The University of California has devoted substantial time and resources to examining ways to expand the opportunities and support we provide to undocumented students. This program provides additional resources to help our undocumented students learn, thrive, and build a path toward their professional futures.
Beginning Spring 2024, the University of California has expanded experiential learning opportunities for non-DACA, AB 540 undocumented students enrolled in state-supported degree programs. Eligible students can receive fellowships when they enroll in credit-bearing experiential learning courses.
Experiential Learning Defined
An experiential learning course at UCLA integrates academic theory with practical application through hands-on experiences, such as internships, fieldwork, community engagement, or research projects. These courses provide students with opportunities to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and professional skills while gaining real-world knowledge and insights.
Eligibility
To qualify for the Presidential Fellowship for Experiential Learning, students must meet the following requirements:
- Timely Application Submission: Submit the California Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the March 2nd Priority Deadline.
- Student Aid Index (SAI): Demonstrate an SAI within the range of –$1,500 to $7,395, commonly referred to as the Federal Pell Grant Range of eligibility.
- Financial Need: Exhibit financial need and sufficient room within the Cost of Attendance (COA), as determined by the California Dream Act Application and assigned budget (On Campus, Off Campus, or Commuter)
- Program Restrictions: Students may not be concurrently enrolled in or participating in the California for All/College Corps/UndocuImpact program or participating another fellowship provided by the Undocumented Student Program:
- Program Participation: Complete a reflective survey at the end of the term and submit a mini-project related to the course taken (further details will be provided).
- Fellowship Engagement: Meet with the Fellowship Coordinator at least twice per academic quarter (further details to be provided).
Financial need is the difference between the cost of attending college (known as the Cost of Attendance or COA) and the amount of money that your family is expected to contribute, called the Student Aid Index (SAI).
The formula looks like this:
Cost of Attendance (COA) – Student Aid Index (SAI) = Financial Need
- Cost of Attendance (COA): This is the total estimated cost of going to school for one academic year. It includes tuition and fees, housing, meals, books, supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.
- Student Aid Index (SAI): This is a number determined by the FAFSA or CADAA application that represents your family’s financial ability to help pay for college. It is not the amount your family must pay, but rather a calculation used by financial aid offices.
If your COA is higher than your SAI, the difference is your financial need. This is the amount of aid (grants, scholarships, and loans) that you may qualify for.
✨ Example:
- Your COA is $35,000 for the year.
- Your SAI (from CADAA) is $5,000.
- Your financial need is $30,000.
That $30,000 is your need based eligibility and what you could be considered for in need based aid, depending on available funding and eligibility.
Application
- No Additional Application is needed for this funding
Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students have access to a pre-curated list of courses that have been carefully vetted and approved for this fellowship program. These courses are designated as Community-Engaged Courses, Internships, or Research Practice Courses. Please refer to the links below for more detailed information on these course offerings.
Any XP course (e.g., CCAS 100XP)
- Learn more about Community-Engaged Courses
Any 99, 195, 195CE, 198, or 199 course
- Learn more about the 195CE Courses
Any RES PRC 96, 99, 192A, or 192B course
- Learn more about UCLA Research Practice Courses
Kindly note that enrolling in multiple approved courses within a single term will not result in an increase to your fellowship aid amount.
Graduate/Professional Students
Graduate and professional students have greater flexibility in their course selection compared to undergraduates, who are limited to a curated list of approved experiential learning courses (though graduate/professional students may also enroll in undergraduate-level experiential learning courses when permitted by the program, please see list of approved course under Undergraduate Students).
If a professor or academic advisor is able to formally approve a course you are currently enrolled in within your graduate program, it may be eligible for fellowship consideration, provided the course meaningfully integrates academic theory with practical application. To ensure eligibility, please have your professor or academic advisor review the definition of Experiential Learning provided below.
Experiential learning courses typically include internships, fieldwork, community engagement, or research projects. All courses are subject to review and final approval by the Fellowship Coordinator.
These courses are intentionally designed to foster the development of critical thinking, problem-solving, and professional skills, while simultaneously offering real-world experiences that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom.
- Graduate-level courses:Courses numbered 200 or above, including 500-level courses, may qualify. The graduate academic or program advisor must determine this and submit a copy of the course syllabus to the Fellowship Coordinator.
- Experiential learning:Field experience, internships, or other practical courses could meet the criteria, but the specific department or program advisor makes the final determination.
