July in Los Angeles, USA at UCLA

Program Overview

Spend 3 or 6 weeks studying at one of the best Universities in the world – gain credit while experiencing a global city and campus like no other!

As a UCLA ‘summer’ (July) session student you have access to hundreds of academic courses, on and off campus living options, all of the university facilities, including multiple gyms, pools, libraries…..everything you need!

Start getting excited!

Attend one of the highest ranked universities in the world – UCLA was ranked the #1 public university and #20 among all national universities in the 2021 U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings. UCLA also ranked #9 out of 100 universities in the Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings (2020) and the #15 best university in the world (2021) by U.S. News & World Report.

Opportunity to be a part of a university that receives more student applications than any other in the US – actually make that the world! This is the university that students dream of attending, and as a CISaustralia student you will have that opportunity.

Choose to study from a multitude of disciplines – business, management, finance, accounting, humanities, the arts, social science, sociology, anthropology, history, communications, journalism, health and health related fields, IT, engineering and more.

UCLA has everything you could possibly need to have an interesting and fun-filled Aussie winter (US summer) – beginning with its lush landscaping and impressive architecture, the campus is an experience in itself – add to this modern residential halls, libraries, world class athletic facilities, a multitude of entertainment opportunities and you realise that a US summer (July) session at UCLA is not only academically rewarding but also a great place to spend 3 or 6 weeks of your Australian winter!

Live and study in the entertainment capital of the world – LA. It’s a cultural mecca boasting more than 300 museums, not to mention a paradise of good weather. LA has an average of 284 – 312 days of sunshine every year (not all the authorities can agree). Let’s just say that it’s sunny a lot! Compare this to 185 sunny days per year in Melbourne or even 261 for Brisbane!

Study in a welcoming environment that appreciates diversity and a global perspective – the UCLA campus has more than 17,000 US students and more than 1,300 international students enrolled over the US ‘summer’ session.

Enjoy summer in LA – experience outdoor concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and the Greek Theater. Many activities in the city are free, including stargazing at the Griffith Observatory, hipster watching in Silver Lake and outings to the mountains and beaches.

Highlights

LA and UCLA have it all! There are 1-2 cultural excursions/activities included in the program fees, plus you will have plenty of free time to check out some of the awesome things you can discover firsthand on your own during your program.

• Amazing University in a beautiful, inspiring setting – there is a reason why UCLA receives more applications than any other university in the world!
• 3 or 6 weeks living and experiencing all LA has to offer – weekend trips to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, walking down Santa Monica Boulevard, window shopping in Beverly Hills, people watching in Venice Beach and catching a Dodgers baseball game
• Gain credit for 1 or 2 academic courses that are available to full-time UCLA students during the academic year
• Be guided by world class lecturers and professors – UCLA boasts a research focus that is envied by most institutions around the globe
• Choose from hundreds of UCLA courses on the 6-week session (or select course/s on offer for the 3-week session)
• Meet students from around the world – create a lifelong network of like-minded and motivated friends
• All the amazing places you can visit from your base in LA! Places like Las Vegas, Yosemite National Park, San Francisco, San Diego and even Mexico
• Enjoy being a part of arguably the entertainment capital of the world, LA is a cultural mecca boasting more than 300 museums!
• While Australia is in the middle of winter, take 3 or 6 weeks out in the Californian summer
• Try out new restaurants, visit the tourist attractions or sit back and chill out on the beach

Choose Your Course

UCLA has one of the strongest education brands in the USA and globally. UCLA is highly ranked and sought after by students worldwide and it receives the most applications of any university in the world!

Business Insider has ranked UCLA as having the most driven students in the world, boosting the school’s prestige with respect to recruiting and hiring.

As an international student at UCLA, you have many of courses to choose from, from music and neuroscience, to dance and design, from psychology to Film & TV and economics – the options are phenomenal. Attending the UCLA Summer Session means that you are able to enrol in academic courses that are exclusively available to full-time UCLA students during the academic year and you learn from expert instructors that represent UCLA’s academic rigor and excellence.

Course Load:

• 1 course (4 US credits) on the 3-week session (1 Course Available)
• 2 courses (8 US credits) on the 6-week session (100+ Courses Available)

UCLA is very clear that students MUST be enrolled as a full-time student (4 US credits per 3 weeks or 8 US credit per 6 weeks) to keep their valid student visa.

