Transcripts
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.
If your transcripts are in a foreign language, they must be translated into English.
Scan and upload these to your McCombs Application online.
After you submit your application, pay your application fee. This will be available two business days after you submit your application. Scan and upload transcripts to the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC). Yes, you will need to upload your transcript twice. Once via the McCombs online application and once to UT GIAC after you pay the application fee.
All applicants must hold a four-year bachelor degree from an accredited university or an equivalent three-year degree. The UT Graduate International and Admissions Center makes the decision if a specific three year degree is considered equivalent.
Put your official transcripts in safe-keeping. If you’re offered admission and intend to enroll, you will send your official transcripts to GIAC.
GPA:
A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is required. For applicants from an international institution, a comparable GPA will be calculated by UT GIAC. Your GPA is calculated using grades from upper-division course work—junior- and senior-level courses—and in any graduate-level classes. If your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement—or if you feel that your GPA is not a valid indicator of your ability—you have an option to address this in the Optional Essay section of the application. GIAC staff will determine GPA equivalencies for international applicants.
Application Fee
You will not be able to pay the application fee for approximately two business days after you press the submit button on your application. Your application is considered “on time” if submitted by the deadline, regardless if the fee is paid on that date. However, your application will not be evaluated if you do not pay the fee once it’s due.
The fee is $65 for domestic applicants and $90 for international applicants. Credit card and electronic checks accepted.
Fee Waivers: If you can’t afford the application fee and are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident pursuing your first graduate degree, you may be eligible for a fee waiver.
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 waiver granted by GRE or GMAT; or
- If you are currently enrolled, 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.
Wait until you receive the email with a link to your MyStatus page, redact your Social Security number from the documentation, then email it to Shannon Neuse. 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.
Letters of Recommendation
The most effective letters will describe the applicant's quantitative skills and intellectual ability.
| Program |
# of Letters Required |
Academic References* |
| MSBA |
2 |
1 |
| MSF |
2 |
1 |
| MSM |
2 |
1 |
| MSITM |
3 |
2 |
Recommendation letters must be submitted by the application deadline to be considered a complete application. Letters of recommendation are received directly from the recommender via a secure portal. While completing your application, you will be able to send your recommender an invitation to access this secure portal to submit their recommendation. Once your letter of recommendation is received, you will receive an automated email. *The admissions committee highly recommends this number of academic references. Professional references will also be considered.
A couple of helpful hints:
- Complete this part of your application first. This will launch email notifications to your recommenders and allow them to get started on the form while you're working on the other components of your application.
- Contact your recommenders ASAP to let them know they should receive an email as soon as you save the section. Sometimes these emails end up in a junk folder since they come from a Texas MS email address.
- Monitor the status of your recommendations on your McCombs application status page to ensure they're completed within a reasonable amount of time and by the deadline. You can resend notifications from within the application as needed.
- For MSITM, letters should also emphasize the student's programming ability.*
GMAT or GRE
As long as you’ve taken the test and have made the request to have your official scores sent to UT Austin by the round deadline, your application will be considered “on time.” During the admissions process, we sync what you reported in the application with what’s received by UT Austin. It can take several weeks for your official score to be received by the university. Once the item is received you will see that update on MyStatus page.
We cannot reverse “deny” decisions, so you should submit your strongest possible application. Please do not submit the application with the intent to send updated test scores. If you’re applying to multiple programs at McCombs, you don’t need to send separate scores to each program. UT Austin has a central repository for official scores that all departments can access.
The university generally receives scores four to six weeks after a test is taken. If you are sending scores from a prior test, the scores must still be valid at the time of application to the program (within the last five years for the GRE or GMAT and two years for the TOEFL or IELTS).
GRE Prep GMAT Prep
Please visit your program’s page above to read more about requirements for admission as this can vary by program.
FAQ:
What are the Codes for GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS? The Educational Testing Service institution code for the GRE and TOEFL is 6882.
The institutional code for the GMAT:
MSM: 396-44-93
MSF: 396-44-78
MSBA: 396-44-73
MSITM: 396-44-30
To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, have an official paper score report sent to the Graduate and International Admissions Center.
Do you prefer taking one test over the other?
No, we do not have a preferred test. We accept both the GRE and the GMAT.
What’s your minimum acceptable test score? What test scores do I need in order to secure admission?
We do not admit/deny solely based on test scores since we are looking for overall exceptional applications, including high grades, strong professional development, high test scores and communication skills. Our faculty committee is concerned when GRE/GMAT scores are below the 50th percentile for MSM and MSF (verbal or quantitative) and below 60th percentile for MSBA and MSITM, or TOEFL scores are below 100 (IELTS below 7).
I have an advanced degree/work experience, can I waive the test score requirement?
We cannot waive the GRE/GMAT/TOEFL requirement for applicants with work experience or advanced degrees. These scores are an important part of our application evaluation.
International Students
In addition to completing the prescribed graduate admissions process, international students applying to The University of Texas at Austin must submit either an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English.
Waivers
International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement. We can only apply this exemption to countries listed here. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the TOEFL/IELTS requirement if they possess a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or an institution in a qualifying country. The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master's - but not a bachelor's - degree from a similar institution.
