Application Information

The general requirement for admissions as a graduate student to UCLA is a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, comparable in standard and content to a BA degree from a UC. Applicants to our program are required to hold the equivalent of a UCLA bachelor’s degree in Russian Language and Literature, Slavic Languages and Literatures, or Russian Studies, or to have completed three years of Russian language and a variety of courses in Russian history, literature, and linguistics. You must have a scholastic average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale) or better- or its equivalent if the letter grade system is not used- for the last 60 semester/ 90 quarter units of undergraduate study and in any post baccalaureate study.

Although the Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures offers both the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees, we admit only those students who plan to ultimately pursue a Ph.D. We do not offer a terminal M.A. The program requires full-time attendance, and classes are held during the day.

The Department admits students for the Fall Quarter only and does not allow deferred admission. All application materials for admission to the Department’s graduate program should be received by January 15, and results can be expected in March. Applicants are automatically considered for four-year financial aid packages.

You must apply electronically for graduate admission and financial aid. If you have difficulty accessing the on-line application, please contact the Graduate Admissions office at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Technical support for the application is available through the Hobsons Apply Yourself Support Center.  

Applicants are asked to upload the following items to the online application:

•    A statement of purpose, explaining their background for graduate study in literature and their language areas and proficiency levels. Please include immediate and long-range goals in the field in the statement. Statements of purpose should primarily focus on intellectual interests and research plans, though autobiographical material can be useful where it is clearly relevant.

•    Applicants should also have three scholars under whom they have studied submit recommendation letters about their potential in literature, languages and general intellectual qualifications.

•    The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required for applicants whose native language is English or who have a bachelor’s degree from a university where instruction is in English. Applicants should take the exams no later than October or November. We will accept scores from exams taken within the past five years. For further information about exams, please contact Educational Testing Service at (609)-771-7670 or visit www.ets.org. You should instruct ETS to send a hard-copy of your scores to the Department.  The GRE school code is 4837; the department code is 2606. Please note: no application, whether foreign or domestic, can be reviewed until scores from the required examinations have been received. We recommend that the exams be taken well in advance of the application deadline.

•    International applicants whose first language is not English must certify their proficiency in English. Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).

•    International applicants must complete and return the Confidential Financial Statement.

•    Applicants must submit one official record (transcript) from each academic institution attended. These must bear the actual signature of the Registrar and the seal of the issuing institution.

•    Applicants must submit a writing sample in the field they wish to pursue.

CHECKLIST

To the Admissions Office:
•    Online Application


To the Department (mailing address, BOX 951502, 322 Humanities Building  Los Angeles, California 90095)
•    GRE/TOEFL scores
•    Official Transcript

QUICK LINKS

Slavic Languages and Literatures

Graduate Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Support

If you have further questions about the admissions process or the status of your application, please contact Lisa Lee, Student Affairs Officer, at (310) 825-3856 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .