How to Apply
The Department of Economics no longer mails out paper application materials; all applicants are expected to apply via the web. Please see the Frequently Asked Questions section below if you do not have convenient access to the web. The application deadline is January 1 and admissions decisions are usually announced around the beginning of March. Although the Department offers both M.S. and M.A. degrees to continuing Economics graduate students, we admit only those applicants who are seeking the doctoral degree, not those seeking a terminal master’s degree.
All required application materials may be found at the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) web site.
This site contains the electronic application for admission form, including the Supplemental Information Page; downloadable Recommendation Letter forms; and the electronic Statement of Purpose form. It also contains detailed instructions for both U.S. and international applicants about applying to the University of Texas and should be carefully reviewed by all applicants in conjunction with information provided on this web site.
Some parts of the application need to be sent to GIAC and some directly to the Department. The following materials should be sent to GIAC:
- Application for Graduate Admission
Submitted via the "On-Line Application" link on the GIAC web page. - Application Processing Fee
May be paid by credit card or by check or money order (you'll indicate which when filling out the online application). If paying by check or money order, please be sure to clearly write your name, social security number or student number, and date of birth for identification purposes. Applications submitted without the required application processing fee will not be reviewed. - Official Transcripts
Please arrange to have official transcripts from all of the colleges and universities you have attended mailed to GIAC. These may also be submitted electronically from U.S. schools. High School transcripts are not necessary. Please keep a photocopy to send directly to the department (more on that below). - Official GRE Scores
Please arrange to have your official score report sent to GIAC. We require all three sections of the GRE's "General Test" (verbal, quantitative, and analytical or starting 10/02, "analytical writing") and accept both the paper-based and the computer-based tests. The University's institution code is 6882; the Department code is 1801. - Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores
International applicants only. If you hold or will hold an undergraduate degree from a U.S. college or university or from an institution in another English-only speaking country, the TOEFL is automatically waived. It will not be waived if you have earned or are in the process of earning a Master's degree from a U.S. college or university. Please note: International applicants seeking admission for Fall 2005 or later who do not qualify for a waiver based on the above criterion must submit an official TOEFL score; exemptions based on GRE verbal scores of 400 or above will no longer be automatically granted. - Three Letters of Recommendation. see requirements for admission
- Statement of Purpose
Your statement of purpose may be submitted electronically to GIAC. It should be no more than two pages long. Your statement of purpose is an important part of your application, and care should be taken in writing it. If you prefer, you may submit it directly to the Department of Economics, and you may attach a current vita/resume.
The mailing address for GIAC is:
Graduate and International Admissions Center
P.O. Box 7608
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78713-7608
The following materials should be sent directly to the department at the address below. Please send the materials in one packet if at all possible:
- Photocopies of Your Transcripts
Be sure that official transcripts are sent to GIAC. - Mathematics Preparation for Graduate Applicants Form
Please download this form from the online application part of the GIAC web site, complete it, and mail it to the Department. It is a very important source of information about your mathematical background and will be carefully reviewed. - Additional Materials
While you are welcome to send any materials which you believe will enhance the quality of your application (such as award certificates, writing samples, etc.), please do not send photos of yourself, and please do not assemble your materials in folders or booklets, which are difficult to copy.
The materials listed above should be mailed to:
Graduate Coordinator
Department of Economics
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station C3100
Austin, TX 78712-0301
Applicants are responsible for submitting all the required application documents by January 1. All applicants whose files are complete by this date will be considered for both admission and financial support. Please be sure to read the detailed Financial Assistance information on our web site. International applicants should pay particular attention to the information regarding oral English proficiency requirements for international Teaching Assistants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I enter in the spring semester?
No, all new graduate students must begin in the fall.
How do I get a paper application?
We're sorry, but you can't. The department no longer mails out paper application materials under any circumstances.
What if I don't have access to the web?
Try checking with your local library. If that fails, you may wish to try Kinko's, an international company with locations around the world: http://www.kinkos.com/info/. Another alternative would be to find a nearby cyber cafe. A directory of cyber cafes is available from NetCafeGuide: http://www.netcafeguide.com/.
Who do I contact if I still have questions?
Vivian Goldman-Leffler, the department's Graduate Coordinator. Her email address is vivian@eco.utexas.edu.
Last Updated: 03-Apr-2009Department of Economics in
The College of Liberal Arts at UT Austin
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