Graduate students (who meet the criteria below) can apply for a Filing Fee and pay a nominal fee in lieu of standard tuition and registration fees. Filing Fee is intended for students who are in good academic standing and who have completed all degree requirements except for filing their dissertation or thesis, submitting their capstone project, or taking their comprehensive exam. Graduate students who are approved to use a Filing Fee will have the entire academic term to complete their degree requirements. While on Filing Fee status, a student may no longer: take courses, be employed by UCLA, receive financial support, or access certain campus services.
Students may use the Filing Fee application only if they were registered for the previous academic term, and satisfy the eligibility criteria below.
Summary of Filing Fee Requirements*
Both doctoral and master’s students must have been registered the previous academic term. For more information see below.
All students must have advanced to candidacy at least one quarter prior to the term of Filing Fee usage.
Students check eligibility by clicking the “Check your eligibility” button above. If not eligible, a student will see the reason (i.e. has a hold, low GPA) along with instructions for what to do to become eligible. If eligible, the student can fill out a short form.
After submitting an application, a student (and a student’s department) will receive an email confirming submission with a link where they may view the status of the application as it makes its way to all required signers: Program Chair (Master’s Plan II Capstone Project or Comprehensive Exam), Committee Members (Master’s Plan I Thesis or doctoral dissertation), and UCLA Division of Graduate Education.
The online form sends requests to all faculty who are required to sign, as well as a notification to the student’s Student Affairs Officer.
Once approved or denied, the student and the student’s department will be emailed. Upon approval, the fee will be posted to a student’s Bruin Bill. The fee for Summer 2024 is $201. Effective Fall 2024, the fee is $209.
Graduate students who are approved to use a Filing Fee will have the entire academic term to complete their degree requirements.
A graduate student seeking to use the Filing Fee must submit a completed application with all necessary approvals by the established 5 p.m. PT deadline of the Filing Fee usage term. For Fall, Winter, and Spring academic terms, the deadline is Tuesday of Week 1 of the Filing Fee usage term. For Summer, the deadline is 8 business days prior to the last day of Summer Session C.
Filing Fee Usage
Students must complete their limited remaining degree requirements during the following period: the day after the previous quarter ends through the last day of the Filing Fee usage quarter. Completion of degree requirements means submission of a thesis or dissertation with all committee member approvals OR submission of the capstone with the results of a comprehensive examination or capstone project.
Eligibility for student housing may be affected. Students living in campus housing should check with the Office of Housing and Residential Services.
If a student has completed, while registered, all requirements for a degree except for the doctoral final oral examination (defense), master’s comprehensive examination, or submission of the master’s capstone project, the student may be eligible to pay a Filing Fee during the quarter in which the degree is to be awarded instead of registering. Four conditions must be satisfied to be eligible for this fee:
1. Does a graduate student need to be registered in summer to use the fall Filing Fee?
No, but the graduate student must have been either registered for classes or registered in absentia in the Spring. If the student was on a Leave of Absence in the Spring, s/he cannot be on Filing Fee status in the Fall. If the student was on a Leave of Absence in the Spring, and registers and enrolls in summer, then s/he is eligible to be on Filing Fee status in the Fall. If a student has lapsed status and intends to return in the Fall, they are not eligible for Filing Fee and must apply for readmission.
2. Can a graduate student advance to candidacy while on Filing Fee status?
No. All graduate students must have advanced to candidacy at least one quarter prior to the term of filing fee usage.
3. May a graduate student hold employment at UCLA while using a Filing Fee?
A graduate student may not be employed in a) an Academic Apprentice Personnel Title (AAP) such as Graduate Student Researcher (GSR), Teaching Assistant/Associate/Fellow (TA), Reader or Tutor per Academic Apprentice Personnel Manual, page 6, b) an academic title at UCLA per Standards and Procedures for Graduate Study at UCLA, page 34 (for a list of academic titles, see UC Office of the President Index of Academic Title Names) or c) a Staff Research Assistant/Associate in lieu of the GSR title unless under special circumstances and with the pre-approval by the Division of Graduate Education per GSR Administrative Policies. For questions about academic apprentice appointments while a graduate student please contact Fellowships & Financial Services at (310) 825-1025.
