The University of Texas at Austin

Overview

UT Austin's campus is just north of downtown Austin and the Texas State Capitol. It is a very large public university, and Texas residents make up most of the undergraduate class, partly because of the state's automatic admission rules for top students at Texas high schools. Those rules do not apply to students from Canadian schools, who are reviewed holistically and admitted to a specific college and major.

Which application to use

UT Austin historically took both ApplyTexas and the Common App. Its current freshman page tells applicants to apply using the Common App for summer or fall admission and uses a separate Spring App for spring entry. An ApplyTexas link still appears on the page, but the fall guidance names only the Common App. Follow the instruction on the admissions site for the term you want.

Deadlines for fall 2027

Early Action at UT Austin is earlier than at most US universities. A Canadian student whose school is slow to send documents should start the Common App in September.

Testing and documents

Send at least one official SAT or ACT score directly from the testing agency (SAT code 6882, ACT code 4240). You can then self-report other scores in MyStatus. The SAT Essay, ACT Writing and ACT Science section are not required. Official Classic Learning Test scores also meet the requirement.

Students who did not attend a Texas high school may be prompted in MyStatus to complete the Academic Coursework Entry Form, listing courses and grades. International applicants submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test results if they apply to their situation; the international information page explains who needs them.

Costs for international students

The application fee for international students is $90, non-refundable, and fee waivers are not available to them. Tuition at UT Austin differs for Texas residents, non-residents and international students, and the university's Cost and Aid section gives current figures. We could not confirm current international scholarship wording for this update.

Essays, resume and recommendations

UT Austin asks for essays and an expanded resume or activity list, and letters of recommendation are optional but encouraged. The resume is a chance to show depth in a few activities, with hours and responsibilities stated plainly. If you are applying to a competitive major such as computer science or business, use the short answers to show you understand what the program involves. Your first-choice and second-choice majors are both reviewed, so choose a second choice you would actually be happy to study.

Preparing with StudyBrix

Since admission is to a major, your essays should explain why that major fits you. Our Canadian applications glossary helps you translate Canadian terms for a US reader, and the StudyBrix United States guide compares public and private US options.