CAN THE PROGRAM BE COMPLETED ONLINE?
No, the MASDS program is fully in-person and classes are in the evening.

WHAT ARE THE PROGRAM FEES FOR THIS PROGRAM?
The cost of tuition in the MASDS program for 2024-2025 is $1171 per unit for residents and non-residents. The total cost would be about $28,104 per year for 2 years for the typical student. Please note that $1171 per unit times 44 units = $51,524. In addition, the MASDS program is classified differently from other graduate programs at UCLA. The UCLA Graduate Tuition does not apply to the MASDS program.

Students enrolled in this program are also required to pay student services fee, campus‐based fees, health insurance, etc. (see this webpage for full breakdown). If a student is already covered by health insurance, then it may be possible to waive the health insurance fee. When viewing the Graduate Student Fee document, keep in mind that the Tuition and Non-Resident Supplemental tuition also do not apply to the MASDS program. Please ignore the flat amount totals.

IS THE MASDS A NEW PROGRAM?
The MASDS program was approved by the office of the president of the University of California in September, 2015 and admitted their first cohort in Fall 2016.

Applications for each Fall are due on or before March 1. The review will take place shortly after and depending on the volume of applications received, decisions may be released in early April.

DO YOU ACCEPT APPLICATIONS ON A ROLLING BASIS?
No, the admissions team only reviews applications once a year for the Fall quarter.

MAY I APPLY OR SWITCH TO THIS PROGRAM IF I AM ALREADY IN ANOTHER GRADUATE PROGRAM AT UCLA?
No, this is not an articulated or concurrent program. The MASDS program is a self-supporting program, details found here.

WHAT OTHER PROGRAMS DOES THE DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS OFFER?
The UCLA Department of Statistics & Data Science offers an undergraduate major and minor in Statistics & Data Science, a Masters of Statistics & Data Science, a PhD program, and the Master of Applied Statistics & Data Science (MASDS) program.

HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED IN THE MASDS PROGRAM?
Each cohort of the MASDS program at most is 35-40 students.

HOW LONG IS THE PROGRAM?
It can vary. If a student chooses to take 2 courses Fall, Winter, and Spring quarter and 1 course in the Summer, then the program will take at least 18 months to complete. Students are admitted only in the Fall quarter.

HOW DO I TAKE THE GRE OR TOEFL?
Tests are administered by the Educational Testing Services (ETS). When asked for the GRE Code for UCLA, use: 4837 and Department code is: 0705. You may view their website for more information.

DO I HAVE TO TAKE THE TOEFL?
Any applicant whose first language is not English must certify proficiency in English when applying to UCLA, and, if admitted, upon arrival. Such applicants must submit scores received on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as part of their application. The TOEFL is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). IELTS is administered by local IELTS test centers throughout the world. Applicants should consult IELTS for the nearest test center. However, a student may be waived from taking the TOEFL or IELTS examination if they have worked for a US institution for a minimum of 2 years. Please consult with the department for more information.

CAN I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION BEFORE I TAKE THE GRE OR TOEFL?
Yes, as long as the application is submitted by the deadline, and tests are taken by February 1. Please contact us if the personal information shown on the test report (i.e., name, date of birth, gender) differs from the information entered on UCLA’s Application for Graduate Admission as this may impede in the electronic receipt of your test scores.

WHAT IS THE MINIMUM GPA REQUIRED FOR ADMISSION?
By UCLA Graduate Council action, a minimum grade point average of “B” (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), or its equivalent, in upper division undergraduate study and in graduate level study (if any), is required for graduate admission.

IS THERE A MINIMUM GRE SCORE REQUIRED?
There is no minimum score requirement for the GRE.

CAN I APPLY IF I AM STILL ENROLLED IN AN UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM?
While the MASDS program focuses on working professionals, it is possible to enter the program directly from college. Applicants who have completed three years of undergraduate course work, or the equivalent, are considered when they specify they have the remaining year of course work in progress, and describe the proposed course work for that year. Please submit your transcripts by the deadline even if your fall term grades are not yet available.

WHAT IS THE OFFICIAL DEADLINE TO TURN IN ALL APPLICATION MATERIALS?
The official deadline to submit applications is March 1st, however late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis. To meet the March 1st target date, complete applications must be submitted by March 1. GRE and TOEFL, if required, must be taken by February 1 in order to ensure receipt of scores. It is optional to have official transcripts postmarked by March 1; however they will only be requested upon admittance to the program.

WHAT TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED?
If you have transferred institutions, the original transcripts from both schools must be submitted. For example, if you attended a community college then transferred to a four-year university, both transcripts must be submitted on to the online application. Only an original copy will be required upon admission into our program. Please do not mail physical copies to the Department of Statistics & Data Science as there is no guarantee it will be received especially during the pandemic. Please carefully read the Graduate Admissions website regarding uploading transcripts to the application at this link.

