The 2025-2026 Admissions Process for the Graduate Program in the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will open on August 1st, 2024. The deadline to apply will be December 1st, 2024.
There are six steps necessary to apply for admission to the Graduate Program in the Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate program within the Graduate School of The University of Texas at Austin (Texas ECE):
1. Choose Ultimate Degree Objective.
Texas ECE offers Master of Science (MSE) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees. When applying to our graduate program, you must select one as your ultimate degree objective. The choice will affect your path into and through our graduate program. However, students pursuing the PhD as their ultimate degree objective need not but may pursue the MSE simultaneously and typically with no additional effort, but completion of the MSE may be delayed by required enrollment in at least 3 hours of research problems each semester. And students pursuing the MSE as their ultimate degree objective may subsequently apply to pursue the PhD, but with no guarantee of admission.
Follow the links below for additional information about our MSE and PhD degree options.
2. Choose Academic Track.
Texas ECE also offers 8 different academic tracks of study. When applying to our graduate program, you must also choose a first and second choice academic track to apply to. Although interdisciplinary study is common, you should select the tracks that best fit your interests and goals as a foundation.
Follow the link below for additional information about our academic tracks.
3. Complete the Application for Graduate Admissions
The deadline to apply for Summer 2025 and Fall 2025 is December 1, 2024, 11:00 PM CST. You must have your application completed and submitted by this deadline in order to be considered.
Statement of Purpose and Resume
Make sure you upload your Statement of Purpose and Resume (or CV) when you come to those sections on the application. Your Statement of Purpose should be a summary of your academic and professional goals, as well as a description of the research work you have done in your past, and what research work you plan to do as a graduate student at UT. Additional tips and guidelines for preparing an effective Statement of Purpose can be found here. Please make sure these documents are edited to your liking before you upload them, for they cannot be deleted once they have been uploaded to your application.
Letters of Recommendation
Make sure you enter the valid e-mail address of each referee you want to submit a recommendation for you when you get to that section on the application. Please use the university domain address for each professor you are requesting a reference. Once you have completed this section of the application, a notice will be sent to each referee showing them where to go to complete a recommendation for you using our online system. Three is only the minimum number of recommendations required to accompany your application. You are welcome to add more.
4. Submit Transcript
After you have completed and submitted your application to Graduate School and paid your application fee, upload a copy of your transcript(s). 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. Your uploaded transcript(s) are considered to be unofficial, but will be used to process your application for admission. DO NOT mail official transcripts or paper copies of your transcripts to the University of Texas. Sending paper copies of documents you have uploaded will significantly delay the processing of your application.
5. Standardized Testing Requirements
GRE scores are not considered in our application process. International applicants are required to submit an exam score for English proficiency. The TOEFL and IELTS exams are both accepted. More information on testing and exemptions can be found here on the Graduate School website.
6. Application Fee Waiver for U.S. Citizen Applicants
If you are a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident Applicant, you may qualify for a waiver of the application fee if you have received or applied for one of the fellowships listed below. Complete and submit the survey located here in order to submit your waiver request.
When you are ready to complete and submit your application to Grad School to UT-ECE, you may bypass the application fee and opt to pay using your status check portal. This will ensure that you are not charged for the application fee at the time you apply. The link to your application status check will be sent to you after you have applied to Graduate School.
You may qualify for a waiver of the application fee if you have received or applied for one of the following fellowships.
GEM
McNair
NSF
NDSEG
DOE SCGF
Ford
Soros Foundation
AAUW Selected Professionals
GFSD
