Apply

Thank you for your interest in the UCLA Department of Psychology’s Health Psychology Graduate Program. We’re so excited to share information about our world-class Ph.D. program that trains scholars in the scientific study of mind and body.

The following Health area faculty will be reviewing applications for the upcoming 2026–2027 cycle (i.e., for entry in the 2027–2028 school year): Janet Tomiyama, Jennifer Sumner, Julie Bower (secondary mentor), Patrick Wilson, and Ted Robles. 

UCLA’s Psychology Department offers the Ph.D. degree, a five-year, full-time course of study. Students seeking a terminal M.A. degree, or limited or part-time status, are not considered. The degree is granted in eight specialty areas, one of which is Health Psychology. You may apply to only one area. The Fall 2026 deadline for Departmental applications and supporting materials (e.g., letters of recommendation, transcripts) is December 1, 2026 for Health Psychology applicants.

The UCLA online Application for Graduate Admission needs to be completed in order to be considered for admission into the graduate program. The UCLA Application for Graduate Admission can be found here. Details regarding the application for a Ph.D. degree at UCLA, and all requirements, are provided here. 

Candidates must submit the following material through the online Application for Graduate Admission:

• A Statement of Purpose. The Health Psychology Area Admissions Committee is very interested in your research experience and what kind of research you want to conduct in your graduate training that is relevant to health psychology.
• Three letters of recommendation (preferably from psychology professors and/or research psychologists)
• Unofficial transcripts from all colleges/universities you have attended. Please note that if you are recommended for admission and decide to accept the offer, you must submit final, official copies of your transcripts for final approval of your admission by the Graduate Division’s Graduate Admissions Office. Any discrepancies between the unofficial and official transcripts could lead to withdrawal of an offer of admission. International applicants must upload copies of original and translated international transcripts per the country- or educational system-specific guidelines here.
• International students must also submit a TOEFL score and a Financial Statement. Official TOEFL scores must be received from ETS by the application deadline.

Mentoring is at the core of the Health Psychology PhD program, and the program admits students who have been identified as a good match for at least one faculty member. We ask applicants to identify a faculty member in the Health area who would serve as their Primary Mentor. Furthermore, we have a dual mentorship model where students have an opportunity to work with a Secondary Mentor, in addition to their Primary Mentor. The nature of the Secondary Mentor relationship is tailored to the interests and needs of each student; at minimum, it provides an opportunity to experience an additional mentorship approach and lab environment. Applicants can identify one or two faculty members who could serve as a potential Secondary Mentor. 

We employ a holistic review process, and we evaluate applicants on a number of factors, including academic preparation, research experiences, and alignment with the program. Very careful consideration is also given to your Statement of Purpose and letters of recommendation. An outstanding record in one of these areas—especially demonstrated achievement in research endeavors—may compensate for less outstanding performance in another. We also seek a diverse student body and encourage applicants who can contribute to the social or cultural diversity of our program.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Emilia Ninova at gradadm@psych.ucla.edu.

For questions about the Health Psychology program, please contact Prof. Jennifer Sumner (Health Area Admissions Chair) at jsumner@psych.ucla.edu. We look forward to receiving your application.