CAN I SUBMIT MY APPLICATION EVEN IF MY LETTER WRITERS HAVE NOT YET COMPLETED THE RECOMMENDATION FORMS?
Yes, be sure to submit your application by the March 1 deadline. Application materials will be consolidated as they arrive.

CAN I SUBMIT EXTRA LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION?
Two letters of recommendation letters are required, and a third letter is optional. We cannot guarantee fourth or additional letters will be read, in which case the first three received will be given priority.

CAN I UPDATE MY APPLICATION AFTER THE DEADLINE?
Unfortunately we will not be able to update your application materials.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR FINANCIAL AID?
To apply for financial aid, please visit this website: http://www.financialaid.ucla.edu/Graduate/Overview

WHAT PREPARATION COURSES ARE NEEDED IF I AM NOT A STATISTICS MAJOR?
If your undergraduate degree is not in statistics, you will need to have Calculus I and II for engineering and math majors, linear algebra, and a strong base of statistics and probability. Also, students should know basic-level programming with R.

DO I NEED WORK EXPERIENCE TO BE ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM?
Previous work experience is not required, although work on statistical applications is viewed favorably in the application process.

WHAT CAN I DO IF I AM WORRIED ABOUT PREREQUISITES? DO I NEED TO KNOW R TO BE ADMITTED TO THE PROGRAM?
The department offers courses in the summer on R for those who are not familiar with R.

CAN I COMPLETE THE PROGRAM PART-TIME?
Yes, the program is an intensive two-year program geared towards working professionals and designed for part-time students. If their employer allows it, a H-1B visa holder may complete this program part-time as well.

IS THE PROGRAM OPEN TO INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?
Yes, the program may accept international students and sponsor F-1 or J-1 visas. The minimum enrollment for F-1 / J-1 students is 8 units (2 courses) per academic quarter. For more information, please see the Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (http://www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/).

ONCE ADMITTED, CAN INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS START WORKING WITH INDUSTRY PARTNERS OR LOCAL COMPANIES?
It depends. If the students are coming directly from a U.S. institution where they have been enrolled for at least 2 years, international students are eligible for CPT as soon as they get an offer. Otherwise, all other international students can start working after completing their first 3 quarters with a 3.0 or above (typically the Summer quarter of their first year).

IS THE MASDS A STEM PROGRAM?
Yes. The MASDS is a STEM program in the Division of Physical Sciences. For international students asking this question: Applied Statistics is listed with CIP code 27.0600 in the DHS STEM Designated Degree Program List.

DOES THIS PROGRAM OFFER FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?
All applicants are considered for the full-tuition award. 10% of admitted students will be awarded full-tuition for at least 2 years, contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.0 each quarter.

UC and Cal State employees who are admitted will receive a 2/3 reduction off their tuition, also contingent upon maintaining a GPA of 3.0 per quarter.

Both offers listed above are available irrespective of immigration status.

WHAT DO I NEED TO DO TO WITHDRAW FROM THE PROGRAM?
Follow the steps and download the form from this website: http://registrar.ucla.edu/Registration-Classes/Registration-and-Payment/Withdrawal

CAN I TAKE OTHER CLASSES OUTSIDE OF THE MASDS PROGRAM?
No. This is a unique program. Just as other students outside of the MASDS program are not permitted to enroll in any of the MASDS (400 series) courses, you are also not permitted to enroll in courses outside of the 400 series. Failure to comply will result in the student being charged the total per unit fees for courses dropped after 4th week and/or subject to dismissal from the program after fair warning.

WHAT IS THE REFUND POLICY IF I DECIDE TO DROP MY COURSES?

1. By the end of 3rd week (100% refund of all units dropped)
2. By the end of 4th week (50% refund of all units dropped)
3. After 4th week (0% refund of all units dropped)

Note: Refer to or bookmark this webpage to understand how the UCLA Registrar’s office defines the end of the week for each week of the quarter. Typically the cutoff time is at 11:59pm at the end of each week. The refunds listed above apply to your tuition fees only. They do not include campus based fees. Please refer to the deadlines posted at this link. UCLA Registration fees still adhere to the end of the 2nd week deadline.

IS THE GRE REQUIRED FOR THE MASDS PROGRAM?
It is highly recommended, but optional.

CAN I APPLY TO MULTIPLE GRADUATE PROGRAMS?
According to the UCLA Graduate policy: https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/steps-to-apply/ you can only apply to 1 graduate program per application period (see Step 2). This means you cannot apply to more than 1 graduate program in the same year. If you do, only the first graduate program you apply to will receive your application. And there will be no refunds on any extra application fees.