Course Dates

This yearlong program runs from September 30, 2024 through June 6, 2025

Fall Quarter Start Date: September 30, 2024
Fall Quarter End Date: December 13, 2024

Winter Quarter Start Date: January 6, 2025
Winter Quarter End Date: March 17, 2025

Spring Quarter Start Date: March 31, 2025
Spring Quarter End Date: June 6, 2025

Closing Ceremony: Takes place online on June 9, 2025

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Tuition

$6,750

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Class Size

Workshops are limited to 10 students each

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Application Deadlines

The 2024-2025 program is closed for applications.

Applications for the 2025-2026 program will be available on this page in January of 2025.

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LATE Applications

It is possible late applications may be considered after the posted deadlines, but only if a spot is still available in the program. Please email the Professional Programs office at professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu if you would like to submit an application after the posted deadlines. Do not submit a late application without emailing us first.

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APPLICATION PROCEDURE

The Professional Programs feature an admissions process based on supporting application materials.

The prerequisite for this program is that applicants must possess an undergraduate bachelor's degree, in any field.

For early applicants (applying before December 21), please note that the soonest applicants will hear back from us regarding admission to this program is January 10. We will not be accepting students before then, but we strongly encourage early applications, as they will receive priority consideration. If you are an early applicant, and January 10 has passed, and you have not heard from us, make sure to check your spam folder before contacting us regarding your application status.

For all applications received after January 10, applicants will be notified of their admission status, either way, via email within 20 business days after we have received their application. If you applied after January 10, and have not heard from us after 20 days have passed since sending in your application, make sure to check your spam folder before contacting us regarding your application status. 

You are welcome to email us at professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu to confirm that your application was received, or with any other application questions. 

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APPLICATION ITEMS

VERY IMPORTANT - BEFORE YOU UPLOAD ANY FORMS OR TRANSCRIPTS, make sure that you have blacked out your social security number, home address, student ID#, or any other private information that could be compromised during transit from your server to ours. Applicants who do not follow these instructions will not be considered. 

Before clicking the Start Application button, please have the following ready to upload:

1. Five-Page Writing Sample We will only accept writing samples in screenplay or teleplay format. Pages may come from any point in the script as long as they are consecutive. Do not send novels, short stories, outlines, treatments, poems, articles or journal/blog entries.

2. One-Page Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose is simply a short essay in which we'd like you to tell us a little about yourself, your creative background, and your industry goals. Take your time with this. Very short responses will not be considered.

3. 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, in any field, has been conferred. Please provide a copy of your transcript (an unofficial copy is acceptable), or a copy or picture 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.

4. Be prepared to choose either the Comedy or Drama track. (Comedy Track - Students write half-hour comedies or dramedies.  Single-cam or multi-cam. Drama Track - Students write one-hour dramas or dramedies. You can only choose one track.)

Be sure to sign the Professional Programs Policies on the application page, or your application cannot be considered.

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TUITION PAYMENT PROCESS

If you are accepted into the program, you will be contacted with instructions on how to pay your $2000 tuition deposit.  A deposit must be paid to hold your spot in the program.

The full tuition balance will be due a few weeks before the start of the program. Tuition must be paid in full before the program begins. 

Our UCLA tuition payment portal can only accept payments by credit or debit card. Tuition cannot be paid by check or money order. 

There is no application fee for our programs.

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FINANCIAL AID

Although our programs are graduate-level, they do not earn academic credit. For this reason, we know of no loans, financial aid, scholarships, or military waivers that are available for our applicants.

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REFUND POLICY AND SCHEDULE

as of October 21, 2024. 

Applicants who would like to withdraw from any of our courses must do so in writing. Students may simply email us at professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu.

The following refunds are based on the full tuition price, whether or not the student has finished paying the full tuition: 

100% refund if the student withdraws by the the first day of the second week of classes. 

70% refund if the student withdraws after the first day of the second week of classes, and up to and including the first day of the fourth week of classes.

0% refund if the student withdraws after the first day of the fourth week of classes.

We understand that life can intervene, and a student may be forced to withdraw from the program beyond these deadlines. Please note that in such cases students may defer their enrollment to a future program—when a spot is open in a future program—rather than receive any of these withdrawal penalties. 

Please email ProfessionalPrograms@tft.ucla.edu with any questions.

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS - VISA INFORMATION

If you are a non-native English-speaking student, please be advised that our professional programs are intensive and that all work must be practiced in English. A sufficient command of the English language is necessary to participate in our on campus courses. A TOEFL score of 560 (paper based) or 87 (internet based iBT) or IELTS overall band score of 7 or higher will be necessary to participate in this course.

The only visa approved by the U.S. government and UCLA for the Professional Programs is the F-1 visa. No other visas will be accepted.

Participation in TFT Professional Programs is prohibited under the B1/B2 visas/ESTA visa waiver program (WT/WB).

If you are going to enroll in the Professional Programs and need an F-1 student visa, you will first need to apply for a UCLA I-20 document. The I-20 is the document that you will bring to your local U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your home country in order to obtain the F-1 student visa.

First, apply for the UCLA Professional Program of your choice per the admission instructions. If you are admitted, only then you can request an I-20 application from UCLA. At that point, you will need to complete the I-20 application and provide several supporting financial documents, as well as a copy of your passport biographical page. We will send you the specific instructions in an email.

To allow enough time to obtain the F-1 student visa, you must apply to our programs by the posted International Student Application Deadline. International students are strongly encouraged to apply for the Professional Programs as early as possible. The longer the wait, the less likely it will be that you will have enough time to secure your student visa before the course begins. International students may not arrive late for the program.

Please be advised that there is a non-refundable of $340 I-20 processing fee payable to UCLA’s Dashew Center. You will be charged this fee once you decide to enroll in the program and go through with the I-20 request process. In addition, please be aware that students entering the United States on a F-1 student visa must first pay for the I-901 SEVIS fee (www.FMJfee.com) to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. There will also be a DS-160 student visa application fee (https://ceac.state.gov/ceac) to pay to the U.S. Department of State.The mentioned fees are non-refundable.

There are NO off-campus employment authorizations through Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and/or post-degree completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) available for our Professional Programs students studying on the F-1 visa status for any of our programs. They may not work in the U.S. after the program ends under OPT work authorization. During the program, F-1 students may only work on-campus, for up to 20 hours per week, in jobs that are paid through the UCLA payroll system. F-1 students cannot engage in off-campus employment, paid by other companies. Please note that our students are considered Guest Affiliates/UCLA Guests, and are not eligible for MyUCLA accounts, which can make finding a job on-campus difficult. The UCLA Professional Programs and the UCLA Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars are not able, in any way, to help students search for or secure employment.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu.