UT Austin admission requirements for international students include the Common App or ApplyTexas, one essay, two required short answers, transcripts covering the equivalent of US grades 9 to 12, an official SAT, ACT or CLT score, an English test unless you are exempt, and a $90 application fee with no waivers for international applicants. Testing is required, not optional. UT also asks you to choose a first-choice major, and you are admitted to a specific college, so your major decision shapes your chances.
UT Austin is ranked No. 34 nationally and No. 8 among public universities by U.S. News, and it received a record 90,690 freshman applications for fall 2025. State law reserves about 90% of first-year places for Texas residents, so international students compete for a small share of seats: UT’s Common Data Set for 2025-26 shows about 7.9% of international applicants admitted. For fall 2027 entry, Early Action closed on 15 October 2026, and the Regular Decision deadline is 1 December 2026. A year costs a nonresident between $64,204 and $72,916 in 2026-27. I checked these details on UT’s own pages on 29 October 2026.
UT Austin ranking
| Ranking | UT Austin position |
|---|---|
| National Universities, U.S. News 2027 edition | #34 (tie) |
| Public universities, U.S. News 2027 edition | #8 (tie) |
| Public universities in Texas, U.S. News 2027 edition | #1 |
UT’s admissions site also lists its undergraduate business programme at No. 6 and computer science at No. 11 among its programme rankings. The University of Florida shares UT’s 2027 national and public positions.
UT Austin acceptance rate and class profile
| Measure (fall 2025 entry) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Freshman applications (UT News) | 90,690 |
| Admitted (CDS 2025-26) | 20,154 (about 22.2%) |
| First-time freshmen enrolled (UT News) | 9,900 |
| Texas residents admitted (CDS) | 16,828 of 46,879 (about 35.9%) |
| Out-of-state US admitted (CDS) | 2,653 of 35,268 (about 7.5%) |
| International admitted (CDS) | 673 of 8,543 (about 7.9%) |
| International students on campus, all levels | 5,140 (9.3% of all students) |
Two facts explain these numbers. Texas law requires most first-year places to go to Texas residents, and a large share of those go to students admitted automatically from the top of their Texas high school class. That leaves roughly one place in ten for everyone from outside the state, US and international combined. An 8% admit rate makes UT Austin harder for an international applicant than its headline rate suggests.
UT Austin tuition for international students (2026-27)
International students pay nonresident tuition. UT’s One Stop publishes this 2026-27 cost of attendance for a full-time nonresident undergraduate taking 12 hours a semester. Tuition varies by programme, which is why it is a range.
| Cost item | Estimated cost (fall and spring) |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees | $42,554 to $51,106 |
| Housing and food | $15,420 to $15,580 |
| Transportation | $1,840 |
| Books and supplies | $724 |
| Personal and miscellaneous | $3,666 |
| Total | $64,204 to $72,916 |
The budget lists no costs specific to international students, so add health insurance, visa fees and flights yourself. Engineering and business sit towards the top of the tuition range. Over four years, plan for about $260,000 to $300,000.
UT Austin scholarships for international students
UT Austin does not publish need-based aid for incoming international undergraduates, and there is no CSS Profile, ISFAA or UT aid form for international freshmen. The help that exists comes through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), mostly as small awards once you are enrolled. ISSS takes applications through its LASSO system twice a year: 1 October to 1 November 2026 for spring and summer 2027 awards, and 1 February to 1 March 2027 for fall 2027 and the 2027-28 year.
| ISSS award | Amount | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| African Leadership Bridge | $5,000 for the year ($2,500 a semester) | Students whose previous education was in Africa, 3.0 GPA, need-based; preference to incoming first-year students |
| Good Neighbor Scholarship | One year of tuition (not fees) | Students born in and resident of a Western Hemisphere country |
| Iimura Peace | $5,000 (fall) | Students who attended school in East Asia or Asia; service project required |
| Khalid Alhilali Memorial | $2,500 (fall) | Students with prior schooling in the Middle East |
| TAMS | Nonresident tuition waiver | Competitive, limited number |
| General ISSS Financial Aid | Cash award | Students who have completed two UT semesters |
For an African applicant, the African Leadership Bridge award is worth knowing about, but $5,000 covers well under a tenth of the yearly cost. ISSS also offers short-term tuition loans of up to $5,000 at 4% interest. If you need large-scale funding, compare UT with the fully funded options in our best American scholarships list. For another Texas option with merit awards, see our University of Houston scholarships guide.
