How to Petition for California Residency To Avoid Paying Nonresident Supplemental Tuition in Your Second Year

How to petition for California residency to avoid paying nonresident supplemental tuition in your second year

Like most American states, California gives tuition preference to its own residents for purposes of attendance at its state university. Out-of-state undergraduates and graduates at UCLA indeed must pay this tuition for their entire period of study. However, graduate students are considered by the University to be independent, and, after a stay of one year as non-residents, may become California residents for tuition purposes and thus avoid assessment of the nonresident supplemental tuition (NRST). The NRST is very substantial and is currently $5034 per academic quarter.

If you are a “domestic” student (U.S. citizen or permanent resident) who was not already assessed as a California resident for tuition purposes at the time of matriculation, the Linguistics Department will pay NRST for you for a period of one academic year (three quarters). However, this is the limit of our commitment. The Department will not pay a domestic student’s nonresident supplemental tuition (NRST) beyond the first year.

The Department expects all domestic students to petition to become a California resident for tuition purposes effective by the start of their second Fall Quarter. While the filing period for a Fall residence petition is not until July 1 to September 1, actions to meet residency requirements begin the year before a residency petition is submitted. This includes being continuously physically present in California for more than one year (366 days) immediately prior to the residence determination date (generally the first day of classes). This means moving to California before or by September 26, 2024 (the first day of Fall 2024 instruction).

Residency status is determined by the UCLA Registrar’s Residency Deputy based on physical presence, concurrent intent to permanently remain in the state, and financial independence. Simply living in California for 366 days does not grant residency status. Leaving the state for a unique research opportunity or for special circumstances (such as a medical emergency) may not preclude the student from being classified as a resident, but the burden is on the student to provide convincing evidence that leaving California was not inconsistent with a claim of permanent residence.

If you have any questions about residency requirements, please contact the Residence Deputy directly. The Residence Deputy typically holds a workshop for new graduate students during the University-wide Orientation for New Graduate Students.

The Graduate Student Affairs Officer (SAO) will be in touch with rising second year students in late June/early July.

Leaves of absence

Leaves of absence, medical or otherwise, will not be counted against the total of three quarters that the department will cover nonresident tuition for first-year out-of-state students, provided that the department is not paying nonresident tuition during such quarters. However, any extensions made for academic deadlines, such as completing coursework, will not increase the total number of NRST quarters awarded. In addition, as noted above, failing to become a California resident in your first year will not result in the Department giving you any additional quarters of NRST support.

If you are assessed as a California resident for tuition purposes but take a leave of absence of two or more consecutive quarters, you will be required to complete a new Statement of Legal Residence by the Registrar’s Office Residence Deputy as they will reassess your residency status.