• UCLA Summer Sessions offer on-campus and online courses. International students at UCLA are encouraged to take all on-campus courses where possible. If required international students may take up to 50% of their course load online (the credit ratio must not exceed 50% online units for visa purposes).
• Depending on your Australian university, “courses” may be referred to as “subjects” or “units”.
• Each course/subject/unit you undertake on a CISaustralia program is designed to be a full-time, semester course that has been condensed to fit into an intensive, short-term program. As such, for any 1 course you study abroad, you should receive the credit points for 1 full-time course/subject/unit at your Australian university.
• Many universities work off of a 1-for-1 equivalency (1 course abroad = 1 course in Australia), but ultimately credit approval is the decision of your faculty and Australian university.
• CISaustralia strongly recommends that you have any overseas courses pre-approved for academic credit before you depart for your program. Some documentation that may be useful are the course outline/syllabus, program overview and the contact hours.
• Please be aware that the courses listed below are subject to change and cannot be guaranteed year on year.
• Your CISaustralia Program Advisor can assist with any questions or details your university requires.

Academic Requirement: To qualify for this program, students must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 4.0 (out of 7) or equivalent. If your current GPA falls below the requirement, you may still be considered for the program however you will need to be prepared to provide supporting documentation. Please contact us to discuss your situation and we will work with you to help find another suitable program if required.

How to Choose Your Courses: Now this is the fun part. Please see below links for course information and syllabi. Once you have applied for your CISaustralia program we will require you to submit your course preferences for enrolment.

Course Descriptions:

Session 1 (3 weeks) offers 1 course 

• COMM 187 – Ethical and Policy Issues in Institutions of Mass Communication
• Click here for Session 1 Course Syllabus
• Note: There is only 1 course available for the 3 week UCLA program.

Session A (6 weeks) offers over 100 in person courses and 200+ online course! 

Click here for the course schedule and syllabi for UCLA Session A: 6 weeks

• Note: Online courses are listed as a reference. International students at UCLA are encouraged to take all on-campus courses where possible. If required international students may take up to 50% of their course load online.

• For Session A, please ensure you have 6-8 course preferences approved by your university if seeking academic credit. At UCLA, some courses fill up very quickly, and they do make occasional late changes to offerings for Summer School which are out of our control. You may also have timetable clashes, so the more options you have the better!
• The Session A (6 weeks) program fee includes the standard 8 US credits. In Session A you will be studying two (2) subjects (usually 4 US credits each), however, some courses listed are worth 5 US credits. If you are planning to choose one of these, please be aware that there is an extra fee of approximately AU$649, per credit, over and above 8 US credits.
• Please note that UCLA does not enforce specified prerequisites for CISaustralia students, however we strongly recommend you have a background in the area of study for your preferred courses.
• It is your responsibility to make sure any course changes undertaken at any time, including when you are in the U.S. are pre-approved by your University in Australia.
• On the first day of class your instructor will usually let you know what textbooks you need to buy. Most assigned textbooks will be available for purchase at the UCLA Bookstore.

COVID Safe Travel

The health and safety of our students is our highest priority. We take our duty of care for our students, their families and our Australian University partners seriously. For all of our program locations, we have developed a site-specific COVID-19 risk matrix and risk management and emergency response plans so that health and safety response protocols are monitored, managed and communicated.

In preparation for your overseas program, it’s important that you carefully read and understand information related to COVID-19 Travel Safety and Insurance Requirements.

CISaustralia monitors Smartraveller and reliable news feeds to keep up to date with the latest COVID information and any associated travel restrictions and entry requirements for all destinations where we have programs. Due to the constantly evolving COVID-19 situation, Government travel advice can change quickly. For the most up to date information on the United States, visit the Smartraveller website.

Excursions

The Office of Residential Life may organise optional trips and activities on weekends and evenings (at additional expense). Students can also arrange their own trips to places such as Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, Catalina Island or even Las Vegas, San Francisco and the Grand Canyon.  There are local attractions such as the beach, movie nights, baseball games, bowling alleys and outlet mall shopping excursions.

The CISaustralia Site Director will also welcome you to LA and help you settle in. Our friendly Site Director will be there to meet you at the airport and take you out for a welcome lunch/dinner. The Site Director will also be available to provide advice on local cultural activities, such as attending a baseball or basketball game, visit to the J. Paul “Getty” Museum, Santa Monica pier walking tours, and other similar outings.

Location

UCLA lies at the heart of one of the most dynamic cities in the world – Los Angeles.

