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The University of Texas at Austin

Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs

Master of Global Policy Studies

Master of Global Policy Studies

Admissions and Deadlines

The deadline for fall 2010 applications is January 5, 2010. All applicants who apply as full time students are automatically reviewed for merit-based fellowship award consideration. No additional scholarship application is required. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Early application is advised.

Note: The successful completion of undergraduate-level statistics (or validation of proficiency through testing) is required of all MGPS students before enrollment in the analytical methods core courses. Students who have not completed formal undergraduate coursework in statistics are required to pass validation exams offered by the LBJ School prior to the beginning of the semester. Students who have not been exposed to differential calculus are strongly encouraged to attend a summer course offered by the LBJ School during the summer before matriculation.  The MGPS economics core courses will be much more accessible for students who are comfortable with derivatives. The faculty also recommends that entering students have at least six hours of undergraduate economics and a course in international relations.

Degree Eligibility

Any person who has or will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university is eligible to apply for admission to the Master of Global Policy Studies program (MGPS). While there are no specific course prerequisites required to be considered for admission, the faculty recommends a background of six hours of economics, and a course each in statistics, calculus and international relations. Any person who has or will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university is eligible to apply for admission to the Master of Global Policy Studies program (MGPS). While there are no specific course prerequisites required to be considered for admission, the faculty recommends a background of six hours of economics, and a course each in statistics, calculus and international relations. If you are admitted without having taken a statistics course, you will have to satisfy the statistics prerequisite for the MGPS core course, Analytical Methods for Global Policy, before you start classes, because MGPS students take the required methods course in their first semester at the LBJ School. The MGPS program also has a language requirement that you will need to satisfy before graduation (but not necessarily before matriculation): students must demonstrate a level of proficiency equal to or above the completion of the fourth semester at the college level in one foreign language. International students whose native language is not English are considered to have satisfied this requirement.

Application Requirements:

All applicants to the LBJ School will submit the following materials:
Directly to the University of Texas Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC):

Directly to the LBJ School:

Note: GIAC will request that you attach a “document matching form” to any paper documents you mail or deliver to their office. This is simply a tracking form that ensures that your mailed documents are matched to your file in their office.  Materials mailed or delivered to the LBJ School office do NOT need to be accompanied by this form.

  1. The Texas Common Application and Fee (GIAC): The first and most important step in the admission process is to complete and submit the online Texas Common Application and required fee. The Texas Common Application is made available online: https://www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX www.applytexas.org/adappc/gen/c_start.WBX in early September for fall admission and early April for spring admission. Submission of the online application creates your unique UT EID and allows both the University of Texas Graduate School and the LBJ School to recognize you as an official applicant.

    It is not necessary or advised that you postpone this step until you have all of the required components of your file ready to submit. Completing the online application creates a file in your name and allows both GIAC and the LBJ School to complete your file as the remainder of the required documents arrive. Payment of the application-processing fee may be submitted electronically or mailed directly to GIAC. For the mailing address, see the GIAC admission site (http://www.utexas.edu/prospective/graduate.shtml). The application fee is $50 for U.S. residents and $75 for international applicants. An additional $10 transcript-processing fee is charged to all former UT Austin students. To pay this fee, please go to the “What I Owe” page in UT Direct after you have submitted your online application. Applications without fees will not be processed.
     
  2. Official Transcripts (GIAC): Transcripts may be submitted directly from your undergraduate institutions or by hard-copy.  Transcripts sent by the applicant must be sealed. Address information is availalbe on the GIAC contact page. 
     
  3. Required Test Scores (GIAC): The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all applicants. Information about taking the GRE is available from the Educational Testing Service at www.ets.org. When taking your exam(s) you should indicate that you want the results sent to the University of Texas at Austin. The University of Texas code is 6882.

    International students whose native language is not English are also required to submit the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL), unless they graduated from a four-year college or university in the United States or other English speaking country. The LBJ School requires a minimum total score of 100 on the ibt TOEFL with a minimum score of 26 on the speaking section.  A request to use the paper test must be sent to the admissions coordinator and a minimum of  600 (new scale) will be required. The LBJ School does not accept the IELTS test. Information about the TOEFL is available at www.toefl.org.

    International applicants may be contacted to schedule a telephone interview as part of the admissions process, at the discretion and expense of the LBJ School.

    Note: GRE score results must be fewer than five years old at the time of submission to be considered valid. TOEFL scores must be fewer than two years old at the time of submission.
     
  4. Letters of Recommendation (LBJ School): Three letters of recommendation are required. If you wish to waive your access rights, please send an e-mail to lbjadmit@uts.cc.utexas.edu stating that fact and listing your recommenders.   We prefer to have letters of recommendation sent directly to the LBJ Admissions Coordinator as e-mail attachments from your recommenders; however, hard-copy sealed and signed letters may be sent using postal or overnight services.

    Although faculty recommendations are preferred, applicants who have been out of school for five years or more may use work references. Faculty letters of recommendation on file at university placement offices are also acceptable.

    Your references should provide a narrative that addresses your potential for academic success at the LBJ School and your future in public policy. Note: Although the GIAC website provides downloadable recommendation forms for applicants to use for this purpose, we do not require this form and we strongly prefer a written narrative from your recommender.
     
  5. Current professional resume (LBJ School): You should include your name and page number on each page of your professional resume. Your resume can be sent in paper form directly to the LBJ School, or emailed electronically to lbjadmit@uts.cc.utexas.edu.
     
  6. Essay: Your essay can be sent in paper form directly to the LBJ School, or emailed electronically to lbjadmit@uts.cc.utexas.edu. Maximum essay length is fthree pages for paper or email submissions.

    You will be asked to address these three questions in a single essay:
    1. Why are you interested in global policy studies, and what international or transnational policy challenge do you find most compelling?
    2. What kind of career would you like to pursue, and how would attending the LBJ School help you to fulfill your objectives? (Think in terms of a ten-year time horizon).
    3. What meaningful international experiences have you had so far, and how did they shape your outlook about international affairs and your career?

Forms you can download:

LBJ School Contact Information

A reference sheet found on the LBJ School “Contact Us” site at http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/contact/osap.php provides contact information for University staff that can assist you with questions you may have about the admissions process.
Admissions Records Coordinator
512-232-4013
Email (preferred)
lbjadmit@uts.cc.utexas.edu

Mailing Address

By U.S. mail:
Office of Student and Alumni Programs
LBJ School of Public Affairs
University of Texas at Austin
Box Y
Austin, TX 78713-8925

By private courier (FedEx, UPS, etc.):
Office of Student and Alumni Programs
LBJ School of Public Affairs
University of Texas at Austin
2315 Red River St.
Austin, TX 78712-1536