MPAff FAQs

We invite prospective students to learn more about the LBJ School through our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, and by making a visit to our campus. So that we can make arrangements for you to sit in on a class and meet with faculty, students and staff, we encourage you to contact us a week prior of your visit. To get the most out of your introduction to the LBJ School, we recommend that you attend one of our scheduled campus visits. The dates for the fall Open Houses for Prospective Students will be posted in July. While the schedule is flexible, you will have an opportunity to take a tour, attend a class, meet faculty (including the graduate advisors), staff and students, have lunch with current students and visit with any other departments across campus.  

For more information about our campus visits or to arrange a visit at another time, contact John Yeary, Admissions Coordinator, johnyeary@austin.utexas.edu, 512.232.4013, to set up an appointment.

You can check your application status at any time at the GIAC (Graduate and International Admissions Center) website http://utdirect.utexas.edu/nr/appstat.html. Please note: If you submit application materials during the 4 weeks prior to the application deadline you should anticipate a lag time of a week or more between the time your documents are received and processed, and the time your status page is updated. You can avoid the last minute rush by applying early.

You may only apply to one degree program and you must make that decision when you submit your electronic application for admission. There is a significant difference between the curriculum and focus of the MPAff and the MGPS. Applicants should thoroughly read the descriptions of the two programs, which are available on the LBJ School website, to make their decision. If you are still unsure about which program you should choose, you are strongly encouraged to discuss your educational and career objectives in relationship with your degree choice with our faculty advisors, Dr. Pat Wong (MPAff program; patwong@mail.utexas.edu) or Dr. Catherine Weaver (MGPS program; ceweaver@austin.utexas.edu).

Any person who has or will have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university is eligible to apply for admission to either masters program. While there are no course requirements for admission, the faculty strongly recommends that an entering student have six hours of American government, six hours of economics, and a course each in statistics and calculus.

The quantitative sequence in the masters programs do have enrollment prerequisites. Admitted MPAff students who have not completed formal undergraduate coursework in calculus and statistics are required to pass validation exams given at the LBJ School during orientation. Two separate exams are offered, one on calculus and the other on statistics. Students have to take only the one for which they have not taken an undergraduate course. For more information on quantitative sequence visit: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/students/quantitativesequence.

The application process includes applying for admission to both the University of Texas at Austin Graduate School through the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) and the LBJ School of Public Affairs using the State of Texas Common Application. For detailed instructions about admissions, visit our admissions webpage http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/degreeprograms/mpaff/admissions

The application deadline for fall admission is January 5. Your online application and all related materials must be received or postmarked on or before that date. Early application is advised.

Fall 11 and Spring 2012 tuition only for students in the regular program are:

Resident, 12 hour, per semester  - $5,156
Non-Resident, 12 hour, per semester -  $9,910

This figures do not include books, optional fees or living expenses. Students in dual degrees
pay a flat rate.  For Business and Law dual degree students, the amounts will be higher.

The LBJ School typically receives approximately 700 applications and enrolls a class ranging in size from 130 – 150.

The LBJ School takes a holistic approach to the application review process. Each applicant’s file is reviewed individually with equal consideration given to the quantitative and qualitative aspects of the student’s records. The process is competitive and applicants are encouraged to give special consideration to the preparation of their essay, which gives the admissions committee personal insight into their unique qualifications. 
The incoming class of 2011 has the following quantitative averages:
GPA: 3.56
GRE Verbal: 598
GRE Quantitative: 667
GRE Writing: 4.6

Part-time and mid-career MPAff students are the only students invited to apply for spring admission. The deadline for spring applicants is October 1. For more information about the mid-career program, see http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/degreeprograms/midcareer.

You must take the GRE. No substitutions are accepted. The University of Texas institution code for submitting your score is 6882.

It takes approximately two weeks for the computer-based GRE scores to arrive at the University's Graduate and International Admissions Center. To meet the January 5 deadline, you should take the computer-based GRE before December 15.

GRE scores can be no more than five years old at the time of submission. TOEFL scores can be no more than two years old at the time of submission.  If your scores do not meet this required timeline, you must retest and submit current scores.

Your three recommendation letters should be sent electronically by your recommenders. While completing your online application, you will be given the opportunity to submit your recommenders' names and email addresses. Upon submission of your application, your recommenders will be sent a link to complete an electronic recommendation letter or to upload a MS Word or PDF document, which is the preferred method. You must choose to waive your right to access these letters in order to use this system. Alternatively, letters may be emailed directly to the LBJ School Admissions Coordinator (lbjadmit@uts.cc.utexas.edu) or sent by postal mail. These two  methods are not recommended as they may cause significant delays in processing your application.

Files are not normally reviewed unless complete. Please make arrangements with the Admissions Coordinator if you think an item or document will be late. 

The LBJ School begins sending conditional offers of acceptance by email in mid-March. Your formal offer of admission from the University of Texas Gradate School and your formal letter of admission from the LBJ School, which will be the document that announces your fellowship if you have been selected to receive an award, will follow shortly thereafter.

All full-time LBJ School applicants are automatically reviewed on a competitive basis for merit-based fellowships during the admissions review process. No additional application is required. Those receiving competitive fellowships will be notified of their award in their official LBJ School admissions letter. Fellowship recipients and non-fellowship recipients are strongly encouraged to explore their eligibility for need-based financial assistance.

International students are eligible and will be automatically reviewed for merit-based fellowships during the admissions process. Typically, international students are not eligible for need-based federal assistance. See the international student website for more information www.utexas.edu/international/isss/students/financialaid.

For need-based aid, you should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Contact the UT Austin Office of Student Financial Services for more information. The LBJ School's financial aid counselor in that office is Christine Gauger, cm.gauger@austin.utexas.edu, 512-475-6296.

The UT Austin FAFSA code is 003658. The priority deadline for applying for aid for fall admission is March 31.