Master of Public Affairs Program Admissions
Admissions and Deadlines
Fall
For all students applying for fall admission, the University begins accepting applications in mid-September and has set a deadline of January 5 for submitting application materials. All fall applicants who apply as full time students are automatically reviewed for fellowship award consideration. No additional scholarship application is required.
Spring
The LBJ School accepts applications for spring admission from part-time and mid-career MPAff students only; the application deadline for spring admission is October 1. Spring applicants are not eligible for fellowship consideration.
Incomplete applications will not be considered. Early application is advised.
Note: The successful completion of undergraduate-level calculus and statistics (or validation of proficiency through testing) is required of all LBJ School students prior to enrollment in the quantitative sequence of the core curriculum. Students who have not completed formal undergraduate coursework in calculus and statistics are required to pass validation exams offered by the LBJ School prior to the beginning of the semester. 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 please visit: http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/advising/quantitative_sequence.php.
Degree Program Options and Eligibility
MPAff Degree
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 Public Affairs program (MPAff), or one of the dual degree programs. While there are no specific course prerequisites required to be considered for admission, the faculty recommends a background of at least six hours of American government, six hours of economics, and a course each in statistics and calculus.
Dual Degree
The dual degree option gives students the opportunity to combine the MPAff or the MGPS degree with a second approved graduate degree in a complementary field to expand the scope of their educational experiences and develop qualifications in a specific area. Dual degree programs are structured so that the student can earn both degrees in less time than it would take to earn them separately. See http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/degreeprograms/dual.php for a list of approval dual degree programs.
Individuals applying for admission as dual degree students are applying to, and seeking admission from, two University of Texas graduate programs. Dual degree applicants will follow the instructions for applying to the LBJ School and to the school in which they will pursue their second degree. To be accepted to the dual degree program, one must be offered admission by both Schools. Both schools will have access to the information sent to the Graduate and International Admissions Center (Texas Common Application, GRE scores, and official transcripts); however, school-specific requirements, which may include items such as letters of recommendation, essays, and/or resumes, must be sent independently to the individual schools per their admission requirements. It is important to note that different schools within the University may have different application deadlines, therefore dual degree applicants must meet the deadlines of the particular schools to which they are applying.
Mid-Career Program
The Mid-Career Program was created for experienced policy professionals and designed to accelerate the timeline in which it takes to complete a masters degree at the LBJ School. The coursework can be completed in three long semesters by taking a full-time course load of four courses each semester. See http://www.utexas.edu/lbj/degreeprograms/midcareer.php for more information about the Mid-Career Program.
To be eligible for the Mid-Career Program, an applicant must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited four-year college or university, plus ten years of experience, with at least five years in substantive policy-level or administrative positions related to the public sector. Examples of such positions include: experience as a bureau or section chief or high-level program officer; participation in decisions affecting agency-wide policy; responsibilities requiring substantial contact with the organization’s political environment, including its clientele, interest groups and relevant legislative committees or subcommittees; experience as staff to a politically appointed member of the agency or its board or commission; or experience as an elected official.
Applicants to the Mid-Career Program should ensure that their resumes and essays address the scope of their professional work. Individuals must indicate at the time of their application to the LBJ School that they wish to be considered for the mid-career program. Students are not permitted to transfer into the Mid-Career Program after enrolling in the regular program either full- or part-time
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):
- The Online Texas Common Application and fee
- Official transcripts
- Required test scores
Directly to the LBJ School:
- Three letters of recommendation
- A current resume
- Response to the essay question
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.
- 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 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.
- 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.
- 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.
In addition to the GRE, students applying to the dual degree programs in law and business are required to take the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) and the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT), respectively. Information is available at www.ets.org.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 four pages (double-spaced) for paper or email submissions.
You will be asked to address these three questions in a single essay:
- What are the most important things the LBJ School Admissions Committee should know about you (e.g. personal history and background, unique experiences and perspectives).
- What are your professional and career goals? Ten years from now, what type of work do you hope to be doing in the field of public policy?
- How would a degree from The LBJ School help you achieve your professional goals?
Forms you can download:
- Masters Admissions Application Checklist– This is a reference sheet for new applicants to the MPAff program. It is a concise listing of all documents necessary for the admissions process. It is intended to help you keep track the admissions file components you have submitted.
- Dual Major Admissions Checklist – This is a reference sheet for new applicants to the one of the MPAff dual major programs.
- Admisions Checklist for use with change of major form. This is a reference sheet for current UT students who wish to be admitted to the LBJ School as a dual student.
- Rangel Fellow Admissions Application Checklist– This is a reference sheet for new applicants who are also applicants for a Woodrow Wilson Rangel Fellowship.
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-z36
