The Summer 2024 M.A. Economics application for admission will open in August 2023. The application deadline is February 1, 2024 for international applicants and March 1, 2024 for domestic applicants; all application materials must be received by these dates for full consideration. Classes begin in July 2024. Please note that we are a summer-only admit program and therefore do not admit students in fall or spring semesters. Students must have completed their undergraduate degrees no later than the Spring 2024 semester in order to be admitted.
Prerequisites: An undergraduate degree in Economics is not required, but some exposure to undergraduate economics (ideally at the intermediate level) is highly recommended. The only strict requirement is a full calculus sequence (including multivariate calculus) prior to enrollment. Coursework in linear algebra and statistics are also recommended. Strong GRE scores and a high GPA in mathematics/economics coursework are expected.
Application Instructions:
Please consult the UT-Austin Office of Graduate Admissions’ application instructions before applying. A brief description of required application steps and materials is provided below:
Step 1: Apply online at ApplyTexas. Select “Summer 2024” to locate the M.A. Economics application for admission:
Applicants will either complete a U.S. Graduate Application (for U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or former UT-Austin students) or an International Graduate Application (for non-citizens and non-permanent residents).
A note about degree track timelines: Although there is a single application for admission to the M.A. Economics program, we offer 10-month, 18-month, and 24-month tracks to enable students to customize their educational experience. Degree requirements in each our three tracks are identical; the primary differences between tracks are time to degree completion and cost. In your application, you will be asked to select one of the following three M.A. Economics program tracks, and to briefly explain how that degree timeline suits your academic and career goals:
- Accelerated “ACCL” 10-month track – begins in July 2024, degree awarded in May 2025
- Intermediate “INTR” 18-month track – begins in July 2024, degree awarded in December 2025
- Long “LONG” 24-month track – begins in July, degree awarded in May 2026
Please note that selection of track has no bearing on admissions decisions (the M.A. Economics program does not prioritize or preference applicants to any particular track). Additionally, it IS possible to switch between degree track timelines after enrolling in the program.
Step 2: Within 1-2 business days of submitting your application, the Office of Graduate Admissions will send you an acknowledgement email message containing instructions for activating your UT EID and password, which will enable you to access your application status page (“MyStatus”) and upload application materials.
Step 3: Upload the required application materials: The following supporting items are required for a complete application through the Office of Graduate Admissions. Due to the length of time it takes to send and process required application materials (including transcripts, test scores, etc.), applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all application materials several weeks before the application deadline.
- Transcripts: Submit electronic copies of your official transcripts to the Office of Graduate Admissions for each college or university attended. See the Graduate Admissions office’s transcript instructions for details. Please do NOT submit transcripts directly to the Department of Economics, as that will delay receipt/processing of your transcripts and your application for admission.
- GRE scores: Arrange to have your official score report sent by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to the Office of Graduate Admissions. The University’s institution code is 6882. All three sections of the GRE’s “General Test” (verbal, quantitative, analytical writing) are required. We accept both the paper-based and computer-based tests. We do not accept GMAT scores as a substitute for GRE scores.
- TOEFL or IELTS scores: International applicants must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless they are from an English-only speaking country or have earned a four-year undergraduate degree in an English-speaking country. Detailed TOEFL and IELTS score submission instructions are available on the Graduate Admissions office’s website. The following are the minimum requirements set forth by Graduate Admissions: “A score of 550 (paper test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) OR an overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to The University of Texas at Austin.” If you have questions about waivers, please contact Graduate Admissions directly.
- Three letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions. You will provide contact information for your letter writers. After you submit your application, each letter writer will receive an e-mail that will direct them to a website where they may upload their letter.
- Statement of purpose: Submit your statement of purpose electronically to Graduate Admissions. It should be no more than two pages long. The statement of purpose is an important part of your application, and care should be taken in writing this personal essay. The admissions committee will pay special attention to this statement for those applicants who have had limited exposure to economics as an undergraduate.
- “Mathematics preparation for graduate applicants” form (available in the application for admission, and also here).
- Resume: Once you receive your UTEID, please upload your resume as a “miscellaneous document” here.
- Additional materials (optional): You may electronically submit other materials that you believe will enhance the quality of your application (such as a writing sample). Miscellaneous documents of no more than 20 pages may be submitted through the application status page.
Step 4: Pay the application fee. The application fee is $65 for U.S. citizens/permanent residents and $90 for international applicants. Applications for admission will not be reviewed until the application fee is paid.
Decision Timeline
Admissions decisions: The admissions committee will only review completed applications. Decisions will be made within 3-4 weeks of the application deadline, provided that a complete application is submitted by that date. Incomplete and late applications will be reviewed within 3-4 weeks of completed application submission. Please note that UT’s Graduate Admissions office does not inform applicants of outstanding application materials; applicants are expected to monitor the “MyStatus” application status page for any outstanding/missing application materials required for completion, as well as for admissions decisions.
Acceptance of admission: If admitted to the program, your offer letter will include a deadline for accepting admission. A $2,000 Program Enrollment Deposit is required to reserve your slot. The deposit is non-refundable, but will be credited towards your tuition bill in your first semester of enrollment.
If you have additional questions about the application process, please contact us at ma-econ@austin.utexas.edu.