UndocuBruins Fellowship

The UCLA UndocuBruins Fellowship is a year-long professional development and experiential learning opportunity designed to support undergraduate and graduate students in their academic, personal, and career growth. For the 2026-2027 academic year, the fellowship aims to provide students with meaningful, hands-on experience through placement at a designated campus host site, while cultivating leadership, career readiness, and a strong sense of belonging within the UCLA community.

Through this unique program, the Undocumented Student Program (USP) expands its commitment to advancing equitable access to high-impact opportunities for UCLA students. The fellowship is intentionally structured to empower students to explore their professional interests, strengthen transferable skills, and engage in work that contributes to the broader campus community. At the same time, it fosters a culture rooted in creativity, collaboration, diversity, and holistic student development.

Fellows will be matched with a campus partner where they will engage in a defined project & responsibilities aligned with both the host site’s goals and the fellow’s academic or career interests. Under the mentorship of their host site, fellows will take on substantive roles and responsibilities that may include program development, research, outreach, policy support, or community engagement initiatives. This structured mentorship component is central to the fellowship, ensuring that students receive guidance, feedback, and opportunities for professional growth throughout the year. Overall, the UndocuBruins Fellowship seeks to cultivate a cohort of empowered, skilled, and community-oriented leaders who are prepared to navigate and shape diverse professional spaces while remaining grounded in their lived experiences and commitment to social impact.

Eligibility:

• Must be a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at UCLA during the 2026-2027 academic school year
• Priority will be given to students who demonstrate financial need (e.g. students who are NOT eligible for federal and UC work study)
• Preferences will be given to students who are actively involved with the Undocumented Student Program

Fellow Responsibilities:

Fellows are expected to actively engage in their placement while contributing to a collaborative and reflective learning environment. Responsibilities include:

• Participate in a year-long placement with an assigned host site (September 2026 – June 2027).
• Commit approximately 100 hours per quarter (300 hours total) to host site fellowship roles & responsibilities.
• Enroll in and complete a 1-unit course each quarter (offered through the School of Education; course schedule TBD) to support professional and reflective learning.
• Meet with a USP UndocuBruins Coordinator at least once per quarter for check-ins and additional support.
• Complete all required reflection assignments, including a culminating professional development presentation that highlights their project, learning outcomes, and growth over the academic year.
• Attend and present their work at the UndocuBruins End-of-Year Symposium.