part of Los Angeles, adjacent to shopping and entertainment districts.

• Academic buildings with lecture halls, specialized laboratories, computer classrooms,
• Libraries with reading rooms, book storage facilities, a computer room with access to online resources,
• A Center for Performing Arts with rehearsal rooms, performance halls, dressing rooms, and technical premises,
• Faculty buildings with specialized classrooms and practice rooms, such as medical wards, robotics studios, design studios, and sports research facilities,
• Research centers with professional equipment for project work and research,
• Four large residences with numerous residential buildings,
• Several dining halls, cafeterias, and mobile food outlets.

The sports infrastructure includes:

• Drake Stadium — a 400-meter track with nine lanes, javelin throwing areas, jumping facilities,
• Basketball courts,
• A full-scale athletic field for various competitions, events, and summer activities,
• John Wooden Center — centrally located, equipped with several gyms, dance and martial arts studios, racquet sports courts,
• Kinross Recreation Center — a center with gyms, an outdoor fitness area,
• Los Angeles Tennis Center — offers six lighted tennis courts, the Straus Clubhouse, and serves as the home venue for the UCLA Tennis Club,
• Marina Aquatic Center — is a premier UCLA waterfront facility located just 10 miles from campus in scenic Marina del Rey. MAC provides a variety of inclusive boating programs, equipment rentals, youth programs and competitive events at both the university and youth levels,
• Pauley Pavilion Presented by Wescom — is considered one of the nation’s premier multipurpose student facilities, serving as the venue for numerous landmark events. It is a primary hub for men's and women's basketball and volleyball training, as well as women's gymnastics,
• Rock Wall, located on the first floor of John Wooden Center (JWC), is a multi-story climbing wall. People with any level of experience are welcome to climb the Rock Wall, including beginners,
• Student Activities Center — The Student Activities Center features a gymnasium, several intercollegiate sports fields, locker rooms, showers, and an outdoor pool,
• Sunset Canyon Recreation Center — includes two pools, tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, basketball courts, and more,
• Sycamore Park — regularly hosts tennis practices,
• Wallis Annenberg Stadium — the stadium seats 2145 people and covers approximately three acres, serving as home to the UCLA men's and women's soccer teams, rugby and lacrosse, and various special events.

The campus has a bicycle shop and a rental center for equipment and gear for various sports and tourism activities.

The academic calendar consists of four quarters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Winter: January-March,
• Spring: March-June,
• Summer: June-September.

Thus, the academic year covers the curricula of all students who study both full-time and part-time. Each quarter includes weeks of sessions, seasonal vacations, days off, and holidays on national and international holidays.

The list of additional expenses will include the following services:

• Application registration fee, deposits,
• Accommodation, meals,
• Books, educational materials, personal equipment,
• Medical insurance,
• Academic loan fee,
• Individual classes, additional academic support,
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Personal expenses.

To start the admission process, applicants need to complete a detailed registration form, provide the required documents and pay the application fee. The admissions committee reviews applications on an individual basis, gradually inviting candidates for an interview, and if necessary — for entrance tests. Based on the results of these checks, applicants receive an official invitation to enroll, after which they need to make a deposit to reserve a place in the residence hall or group. Then the future student can arrive at campus and begin their studies.

The number of applicants admitted to the college departments in recent years has been approximately 28,400 people. Specialized schools are recruiting fewer new students, limiting themselves to 12,900 bachelor's and master's degree students.

According to the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the largest number of applicants entering medical schools are UCLA graduates; more than half of them successfully secure places in highly competitive specialties such as dentistry, surgery, and public health.

Some UCLA graduates continue their academic path in research at leading universities around the world, find employment in their field of study, and start their own businesses.

• To qualify for admission to UCLA, international students must complete high school with a grade above average in academic subjects and receive a certificate of completion, which allows them to be admitted to the university of their country.
• Standardized tests will be required, including ACT plus Writing or SAT with an essay, any AP or IBHL exams. Test results will be evaluated in the context of all other academic information in the application.
• A complete applicant's record of high school grades in college is required, including the number of courses completed and the grades received.
• Candidates in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Henry Samuel strongly recommends passing the following SAT subject tests: level 2 in mathematics and the scientific test (E / M biology, chemistry or physics), which is closely related to the candidate’s intended specialization. Test results must be sent directly to the UCLA undergraduate admissions office.

Applicants can apply for admission after completing a college level course. UCLA prefers students (including foreign students) coming from California colleges: in fact, three out of four international applicants attend a public college in California at the time of application.

UCLA requires a record of all secondary schools visited, with an indication of the items and grades received, as well as national or state certificates received. Documents of all coursework of the college or university should also be sent in the original language along with the translation into English. Knowledge of English is crucial to the success of admission: applicants whose first language or language of instruction in the past three years is not English must pass an English test (TOEFL) or (IELTS).

UCLA students have access to four types of funding:

• Scholarships — awards based on academic merit, achievements in sports, creativity and other extracurricular activities. Some scholarships provide support to students who find themselves in a difficult financial situation,
• Grants — a type of financial aid that recipients must repay over time. Grants are provided by the federal government, state governments and UCLA itself based on student need,
• Loans — financial support from the federal government, state governments, and the Department of Education. Awards must be repaid within a certain timeframe and accrue interest,
• Part-time study format — can help pay for textbooks and daily living expenses. Last year, more than 9500 UCLA students worked on campus while balancing work with their studies. Some students are eligible for Work-Study scholarships, which can make it easier to find a job both on and off campus.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision