Earn a Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.) degree at UCLA

The UCLA School of Law S.J.D. Program admits only the most highly qualified applicants who complete all elements of the application for admission, provide clear evidence of academic excellence, and demonstrate strong potential for completing a scholarly dissertation that constitutes a substantial contribution to knowledge.

Upon matriculation, applicants must have received a professional degree in law (such as a J.D. or LL.B.), as well as an LL.M. degree. Applications must include or be accompanied by, inter alia, a detailed statement of research purpose and a letter from a UCLA faculty member attesting to the importance of the applicant's proposed research and agreeing to assume full responsibility for supervising the program of study.

Application Process

Degree Requirements and Academic Standards

Degree Requirements and Academic Standards

Students in the S.J.D. program must enter with an LL.M. degree, remain in residence for two semesters, and take a minimum of ten units of graded coursework each semester, which must be approved by the supervising faculty member and Graduate Studies Committee. The choice of courses will be from among those generally offered at the Law School and will depend on the particular subject matter and course of study approved for each S.J.D. student.

Applicants should bear in mind that, due to curriculum scheduling and faculty availability, not every class listed is taught each year. This is most often true in the case of specialized seminars. The final schedule of law classes will be available shortly before the enrollment process begins in July. The law school academic year begins in the middle of August with a fall semester of 15 weeks. After examinations and vacation in December, classes resume early in January for another 15-week semester that ends in mid-May.

Upon successful completion of the residency requirement and performance in courses at a level substantially above the quality expected of J.D. candidates, the Graduate Studies Committee, following its favorable review of the candidate's course work and of the developed research proposal, shall constitute a doctoral committee. It shall consist of three faculty members, including the student's supervisor and a member from a department outside the Law School. Upon the successful oral defense of the research proposal before the doctoral committee, the Graduate Studies Committee shall admit the student to full candidacy for the S.J.D. degree.

Within two years of the completion of the residency period, unless for exceptional circumstances an extension is granted by the Graduate Studies Committee, a candidate shall submit, and successfully defend in an oral examination, a dissertation in the form of a monograph or series of closely related essays suitable for publication and constituting a substantial contribution to knowledge in its field.

English Language Ability Requirements

English Requirements

Students in the S.J.D. Program must be able to read and discuss in class difficult technical material. S.J.D. students are examined and graded anonymously with the students in their classes. The work of daily class preparation is very demanding. Students with serious English language limitations will have difficulties coping with a new cultural, social, and academic environment, especially if they are enrolled in a discipline like law, which requires a very high level of English reading and writing proficiency. Only those students who feel confident of their English language ability should apply.

For this reason, the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) is required of foreign applicants seeking admission to the program from nations in which English is not the primary language of instruction. A TOEFL score of 590 on the paper-based test, 243 on the computer-based test, or 96 on the Internet-based test is the minimum score accepted by the University's Graduate Division. The law school usually admits only applicants whose TOEFL scores are well above the minimum range required by the University. In general we expect a score of 600 on the paper-based test, 250 on the computer-based test, or 100 on the Internet-based test, although an outstanding applicant with a slightly lower test score will not be disqualified on this basis.

If you possess a law degree from an institution at which the primary language of instruction is English, you are not required to submit a TOEFL score with your application. Please ensure that the academic transcripts you submit verify that your degree was obtained from an English-speaking institution.

The TOEFL is offered daily at test centers throughout the world. When you take the examination, it is important that you indicate School Code No. 4837, Dept. 03, to ensure that your score is sent to UCLA School of Law. Information about the examination should be available at your own university, and can also be found on the TOEFL website, or by writing directly to:

TOEFL Services
Educational Testing Service
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 USA

Contacts for Test Takers
Phone: +1.609.771.7100
Fax: +1.609.290.8972

Tuition & Visa Information

2024-2025 S.J.D. Tuition

2024-2025 tuition fees for S.J.D. students who are not California residents and have not advanced to doctoral candidacy (typically during the first two years of attendance in the program) are $37,110.14. See below for an itemized breakdown of these fees and estimated living expense budget.

