Undergraduate Student Resources
The Division of Undergraduate Education serves all undergraduates at UCLA, regardless of their major or minor home. If you’re looking for support with your coursework, guidance applying for scholarships, opportunities for research, or ways to enrich your studies outside the classroom, you’re in the right place. Here’s how the Division of Undergraduate Education can support your journey at UCLA.
Academic Advancement Program
The Academic Advancement Program (AAP) provides resources and academic support to first-generation, low-income, and historically underrepresented students. Students must enroll in AAP to access available resources, which include:
- peer learning (tutoring)
- academic, personal, and career counseling
- graduate and professional school mentoring
- scholarships
- research opportunities and stipends
- opportunities to participate in innovative science programs.
- and a computer lounge
AAP overseesthe Vice Provost’s Initiative for Pre-College Scholars which aims to increase the competitiveness of underrepresented high school students for admission to UCLA and other top universities through a partnership with local school districts, promoting social justice and holistic education.
Academic Support Resources for Students
UCLA students can access counseling services to help them with their academic planning, petitions, and other needs. Here are the available options for students:
Center for Academic Advising in the College
The Center for academic Advising in the College (CAAC) is open to all currently enrolled students. CAAC offers services like academic counseling, resources to help you pick your major, information on transferring credit and more. Students can visit CAAC in-person or make a virtual appointment.
Connect with CAAC Services.
There are specialized academic counseling programs for student-athletes, Academic Advancement Program students, and students in Honors Programs. Students in those programs should connect with their respective units for counseling options.
CAC Athletics
UCLA Student athletes are eligible for academic advising, peer learning, and additional resources to aide in student-athlete development.
Get connected to UCLA Academic Excellence
Honors Counseling
Honors students can connect with academic counseling and advising within the honors program.
Academic Advancement Program
AAP Counseling
The Academic Advancement Program (AAP) has specialized counseling for AAP Students. These resources include peer counseling, assistance with petitions and forms, and academic workshops.
Advising appointments are available in-person or virtually.
Learn more about AAP’s Academic Counseling
Graduate and Professional School Exploration Services
With an emphasis on social justice, equity, and representation, GPS Exploration Services helps AAP students develop their interests, life experiences, and career competencies as they explore their post-baccalaureate goals.
Center for Scholarship and Scholar Enrichment
The Center for Scholarships & Scholar Enrichment (CSSE) helps UCLA students identify and apply for scholarships. CSSE provides writing workshops, individual counseling, interview preparation, and assistance with institutional endorsem*nts to UCLA undergraduates who are applying for scholarships. Applying for scholarships is a springboard not only to less debt but to the development of critical skills in self-presentation, community engagement, and professional and post-graduate success.
The center offers both in-person and virtual opportunities for connection.
Make an appointment today!
Commencement
2024 Commencement
UCLA College Commencement and the College’s Academic Department Ceremonies are held from Friday, June 14 to Sunday, June 16, 2024. You will receive information about UCLA College Commencement inMyUCLA Notices. For ticketing details and more information, visit the College Commencement Website.
Projected Commencement Dates for 2025 – 2027
(Dates are based on theAcademic Calendarand may be subject to change.)
- Friday–Sunday, June 13–15, 2025
- Friday–Sunday, June 12–14, 2026
- Friday–Sunday, June 11–13, 2027
First Year Programs
Cluster Program
The UCLA Cluster Program offers freshmen a unique academic experience aimed at facilitating a successful transition to university life. Unlike traditional General Education courses, Clusters provide interdisciplinary, year-long immersion in “Big Idea” topics like interracial dynamics or biotechnology, fostering deep engagement and community-building among students, TAs, and faculty. This collaborative learning approach, led by distinguished faculty and graduate students, has shown to enhance student success, resulting in earlier graduation and higher GPAs on average.
Fiat Lux Program
The Fiat Lux Seminar Programoffers up to 200 small-group seminars annually, providing undergraduates with opportunities to explore diverse topics. Each seminar awards one unit of academic credit on a Pass/No Pass basis, allowing students to engage deeply in subjects aligned with faculty expertise and intellectual passions across campus. Embodying UCLA’s motto, “Fiat Lux – Let There Be Light,” these seminars illuminate pathways of discovery for students seeking enriched learning experiences.
