Application Guidelines

December 31 – College and department fellowships, fall admissions – Doctoral and Master’s applicants

Please contact Stephen Flynn if you have any questions about these deadlines. 

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.

A minimum GPA of 3.0, particularly during the last two years of college and in any previous graduate study. The department will consider applications with lower GPAs. If you feel that your grade point averages or test scores are not valid indicators of your ability, please wait till you have submitted your application and upload a miscellaneous document explaining your concerns.

We also consider teaching experience as a criterion during the admission process. EC-16 teaching experience, especially among underserved populations, is preferred by most program areas. 

You will need to do the following to complete the Graduate School’s application:

Pay the Application Fee

Fee waivers are available for those who are eligible.

Have Your Transcripts Ready

Transcripts are required for each senior college attended. A PDF of the official transcript can be uploaded, but you must provide an official transcript from that college after acceptance to our program. Each transcript can be uploaded only once, so please make sure you have the correct and full version of each transcript before uploading.

GRE Scores

The GRE requirement has been waived for all STEM applicants.

Prepare Your Statement of Purpose

Approximately 1-3 pages in length, this essay should address your current situation, your intended area(s) of research/specialization and your goals for achievement in graduate study and beyond. 

Tips for Ph.D. Students

• In your personal statement, clearly state your areas of research interest. These can be general or specific, but it is a good idea to provide some sense of the types of things you would like to research and why they are important or interesting to you.
• Visit the STEM ED faculty members’ bios to learn more about their areas of research expertise and then identify one or more faculty members whose areas of research are most closely related to those you would like to pursue. Contact the faculty member(s) via email to let them know of your interest and to ask to set up a time to communicate virtually or on the phone.
• Be sure to mention in your personal statement that you have reached out to the faculty member(s) already and briefly discuss how you see your research interests connecting with theirs.

Update Your Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)

This document should summarize and chronicle your academic and professional positions and achievements, including any awards and/or publications for which you are credited.

Submit Three (3) Letters of Reference

Our department requires three letters of recommendation. Recommenders will be notified by email with instructions on how to upload their letters once you have submitted and paid for your application. Letters should come from professors who are familiar with your academic performance and potential. 

English Proficiency Requirements

Students applying from other countries may need to submit scores from one of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Duolingo English Test (DET)

Learn more about international admissions

Once all application materials are uploaded and completed, you will be sent an email confirming your application submission within 1-2 days. This email also will contain your login information (UT EID) for the MyStatus page where you can check on your application’s progress.

The initial review process will take about 1 – 2 weeks before your application is sent to the department, so be sure to have everything turned in well in advance of the deadline. 

Contact Admissions Coordinator Stephen Flynn. 

Please also see Where to Begin on the Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.