The Summer 2023 M.A. Economics application for admission will open in August 2022. The application deadline is March 1, 2023; all application materials must be received by this date for full consideration. Classes begin in July 2023. Please note that we are a summer-only admit program and therefore do not admit students in fall or spring semesters.
The M.A. Economics program offers 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.
Program completion options for Summer 2023 admission include the following three M.A. Economics program track timelines:
- May 2024 (10-month track)
- December 2024 (18-month track)
- May 2025 (24-month track)
Prerequisites: An undergraduate degree in Economics is not required, but some exposure to undergraduate economics (introductory and/or intermediate courses) is highly recommended. The only strict requirement is a full calculus sequence (including multivariate calculus) prior to enrollment. A course in linear algebra is also recommended. Strong GRE scores and a high GPA in mathematics/economics coursework are expected.
STEM designation: The M.A. Economics program officially received STEM designation in July 2018. International M.A. Economics program graduates are now eligible for an additional 2 years of STEM OPT (Optional and Curricular Practical training) beyond the standard 1-year OPT authorization already available. Detailed information about the 3-year STEM OPT designation, and STEM OPT eligibility requirements, is available on UT Austin’s International Student and Scholar Services website.
Tuition rates, financial aid, and assistantships/employment: Details regarding M.A. Economics program tuition rates, financial aid, and the availability of assistantships or other forms of employment are available on our tuition page.
Application instructions: Please consult the UT-Austin Graduate and International Admissions Center’s (GIAC) application instructions before applying; a brief description of required application steps and materials is provided below.
Application website: All applicants must apply on-line at ApplyTexas. Select “Summer 2023” to locate the M.A. Economics application for admission:
Degree track timelines: Applicants will be asked to select one of the following three M.A. Economics program tracks, and to explain how that degree timeline suits the applicant’s academic and career goals:
- Accelerated “ACCL” 10-month track
- Intermediate “INTR” 18-month track
- Long “LONG” 24-month track
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.
Application acknowledgement email: Within 1-2 business days of submitting your application, GIAC 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 and upload application materials.
Application deadline: The M.A. Economics program application deadline is March 1, 2023; this deadline applies to both domestic and international applicants. Though we will continue to accept late applications as long as seats remain available, priority consideration for admission and tuition reduction awards will be given to applicants who submit a completed application (including all scores and letters or recommendation) by the March 1 application deadline.
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.
Admissions decisions: The admissions committee will only review completed applications. Decisions will be made within 3-4 weeks of the March 1 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 GIAC does not inform applicants of outstanding application materials; applicants are expected to monitor the 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, 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.
Required application materials: The following supporting items are required for a complete application through GIAC. 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 March 1 application deadline:
- Transcripts: Submit electronic copies of your official transcripts to GIAC for each college or university attended. See GIAC’s transcript submission 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 GIAC. 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 GIAC’s website. The following are the minimum requirements set forth by GIAC: “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 GIAC directly.
- Three letters of recommendation: Letters of recommendation should be submitted electronically to GIAC. 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 GIAC. 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 here.
If you have additional questions about the application process, please contact us at ma-econ@austin.utexas.edu.