Bordered by iconic neighbourhoods – Bel Air, Brentwood, Beverly Hills – UCLA is a crossroads of ideas, cultures, opportunities and limitless experiences.

UCLA is located in Westwood in the northern central portion of the Westside region of LA. From its hip arts district to fine dining, the Westside is home to many of LA’s best restaurants, high-end shopping, eclectic boutiques and superb cultural and historic attractions.

LA is arguably the entertainment capital of the world, a cultural mecca boasting more than 300 museums and a paradise of good weather. With a multitude of tourist attractions, great career opportunities, amazing restaurants and entertainment galore – LA is simply the place to be.

A few facts about the city of LA:

• It is the only city in North America to have hosted the Summer Olympics twice.
• LA County, with more than 87,000 jobs in the fashion industry, has surpassed New York’s fashion district workforce.
• The LA five-county area also has more than 700,000 people at work in health services/biomedical activities and 190,000 people in aerospace/technology.
• The city of LA is home to 3.8 million people, growing to 9.8 million if considering the County of LA.
• LA is an international destination city that is a hub of creativity in the arts and business.
• LA is filled with vibrant neighbourhoods and ethnic communities, including Chinatown, Koreatown and Little India.

Westwood Village – Home of UCLA

Located just south of the UCLA campus, Westwood Village is designed with students in mind. It has three major supermarkets and dozens of restaurants and cafés. Among its movie theatres is the Mann Village Theatre, which hosts frequent Hollywood movie premieres. A playhouse and museum are also part of the mix. Just a few minutes away by bus you can visit the Getty Centre (a museum famous for its art collection, architecture, and commanding views of Los Angeles). Admission is free.

Nearby:

Once a sleepy beach town, Santa Monica is now a vibrant city between UCLA and the coast. In addition to Santa Monica’s beaches and the famed Santa Monica Pier, you can take a walk on Main Street, lined with art galleries and shops or the Third Street Promenade, a pedestrian district with restaurants, more than 200 shops, a farmers market and street performers.

Beverly Hills – Just a couple of kilometres from UCLA you’ll find the tree-lined boulevards of Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive. If shopping and locating star homes isn’t your thing, you can take in a movie screening at the Museum of Television and Radio.

Venice – Famous for its beachfront boardwalk, Venice is home to Muscle Beach and always some colourful characters. This beach resort, complete with a casino and a pier full of restaurants, remains a great place for playing and people watching.

Beyond Los Angeles – When you are at UCLA, you don’t have far to go to explore the rest of California. To the east is the desert – try your hand at climbing the rocks at Joshua Tree National Park. To the south, you can surf the beaches of Orange and San Diego counties. Head north on Highway 1 for unforgettable ocean views, enjoy lunch in Santa Barbara and perhaps continue north and explore the streets and bridges of San Francisco, the Napa Valley vineyards and breathtaking Yosemite National Park.

Attractions:

Rodeo Drive – The internationally known shopping destination anchored by Tiffany, Bulgari, Armani and other high-end retailers.

Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica – An attractive pedestrian district in beachside Santa Monica, complete with shops, restaurants and street performers.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the La Brea Tar Pits – The county museum of art has an extensive collection, special exhibits and frequent cultural events, including free jazz on Friday evenings. Next door, visit the La Brea Tar Pits, where stone-age animals became entrapped in pools of asphalt!

Venice Beach – A beautiful stretch of beach and ocean with a boardwalk that is home to an eclectic group of artists and performers.

Dodger Stadium – Home to the Dodgers, LA’s professional baseball team. Head to the stadium to eat popcorn and hot dogs while you cheer on the Big Blue!

Universal City Walk – A collection of restaurants, shops, cinemas and music clubs located within Universal Studios.

The Getty Centre – A nearby museum that is famously admired for its art collection, architecture and commanding view of LA. Admission is free.

Griffith Park – The largest city park in the US with many attractions, including an observatory, a train museum and even a pony ride!

Hollywood and Highland – At this famous corner you’ll find several famous Hollywood landmarks: Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Walk of Fame (see the stars of our Aussies Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett and Hugh Jackman), and the Kodak Theatre (now known as Dolby Theatre and home to the Academy Awards ceremonies, ‘the Oscars’).

Disneyland in nearby Anaheim is Walt Disney’s original theme park. This is a favourite destination for students and pretty much most people that visit LA. The UCLA residential halls organise visits to Disneyland for students in the ‘summer’ session. Pop on those Mickey Mouse ears and get ready to experience Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland and Tomorrowland… you get the picture!

