Undergraduate Admission
Degree - B.A.
Step 1: Complete the UC Application
Students who wish to apply to the School of the Arts and Architecture (Architecture and Urban Design, Art, Design | Media Arts, Ethnomusicology, Music, and World Arts and Cultures) must complete the University of California's Application for Undergraduate Admission filed between November 1–30. Students may apply directly online from the University of California website.
Students who wish to be considered for majors in the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture, MUST select an SOAA major as their first choice major to UCLA in order to participate in the portfolio/audition review process.
Step 2: Departmental Supplemental Requirements
*DO NOT complete the supplemental requirements without first completing the UC application in Step 1.
After the UC application has been filed, applicants are required to submit a Department of Design | Media Arts supplemental application. Applicants for the Design | Media Arts major at UCLA will be emailed detailed instructions and a link in early January to the online supplemental application. The portfolio and supplemental application materials are due in mid-January (applicants will be notified of the exact date) and will include the following specific departmental requirements:
Questionnaire
Statement of Interest and Goals
Unofficial Transcripts (in PDF format)
Portfolio
All applicants must provide a two-part portfolio of student’s original artwork.
Required: One (1) expressive self portrait in any medium, either in still image or time-based format. Audio/video file is limited to 30 seconds.
Required: Seven to ten (7-10) still images of recent creative work. Can include photography, print media, games, website/interactive screen shots, painting, drawing, etc.
Optional: One (1) media file of video, sound, motion graphics/animation, or any combination of the three compiled together as a reel. The total length of the entire compilation should be no more than two (2) minutes.
All supplemental material must be submitted through the online upload system; any physical material submitted to the department cannot be considered in the review process. A Design | Media Arts supplemental application worksheet is available for PDF download, which includes detailed instructions on submission as well as formatting guidelines:
UCLA Department of Design | Media Arts Supplemental Application Worksheet
Students are recommended for admission into the department based upon evidence of creative talent and academic achievement. A Department of Design | Media Arts faculty committee reviews all applications for the major. Successful candidates must also meet minimum eligibility requirements for the University of California.
Step 3: Official Notification
Freshman applicants are notified in March of their admission status; transfer applicants receive notification in April.
Admitted freshmen must notify the University of their plans to attend the School of the Arts and Architecture by no later than May 1; admitted transfer students must notify the University by June 1.
Graduate Admissions
Degree - M.F.A.
A complete outline of admissions and degree requirements are available on the Design | Media Arts website and accessible on the Graduate Division web page.
Applicants for admission to the Design |Media Arts M.F.A. program are expected to hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. The bachelor's degree need not be in Design | Media Arts; however, applicants with degrees in interdisciplinary programs that emphasize design and media arts are preferred. A minimum grade-point average of 3.0 overall in undergraduate upper division work is required. Applicants are required to have working knowledge of graphics software. Additional experience in one of the following media is expected: video, interactive media, 3D modeling or animation.
Step 1: UCLA Application for Graduate Admission
Complete and file the UCLA Application for Graduate Admission (AGA), which is due in December (please check department website for specific deadlines). Do not submit supplemental requirements without first completing and filing the AGA.
Step 2: Supplemental Requirements
To be completed in addition to the Application for Graduate Admission.
Submit Supplemental Application and portfolio by the January departmental deadline (exact date will be specified). Please note that application deadlines are strictly enforced.
Portfolio Requirements:
Students are accepted into the Department of Design | Media Arts based on evidence of academic achievement and creative talent. A portfolio consisting of no more than ten (10) pieces of original work is required. Select pieces of your best current work, which represents your media emphasis and potential for advanced specialized study. Original physical pieces cannot be accepted.
Portfolio Specifications:
The portfolio must be submitted in digital form on one CD-ROM. Mac users, please ensure that the CD is burned with a Windows readable file system, either ISO-9660 or Joliet, not HFS. Please label all folders on the CD-ROM as still images, video, interactive media or sound.
- Images
Images must be in either of these standard formats: JPEG or TIFF and must be 1024 X 768 pixels at 72 dpi in RGB.
- Video
Video can be submitted as excerpts on the CD-ROM as .avi or .mov files with the total length of no more than two minutes.
- Interactive media
Interactive projects such as websites should be submitted on the same CD-ROM or as a link. Please include directions. We will not download any special programs or extras.
- Sound work
Sound files can be submitted on the same CD-ROM as images. Please use a standard format such as AIF, WAV or MP3.
For further reference and for detailed portfolio guidelines, please visit the UCLA Department of Design | Media Arts website.
