African Studies M.A.

Filing Fee

Filing Fee is intended for students who are in good academic standing and who have completed all degree requirements except for filing their thesis or submitting their capstone project. Review the Division of Graduate Education (DGE) website for eligibility, procedure, suspended services and other important information. Please note F-1 and J-1 students are not eligible*. 

To apply for the Filing Fee quarter (in lieu of registration and paying tuition), students must meet the following criteria:

• You were registered and enrolled at UCLA during the preceding quarter. (Students who were registered in Spring are eligible for the filing fee in Summer or Fall)
• You have completed all degree requirement except the thesis/capstone project. This include the following:
  • Language Petition has been approved by the DGE, and a notation has been added to your unofficial transcript;
  • Advancement to Candidacy petition form was submitted and approved by the DGE at least one quarter prior to the term in which the filing fee is used;
  • If submitting a thesis, your thesis committee nomination form was submitted to the DGE and approved.
• You satisfy the four conditions listed on the DGE's Eligibility Criteria.

If you meet the above requirements, you can submit filing fee request by the deadline.

If you do not complete your degree in the quarter that you filed your Filing Fee request, the university views you as out-of-status (not a student). You will need to re-apply to the program and be re-admitted in order to complete your degree and graduate.

Departmental scholars are not eligible for a filing fee quarter.

Important Notes for F-1/J-1 Students

*Starting Winter 2026, paying the Filing Fee alone will no longer maintain F-1 or J-1 student status. F-1 and J-1 students completing their degree must register full-time to meet the final quarter registration requirement. F-1 and J-1 students needing a reduced course load in their final term must submit the Reduced Course Load for Final Quarter/Semester form to the Dashew Center. If your final term is in the summer, also consult the DGE regarding final-quarter unit and course-level requirements. The following guidelines are subject to change. Students should confirm details with the Dashew Center and the DGE.

Required Course Load for F-1/J-1 Students: Students completing their degree in Fall, Winter, Spring (FWS), or Summer must register full-time to satisfy the final-quarter registration requirement:

• Regular quarters (FWS): Students must enroll in a minimum of 8 units. (per Dashew)
• Summer Sessions: Minimum of 8 units (per Dashew)

• Regular quarter (FWS): Minimum of 1 unit (per Dashew). Check with the DGE for its minimum requirement.
• Summer Sessions: Dashew requires a minimum of 1 unit; however, the DGE requires a minimum of 4 units.
• Fee reduction for part-time enrollment in FWS: Students may petition, if eligible. Eligibility is "limited to the reasons of employment, health condition or accommodation for disability or primary care giving responsibilities." (per DGE)