Thank you for your interest in the UCLA Game Lab Summer Institute program! On this site you will begin a multi-step enrollment and payment process for the Game Lab’s pre-college, credit-earning program–starting with the completion of a Program Application and the payment of a Program Fee (a portion of the total enrollment fees required). We hope you will join us for an academically, socially, and creatively enriching summer!

Please carefully review the information below before you begin the enrollment process. When ready to start, please click “Next” at the bottom of this page.

PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
  • Age: Students must be 15 years of age or older by June 22, 2026 to participate–and not older than 18 years of age or enrolled full-time in college.
  • Transcript: You will be asked to upload a high school transcript when you begin the Program Application on the next page. Please be sure to have a digital copy of your transcript before you begin the application.
  • Prerequisites: There are no course or subject matter prerequisites for these programs. However, students should have a serious interest in art and technology–and be motivated to study and create games and game art.



COST

The total cost of each program option varies based on its format. Game Lab Summer Institute has two versions of its program:


Both virtual and residential versions offer the same 4 units of college credit, cover the same topics and projects, and are led in a live-classroom format by the same instructors and staff.

ENROLLMENT PROCESS
The enrollment and payment process for UCLA Game Lab Summer Institute programs requires 3 steps/3 payments in order to fully seat a student in our accredited course. We encourage you to make a note of the following steps BEFORE beginning the enrollment process below:


STEP 1: Program Application and Fee
Action: Please begin by clicking the button at the bottom of this page, which will take you to the Program Application. Fill out the application, then proceed to payment of the Program Fee–which is required to complete the first step.

Outcome: After completing and submitting the Program Application and Fee, you will receive an email receipt that includes a link to instructions on how to complete Steps 2 and 3 of the enrollment process. So please hold onto that email for your records!


STEP 2: UCLA Registration and Fee
Action: You will next go to UCLA Summer Sessions to register (https://portal.summer.ucla.edu/apply/) as a UCLA student and pay the $350 non-refundable registration fee. During registration, you will be asked to select a program type. Select Summer Courses, do not select "College/Summer Professional Institute" or "Pre-College Focus Series," as these are different programs. Please complete the requested information and payment at that site.

Outcome: You will receive an email confirming your student’s registration at UCLA, and you will receive a University ID number (or UID). Every UCLA student has their own UID number, which is an essential “key” for many UCLA systems and services. So please hold onto that number!


STEP 3: Course and Institutional Fee
Action: Finally, you will need to create a MyUCLA account in the university’s computer system (just like regular college students do), add your student to the Summer Institute course waitlist, and pay the remaining Course and Institution fees at Bruin Bill. You will need the UID number you received from Step 2 to complete this process.

Outcome: Congratulations! Your student is now fully enrolled in the program!


FEES AND PAYMENT
The full cost of each Summer Institute program option varies, as noted above under Cost.

Deadline
Space in a program offering can fill up at any time, so full payment as soon as possible at all 3 enrollment steps is strongly encouraged to secure a seat. All payment must be completed by May 15 at the latest. If payment is not complete in all 3 steps by this date, you will automatically be un-enrolled from the course. Students may still complete enrollment and payment up until the program offering begins–provided it is not already full. Again, the best option is to complete all 3 steps (including payment) as soon as possible.

Payment
Payment can be made by credit card or electronic check across all 3 steps.

If using a third-party payment mechanism (such as a grant), or using funds from a 529 plan, please contact the UCLA Game Lab Summer institute at summer.institute@games.ucla.edu for more information and assistance.

Note: Need-based financial aid is not available at this time through the Summer Institute programs. Any changes to this status will be updated here in the future.

Once a valid payment is made in all 3 steps, your enrollment is secured. You're all set to participate this summer!

Refund Policy
All fees are refundable–except for the non-refundable $350 registration fee–until 5 p.m., May 15 (PDT). After May 15, only Course and Institutional Fees (Step 3 payment) can be refunded, up until the fourth day of live program instruction (which is also the last day to withdraw from a program option without generating a college transcript or grade). Applicants may petition for late refunds, but only specific hardship cases will be considered.


QUESTIONS?
Please email us at summer.institute@games.ucla.edu if you have any questions about the program or enrollment processes. We’re happy to help!
 
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