Application Process

Admission to our graduate programs is highly competitive. Many decisions about financial assistance (fellowships, scholarships, teaching, and research assistant positions) are made well before the final application deadlines, therefore we strongly encourage Fall semester applications to submit all materials before the December 1st deadline. This will ensure that the Graduate School will have sufficient time to process your materials for our review. 

You may apply for Fall admission after the December 1st deadline; however, fewer opportunities for obtaining departmental financial support will be available. 

December 1: Fall graduate admission and all departmental funding opportunities including fellowships and RA/TA positions. The department makes no guarantee that students who apply AFTER this deadline will be considered for funding.

May 1: Fall graduate admission only – All programs

October 1: Spring (January) for the following programs:
Exercise Physiology
Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science
Sport Management (Online Master’s only)

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the U.S. or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
2. A minimum required GPA (3.0), particularly during the last two years of college and in any graduate study previously undertaken.
3. A completed application via Office of Graduate Admissions. Be sure to review all requirements in the next section thoroughly. 

You will need to do the following in order to complete your Application Form on Office of Graduate Admissions.

Pay the Application Fee

The nonrefundable application fee is $65.00 for US applicants; $90.00 for International applicants. Fee waivers are available for those who are eligible.

Provide Transcripts

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.  Learn more about how to submit your transcripts from the Graduate School’s site.

Provide a 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. 

Prerequisite Form Requirement

Exercise Physiology, Health Behavior and Health Education and Movement and Cognitive Rehabilitation Science applicants must complete several prerequisite courses before starting the program.

While working on your Office of Graduate Admissions application, you will be directed to a “Departmental Questions” page. Once there, you can download the “Application Prerequisite Form.” Please complete the form to the best of your ability. Leave spaces blank if you have not taken a course that meets the competency course topic. Upload the form via the My Status web page.

Writing Sample Requirement

Applicants to the following programs must submit a writing sample:

• Physical Culture and Sport Studies doctoral applicants
• Health Behavior and Health Education doctoral applicants
• (On Campus) Sport Management applicants

We suggest submitting either a chapter of your Master’s thesis or an academic paper.

Sport Management applicants should write an essay on the following topic: “What is the most significant issue facing the sports industry right now and why do you believe it is so important?”

You will receive an email directing you to a website where you will upload your sample after you complete the online application.

Submit Letters of Recommendation

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. We prefer letters from professors who are familiar with your academic performance, but we will accept letters from supervisors or colleagues who can attest to your ability to succeed in a graduate program.

The Online Sports Management Master’s requires two letters of recommendation.

Provide Curriculum Vitae or Resume

Your CV or resume should be no more than two (2) pages and should include:

• post-high school education
• relevant work or volunteer experience (indicate the amount of time)
• honors received
• research experience
• conference presentations
• publications

The Graduate School will review your application first after you submit it. You will be sent an email confirming your submission within 1-2 days. This email will also contain the applicant’s login information (UT EID) for the My Status page.

Once all of your application materials are uploaded and completed, the Graduate School will refer your application to the department. This initial review process by the Graduate School will take about 1 – 2 weeks, so be sure to have everything turned in well in advance of the deadline. Applicants typically learn about the department’s decisions in April.

Complete Your Declaration of Intent

This form should be completed to indicate which program of study you intend to complete. You can choose from master’s and doctoral programs. 

TOEFL/IELTS Scores

Students applying from other countries should submit either their Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. Learn more on the Graduate School’s website.

MyStatus (UT EID required) will let you see what application materials are missing and allow you to upload required documents. Please use this online status check to monitor your application status and check it frequently. 

Learn more about what to expect on the Graduate School website.

We offer recruitment scholarships and academic assistantship positions and give priority consideration to those who complete their application process by December 1.  Applicants who submit after December 1 will still be considered for any remaining financial support as the final deadline approaches.  Please review the following information regarding your eligibility and how selections are made for these funds.

Recruitment Scholarships

We have a limited number of recruitment scholarships to offer. Selections for these awards are competitive and will be made based on academic merit, research interests, and strong credentials; there is no separate application form to complete. You will be notified if you have been selected for a recruitment award.

Teaching Assistant Positions

We offer Teaching Assistant (TA) positions in our Physical Activity Education (PED) classes, as well as in our Academic Classes.

To be considered for a TA position for our Physical Activity Education (PED) classes, please fill out and submit our Teaching Assistant Application.

You will be notified if you have been selected for a TA Position for our Physical Activity Education classes.

The faculty members make selections for TA positions to their Academic Classes. There is no application to submit. Priority is given to students already in the graduate program. Faculty may select applicants based on relevant experience and research interests. You will be notified if you have been selected for a TA Position for our Academic Classes.

Graduate Research Assistant Positions

Some faculty members have research funds available to hire students as Graduate Research Assistants (GRA) in their research labs. The faculty member will make his or her own selections for these positions.  There is no application to submit. Priority is given to students already in the graduate program. Faculty may select applicants for these positions based on relevant experience and research interests. You will be notified if you have been selected for a GRA position.

Employment at The University of Texas at Austin

Offers of employment are generally made separately from offers of admission. If you are offered employment, you must successfully pass a criminal background check. Learn more about how our Office of Human Resources reviews criminal history background checks.  

Contact Graduate Program Coordinator Phillip Salazar, (512) 232-6015.

Please also see the General Guidelines from the Graduate School.