How to Apply for Graduate Admission

Tower at sunrise

Application for admission to the Graduate School is a multi-step process. Each graduate program sets its own application deadline. The application process may take several weeks to complete; you should apply well in advance of the deadline to ensure adequate time to submit all required items. After you apply, keep up with it all by monitoring MyStatus.

Step 1: Complete the Online Application

Applicants to graduate programs at The University of Texas at Austin should complete the appropriate application for admission. Please note that applications can take up to 72 hours to load to the University of Texas at Austin system after submission of the application form.

Complete a U.S. Graduate Application if you are a:

  • U.S. citizen
  • Permanent resident
  • Former student of UT Austin

Complete an International Graduate Application if you are a:

  • Non-U.S. citizen
  • Non-permanent resident of the United States

 

Monitor My Status

MyStatus offers applicants secure, individualized information from initial application submission to the final admission decision and beyond. Use it to track the receipt of submitted application materials, to upload required supporting documents, to confirm that your application file is complete, and to get your decision. 

After you submit your online application, you’ll receive an email (within 2-3 days) that will provide you with MyStatus login information. 

Use it often—it’s the only way you’ll know if items are missing from your application file.
 

Program-specific applications

Visit the website for the program you are interested in applying to.

Business

  • Texas McCombs MBA 
  • Masters in Professional Accounting 
  • Masters in Science - Business Analytics 
  • Masters in Science - Finance 
  • Masters in Science - Health Care Transformation 
  • Masters in Science - Information Technology and Management 
  • Masters in Science - Marketing 
  • Masters in Science - Technology Commercialization

All Other Programs

Apply Now at ApplyTexas

Visit the ApplyTexas website to begin your application if your program is listed below. 

  • Architecture
  • Business (some exceptions)
  • Communication
  • Education
  • Fine Arts
  • Geosciences
  • Information
  • Liberal Arts
  • Natural Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Pharmacy
  • Public Affairs
  • Intercollegial Program

Step 2: Pay the Application Fee

Pay your non-refundable application fee by credit card (Visa and MasterCard accepted) when you complete the application.

Application Fees:

  • MBA (and dual programs with MBA): $200
  • MPA: $125
  • All other programs:
    • U.S. Graduate: $65
    • International Graduate: $90

What I Owe

If you decide not to pay the application fee when you submit your application, you may pay it later via the above What I Owe link on UT Direct. 

  • Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and electronic checks are accepted.

Fee Waivers

If you can’t afford the application fee and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident applying to pursue your first graduate degree, you may be eligible for a fee waiver (not available for the MBA or MPA programs). Fee waivers are not available for international citizens.

If you intend to seek a waiver, do not pay the application fee when prompted. Instead, submit your application and indicate you will pay later.

Demonstrate your need for an application fee waiver by providing a copy of:

  • A fee waiver granted by GRE or GMAT; or
  • If you are currently enrolled at an institution, your financial aid awards for the previous two semesters showing the source(s) of your funding; or
  • If you are not currently enrolled, your tax returns for the last two years.

Submitting documentation

Wait until you receive the email with a link to your MyStatus page, redact your Social Security number from any documentation you plan to send, then email it to shannon.neuse@austin.utexas.edu.

Make sure you include your UT EID in the email; without this information, your request cannot be processed. Please note that it will take 24 to 48 hours from when you submit the application before you receive the status check email – do not send your request prior to receiving that email.

You will be unable to upload any documents to MyStatus until your fee is waived or paid.

Step 3: Submit Transcripts

After satisfying the application fee, provide an official transcript from every senior college you have attended. Even if courses taken at one institution are recorded on another college's transcript, transcripts must be submitted from the institution at which the courses were taken. Failure to list all colleges on the application and provide those transcripts will be considered an intentional omission and may lead to the cancellation of your application for admission or withdrawal of your offer of admission.

Official transcripts bear the facsimile signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts from U.S. colleges or universities must have been produced within the last calendar year, and should include the award of degree printed on the transcript unless coursework is still in progress. Transcripts written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation. We do not accept outside evaluations of foreign transcripts. Each transcript (mark sheet) should contain a complete record of studies at the institution from which it is issued (i.e., the subjects taken and grades [marks] earned in each subject). 

Below are acceptable submission methods:

SPEEDE

If your college or university uses SPEEDE, you can have your transcript(s) sent electronically. Check with the registrar of your institution to find out if transcripts can be sent via the SPEEDE server, as well as instructions for placing an order.

Institutions who utilize SPEEDE  

Parchment

If your college or university uses Parchment, you can have your transcript(s) sent electronically. Please note that due to the sending institution’s system limitations, we cannot currently accept transcripts through Parchment from University of Kansas, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), National Louis University, Dartmouth College, Southern Utah University and Northwestern University. 

