*A temporary amendment due to the COVID-19 pandemic has been made. Please look forward to a residency workshop for entering graduate students in the Fall quarter for the most updated information. The below information applied before the pandemic.
Residency status is determined by the UCLA Registrar's Residency Deputy based on physical presence, concurrent intent to permanently remain in the state, and financial independence. Simply living in California for 366 days does not grant residency status. However nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions do exist, including the Veteran Nonresident Supplemental Tuition Exemption (more information below).
Nonresident students may petition to apply for California residency throughout the academic year.
Deadlines for residency status effective:
Fall - June 1
Winter - November 1
Spring - February 1
Summer actions count! A student's actions during the entire year - including the summer - affect the determination made regarding residence status for purposes of tuition and fees. A student who is in California solely for educational purposes is not eligible for California residence for purposes of tuition and fees regardless of the length of his or her stay.
If a student returns to his or her former place of residence (outside California), he or she will be presumed to be in California solely for educational purposes and only strong evidence to the contrary will refute this presumption. A student seeking to establish California residence who accepts employment or conducts research outside of California will be questioned regarding his or her attempts to find employment and/or conduct research within California. Leaving the state for a unique research opportunity or for special circumstances (such as a medical emergency) may not preclude the student from being classified as a resident, but the burden will be on the student to provide convincing evidence that leaving the state was not inconsistent with his or her claim of permanent residence.
10 Things Graduate Students Need to Know about CA Residence for Purposes of Tuition And Fees, prepared by the UC Office of the President
In some cases, students are classified as nonresidents, but are not charged nonresident supplemental tuition. The most common of these exemptions and waivers are:
AB 540 and California Dream Act
T or U visa holders
Spouse, registered domestic partner, or child of deceased law enforcement officer or firefighter
Dependent of a California resident parent (Condit Bill)
Foster youth
More information about these exemption may be found on the UC Office of the President's site.
If you are coded as a nonresident student but meet the two conditions below, you may be eligible for Nonresident Supplemental Tuition Exemption.
Conditions:
At the point of enrollment/instruction at UCLA for the next term, you must be eligible to receive at least one dollar of your (or your military sponsor’s) Chapter 33 Post-9/11 G.I. Bill education benefits.
AND
You (or your military sponsor) providing the education benefits must have been discharged from active duty within 36 months of the start date for any terms you are enrolled in that commence after July 1, 2015.
Detailed information and instructions is available for reference, Veteran NRST new Grad and Prof student letter.pdf