Dissertation Year Award (DYA) 2026–2027 Application

Deadline: Friday, February 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM PST

Award Amount: $30,000 in student financial support plus standard tuition and fees (excluding nonmandatory fees, nonresident supplemental tuition, and professional degree supplemental tuition, if applicable).

Purpose:
The Dissertation Year Award supports doctoral students who are advanced to candidacy by December 12, 2025, and are within one year of completing and filing their dissertation. Recipients are expected to complete all degree requirements within 12 months of beginning their award and will submit a midpoint progress report.

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Applicant Information

Name*

First Middle Last

UID*

Area*

Email*

Faculty Advisor/Dissertation Chair Name*

Anticipated Quarter and Year of Degree Completion (e.g., Spring 2026)*

Have you officially advanced to doctoral candidacy?*

Yes

No (ineligible)

Citizenship & Eligibility

Citizenship status:*

U.S. Citizen

Permanent Resident

International Student

Undocumented/AB540-Eligible

Please confirm that your visa or AB131 eligibility will remain valid through the 2026–27 academic year.*

Yes

No / Unsure (please explain below)

Please provide explanation:*

Academic Information

Current GPA*

Date of Advancement to Candidacy*

Month

Day

Year

Have you received the Dissertation Year Award before?*

Yes (not eligible again)

Required Document Uploads

Proposed Plan for Completing the Dissertation (PDF)*

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 64 MB.

Must not exceed 4 pages, double-spaced, 11 pt. font, with 1-inch margins. Include an abstract, introduction, research plan, and detailed monthly timeline.

Personal Statement (PDF)*

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 64 MB.

Maximum 2 pages, double-spaced, 11 pt. font. Should include career goals after receiving the degree.

Curriculum Vitae / Resume (PDF)*

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 64 MB.

Include education, awards, publications, conference presentations, and other professional contributions.

Unofficial Graduate Transcript (PDF)*

Accepted file types: pdf, Max. file size: 64 MB.

Include Fall 2025 grades. MyUCLA printout is acceptable. If any incomplete grades remain, attach a brief explanation as a separate page.

Faculty Mentor Information and Letters of Recommendation

Instructions:
Two letters of recommendation are required — one from your dissertation chair.
Letters must be signed and on department letterhead. Your recommenders will receive an automatic email with upload instructions once you submit this form. It is your responsibility to ensure letters are received by February 13, 2026, 4 PM PST. Applications missing required letters will be disqualified.

Dissertation Chair Name*

First Last

Dissertation Chair Email*

Second Recommender Name*

First Last

Second Recommender Email*

Certification and Acknowledgment

Please read carefully and confirm each item before submitting:

Certification – completion timeline*

I certify that I will complete all degree requirements within 12 months of beginning the award tenure.*

Acknowledgment – midpoint progress report*

I understand that failure to submit a midpoint progress report will result in suspension or cancellation of funding.*

Acknowledgment – information sharing for review*

I understand that the information provided may be shared with relevant funding committees for review.*

Certification – accuracy of submitted materials*

I confirm that all submitted materials are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge.*

Signature (Type Full Name):*

Date/Time