CSEM Admissions

We are now accepting applications for Fall 2020.

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.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2019
(ALL materials due, including letters of recommendation)

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:

  • The CSEM Program only accepts applications for the fall semester.
  • The CSEM Program is 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, you should indicate PhD as the degree sought on your application. (The Master's program is NOT a stepping stone to the PhD program.)
  • All PhD applicants are considered for financial aid. Master's only applicants are NOT considered for financial aid.
  • The CSEM Program is designated as an Intercollegial Program. We are NOT affiliated with the Mathematics Department, the Computer Science Department, the College of Natural Sciences, or the Cockrell School of Engineering. 

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)

  • TOEFL score of 79 (iBT) OR an IELTS overall band score of 6.5 (International applicants only)

  • Please see the Graduate Admissions website for minimum eligibility requirements for graduate study at UT Austin

How To Apply

Application materials are collected online through the Graduate School. 

  • Complete and submit the ApplyTexas application online through the Graduate School. Select "Computational Science, Engineering, and Mathematics" as your major (do NOT select the 5-year integrated program).

  • Pay your application fee ($65.00 for U.S. applicants; $90.00 for International applicants.) Note: the CSEM Program has limited funding available for U.S. applicants in need of a fee waiver due to financial hardship. Please contact the Graduate Coordinator for more information.

  • Submit official GRE scores. The ETS code for the University of Texas at Austin is 6882 (department code is NOT required.)

  • Submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only.) 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 department to ask for a waiver. We will NOT 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 for all senior colleges and universities attended. Instructions for uploading transcripts can be found on the Graduate School Admissions page.

  • Statement of Purpose -- Please use the upload function available on your MyStatus page to submit your Statement of Purpose as a pdf document AFTER you have submitted the online application.
    Guidelines for the Statement of Purpose: Please describe in your own words 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.

  • CSEM Program Departmental Application. This is a fillable PDF form with Adobe 7.0 or later. Upload via your MyStatus page

  • Letters of recommendation are submitted electronically. When you complete the ApplyTexas application, you will be given the opportunity 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 email 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.”

  • If you are a U.S. citizen and wish to be considered for the CSEM Fellowship, please submit a fourth letter of recommendation. Please note that the ApplyTexas application only has space for you to list 3 references. Once you have submitted your ApplyTexas application, you will be able to use the "Manage your recommendation requests" function through your MyStatus page to send an additional Request for Reference.

Summary of Required Application Materials

  1. Online ApplyTexas application submitted through the Graduate School Admissions page
  2. Official transcripts (uploaded online)
  3. Official GRE scores
  4. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores (international applicants only)
  5. Statement of Purpose (see guidelines listed above)
  6. Three letters of recommendation
  7. Fourth letter of recommendation (for CSEM Fellowship consideration only)
  8. CSEM Program Departmental Application

ALL applicants should review our Admissions FAQ page

You are strongly encouraged to submit the online application well in advance of the December 15 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
csemgrad@oden.utexas.edu​
512-232-3356