Course(s) must meet the definition of Experiential Learning
An experiential learning course at UCLA integrates academic theory with practical application through hands-on experiences, such as internships, fieldwork, community engagement, or research projects. These courses allow students to develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and professional skills while gaining real-world knowledge and insights.
Current Graduate Courses Approved Updated as 08/28/25:
- Approved List of Graduate Courses
Petitioning for Course Consideration
- Email Fellowship Coordinator
- Who will provide you with instructions on where to submit the required documents via the Fellowship Course Petition.
- Syllabus of the Course Requesting to be considered for the Presidential Fellowship for Experiential Learning
- Letter of Support from Professor/Academic Advisor stating that the course meets the definition of Experiential Learning on department letterhead
- Who will provide you with instructions on where to submit the required documents via the Fellowship Course Petition.
Office Hours
More Information Coming Soon
Details regarding in-person office hours,including location and times, will be announced shortly. In addition, virtual office hours will be offered via Zoom, with schedules to be shared in the near future.
Award Amounts
Students who meet the eligibility criteria may receive up to $2,400/$5,000 per quarter, not exceeding $7,200/$15,000 for the academic school year, depending on the UCLA educational program (undergraduate, graduate, or professional).
- The fellowship is intended to offset educational expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies.
- The awarding of the fellowship may result in the adjustment of aid to keep within the cost of attendance, as well as financial need, as determined by CADAA (CA Dream Application)
- Undergraduate Students may receive up to $2,400 per quarter, not to exceed $7,200 for the academic school year.
- Graduate & Professional Students may receive up to $5,000 per quarter and not to exceed $15,000 for the academic school year.
Award Disbursement
Fellowship funds will be disbursed in equal installments at the beginning of each quarter (Fall, Winter, Spring) for which the student is eligible.
- To receive the fellowship, students must be enrolled in the qualifying course for the entire quarter and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
- The fellowship coordinator will confirm enrollment in the eligible course for the term and award the fellowship once the class enrollment is confirmed.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
To continue receiving the fellowship, students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) as defined by UCLA's academic progress policy.
- Failure to maintain SAP may result in the suspension or termination of the fellowship.
Additional Considerations
The University reserves the right to modify or terminate the Presidential Fellowship for Experiential Learning program anytime.
- Students who receive other scholarships or grants may be subject to adjustments in their financial aid package.
- If you are receiving the Middle Class Scholarship (MCS), the Middle Class Scholarship may be adjusted due to a recalculation of the award done by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC). You may receive a new Bruin Financial Aid Letter (BFAL) when this occurs.
- The fellowship is non-transferable and cannot be applied to previous academic terms.
- You may be advised to submit a Budget Increase Request or a Housing Adjustment Form to increase your Cost of Attendance and/or to establish financial need for the purposes of funding consideration.
Disqualifications
- A fellow may be disqualified from participating in the program if they drop the qualifying course during the awarded term or fail to earn a passing grade of C or higher, or a grade of P (Pass) on the Pass/No Pass scale.
- In such cases, the fellowship disbursement will be reversed and billed back to the participant, which will generate a charge on the UCLA BruinBill system.
Contact
For any questions or inquiries regarding the Presidential Fellowship for Experiential Learning Program, please contact the program coordinator. When reaching out, be sure to include your 9-digit UCLA Student ID. Failure to provide your Student ID may result in a delay in receiving a response from the coordinator.
Make sure to provide your UID when reaching out to the Fellowship Coordinator
Contact Information
Gustavo Alberto Sanchez, M. Ed
email: gsanchez@fas.ucla.edu
Meet the Coordinator
Gustavo Alberto Sanchez, M.Ed. (Gus) serves as the Assistant Director of Training within the UCLA Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, in addition to his role as Coordinator of the Presidential Fellowship for Experiential Learning. He brings over a decade of experience in higher education and financial aid administration, with expertise spanning staff training, student support, and policy implementation.
A first-generation transfer student and proud native of Pomona, California, Mr. Sanchez began his academic journey at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt.SAC), the local community college, before transferring to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with an emphasis in Comparative Politics and a Minor in Education Studies. He went on to pursue graduate studies at the University of Southern California (USC), earning a Master of Education in Enrollment Management and Policy. His research and professional focus center on recruitment and retention practices across diverse and intersectional student populations in higher education.
Mr. Sanchez is also actively engaged in professional development as a Fellow with the University of California Financial Aid Leadership Institute (UCFALI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Fellow at UCLA. His work is driven by a commitment to advancing equity, access, and belonging in higher education, particularly for first-generation, undocumented, and underrepresented student communities.