University of California, Los Angeles

Listed in the MSBA checklist ('Work History/Resume'). Work or research experience in a quantitative discipline is recommended but not required.

The school’s official pages say this differently. Here is what each one says — check with the school before you rely on it.

Written by individuals who can evaluate your quantitative skills and management potential (e.g. professors, employers and managers).

Two letters. The application system asks for three; the third is optional (enter any email address to skip it). The prerequisites page words the two letters as 'suggested'. If upload fails, the writer can email the letter to MSBA admissions.

GMAT (or GRE): Applicants must take either the GMAT or GRE. Scores valid five years; the committee sees all scores and takes the higher one (never averages). GMAT Focus Edition accepted with a score of 665 or better; classic GMAT expected 710 overall (above 90%). Scores assessed using GMAC percentile tables.

GRE (or GMAT): Applicants must take either the GMAT or GRE. Expected GRE Quantitative score 167 (above 92%). Scores valid five years; GRE institution code 2216.

Waiver / exemption: Test waiver for extenuating circumstances, e.g. strong medical reasons (recovering from major treatment) or strong personal reasons (economic duress), considered case by case. Contact the MSBA Director of Admissions and Program.

Not on UCLA's list of accepted English tests: UCLA accepts the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic for graduate admission. The MSBA pages mention only TOEFL/IELTS.

IELTS Academic: Minimum overall band 7.5. Valid two years. IELTS Online scores count (FAQ, 2026-27 cycle). Admits below 7.5 must take the ESLPE on arrival.

TOEFL iBT: Minimum TOEFL iBT 100 with expected section scores Writing 25, Speaking 24, Reading 21, Listening 17; new scale (tests on or after January 21, 2026): overall 5.0. The MSBA pages also list paper-based TOEFL 560. Valid two years. Institution code 4837, department 'Graduate Schools of Management'. TOEFL iBT Home Edition counts for the 2026-27 cycle; UCLA does not accept MyBest scores. Admits below 100 must take the ESLPE on arrival.

Waiver / exemption: The official pages give different exemption rules. (1) UCLA Graduate Division, repeated on the MSBA FAQ and prerequisites pages ('Effective Fall 2025'): exempt with a bachelor's degree or higher from a WHED-verified institution where English is the sole language of instruction (Graduate Division: an accredited university in the U.S. or another country where English is the sole language of instruction per WHED). (2) MSBA FAQ: exempt with a bachelor's or higher degree, or at least two years of full-time study, at a university in the U.S. or another country where English is both the primary spoken language of daily life and the medium of instruction (e.g. Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UK); applicants educated where English is not the primary spoken language must test regardless of their school's language, including multilingual countries such as India, Nigeria and Pakistan. (3) MSBA prerequisites page: required of all applicants whose native language is not English, and also of those who studied in English in a country whose official language is not English (including India and Singapore). Applies regardless of citizenship (Graduate Division).

Not on UCLA's list of accepted English tests: UCLA accepts the TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic for graduate admission. The MSBA pages mention only TOEFL/IELTS.