UT Austin admission requirements for international students
- Application: Common App or ApplyTexas for summer and fall entry.
- Application fee: $90 for international applicants. UT says fee waivers are not available for international students.
- Essay: one essay. The Common App personal essay meets this requirement.
- Short answers: the required short-answer prompts, plus an optional one about circumstances that affected your school performance (250 to 300 words).
- Transcripts: secondary school records equivalent to US grades 9 to 12, completed or in progress, plus official college transcripts if you earned college credit.
- Test score: an official SAT, ACT or CLT score sent by the testing agency by the deadline.
- English test: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo unless you are exempt.
- Optional: an expanded résumé and up to two recommendation letters.
Some majors ask for extra items, so read the requirements for your first and second-choice majors on the college pages before you submit. Campus housing is first come, first served, so apply for it as soon as your application is complete.
Testing policy
UT requires at least one official SAT or ACT score sent directly from the testing agency, and official CLT scores also count. You may self-report in MyStatus after ordering the official report. The SAT essay, ACT Writing, ACT Science and SAT Subject Tests are not needed. The codes are 6882 for the SAT and 4240 for the ACT.
English requirements
| Test | UT Austin minimum |
|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | 79 (120 scale) or 4 (new 1 to 6 scale) |
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall |
| Duolingo English Test | 115 |
UT does not accept TOEFL ITP, TOEFL Essentials or IELTS General Training. You are exempt if you are from, or finished at least three years of high school in, one of UT’s qualifying countries, which include Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada (except Quebec).
UT Austin deadlines for fall 2027
| Step | Early Action (closed) | Regular Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Application deadline | 15 October 2026 | 1 December 2026 |
| Supplemental materials | 22 October 2026 | 10 December 2026 |
| Decision | By 15 January 2027 | By 15 February 2027 |
| Honors decisions | 1 March 2027 | 1 March 2027 |
Deadline
The Regular Decision deadline for fall 2027 is 1 December 2026, and transcripts, test scores and other supplemental materials must arrive by 10 December. There is no fee waiver for international applicants, so have a card ready for the $90 fee.
How to write the UT Austin short answers
Essay guides that track UT’s 2026-27 application describe two required short answers of 250 to 300 words: one on why you want your first-choice major, and one on the activity you are most proud of and why. Confirm the wording in the Common App before you write. Both reward focus.
- For the major answer, explain what you have already done in the subject and what you want to learn at UT. Leave out general praise of Austin or the campus.
- Stay on your first-choice major. Do not try to justify your second choice in the same answer.
- For the activity answer, explain why you are proud of it, not only what it was. Work and family duties count as much as clubs.
- Keep each answer to about one paragraph.
A short sample opening for the major answer, for illustration:
“I learned what a power grid really is during the week our town lost electricity and my father’s welding shop lost five days of income. I spent that week sketching how a small solar array could keep his machines running, and the sketches are why I want to study electrical engineering.”
What happens after you apply
- MyStatus: UT gives you a UT EID and a MyStatus page. Track missing items and upload your résumé there.
- Holistic review: UT reads your file in the context of the first and second-choice majors you listed.
- Decision: by 15 February 2027 for Regular Decision applicants.
- Accept and apply for housing: confirm your place and complete the housing application early.
- Proof of funds and I-20: submit financial documentation to UT’s international office, receive your I-20, pay the SEVIS fee and book your F-1 interview.
Common mistakes international applicants make
- Assuming UT is test-optional. It requires an SAT, ACT or CLT score.
