Thank you for your interest in the 2026-2027 UCLA William F. Sharpe Fellows Program! Please read the information below before submitting your application.

TRANSFER APPLICATION DEADLINE:

Monday, June 1 at 11:59 p.m. PT

PROGRAM COMMITMENT & REQUIRED DATES:

As a Sharpe Fellow, it is required to actively participate in the mandatory Orientation and Networking Night. While the program partners with you to strengthen your career outcomes, each fellow is ultimately responsible for their own professional development. By applying for the Sharpe Fellows Program, you understand and acknowledge that attendance at required programming is mandatory and you are responsible for taking ownership of your career.

The 2026-2027 UCLA Sharpe Fellows will be one cohort made up four sections based on each vertical (investment banking, finance, consulting, and technology) that all meet in-person for the two required session of the program (MANDATORY; NO EXEMPTIONS): 

• Orientation: Leadership and Career Development Foundations – Friday, September 18 from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. PT at the James West Alumni Center on the UCLA campus
• Networking Night – Tuesday, September 29 at a location in the Los Angeles area (more details to follow)

ELIGIBILITY:  

In order to be considered for the program, you MUST meet all eligibility requirements and complete the entire application.

• Admitted or waitlisted UCLA transfer applicant with the intent to register or who has already committed to UCLA beginning Fall 2026.
• Incoming undergraduate student, enrolled full-time (12+ units) at UCLA during the 2026-27 academic year
• Expected graduation date of December 2028, March 2029 or June 2029
• Minimum 3.5 GPA

VIRTUAL INTERVIEWS: 

Transfer candidates advancing to the virtual interview stage will be selected based on eligibility and résumé review and will be notified between June 8–10. Virtual interviews for selected candidates will be conducted on Friday, June 12 via Zoom.

DECISIONS:

Final decisions will be communicated late June.

TRANSFER INFORMATION SESSION (Virtual)

• Thursday, May 28 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. PT on Zoom (RSVP here by Wednesday, May 27)

For more information about the Sharpe Fellows Program, including application requirements, timeline, and additional optional 2026–27 Sharpe Fellows events, please visit our website.

For any questions regarding this program, please contact Ella Rae Columbres, Associate Director of Alumni Career Engagement, UCLA Alumni Affairs at ecolumbres@support.ucla.edu 

***DEADLINE: Friday June 5th, 2026 at 11:59PM**** ***DOUBLE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE DELETED AUTOMATICALLY BY THE SYSTEM*** Founded in 2018, The Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program equips undergraduate economics students with an unparalleled education in finance and investing. Students participating in this two-year program will be able to understand the full set of fundamental economic and strategic forces that favor or disfavor a particular investment opportunity from both a theoretical and practical perspective. A cohort of 40-45 students is selected annually to participate in the following 2-year commitment (**Accepted seniors may complete year 1 and year 2 simultaneously under a compressed program):

• Year 1: The Value Investing Concentration, taking place throughout the 2026-2027 Academic Year, is taught by real-world practitioners known as “Investors in Residence”.  This industry-based curriculum prepares students through applied research projects, financial modeling, and group projects in five required core courses: EC-167 History of Financial Crises (Fall), EC-168 Introduction to Value Investing (Fall), EC-169 Applied Value Investing (Winter), EC-106S Competitive Strategy (Spring), EC-177 Field Projects in Investing (Spring), & 2 Approved ECON electives (any quarter).    
• Year 2: The Simon Fellowship, taking place throughout the 2027-2028 Academic Year (or concurrently under the compressed year), offers senior students a unique “full circle” experience, allowing them to contribute significantly to the UCLA business community while honing their own skills in finance and investing. As Simon Fellows, students embark on a journey to build their community service profile with a focused mission: to illuminate the path for underclassmen towards careers in finance and investing.  

Students who meet the following requirements are encouraged to apply:  

• Satisfactory completion of the lower division requirements for the Economics, Business Economics, or Mathematics/Economics Majors (must be majoring in an economics department program and/or double majoring with an economics major being one of the multiple majors)
• Satisfactory completion of following courses is required before commencing the concentration: MGMT 1A - Principles of Accounting I, MGMT 1B - Principles of Accounting II, and ECON 11 - Microeconomic Theory. These pre-requisites are strictly enforced and must be completed before the start of Fall 2026.
• Satisfactory completion of following courses is strongly recommended before commencing the concentration in Fall 2026: ECON 101 - Microeconomic Theory. If not possible, ECON 101 may be a concurrent course during Fall or Winter of the concentration year.

 If you are interested in joining the Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program, we encourage you to apply below. For any questions regarding the Program’s requirements or eligibility, please contact Humberto Merino-Hernandez ( hmhernandez@econ.ucla.edu) What is Value Investing?   Value investing is a time-tested and proven investment methodology that is fundamentally different from conventional security analysis. Founded by super-investors Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, Value Investing focuses on determining the intrinsic value of a company based on its current and historical financial statements. An investment is worthwhile only if there is a strong set of competitive advantages within the business and if a significant margin of safety exists between the company’s intrinsic value and its market price. How will this program help my investment career?   A student graduating from this program will understand the full set of fundamental economic and strategic forces that favor or disfavor a particular investment opportunity. Thus, students will be prepared for a wide range of careers within private equity, distressed debt firms, and actively managed mutual funds. Courses are taught by our “Investors in Residence,” a series of guest lecturers including C-suite executives from some of the nation’s largest endowments, hedge funds, mutual funds, and private equity firms. Additionally, the core courses include a Financeable subscription where students hone their accounting, finance, and Excel skills through interactive modeling modules.

How To Apply – Value Investing Concentration Application Requirements:       · Online Application Form (Submittable)       · Cover Letter (1-Page)       · Resume (1-Page)       · Unofficial Transcript       · Essay Response 1 (1-2 Pages): Describe your academic and career interests, and explain how and why the Value Investing Program would help you explore these areas.

   · Essay Response 2 (1-2 Pages): Reflect on a time when you have significantly contributed to the personal or professional growth of an individual or a group. Describe your role in this development process, focusing on mentorship or other forms of support you provided. As a Simon Fellow, how do you envision applying your experiences and insights to foster the growth of younger students within this context? Application Timeline:  - Friday, May 12th, 2026 at 5:00PM - Application Goes Live -  Friday June 5th, 2026 at 11:59PM - Application Due Application Review:       · Student applications will be reviewed by the Value Investing Program admissions committee.       · At the admissions committee discretion, phone/in-person interviews may also be scheduled.       · Students will be notified of their acceptance on Friday, June 19th, 2026 by 11:59p.m. via email. All decisions are final.