Bridge Program
Eligibility
-
Open to current UT Austin students only
- Open to all majors
When to Apply
Students who are interested can apply now. Applications are reviewed 4-6 weeks after each deadline - deadlines are the same as the traditional application deadlines.
A Pathway Two admissions options is available for students who have confirmed internship offers for the summer after their junior year - contact your specific Program Coordinator for details
Admissions
Admission to the program is competitive. The admissions committee is looking for demonstrated quantitative coursework on your transcript as well as any program specific requirements as listed under your program's requirement tab in this section. If you have any questions about specific program requirements, please visit your program’s page above.
Benefits
- Students admitted to the Bridge program will take MS summer courses between their Junior and Senior Year and reserve for graduate credit
- Allows time for internship upon completing undergraduate degree
- Bridge students will gain access to McCombs Career Services after successful completion of summer courses between their Junior and Senior Year
- GMAT/GRE score waiver with qualifying competitive GPA
Visit our Bridge Page to learn more about MS Bridge Program Admissions.
Divider
Payment of the non-refundable $200 application fee is required. 1-2 business days after you submit your application to McCombs, an invoice will populate on your “What I Owe” page, found in your GIAC MyStatus page. Once your invoice has loaded on your “What I Owe” account, you will receive an automated email with a link to your MyStatus page. Within two business days of payment, your fee status should reflect “Paid” on your MyStatus page.
Accepted forms of payment are MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or an eCheck. EFTs or eChecks must be drawn on a U.S. bank account.
Please note that UT Austin does not accept VISA as a form of payment. Applicants are expected to make arrangements to pay using one of the payment methods above.
Application Fee Waivers
MBA applicants who meet one or more of the following criteria may qualify for an application fee waiver:
• Veteran or current U.S. military service member
• Teach for America participant
• Forte MBA Launch participant
• University of Texas institution graduate
We are unable to offer application fee waivers based on financial need.
To request an application fee waiver, check the appropriate box under the “Certification” section of your application. For veterans or current military service members, please complete the military service section of the Personal Information section of the application. Upon application submission, a fee waiver request will be generated.
Please allow 7-10 business days from the time of application submission for your application fee to be reviewed. If your waiver request is granted, your application fee “To Do” item on your MyStatus page will be marked as “WAIVED.” If your request is not granted, our admissions team will reach out to you directly. Please note that payment of the application fee prior to the processing of the waiver will not be refunded. The time required to process your application fee waiver does not affect the evaluation of your application.
If you apply to more than one Texas MBA program during the same admissions cycle, you are required to pay only one application fee (the fee for the application that was submitted first). Please contact us concerning the fee waiver after your second application has been submitted.
Dual Degree Applicants
For information about paying the application fee as a dual degree applicant, please see our Dual Degree page.
FAQs
Deadlines
I am an international applicant. Can I apply after the final international deadline?
No. The final international deadline is set in order to allow time for visa processing. Additionally, due to a high volume of applications, we cannot accept applications after the final deadline.
I submitted my application by the deadline but I am unable to pay my application fee. Will my application be considered “on-time?”
Yes. Your application is considered “on time” if submitted by the deadline, regardless if the fee is paid on that date. However, your application will not be evaluated if you do not pay the fee once it’s due.
Can I apply to more than one Ms Program?
Yes, you can apply to more than one MS Program (MSBA, MSF, MSM, MSITM). You will be required to submit another application to to the additional program(s); however, you will only be required to submit one application fee.
Program Format
Do you offer part-time or online options?
No. The Texas MS programs are offered on a full-time, in-person only basis.
Can I enroll in your classes as a non-degree seeking student?
No. The Texas MS Programs courses are reserved only for students admitted to the MSBA, MSF, MSM and MSITM programs.
Are your Programs STEM?
The MS in Finance, MS in Business Analytics, MS in Marketing, and the MS in IT & Management are all STEM-eligible.
Test Scores
What are the Codes for GRE/GMAT/TOEFL/IELTS?
The Educational Testing Service institution code for the GRE and TOEFL is 6882.
The institutional code for the GMAT:
MSM: 396-44-93
MSF: 396-44-78
MSBA: 396-44-73
MSITM: 396-44-30
To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, have an official paper score report sent to the Graduate and International Admissions Center.
Do you prefer taking one test over the other?
No, we do not have a preferred test. We accept both the GRE and the GMAT.
What’s your minimum acceptable test score? What test scores do I need in order to secure admission?
We do not admit/deny solely based on test scores since we are looking for overall exceptional applications, including high grades, strong professional development, high test scores and communication skills. Our faculty committee is concerned when GRE/GMAT scores are below the 50th percentile for MSM, MSITM, MSEM, and MSF (verbal or quantitative) and below 60th percentile for MSBA, or TOEFL scores are below 100 (IELTS below 7).
I have an advanced degree/work experience, can I waive the test score requirement?
We cannot waive the GRE/GMAT/TOEFL requirement for applicants with work experience or advanced degrees. These scores are an important part of our application evaluation.