Apply: Writing for Television

 

Writing for Television

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


Tuition

$6,750


Class Size

Workshops are limited to 10 students each


Application Deadlines

International Students: June 17, 2024

US Students: August 19, 2024


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.


APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Please read the application instructions carefully. Consideration will be given as to whether or not the applicant follows these instructions.

Applicants to Professional Program in Writing for Television must submit a completed application form via online. Applications will not be accepted via email.

The Professional Program in Writing for Television features an admissions process based on supporting application materials. The prerequisite is that the applicant have an undergraduate Bachelor's degree, in any field. Once we have received a complete application, the applicant will be notified of admission status via email within 20 business days.

(It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide a working email address with the application. Please note that our replies to Hotmail and MSN email addresses tend to be sent to spam folders. Please create a Gmail address for your application.)


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.


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.


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.


REFUND POLICY AND SCHEDULE

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 refund schedule for the 2024-2025 Professional Program in Writing for Television is:

  • 100% refund if student withdraws by September 9, 2024
  • 80% refund after September 9, 2024, and up to and including first day of second week of classes (October 15, 2024)
  • 50% refund after October 15, 2024, and up to and including first day of third week of classes (October 21, 2024)
  • 0% refund after October 21, 2024

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.

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Contact

102 E. Melnitz Hall, Box 951622
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1622
310.825.6124
professionalprograms@tft.ucla.edu