First Year Scholars Program
The First Year Scholars Program (FYSP) at UCLA is a one-year initiative for incoming first-year students in Humanities and Social Sciences. It offers a supportive community environment where scholars engage in academic and personal growth through interactions with peers, faculty, mentors, and advisors. FYSP provides structured learning sessions, personalized academic guidance, and a variety of events aimed at fostering connections across campus, enhancing skills, and ensuring a successful transition to university life at UCLA.
University Studies
University Studiesoffers courses designed to help students transition from previous educational experiences to UCLA, equipping them with tools to engage effectively in a rigorous academic environment. Courses, taught by faculty and graduate student assistants versed in higher education theories and learning strategies, aim to foster student belonging and connection with campus resources.
First Year Experience
First year students can find even more resources to support their transition to UCLA through the First Year Experience (FYE) program. FYE is dedicated to equipping all first year students with the skills, tools, and knowledge supporting your transition to UCLA. Utilize this website as a resource as you navigate your first year as a Bruin so that you can be aware of the vast opportunities and support services available to you!
Honors Programs
Honors Programs
Push the boundaries of your education by enrolling in one of UCLA’s honors programs. There are paths for both transfer students and first-time first-year UCLA students to pursue honors designations. Students must be enrolled in a major within the College of Letters and Sciences to complete either of the Honors Programs.
College Scholars Program
This program is open to first-year students at UCLA. Students must enroll in a Cluster Program for their first year and complete a capstone project during their fourth-year. Learn more about program requirements and the application process here.
College Honors Program
Continuing or transfer students may apply for the College Honors Program.
Learn more about enrolling in UCLA’s Honors Programs.
Planning Your Degree
Crafting an effective degree program at UCLA is an individual planning effort enabled by your own hard work and bolstered by the support of campus staff and faculty. From the summer prior to your first fall quarter of classes until you graduate, we encourage you to take advantage of the advising resources—both online and in our offices—available to you.
As any UCLA alum will tell you, you’ll be wearing academic regalia before you know it, and when you turn that tassel to the left side of your mortar board, signaling your status as a graduate of UCLA, we want you to be confident in the caliber and richness of the degree you have earned.
- Choosing an area of study
- Summer Sessions
- Four-Year and Three-Year Degree Plans
Student Research Opportunities
UCLA ranks among the top research universities in the world, and undergraduate research and creative inquiry are key components of the Bruin experience.
Undergraduate Research Centers
The two Undergraduate Research Center (URC) – one for Sciences and one for Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences UCLA – serve undergraduates and faculty. Our primary mission is to promote, develop, and celebrate undergraduate student research with the overall goal of enhancing undergraduate education and preparing students, including those from underrepresented backgrounds, for academic and research careers.
Learn more about research opportunities at URC Sciences.
Learn more about research opportunities at URC Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences.
Additional Research Opportunities
In addition to the two URCs, units within the Division of Undergraduate Education host research opportunities for students.
McNair Research Scholars Program
Academic Advancement Program oversees the McNair Research Scholars Program. This two-year research program prepares juniors and seniors to reach – and excel in – graduate school.
Transfer Resources
Nearly a quarter of UCLA’s undergraduate student body are transfer students.
Center for Community College Partnerships
The Center for Community College Partnerships (CCCP) develops and strengthens academic partnerships between California community colleges and the University of California.
Programming aims to improve the competitiveness for prospective community college transfer students. A major facet of this is the CCCP Scholars Program, which is designed to motivate, inform, and prepare California community college students to transfer to bachelor’s degree-granting institutions, including UCLA.
CCCP Scholars Program
Students participate in summer and year-long academic preparatory transfer programs to maximize their community college experience, receive guidance through the application and admissions process, and engage in research, pre-graduate opportunities, and career exploration.
Once enrolled, CCCP Scholars receive a Peer Advisor who can provide guidance, insight, and connection to UCLA’s campus. Peer Advisors are current UCLA students who were also transfers from the community college system or are allies in the transfer process.
CCCP Retention Program
Once CCCP Scholars enroll at UCLA or other baccalaureate-granting institutions, CCCP Scholars receive support through CCCP Retention Program, designed to facilitate the empowerment of CCCP transfer scholars from diverse backgrounds, helping them to thrive personally, academically, and professionally.
Transfer Student Center
Housed within the Student Affairs, the Transfer Student Center is a central hub for all UCLA students. Current UCLA transfers students can find connections to resources to support them in meeting their personal, educational, and professional goals.
