INFORMATION REGARDING THE GRE

GRE Scores are not required to apply to the Astronomy graduate program, and are not taken into account when reviewing applications. This includes the General GRE as well as the Physics GRE. It takes up to 72 hours for the requirement to disappear from your MyStatus page after you submit your application. Please be patient!

1. How to Apply for Graduate Admission as a Degree-Seeking Student
   
   
2. Astronomy Department Policy for Applicants seeking Admission as a
   Non-Degree-Seeking Graduate Student
   
   

A. How to Apply for Graduate Admission as a Degree-Seeking Student

Before you apply to the Department of Astronomy's graduate program, please read all of the information provided by the Graduate School at:

• Requirements for Graduate Admission
• Applying for Graduate Admissions

Admissions Requirements for Astronomy:

Prerequisites for graduate work in astronomy are at least fifteen to eighteen semester hours of upper-division course work in astronomy and physics, which may include courses in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, statistical physics, and quantum mechanics. 

Our Departmental Admissions Deadline is December 1. All materials must be received by this date in order for your application to be considered by our admissions committee. Follow these steps to apply to Department of Astronomy's graduate program:

Complete the online application. Your application will be considered complete when all of the following items are received:

• Application Fee: $65.00 processing fee for domestic applicants; $90.00 for International applicants. Applications will not be reviewed until this fee is paid. Information on applying for an application fee waiver can be found on the Graduate School's How to Apply page (approximately halfway down the page). Waivers are not available for international applicants. 
  
  
• Statement of Purpose/Essay Response: See our Tips for Applying to Graduate School in Astronomy for information on how to write an effective personal statement.
  
  
• Three Letters of Recommendation: You will be asked to list the names and email addresses of three people you wish to recommend you for admission. Since these letters must be kept confidential, you will also be asked to waive your right to view your letters. Once you submit your application, an email will be sent to each recommender with instructions on how to submit their letters electronically. The letters will automatically be routed to the department. If you make a mistake on the email address or if you need to replace one recommender with another please log in to the status check and make the change. You can check to see if we have recieved your letters via the status check as well. If a recommender is unable to use the online submission system, they may mail a hard copy directly to the department address listed near the top of this page.
  
  
• Official Transcripts: You may upload a copy of your official transcript(s) after you have submitted your application for admission and paid the application fee. After you have submitted your application you will receive an email that contains a link to the Status Check web site where you will be able to upload your transcript. Please do not mail official transcripts or paper copies of your transcripts before you are offered admission. Sending paper copies of documents you have uploaded will significantly delay the processing of your application. Instructions for uploading the pdf of your transcript are available on UT Box. Note that official transcripts must be uploaded and unofficial transcripts are not accepted.
  
  
• Official TOEFL or IELTS scores: (International students only). More information on these tests can be found on UT's Graduate Admissions website.
  
  
• Curriculum Vitae: Upload a PDF your current curriculum vitae with your online application.

Please note that the Department of Astronomy only admits graduate students for the fall semester. Exceptions for spring semester admission are rarely made, but only under unusual and compelling circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions about Admissions

B. Astronomy Department Policy for Applicants seeking Admission as a Non-Degree-Seeking Graduate Student

1. Applicants should note that admission as a non-degree-seeking graduate student does not imply that they will be admitted later as a degree-seeking student in the Astronomy graduate program.
   
   
2. Applicants should follow the steps on the UT Graduate School website: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/apply
   
   
3. Applicants are eligible for consideration if they have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 in relevant Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy coursework, plus the following prerequisites for graduate work in Astronomy: At least fifteen to eighteen semester hours of upper-division course work in astronomy and physics, which may include courses in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, statistical physics, and quantum mechanics.
   
   
4. Eligible candidates should submit a CV, an official transcript, a statement of purpose, and two letters of recommendation via the online Apply Texas application by June 1 for admission for the following Fall semester, and by October 1 for admission the following Spring semester. You should also notify the graduate coordinator (studentinfo@astro.as.utexas.edu) since this is not our usual cycle for applications. We expect admitted students to enroll in graduate courses for a letter grade and do not anticipate allowing students to audit classes or enroll in classes on a Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit basis.
   
   
5. The Graduate Advisor, in consultation with the chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee and chair of the Graduate Studies Executive Committee (GSEC), will make a decision on admission based on the applicant's academic record and other factors. Additional material may be requested from the applicant.