Masters Degree Programs

General Application Information

At the graduate level, applications for admissions are reviewed by departments. Admission recommendations are forwarded by the department to the graduate dean for approval. The Graduate School reserves the right to make the final admission decision.

The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) serves as the official clearinghouse for all required official admission documents.

NOTE: THE UT GRE CODE AND THE LLILAS GRE CODE ARE THE SAME: 6882.

Students applying to LLILAS thus must submit two applications:

1. the official GIAC application available from the Graduate and International Admissions Center, and
2. the LLILAS application, which requires a separate set of documents. Online applications are encouraged.

In order to meet the LLILAS application deadline, submit the GIAC application directly to that office and the LLILAS material to LLILAS no later than January 15.

Requirements for graduate (U.S. citizen/permanent resident and international) applicants:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited undergraduate institution
• a minimum of 18 hrs. Latin American content coursework
• GRE score (verbal and quantitative portions) 1150 preferred
• GPA of 3.25 (minimum) recommended
• reading and speaking knowledge of Spanish or Portuguese
• a master's degree required of all Ph.D. applicants
  
  
• TOEFL score
  - A score of 550 (paper test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR an overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to The University of Texas at Austin.
  - If you hold bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country, you will receive a waiver of the TOEFL.
  - Information concerning TOEFL schedules and test centers may be obtained from U.S. consulates or binational cultural centers in many countries or from the TOEFL website.

Application Instructions

Step I. Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC)

Submit the following to GIAC on or before January 15:

• the Official Application Form available from the Graduate and International Admissions Center (online applications are encouraged). After you submit your application and it loads into our system, usually within one to two business days, you will be sent an e-mail containing your EID and password.  This EID is your unique identifier at UT Austin.
• official transcripts from every college or university attended
• official GRE test score (The generic code used by UT for ETS reporting is 6882)
• TOEFL for international students
• application fee, U.S.$50.00 citizen/permanent resident or $75.00 for international applicants

Step II. Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS)

Submit the following to LLILAS on or before January 15:

• LLILAS supplemental application (available online); be sure to include date GRE exam (and TOEFL, if applicable) was taken. You will need the UT EID created in Step I above to fill out this form.
• 3 letters of recommendation (1 set of 3 letters): You now have an option for your recommenders to submit the letters of recommendation directly online to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions (GIAC). LLILAS will accept paper letters, with original signature, sent to LLILAS, or the electronic letters submitted to GIAC. You need to decide which system your recommenders prefer. It is important for recommenders to know that January 15 is the application deadline for receipt of a complete application in the LLLAS Student Office.
• statement of purpose:  Please state, in 750–1,000 words, your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in Latin American Studies. Be sure to include: (1) your academic background and current interests in Latin American Studies; (2) your plan of study within the program, to the best of your current knowledge; (3) any experience (work, travel, etc.) outside of academia that has helped prepare you for this course of study; (4) your plan and goals upon completion of the degree. Your personal statement is one of the most important components of your application. The Admission Committee will read this statement carefully as it considers your overall qualification for admission.
• transcript from every college or university attended

Send to:

LLILAS Student Services Office
SRH 1.310
1 University Station D0800
Austin, TX 78712-0331
512.471.5551

Deadline for receipt at LLILAS of a complete (GIAC and LLILAS) application: January 15.

Step III. Dual Degree Program Admission

In addition to all of the above, contact the partner program for their application instructions.

Application deadlines vary; however, on or before January 15 is the application deadline for GIAC and all LLILAS degree programs.

NOTE: These Web pages provide general information as a courtesy to viewers. The catalog of the University (General Information, The Undergraduate Catalog, The Graduate Catalog, and The Law School Catalog) is the document of authority for all students. The requirements given in the catalog supersede information issued by any academic department, program, college, or school. The University reserves the right to change the requirements given in the catalog at any time.