University of Texas at Austin

CSEM Admissions

The CSEM Program is committed to equal educational opportunity and values a diverse student body. Prospective students from all backgrounds are strongly encouraged to apply.

Table of Contents

Overview

  1. Overview
  2. How to apply
  3. Summary of application materials

Latest Announcements

  1. The Fall 2023 deadline has passed: DEC 15, 2022

    We are no longer accepting applications for Fall 2023. Our next application cycle will be for Fall 2024 and we will begin accepting applications in September.

Overview

Thank you for considering applying to UT Austin's premier graduate program for computational science, engineering, and mathematics. As you plan your application, please keep in mind:

  • We admit students in the Fall semester ONLY.
  • We are primarily a PhD track program. We admit a limited number of students to the Master’s program each year. If your ultimate goal is the PhD degree in CSEM, you should indicate PhD as the degree sought on your application. Many of our PhD students also complete a CSEM Master’s degree along the way. The Master's program is a terminal MS program; it does not lead to admission to the PhD program.
  • All PhD applicants are considered for financial aid. Applicants to the Master's program are NOT considered for financial aid.
  • The CSEM Program is designated as an Intercollegial Program. We are not a program within the Mathematics Department, the Computer Science Department, the College of Natural Sciences, or the Cockrell School of Engineering although many of the faculty teaching and advising CSEM students are drawn from these units.

COVID-19 Update (GRE)

Due to the continued impact of COVID-19, the CSEM Program is waiving the GRE requirement for Fall 2023 applications. This is a temporary accommodation and applies only to the CSEM Graduate Program. If you are applying to additional programs at UT Austin, be sure to check with each program regarding GRE requirements.

Requirements

  • Bachelor's degree with a major in any of the following disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, any of the Physical or Biological Sciences, or Finance
  • Overall grade point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale), or the equivalent, in all upper-division work and in any graduate work already completed
  • Official GRE scores (subject test scores are NOT required) — WAIVED for Fall 2023
  • TOEFL score of 79 (iBT) OR an IELTS overall band score of 6.5 (International applicants only)
  • Must meet the minimum eligibility requirements for graduate study at UT Austin

How to Apply

  • Submit the online application at Apply Texas. In the ApplyTexas application, select "Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics" as your major (do NOT select the 5-year integrated program). We are listed under the heading "Intercollegial Programs."
  • Pay your application fee ($65.00 for U.S. applicants; $90.00 for International applicants.) Note: the CSEM Program has funding available for U.S. citizens from underrepresented groups in need of a fee waiver due to financial hardship. Please contact the Graduate Coordinator to request a waiver.
  • You do NOT need to submit official GRE scores — This requirement has been WAIVED for Fall 2023. If you choose to submit scores, the ETS code for the University of Texas at Austin is 6882 (department code is NOT required.)
  • International applicants only — Submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. Information about waivers can be found on the Graduate School Admissions page. If you do not qualify for a waiver based on the requirements outlined by the Graduate School, DO NOT e-mail the CSEM Program to ask for a waiver. We cannot accept expired test scores, nor will we waive the requirement for applicants who have earned only a Master's degree from a U.S. institution.
  • Submit official transcripts from every senior college attended. Instructions for uploading transcripts can be found on the Graduate School Admissions page.
  • Statement of Purpose — AFTER you have submitted the online application, upload your Statement of Purpose via MyStatus.

    Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose: Describe why you want to study within the CSEM Program at the University of Texas at Austin, what areas of research you are most interested in pursuing, who from among our faculty you would like to have advise you on your research, and your career plans. Please also include each program and university to which you have applied and why you applied to that program. Put a heading at the top of your Statement that includes: your name, your UT EID, and the program you are applying to (CSEM PhD or CSEM Master’s).

  • Resume/CV — AFTER you have submitted the online application, upload your Resume/CV via MyStatus.
  • CSEM Program Departmental Application. This is a fillable PDF form. After you have submitted the online application, upload via MyStatus.
  • Letters of recommendation — Within the ApplyTexas application, you will be asked to list the name, position, organization, and e-mail address for three recommenders. After you submit the application, e-mails will be sent to your recommenders directing them to a website where they may upload their letters. The MyStatus page offers a self-service feature you can use to resend the request e-mail to your recommenders, if necessary. You may use it to supply an alternate e-mail address if your recommender’s spam filter blocks the original request or has removed the link. You can also add a new recommender or revise your right-to-view status from “retained” to “waived.”
  • U.S. citizens who wish to be considered for the CSEM Fellowship should submit a fourth letter of recommendation. After you have submitted the ApplyTexas application, use the "Manage your recommendation requests" function through your MyStatus page to send the fourth Request for Reference.

Summary of Required Application Materials

  1. Online Apply Texas application
  2. Official transcripts (submitted online)
  3. Official GRE scores — WAIVED for Fall 2023
  4. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only)
  5. Statement of Purpose (follow guidelines listed above)
  6. Resume or CV
  7. CSEM Program Departmental Application
  8. Three letters of recommendation
  9. Fourth letter of recommendation (for CSEM Fellowship consideration only)

ALL applicants should review our ADMISSIONS FAQ page.

Application Status:

You are strongly encouraged to submit the online application well in advance of the deadline. Requests for letters of recommendation are not sent out until after the application has been submitted and the application fee paid. Please direct questions to:

Stephanie Rodriguez
CSEM Graduate Coordinator

512-232-3356