Graduate Program Admissions FAQs
General Questions
When is the application deadline?
- The Fall Application Deadline for all materials for the MSIS program is January 5 at 11:59pm (CT).
- The Fall Application Deadline for all materials for the PhD program is December 1 at 11:59pm (CT).
- The Application Deadline for the Stackable School Librarian Certificate Program is February 15 at 11:59pm (CT).
- READ CAREFULLY: the application form and all required materials (three letters of recommendation, transcripts, statement of purpose, resume/c.v., TOFEL/IELTS scores, if applicable) are due by the program deadline listed above. Do not wait until the last minute to create your application and submit your materials. Please allow yourself plenty of time for your materials to be received and processed. Note that transcript review is done by the Office of Graduate Admissions and may not be immediately available for iSchool committee review – plan ahead to account for potential processing delays as only complete files will be reviewed. It is the applicant’s responsibility to check their MyStatus page to ensure their application is complete by the deadline. Only complete files are eligible for review.
When do applications open? Are application fee waivers available?
- Applications for entry Fall 2026 will be available starting in August. NOTE: We do not offer Spring or Summer admission.
- The School of Information does not offer application fee waivers. Please review the UT Austin Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) website for information about requesting a waiver through their office. (Under Step 2; Pay the fee)
Do I need to submit GRE scores with my application?
The GRE is optional for MSIS, dual degree, and PhD applicants. If you would like to submit GRE scores to augment your application, you will want to review the UT Austin Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) website for information about submitting official scores and submission code (6882). OGA contact information may be found HERE. When contacting departments with questions, always include your UT EID.
Is funding/financial support available? How much is tuition?
- All newly admitted MSIS students are automatically considered for scholarships/awards during the admissions process. There is not an additional application. iSchool Scholarships are allocated in modest amounts ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 per year. Students seeking additional funding, are encouraged to seek external scholarships.
- Students who are awarded a scholarship will be notified by email.
- The iSchool does have a limited number of student academic employment opportunities available, including Academic Assistants (AA), Teaching Assistants (TA), and Graduate Research Assistants (GRA). Academic employment is centrally managed by the iSchool. Priority for TA positions is reserved for students in the iSchool PhD program. Master’s students are eligible for AA positions and occasionally may be able to find work as a GRA. Position notices are announced prior to the start of each semester via Canvas to students who have been admitted to the iSchool.
- Tuition information is available HERE.
Specific Application Questions
What do I need to submit with my application?
All pieces of your application – All three letters of recommendation, transcript(s), statement of purpose, resume, and TOFEL/IELTS scores (if applicable) – must be received by the deadline. Transcripts submitted close to the deadline may experience processing delays. Do not wait until the last minute to submit transcripts and/or test scores.
Who should I ask to write a Letter of Recommendation for me?
As part of your application, you are asked to provide the names of three people who have agreed to write you a letter of recommendation and their professional email addresses. Ideally these letters will come from an academic recommender and be able to speak to your academic abilities. Letters from professional references are also acceptable especially if they can speak to your experiences and skill sets.
How are my letters of recommendation submitted?
After you submit your Slate application, your recommenders will be notified via email by the system. They will be sent a link with directions to submit your recommendation letters. As a reminder, letters must be received by the deadline for your file to be complete and eligible for review. Please give your recommender plenty of lead time to compose and submit your letters by the deadline.
You may switch out your recommenders and/or resend the link via MyStatus. We encourage you to communicate with your recommenders to check their junk email if they do not see the communication from the Office of Graduate Admissions. Our department does not accept letters of recommendation directly via email; they must be submitted through the MyStatus platform.
If you need technical assistance, please contact the UT Austin Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA). Contact information may be found HERE. When contacting departments with questions, always include your UT EID.
How do I check my application status?
You will have access to your MyStatus page within 24-48 hours of submitting your application. Detailed information about MyStatus is available on the OGA website. Remember, it is the applicant’s responsibility to check MyStatus to ensure your application is complete.
Where do I submit my transcripts?
Transcripts are sent to and evaluated by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Do not wait until the last minute to submit your transcripts, this could create a processing delay. Do not send your transcripts to the iSchool. Detailed information about electronic transcript submission is available on the OGA website.
What if my GPA is less than the required 3.0?
If your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement—or if you feel that your GPA is not a valid indicator of your ability—you may submit an application, then use the Document Upload System to add a letter explaining your concerns.
When will I hear receive a decision about my application?
Applicants are typically notified sometime in March or April, dependent on the review committee timeline.
International Applicants
Is the MSIS program a STEM program?
Yes, the MSIS degree is a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) designated STEM program eligible for STEM OPT.
What tests are required for international applicants?
The Graduate School requires TOEFL or ITELTS scores for international applicants where English is not the first language or for International Applicants who did not attend a 4-year Bachelor program in the States. There are several countries for whom this requirement has been waived. If you have specific questions not addressed on the OGA website, please email the UT Austin Office of Graduate Admissions directly.
Please be aware that if you send your English language assessment scores (TOEFL or IELTS) prior to submitting an application, you may want to check with the Office of Graduate Admissions to ensure that your tests scores are properly associated with your application.
Who can I contact with questions about Visas?
For Visa issues or concerns, please contact Texas Global's International Student and Scholar Service(ISSS) department HERE.
Who can I contact for additional information?
If you are an International Applicant with additional questions not addressed here, feel free to email intladm@austin.utexas.edu. Please be sure to include your official name and UT EID.
MSIS Program
How long does it take to complete the MSIS program?
The MSIS program is typically a two-year, full-time, in-person program. Full-time enrollment is nine semester hours. Part time status may lengthen the time to degree. For more information about the program you may want to also review our current student handbook, available on our website, HERE.
Who can I talk to about course advising?
If admitted, course advising will be available through subject area advisors. It is not necessary to reach out to advisors prior to submitting your application.
What master's courses are offered?
To learn more about the program structure, visit our website HERE. Information about our current course offerings is available HERE. Note that offerings are subject to change by semester.
MSIS Degree Program
Learn the tools to study, manage, and innovate the information systems around us.
PhD Degree Program
A research-intensive program to pursue answers to important problems in information.