Screenwriting Admissions
Both the Professional Program in Screenwriting and the Summer Workshop in Screenwriting feature an admissions process based on supporting application materials. The prerequisite for both programs is that applicants must possess an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree. Once we have received a complete application, the applicant will be notified of admission status via email within 10 business days. It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide a working email address with the application. Please read the application instructions carefully. Consideration will be given to whether or not the applicant followed these instructions. Applicants to both the Professional Program in Screenwriting and the Summer Workshop in Screenwriting must submit a completed application form via fax or mail. Applications will not be accepted via email. Professional Program in Screenwriting -- Application Form Along with the application form, applicants must submit the three items listed below. Please do not send your reel, head shot, or letters of recommendation. Those items will be disposed of upon receipt. Please be sure to proofread all of your work and correct any and all typographical errors. The tuition cost for the Professional Program in Screenwriting is $4500. Payments are collected in two installments: $1500 is charged upon admission to the program, with the balance of $3,000 normally due a few weeks prior to the start of the program (please see the application form for specific dates). Applicants who would like to withdraw from any of our courses must do so in writing. Students may send a fax to (310) 206-7099 or simply email Program Representative Brian Fagan at bfagan@tft.ucla.edu. If you are enrolled in the on-campus Professional Program in Screenwriting and need a J-1 visa, you will first need to apply for a UCLA DS-2019. The DS-2019 is the document that you'll bring to your local American consulate in order to obtain your visa. First, apply for the UCLA Professional Program in Producing per the admission instructions. If you are admitted, you may request a DS-2019 application from us. At that point, you will need to complete the DS-2019 application and provide a number of supporting financial documents, as well as a copy of the photo page from your passport. We will send you instructions in an email. Please be advised that in order to qualify for a J-1, at least 51% of your expenses must be covered by a non-personal sponsoring party (i.e. an employer -- not family, or a friend, or yourself), and that sponsoring party will have to provide a letter indicating that they have agreed to provide you with financial support. The deadline to apply for a DS-2019 is July 19, 2013, so international students are encouraged to apply for the Professional Program as early as possible. Please be advised that there is a non-refundable $340 DS-2019 processing fee payable to UCLA. You will be charged this fee once your DS-2019 is processed. In addition, please be aware that students entering the United States on a J-1 visa must first pay a $200 SEVIS fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. If you have questions, please send an email to professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu.
For an explanation of the application and payment process, please click on the appropriate link below.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: If you are a non-native English speaking student, please be advised that our screenwriting programs are intensive and that all work must be submitted in English. A sufficient command of the English language is necessary to participate in our screenwriting courses. For information on obtaining a visa for this program, please click on the International Students link below.
Screenwriting Application Procedure
Tuition Costs and Payment Process
Refund Policy
International Students - Visa Information
Student Code of Conduct
Screenwriting Application Procedure
Summer Workshop in Screenwriting -- Application Form
5 page Writing Sample
Screenplay format is preferred, however we will accept any sample that demonstrates your narrative storytelling abilities, as well as character interaction and conflict. If you do not have a screenplay, we will accept stage plays or short stories as alternatives. Examples of writing samples that we are not looking for are outlines for screenplays, treatments, poems, articles, or journal/blog entries.
1 page Statement of Purpose
Your Statement of Purpose is simply a short essay in which we'd like you to tell us a little about yourself, your writing experience and goals. Your Statement of Purpose should be one full page in length.
Undergraduate Bachelor's Transcript or Copy of Degree Certificate or DegreeVerify Certificate from National Student Clearinghouse
Although we do not take college grades into consideration, we require proof that an undergraduate Bachelor's degree has been conferred. Please provide a copy of your transcript (an unofficial copy is okay), or a copy of your degree certificate, or a DegreeVerify Certificate from National Student Clearinghouse. Alternatively, if you have an advanced degree such as an MFA, we will accept that transcript or certificate.
Tuition Cost and Payment Process
The tuition cost for the Summer Workshop in Screenwriting is $1100, collected in one installment upon admission to the course.
Applicants must provide payment information with their application. The second page of the application form includes a spot for credit card information (we accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover). We accept credit card payments only (students in the Professional Program in Screenwriting may pay their tuition balance with a cashier's check or money orders; see application form for details).
IMPORTANT: There is no application fee for our programs. If an applicant is not admitted, the applicant will not be charged.
At this time, financial aid is not available for any of our courses. However, some banks offer private loans specifically for non-degree programs and will send the money to you upon verification of enrollment. Applicants interested in a private loan must first be enrolled in one of our programs and make their tuition payments directly to the Professional Programs office as described above. Do not apply for a loan that requires the lender to send the money to the university. Once you make your payments to the Professional Programs office, the lending bank will request proof of enrollment and/or a receipt. We can provide those items for you.
Please be advised that Sallie Mae loans are not available for the Professional Programs. If you have questions about this, please call (310) 825-6124.
GI BILL: Despite our repeated requests for our programs to qualify for the GI Bill, the VA has denied our applications. We hope that in the future the VA will allow for veterans to make use of their benefits when joining our courses.
Refund Policy and Schedule
The refund schedule is provided below. If you have questions about this policy, please call (310) 825-6124.
Applies to full tuition cost:
Professional Program in Screenwriting
100% refund if student withdraws by September 23, 2013
80% refund after September 23, 2013, and up to and including first day of second week of classes (October 7, 2013)
50% refund after October 7, 2013, and up to and including first day of third week of classes (October 14, 2013)
0% refund after October 14, 2013
Summer Workshops in Screenwriting
100% refund if student withdraws by June 17, 2013
80% refund after June 17, 2013, and up to and including first day of second week of classes (July 1, 2013)
50% refund after July 1, 2013, and up to and including first day of third week of classes (July 8, 2013)
0% refund after July 8, 2013
Advanced Workshops in Screenwriting
90% refund before first class meeting
80% refund before second class meeting
50% refund before third class meeting
0% refund after third class meeting
Other Short Courses (10-weeks)
90% refund before first class meeting
80% refund before second class meeting
50% refund before third class meeting
0% refund after third class meeting
International Students