4. If a graduate student was on an official Leave of Absence last quarter can they use a Filing Fee this quarter?
No. To be eligible to use the Filing Fee, a graduate student must have been registered in the previous quarter.
5. If a graduate student is registered in absentia this quarter can they use a Filing Fee next quarter?
Yes. Being registered in absentia qualifies a graduate student to use the Filing Fee.
6. If a master’s student finished their coursework last fall and has not been registered in two quarters can they still pay the Filing Fee?
No. If a graduate student has not been registered or on an official Leave of Absence, they must apply for readmission to your program.
7. If a graduate student applies for readmission can they use a Filing Fee the quarter they are readmitted?
No. If a graduate student is readmitted, they must register the first quarter.
1. What is the deadline to submit a Filing Fee application?
2. What is the Filing Fee deadline for summer?
For summer, the deadline is 8 business days prior to the last day of Summer Session C.
3. Will exceptions be granted to the Filing Fee application deadline or filing deadline?
Generally, no exceptions will be granted. Extraordinary circumstances warranting consideration are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
1. What does continuous registration mean?
All graduate students must be either registered for classes, on an official leave of absence, registered in absentia, or on filing fee for each quarter at UCLA. If a graduate student does not register, apply for a leave, or pay the filing fee, s/he is considered to have withdrawn from the university and must apply for readmission to return.
2. For what length of time is the Summer Filing Fee valid?
The summer Filing Fee is valid until the last day of Summer Session C.
3. If a graduate student paid the Filing Fee but didn’t finish their thesis or dissertation or take their final exam. What should they do?
If a graduate student did not complete their final degree requirements within the term in which they paid the Filing Fee, they must apply for readmission for the following academic term and will need to register and enroll in order to complete their degree OR register and enroll in a minimum of four units during the Summer term.
4. If a graduate student is going to be on Filing Fee this term, but was assessed registration fees, how can they cancel the registration fees for the term?
If a graduate student is eligible to use the Filing Fee for the term in which they expect to complete their final degree requirements and has NOT paid registration fees for the term, they may use MyUCLA to declare nonattendance. Declaring nonattendance will cancel their registration fees. If their Filing Fee is approved by the Division of Graduate Education then they will be billed the Filing Fee in lieu of full registration fees.
If a graduate student PAID registration fees for the term, they must submit a query to the DGE Portal or email askgrad@grad.ucla.edu, and DGE will notify the Registrar’s Office on the student’s behalf to cancel registration fees.
5. Why does a graduate student need to include the date that they have taken or will take their doctoral final examination, take their master’s comprehensive examination or submit their master’s capstone project on the Filing Fee application?
Graduate students are eligible to use the Filing Fee when they have met all requirements for a degree except for the doctoral final oral examination (defense), master’s comprehensive examination, or submission of the master’s capstone project. By including these dates (as applicable) on their application it will help our office confirm their eligibility.
6. Can a graduate student hold employment at UCLA after completing degree requirements on Filing Fee?
Graduate students on Filing Fee cannot hold Academic Student Employees (ASE) employment while completing degree requirements. However, students may hold staff employment in the remainder of the ‘final quarter’ after completing degree requirements.
7. If a graduate student does not complete their capstone project or comprehensive exam, thesis or dissertation, during the Filing Fee usage term and consequently has to apply for readmission and pay registration fees, is that Filing Fee still “spent?”
Yes. If a graduate student is unsuccessful in completing all degree requirements during the Filing Fee usage term, s/he cannot use the Filing Fee again.
8. Can a graduate student subsequently use a Filing Fee at another UC campus?
Yes. They can use one here and then one at another UC as applicable.
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