- Self-reporting scores without ordering the official report from the testing agency.
- Picking a crowded major such as computer science without a realistic second choice.
- Writing the major short answer about UT’s reputation instead of your own preparation.
- Taking IELTS when you are from an exempt country such as Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya.
- Missing the 10 December supplemental materials deadline because a school was slow to send transcripts.
Costs that aid will not cover
- Health insurance, which UT’s budget table does not list.
- Flights, visa and SEVIS fees.
- Higher tuition in programmes at the top of the $42,554 to $51,106 range.
- Summer tuition if you take summer classes: UT estimates $15,958 to $19,165 for a nonresident summer.
- Housing in Austin after your first year, where rents near campus are high.
Majors and strengths at UT Austin
UT is known for the McCombs School of Business, the Cockrell School of Engineering, computer science, communication and media, and architecture. Its own rankings page puts communication and media studies at No. 4 in the world and its entrepreneurship programme at No. 2. Admission is by college and major, so the strength of a programme also means more competition to get into it.
Campus and city
UT’s main campus is in the centre of Austin, the capital of Texas, within walking distance of the State Capitol. Austin has a large technology sector, a well-known live music scene and hot summers. With more than 55,000 students from 128 countries, UT is a big university, and it suits students who are comfortable finding their own community in a large place.
Graduate admissions at UT Austin
Graduate applications go through UT’s Graduate School and the individual programme, which sets its own deadlines, test rules and English scores. Many doctoral students are funded through teaching or research assistantships, while most master’s students pay tuition themselves. ISSS also lists external funding such as ConTex fellowships for graduate study.
UT Austin compared with similar public universities
| University | U.S. News 2027 (National) | International admit rate | Tests | Out-of-state tuition and fees 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UT Austin | #34 (tie) | About 7.9% | SAT, ACT or CLT required | $42,554 to $51,106 |
| University of Florida | #34 (tie) | About 10.4% | SAT, ACT or CLT required | $34,620 |
| UC San Diego | #29 | Not published for fall 2026 | Not considered | $54,858 (fall 2026 cohort) |
| University of Virginia | #26 | About 11.6% | Optional | $62,054 |
If UT is your target, it is worth also looking at Texas A&M and UT Dallas, which face the same Texas residency rules but recruit international students in large numbers.
Who should apply to UT Austin
- Students with strong SAT or ACT scores and a clear major in business, engineering, computing or communication.
- Families who can pay about $65,000 to $75,000 a year plus insurance and travel.
- Students educated in Africa who can add the African Leadership Bridge award to other funding.
- Students who want a large university in a growing city with a strong job market.
Students who need most of their costs covered should not rely on UT. Its international awards are small.
FAQ on UT Austin admission for international students
What is the UT Austin acceptance rate for international students?
UT’s Common Data Set for 2025-26 shows 673 of 8,543 international applicants admitted for fall 2025, about 7.9%. The overall rate was about 22.2%.
Does UT Austin give scholarships to international students?
UT does not publish need-based aid for incoming international freshmen. ISSS offers small awards, such as the $5,000 African Leadership Bridge scholarship, which gives preference to incoming first-year students educated in Africa.
How much is UT Austin tuition for international students?
Nonresident tuition and fees are $42,554 to $51,106 for 2026-27, and the full cost of attendance is $64,204 to $72,916.
Does UT Austin require the SAT for international students?
Yes. UT requires an official SAT, ACT or CLT score. The English minimums are TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115, unless you are exempt.
Sources and updates
I checked this guide on 29 October 2026 against UT Austin Admissions pages for international freshmen, freshman applicants, English proficiency and ranks and statistics, UT’s One Stop 2026-27 cost of attendance, the ISSS scholarships and financial services page, UT News on fall 2025 enrolment and UT’s Common Data Set for 2025-26. Rankings are from the U.S. News 2027 Best Colleges edition as listed by UT Admissions. This page will be updated if UT changes a date, fee or rule.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
