General Admissions Procedures
Application Deadline
The deadline for fall admission is December 1st. Spring admission is not available.Late applications may be submitted but are not guaranteed equal consideration, and fewer funding packages may be available.
Admission to the School of Information PhD Program requires:
- Meeting the PhD Program Requirements
- Admission to the University of Texas Graduate School
- Admission to the University of Texas School of Information
Please submit your application as early as possible. Even if you are still missing some elements (e.g., test scores, transcripts), the system will permit you to add materials to your application later as they become available.
GRE Scores: The School of Information does not require GRE scores as part of the application for the MSIS, dual degree, and PhD programs. Submission of GRE scores is optional for applicants who would like to provide the Admissions Committee additional information about their potential for success in the program.
Admissions Questions? If you have questions about application logistics (e.g., fee waivers, GRE or English test requirements, application completeness, transcripts, etc.), please contact the Graduate School admissions team. For questions about the doctoral program academics or the content of the Statement of Purpose, please contact the iSchool's Graduate Program Administrator by email: graduateadmit@ischool.utexas.edu.
Doctoral Student Funding
The iSchool has a strong tradition of financially supporting our doctoral students through Research Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships, Fellowships and, in later years, teaching positions as Assistant Instructors. All applicants to the PhD program are automatically considered for iSchool doctoral funding packages during the admissions process. Our support packages include tuition, health insurance, and a stipend.
Admission to the University of Texas Graduate School
Admission to the iSchool is competitive and requires applicants to complete the UT Graduate School's application for admission. For further information, please refer to the Graduate School’s Admissions page. Please allow plenty of time to process your application.
Requirements:
- Bachelor's Degree: The completion of a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent education at a foreign institution. Our PhD students come from a wide range of disciplinary backgrounds, and we welcome applications from interested candidates regardless of the field of study in which you completed your prior degree(s). A master's degree is not required to apply.
- Grade Point Average (GPA): A GPA of 3.0 or higher in all upper-division work – junior- and senior-level courses – and in any graduate work completed.
- Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) application for admission and admission fee: The application is available on the Graduate School's Admissions site.
- TOEFL or IELTS scores (international students only): International students must submit official test results from either the TOEFL or IELTS exams, according to the guidelines provided by OGA.
- Statement of Purpose: Once your application is submitted, electronically upload a statement of purpose for your desired program of study.
- Three letters of recommendation: You will be asked to submit the names and contact information of three recommenders at the time of your online application. After submitting the application, each contact will receive an email with directions for submitting a recommendation letter online.
- Resume/CV
iSchool Doctoral Program Requirements
Statement of Purpose
Once your application is submitted, electronically upload a statement of purpose for your desired program of study. A clearly and thoughtfully written Statement of Purpose is a key document in your doctoral application. Please address each of the following items in your statement:
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Research Interests: Discuss your specific research interests as well as address the research questions and problems that you wish to pursue. Include a description of one potential research project.
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Background & Experience: Make an argument for your preparation to undertake research in your area of interest by describing your previous research experience, existing skills, and other relevant background information.
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Faculty Research: State your reasons for wanting to pursue studies specifically at the UT Austin iSchool doctoral program. In particular, you must identify at least three iSchool faculty members whose research aligns with your interests (See List of Faculty Currently Accepting Doctoral Students below).
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Career Objective(s): Discuss your long-term career goals after you receive your PhD degree.
Please limit your statement of purpose to 2,000 words.
Submission Guidelines: Please upload your Statement of Purpose as a PDF after your application is submitted. Other upload options may present text to the committee in a way that is awkward to read.
Three Letters of recommendation
You will be asked to submit the names and contact information of three recommenders at the time of your online application. After submitting the application, each recommender will receive an email with directions for submitting their letter through the online submission portal. Strong letters of recommendation will be able to discuss the applicant’s academic and research abilities.
Resume/CV
Applicants are required to submit a Curriculum Vitae or professional resume in support of their application.
Faculty Currently Accepting Doctoral Students
Questions?
Please email the School's Graduate Admissions office at graduateadmit@ischool.utexas.edu
