Nonresident supplemental tuition exemptions (including AB 540)

AB 540 NRST Exemption

Under California law § 68130.5, commonly known as AB 540, students granted the NRST exemption will be charged resident tuition. To be eligible for this exemption a student must meet a combination of California time and enrollment requirements as well as degree or unit attainment.

• Learn more about the AB540 eligibility

How to apply

1. Students complete the Statement of Legal Residence (pre-admission or post-enrollment), through which they are evaluated for residency status as well as AB 540 eligibility.
2. During the Statement of Legal Residence evaluation, students may be required to complete the AB 540 Affidavit and provide copies of their California school transcripts.

Students do not need to reapply for the AB 540 NRST exemption once UC has deemed a student eligible for the provision, as long as they are not in possession of a nonimmigrant visa and they remain continuously enrolled at their UC campus.

California Dream Act

Undocumented students who meet AB540 requirements are also eligible to be considered for financial aid through the California DREAM Act application.

• Learn more about financial aid eligibility under the California DREAM Act

Special Resident Classification

At the UC, a Special Resident Classification is a residency category that allows certain students who are normally considered nonresidents to pay resident tuition even if they do not meet the full residency requirements:

Some of the most common special resident classifications include: 

• Student Member of the U.S. Armed Forces
• Student Dependent of a Member of the U.S. Armed Forces
• California Ward of the Court or Foster Youth
• Nonresident Dependent of a California Resident (Condit Bill)
• Two-Year Care and Control
• California Public School Teacher
• Graduate of Bureau of Indian Affairs
• Amateur Student Athlete 
• Refugee, VAWA, T or U visa holders
• University/LLC Employees
• Dependent of Member of Academic Senate
• Incarcerated Students

For more information on the special resident classification, please refer to the UC Residence Policy & Guidelines.

Veterans

UC Policy provides for military provisions under state and federal law. Please review the UC Residence Policy & Guidelines for more information.