If you obtain a Parchment transcript directly and upload it to your application, please be aware it cannot be used to clear you for registration upon admission. As such, you should have the transcript sent directly to UT Austin.

Upload

First, review the guidelines for uploading transcripts, linked below. Then, upload a PDF using the Document Upload System  . You can upload an official PDF transcript issued by the institution or a scan of the official paper transcript issued to you by the registrar. Uploads will be considered unofficial if admitted, but can be used to process your application for admission. You should redact your Social Security number from the transcript before you upload, but other alterations are not permitted.

Instructions for Uploading Transcripts  

Uploads require verification, a process which can take 2 to 3 business days. You should upload your transcripts well in advance of the deadline to allow adequate time for processing. Failure to do so could result in your application being considered late. Do not upload unofficial transcripts or other documents that do not meet requirements, even as temporary placeholders. Doing so will delay processing of your application and could lead to cancellation for being late.

 

We cannot accept electronic transcripts sent by registrars or third-party entities in any other format (e.g. by email or by links to secure websites). Please do not mail official transcripts or paper copies of your transcripts before you are offered admission. Sending paper copies of documents will significantly delay the processing of your application.

Some programs may also request that you upload copies of your transcripts when submitting the application form. These are not provided to the Office of Graduate Admissions with your application form and therefore cannot be used to fulfill the MyStatus transcript requirements.

Accounting & Nursing

Those applying to the master's program in professional accounting or nursing must also submit transcripts from junior and/or community colleges.

Ordering Transcripts as a Former UT Student

Applicants who have previously attended the university will be automatically billed $20 for transcripts, payable via the What I Owe link above. Do not order transcripts directly from the university registrar, as doing so will slow processing.

Step 4: Submit Test Scores

GRE and GMAT Scores

Most programs require the GRE or GMAT. Check with your program of application to see which test is required or if a waiver is available.

All portions of the test are to be taken on your designated testing date, otherwise, the score will be considered incomplete and cannot be used as part of your application.

English Proficiency Scores

International students applying to UT Austin must submit an official score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. See link below for more information.

Additional information for International Students

Submission of Scores

Ask the appropriate testing agency to send your official test scores as required by your program of application.

GRE  

GMAT  

TOEFL  

IELTS  

The Educational Testing Service institution code for the GRE and TOEFL is 6882. The institutional code for the GMAT is 396-44-45. It is not necessary to use a department code, but if you must select one, choose one that is similar to your proposed major. 

To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account.

Receipt of Scores

The university generally receives scores four to six weeks after a test is taken if the university is designated as a score recipient at the time of testing. 

If you are sending scores from a prior test, the scores must still be reportable and valid at the time you submit your application (within the last five years for the GRE or GMAT and two years for the TOEFL or IELTS).

Step 5: Submit Departmental Requirements

All programs have additional requirements that you must complete before they will consider your application for admission.

Letters of recommendation for almost all programs are submitted electronically. (Computer Science, The Butler School of Music, and most master’s programs in Business use an alternate submission method for letters of recommendation. Check the program’s website for complete information.)

You will be given the opportunity to list the name, position, organization and email address for three recommenders when you complete the application. After you submit your application, emails will be sent to your recommenders directing them to a website where they may upload their letters.

MyStatus offers a self-service feature you can use to resend the request email to your recommenders, if necessary. Use it to supply an alternate email address if your recommender’s spam filter blocks the original request or has removed the link. You can also add a new recommender or revise your right-to-view status from “retained” to “waived.”

If your recommender is unable to submit an electronic letter of recommendation, consult the program to which you are applying for instructions.

Upload Additional Materials

Check the website of the program you are applying to for instructions on submitting additional supporting documents.

MyStatus

Most programs will allow you to upload additional required materials via MyStatus.

 

Admission for Non-Degree Seeking Students

Not all graduate programs offer the option for students to enroll as a non-degree seeker. Before applying, check with the graduate program of interest to see if they offer the non-degree option. The application process for a non-degree seeker is the same as degree seeking students. Enrollment is limited to one year, and a bachelor’s degree is required. Check with the graduate program to determine if the GRE/GMAT is required, as it may be waived for non-degree seeking applicants. The TOEFL/IELTS is required of all international applicants unless they meet the waiver requirements.

All programs have additional requirements such as letters of recommendation or a statement of purpose that you may need complete before they will consider your application. Check with the program you are applying to for instructions on submitting additional supporting documents. Please note that if the program does not require these documents, they may still be requested by the Graduate School before your application can be considered for admission.

If you later decide to seek a graduate degree, you must apply as a degree-seeking student by the program deadline. A degree-seeking student may petition to have applied to the master’s degree up to six semester hours of credit in graduate-level courses earned while enrolled as a non-degree seeking student.