2024-2025 tuition fees for S.J.D. students who are California residents and/or who have advanced to doctoral candidacy (after satisfying the residency requirement and completing the initial oral defense of their dissertation, typically after two years of attendance in the program) are $22,008.14. See below for an itemized breakdown of these fees and estimated living expense budget.

These figures include health insurance fees, which are $6,631.84.*

*Health insurance coverage is mandatory. Students who have health insurance coverage may apply for a waiver of the UCSHIP health insurance fees. The annual waiver application is available in early July and due in early August. Before purchasing alternative insurance coverage, students should carefully review the university's waiver criteria.

Fee Disclaimer: The tuition, fees, and charges posted to the student billing statement are estimates based on existing amounts. These figures may not be final. Actual tuition, fees, and charges are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California and could be affected by state funding reductions. Accordingly, final approved tuition and fee levels (and thus a student’s final balance due) may differ from the amounts shown.

2024-2025 S.J.D. fee breakdown for non-California residents who have not advanced to candidacy:

Fee Type	Total Fee Amount	Per Semester Fee Amount
Tuition	$12,762.00	$6,381.00
Student Services Fee	$1,254.00	$627.00
Ackerman Student Union Fee	$81.00	$40.50
Ackerman/Kerckhoff Seismic Fee	$113.00	$56.50
Graduate Students Association Fee	$38.25	$19.13
Graduate Writing Center Fee	$21.90	$10.95
Law Materials Fee	$900.00	$450.00
UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP)	$6,631.84	$3,315.92
Student Programs, Activities, and Resources Complex (SPARC) Fee	$135.00	$67.50
Wooden Center Fee	$37.00	$18.50
BruinGo Universal Access Transit Pass Fee	$34.15	$17.08
Nonresident Supplemental Tuition	$15,102.00	$7,551.00
Total	$37,110.14	$18,555.08

2024-2025 S.J.D. fee breakdown for non-California residents who have advanced to candidacy and for California residents:

Fee Type	Total Fee Amount	Per Semester Fee Amount
Tuition	$12,762.00	$6,381.00
Student Services Fee	$1,254.00	$627.00
Ackerman Student Union Fee	$81.00	$40.50
Ackerman/Kerckhoff Seismic Fee	$113.00	$56.50
Graduate Students Association Fee	$38.25	$19.13
Graduate Writing Center Fee	$21.90	$10.95
Law Materials Fee	$900.00	$450.00
UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP)	$6,631.84	$3,315.92
Student Programs, Activities, and Resources Complex (SPARC) Fee	$135.00	$67.50
Wooden Center Fee	$37.00	$18.50
BruinGo Universal Access Transit Pass Fee	$34.15	$17.08
Total	$22,008.14	$11,004.08

2024-2025 estimated living expense budget (for informational use only):

Fee Type	Monthly	Annually
Food and Housing
Rent	$1,659
Food	$780
Utilities	$206

Books, Course Materials, Supplies, and Equipment		$1,806

Transportation	$370

Personal	$294

Loan Origination Fees		$1,339

Total	$32,923

Visa Information

If you are an international student and accept UCLA's offer of admission, you will be subject to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regulations prior to entering the United States. You will be required to comply with health insurance and health coverage clearance rules and must be found eligible for a U.S. student visa before being permitted to attend the S.J.D. Program. Most international students enter the U.S. on an F-1 student visa.

Admitted students will receive instructions for applying for the visa I-20 form. After receiving the I-20 form, you must make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence in order to apply for an F-1 student visa to travel to the United States. Please make an appointment well in advance of the date you intend to travel to the United States, as some embassies and consulates take several weeks (or even months) to process visa requests.

Financial Aid Information

When it comes to financing your education, there are a number of options to consider for securing funding. While this list is not exhaustive, it provides links to a variety of resources for learning more about scholarship, fellowship, grant, and loan opportunities through private, non-profit, and governmental sources. International students are encouraged to seek financial aid funds from additional sources in their home countries. Consider contacting the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country to inquire about sponsoring organizations and agencies.

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