Please carefully read the following information prior to applying.
Application Materials
Below is a list of required application materials.
With the exception of official scores for English-language tests, all materials should be uploaded electronically through the online application system.
- Please do not send paper materials or duplicate paper copies of these materials.
- Please do not send materials directly to our graduate program staff.
- All materials must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
Process and Deadline
All candidates for admission must complete an online application, submit the required application materials, and pay the application fee by the deadline.
Applications are only accepted for the fall terms and only for admission to the doctoral program.
Before you apply
Please read all instructions published at How to Apply and within the ApplyTexas application. We also encourage you to review the Frequently Asked Questions page.
During the Application Process
Applicants are responsible for monitoring the progress of their application and ensuring that all required materials have been submitted and received by the Office of Graduate Admissions. Please do not send materials directly to the graduate program staff or department office.
For technical support and questions about the online application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions directly.
When to Apply
Fall 2024 Application Deadline:
Fall 2025 applications will open September 1st, 2024 and close December 1st, 2024.
Please do not wait until the last minute to apply. We recommend that students apply in advance of the deadline to ensure that all materials are received on-time by the Office of Gradaute Admissions.
Applications received after the deadline may be considered, at the discretion of the admissions committee. However, late applicants may not be invited to interview or participate in recruitment events.
After you Apply
Once completed, please monitor your application via the MyStatus portal. Applications are not reviewed by the admissions committee until after the deadline.
Following committee review, qualified applicants may be invited to conduct an admissions interview and/or visit the UT campus during program recruitment events. Recruitment events are typically held in February and provide opportunity to meet faculty and current graduate students, experience the university campus, and to explore Austin.
Final admissions decisions for all candidates are typically released in mid-February to mid-March.
Admissions decisions will be posted in the MyStatus portal, with additional notifications sent via email.
Application for Admission
Applicants must complete the online application. The Microbiology major code is 667500.
Detailed instructions for applying are given on the Office of Graduate Admissions website.
After you submit your admissions application, you will receive an email from the Office of Gradaute Admissions that includes your UT EID, allowing you to access MyStatus. During peak periods, this can take 2–3 days. MyStatus will enable you to monitor your application progress and to submit additional materials as needed.
In an effort to increase security, multi-factor authentication (Duo) will be required to access most online services that require a UT EID login. Please make sure to set up Duo prior to attemping to log in to MyStatus.
For other questions, please see our FAQs.
Application Processing Fee
A required application fee must be submitted with the online application: $65 for US applicants; $90 for international applicants who have not previously been enrolled at UT Austin.
Visit the Office of Gradaute Admissions for instructions to pay the fee.
A fee waiver may be requested by those with documented financial hardship. Requests should be submitted directly to the Office of Gradaute Admissions.
McNair Scholars may qualify for an application fee waiver.
Personal Statement of Purpose
The Statement of Purpose is composed of two short essays that must be submitted separately as part of the application.
The two prompts are:
- Your Future Goals: Describe your reasons for pursuing graduate study as well as your academic and professional interests and goals. What do you hope to contribute to the University community and the field or profession.
- What Brought You Here: Tell us more about your science-specific research experiences, list up to 5 UT faculty members whose research you are interested in and why, and share any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without. (If you do list faculty of interest, please bold their names in the statement)
There is no wordcount minimum or maximum, though we recommend that you not go over a page for either essay.
While specific text formatting is not required we recommend the essays be in Arial size 12 font with 1.5 line spacing.
Your statement of purpose should be uploaded directly to the online application.
Letters of Recommendation
All candidates for admission must submit three letters of recommendation with their application.
To do so, you must enter the names and email addresses of three authors in the "References" section of the online application. Before submitting your application, please verify that the email addrresses are current and accurate.
You will also be asked whether you would like to waive the right to view your letters after they are submitted. Please indicate this by answering the associated question on the application form.
After you submit the online application, each reference will receive an automated email message containing instructions and a link to the website where they will submit their letter of recommendation. Your references will be informed whether you have waived the right to view the letter of recommendation.
You can monitor pending recommendations, resend reference requests, add a new author, and revise your FERPA (right to view) election via MyStatus.
C.V./Resume
Your current C.V. or resume should include:
- Your educational background
- relevant courses taken
- Name and location of prior institution (ie. State or Country of institution)
- Cumulative GPA
- Related employment & academic research experience
- name and total time in each full or part-time research roll, time listed in years and months (ie. 1 year, 3 months)
- Publications
- please include papers; published, under review, or pre-published
Upload your C.V. to your MyStatus page as a Miscellaneous Admissions Document.
Detailed instructions for uploading materials to your MyStatus page are given on the Office of Graduate Admissions. For other questions, please see our FAQs.
Official Transcripts
Transcripts from all prior universities and colleges attended must be sent to Office of Graduate Admissions. Detailed instructions for uploading materials to your MyStatus page are given on the Graduate and International Admissions Center website. For other questions, please see our FAQs.
GRE
The Microbiology Graduate Program does not require the GRE exam. GRE scores voluntarily submitted will not be considered by the admissions committee.
Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores for International Students
International students whose native language is not English must submit an official score report for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Only score reports sent directly to the University from the testing agency are considered official. Please arrange to have your official scores sent directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the testing agency.
- Submitting TOEFL Scores: The Institution code for the University of Texas at Austin for TOEFL score reports is 6882. No department code is necessary.
- Submitting IELTS Scores: Use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account.
Exemptions:
If you hold a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country, or are from a qualifying country, you may be exempt from this requirement. Please visit the Office of Gradaute Admissions website for further information about exemptions.
Contact
If you have questions, please visit the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page or contact ilsgrad@austin.utexas.edu.
Note: Our staff will not evaluate materials prior to submission of an application. Please do not send transcripts or other application materials directly via email.
If you need technical assistance with the online application, please contact the Office of Graduate Admissions.
