Dissertation Year Award

Applicants must submit the following as a single PDF file (unless otherwise noted):

1. Proposed Plan for Completing the Dissertation (max 4 pages, double-spaced, 11-pt font)
   
   • Must be written for a general academic audience
   • The document must also provide evidence that the student can successfully complete the dissertation in the award year.
   • Includes:
     
     • An abstract that summarizes the following in a manner appropriate to the subject or discipline:
       
       1. Motivation, context and/or foreground for the research;
       2. Question or hypothesis being addressed;
       3. Theoretical framework, experimental approach or research methodology
       4. Preliminary findings;
       5. Innovation, significance and/or impact of the work
       6. Between 150 to a maximum of 300 words in length. Essential that it be written for faculty who are not experts in the student’s field of research
     • A research plan that describes the current status of the research and the plan for addressing the remaining research aims/goals to complete the dissertation. This section may include images, graphs, and/or tables, if appropriate.
     • A detailed timeline with projected monthly progress for the remaining research, writing, revision and defense of the dissertation
2. Unofficial Graduate Transcript
   
   • Must include Fall 2025 grades
   • If “Incomplete” grades remain, include a brief explanation of plans for resolution
   • Transcript printed from MyUCLA is acceptable
   • Do not submit a Degree Progress Report (DPR) or Degree Audit Verification Email.
3. Personal Statement (max 2 pages, double-spaced, 11-pt font)
   
   • The statement must include the student’s career goals after receiving the degree
4. Curriculum Vitae or Resume
   
   • Education (degrees earned and in progress, with dates; date of advancement to doctoral candidacy)
   • Extramural, departmental and DGE awards and prizes (include year and amount)
   • Published and submitted manuscripts, if any, during the student’s doctoral program at UCLA. Provide full citations, including start/end pages. Do not include manuscripts in preparation.
   • Conference presentations, if any, during the doctoral program at UCLA. Indicate the conference date and place, and whether it was a poster or oral presentation. If there are multiple authors/presenters, place an asterisk by the student’s name.
5. Two Letters of Recommendation
   
   • Letters must be signed and on department letterhead
   • One must be from your dissertation chair
   • Recommenders will receive submission instructions from the department once applicants enter their names
   • Letters are due by Friday, March 6th at 5:00 pm PST.

Applications missing the letter of recommendation or with letters not submitted on time will be disqualified and not reviewed. Applicants will not be notified.