The University

UCLA is a university built on optimism – this can-do perspective has brought them 12 Nobel Prizes, 12 Rhodes Scholarships, more National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) titles than any university and more Olympic medals than most nations. The faculty and alumni helped create the Internet and pioneered reverse osmosis. Not to mention more than 100 companies have been created based on technology developed at UCLA.

The UCLA campus is in a superb location with accessible and economical transport available to explore the region. The campus is well maintained, the facilities world class and the student body welcoming.

As a UCLA ‘summer’ (July) session student you have hundreds of academic courses to choose from, high standard on-campus accommodation and full access to the university facilities, including multiple libraries and two recreation centres – the John Wooden Centre and the Sunset Canyon Recreation Centre. Combined, the recreation centres offer hundreds of fitness classes and activities. Your options stretch from individual use of workout equipment and swimming pools to participation in fitness classes, yoga and martial arts – not to mention basketball courts, athletic tracks, volleyball courts and a rock climbing wall. For access to UCLA Recreation Services, you will need a valid student card (BruinCard) which we will assist you to apply for.

There are several ATMs located throughout campus. Bank ATMs give access to the Star, Plus or Cirrus networks, so you can often use these ATMs on a network arrangement to withdraw funds. There is also a post office, hair salon, multiple computer labs and several libraries – all just a short walk from your accommodation.

Wireless internet access is available in select locations on-campus for users with an eligible UCLA Login ID and appropriate wireless network interface card. There are also cable TV and computer network connections in each room of the on-campus accommodation.

UCLA have on-campus security – at designated times, free of charge you can be walked or dropped to different buildings on campus –and also the campus and surrounds are patrolled by the University of California Police Department. Exterior doors of residence halls and suites are locked and equipped with alarms. Your student card (BruinCard) lets you in.

Westwood Village is within walking distance to the campus where you will find many shops and some great eateries and restaurants. A large shopping mall that sells electronics, linen and furnishings is about 15 minutes by bus from UCLA.

Your student ID is called your ‘BruinCard’ and it is your passport to life at UCLA. It serves many purposes and the convenience of all the included features makes it a must-have necessity. You will receive this card once you arrive at UCLA.

BruinCard features and functions include:

• Official university ID
• Pre-paid debit feature can be used for purchases at campus stores and restaurants and at select local merchants
• Library card to check out materials and pay for copies and printing
• Campus gym and recreational facilities pass
• Access card for on-campus housing residential buildings
• Meal card for meal swipes at any of the residential restaurants in on-campus housing
• Laundry card for all university housing facilities
• Transportation card for discounted fares

Note: Bruin is an Old English word used for brown bears. The Bruin is the mascot of the sports teams of the UCLA.

Accommodation

The university provides comfortably furnished residence halls within easy walking distance of classrooms, libraries, swimming pools and recreational facilities.

The residence halls offered for the ‘Summer’ (July) sessions are new or renovated – students love the atmosphere and location. Most of the accommodation is elevated overlooking the campus. Accommodation is offered on a first in best dressed scenario, so be sure to apply well ahead of our deadline so we can confirm your accommodation placement.

On-Campus Residence Halls:

Residence Hall rooms are shared by  three students. Each room is carpeted and includes a twin bed, desk, chair, bookcase, cupboard and drawer space for each student. Students live on coed floors with designated male and female community restrooms with private showers located on each floor. There are also cable TV and computer network connections in each room. There are coin operated laundry facilities on each floor of the halls. A refrigerator rental service is available to students when they arrive. The Halls of Residence accommodation package includes 14 meals per week (and can be used at breakfast and dinner).

Upon arrival, each resident is provided with one set of bed linens, a pillow, blanket, towel and washcloth for use during their ‘summer’.

The Office of Residential Life organises evening entertainment for students staying in on-campus housing. Information about the events is posted around the buildings. Special events like movie nights, barbecues, dances and organised trips to places of interest in Southern California are planned for residents throughout the summer.

Other Amenities 
A refrigerator rental service is available to students when they arrive. Coin-operated laundry facilities are located on each floor of the halls. If you choose to purchase a television, basic cable television service is provided to all rooms.

Dining Services 
The fees for Residence Halls include meals (14 per week) at various student dining halls, which begin with dinner on the Sunday evening before classes start and end on the last Friday of check-out.

Smoking
UCLA is smoke-free! Smoking in housing, classrooms and all campus facilities is prohibited.

Program Fee & Dates