Graduate Program Admissions

Kerri Neimeyer
Graduate Admissions Coordinator
GAR 1.104
512-232-6401

Admissions Information

Each year approximately 300 students apply for admission to the Graduate Program in the Department of History. The usual entering class numbers about twenty.  In Fall 2010 we will admit only eight students. The admission process is thus very selective and only highly qualified applicants whose records indicate considerable academic potential are admitted to the program. Some of the students we accept already have extensive training in history, either at the undergraduate or graduate level. Others have majored in related disciplines such as economics, art history, law, philosophy, political science, or sociology. Students are admitted to our graduate program once each year for enrollment beginning in the fall semester only.

Applications are reviewed and ranked by a faculty committee. In making its decisions, the committee considers the following five primary factors:

• academic transcripts (undergraduate and graduate)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores
• letters of recommendation
• statement of purpose
• writing sample

The Department is seeking students with exceptional academic ability whose letters of recommendation, academic profile, and writing sample indicate a capacity for sustained sophisticated and original scholarly activity. It wants to encourage a stimulating learning environment and a vigorous exchange of ideas by admitting a student body that is intellectually and socially diverse.

Deadline

Students applying for admission to our program for Fall 2010 must do so by December 1, 2009. Admission decisions will be sent by the early March, and each admitted student has until April 15 to accept.  All application materials must be submitted by the December 1st deadline.

How to Apply

NOTE: Read these directions carefully.  Follow the directions (we suggest you print them out). Check our Frequently Asked Questions page for additional information. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.  If you have any questions or concerns about our directions, contact the Department of History Graduate Admissions Coordinator, Kerri Neimeyer.

The Application for Admission to Graduate Study consists of TWO PARTS:

PART ONE - materials to be sent to the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC).  
Please note that the application procedure is slightly different for U.S. and international applicants.

U.S. Mail
GIAC
University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box 7608
Austin, TX 78713-7608

Street Address
GIAC
University of Texas at Austin
2608 Whitis Ave.
Austin, TX 78712-1534

PART TWO - materials to be sent directly to the Department of History.
All departmental application materials should be sent via email as an attachment to the following e-mail address: lyonsneimeyer@mail.utexas.edu  If this is not possible, please notify the department and an alternate arrangement can be made.

U.S. Mail
Graduate Admissions
Department of History
University of Texas at Austin
1 University Sta. B7000
Austin, TX 78712-0220

Part One: Application to The University of Texas at Austin

• Submit an electronic application from the ApplyTexas website. Online applications are available one year in advance of the semester you are applying. For example, if you are applying for Fall 2010, the online application will be available starting September 1st, 2009.
• Submit three Letters of Recommendation. Letters of recommendation may be submitted online through the AppyTexas website.  Please follow these instructions.  On page 6 of the electronic application, enter the names, e-mail addresses and titles of the recommenders. Be sure that the e-mail address is current and accurate. You will be asked if you are going to waive the right to view your letters after they are submitted. Please indicate this by answering the associated question on the application for admission.  Within 24 hours of your application submission, an automatic email will be generated and sent to the recommenders.  The e-mail will contain instructions and a secure link to the letter of recommendation website.  Note that the secure link has an expiration date of 45 days from the day the e-mail was sent.  To monitor and maintain your requests for reference and other admissions materials, please go to the status check website.  There you can monitor the status of your pending recommendations, resend a Request for Reference email to your recommenders, add a new recommender, and revise your FERPA (right to view) status from retained to waived.  Online submission of recommendations is preferred, but GIAC will accept paper recommendations if necessary.  If you have any questions, please email gradref@austin.utexas.edu.
• Submit Statement of Purpose. You may submit this one of two ways - as part of your online electronic application (in the essay/statement section) OR you may submit it as an email attachment to the department.  The statement should be one to two pages in length, approximately 700 words. 
• Submit fee payment (U.S.- $50.00; non-U.S. - $75.00). Fees are subject to change so please refer to the ApplyTexas website for current fee information.
• Submit a report of GRE scores and official report of TOEFL scores (if applicable). Reports are to be mailed directly from The Educational Testing Service (ETS) agency.

               ETS code for the University of Texas at Austin is 6882
               ETS TOEFL code is 92

• Submit transcripts from all senior universities attended.

Part Two: Application to the Department of History Graduate Program 

• Submit Department of History Graduate Application Cover Sheet (web form; UT EID login required).  This form is necessary in order to easily identify your fields of interest.
• Submit writing sample. Submit a sample that shows your analytical writing skills (e.g., senior or master's degree thesis, term paper).  Recommended length is approximately 20 pages.  If your 20 page submission is from a longer document, you may provide copies of both the segment and the complete document.
• Submit Curriculum Vitae or resume (optional)

Helpful Hints

Still have questions? Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Follow the instructions you just read. If you do not follow the instructions, your departmental application may be declared void.

Do not send your departmental application materials to GIAC. They receive thousands of applications (especially near the deadlines) and it can sometimes take more than two months before they forward materials to the department. Sending your departmental materials to an incorrect address could result in you missing the deadline.

Provide a correct e-mail address that will be active until the end of April on your application and on your Department of History Cover Sheet. If you change email addresses, contact the department and GIAC. Most of our communication is done through email.

Give your recommenders plenty of lead time when requesting letters of recommendation.  Letters must also be received by the December 1 deadline.

When in doubt, e-mail the Department of History Graduate Admissions Coordinator for help and clarification.