Frequently Asked Questions About Graduate Admissions

Note: between December 2nd and February 15th, we will not be able to offer updates regarding the status of applications. We appreciate your patience as we complete the review process.

To address specific technical application questions, contacting the UT Graduate School may be more useful. If you can't find answers below or on the graduate school application resources, please refer to email addresses below. Include your name and UT EID in all correspondence.

• Transcripts: gradtranscript@austin.utexas.edu (Please do not send transcripts to this address)
• Uploading Documents: gradupload@austin.utexas.edu
• Test Scores: giatest@austin.utexas.edu
• Letters of Recommendation: gradref@austin.utexas.edu
• Residency: residency@austin.utexas.edu

For other application inquiries, please use one of the general addresses below (do not send the same email to multiple email addresses):

• International Applicants: intladm@austin.utexas.edu
• US Applicants: gradus@austin.utexas.edu

Is the GRE required for admissions?

For Fall 2025 admissions, we are suspending the GRE requirement for our admissions processing.  You are welcome to submit the scores if you have them. The GRE requirement may take 72 hours to be removed from MyStatus; there is no reason to reach out in the interim. Our applicant evaluation process is holistic and will consider all components of your application materials. If you opt to submit scores, they must be sent from the testing agency to the University. The code for The University of Texas at Austin is 6882. (Note: scores are sent electronically from the Educational Testing Service (ETS); it can take 3 to 6 weeks after you take the test for the scores to reach us.) GRE scores are valid for a maximum of 5 years.

Are international applicants required to take the TOEFL or IELTS?

Unless international applicants are from a qualifying country or they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or a qualifying country, they must submit the required, official TOEFL or IELTS score. Note: The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master's—but not a bachelor's—degree from a similar institution. See UT's graduate admissions page for international students for more information. 

I am not sure that I will have the [standardized] exam results by the application deadline. What do I do if I don't?

Self report your scores on the RTF online application. The official score will be forwarded to us by the Graduate and International Admission Center when they receive it. If you don't know your score when you complete the RTF online application, enter 000 as the score on the application and email your scores to the RTF Graduate Coordinator as soon as you know them. If you do wish to re-take the exam, you could still apply with the scores you have and update your application when you have new scores.

For international students, what are the minimum TOEFL or IELTS score requirements to apply?

From the graduate school: 
Minimum score requirements may vary depending upon your major and other considerations such as employment as a teaching assistant. The minimum scores considered acceptable for admission by the Graduate School are:

• TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT)
• IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination

While we are generally looking for higher than these minimum scores, please note that we assess candidates holistically, taking into consideration all the application materials collectively.

Once you submit your ApplyTexas application for admission, you will receive a UT EID to access MyStatus and to complete other admissions-related processes. 

You may already have a UT EID if you have sent the university test scores such as SAT, ACT or GRE. Use the tools listed in the left-hand menu on this page: https://idmanager.its.utexas.edu/eid_self_help/ to find or manage your existing UT EID. 

If you do not yet have a UT EID, you will receive it via email no later than 2-3 days after you submit your AppyTexas application. Creating a second UT EID may delay the processing of your application, so you should wait to complete the additional application processes that require a UT EID.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

For the Media Studies programs, the three letters should come from faculty members who know you well enough to speak to your particular strengths. For the MFA programs, at least one letter should be from a faculty member and at least one letter should be from a former employer or internship sponsor (we would like to hear about your professional experience). The third letter may come from either an academic or professional source.

One of my recommenders would like to mail the letter of recommendation instead of using the online process. Is that okay?

Yes, but we highly recommend and prefer that all letters be sent via the ApplyTexas application. If it is sent by mail, please send it directly to the department using the address on the bottom of the website.

Whom can I contact for further L.O.R. questions?

gradref@austin.utexas.edu

Are the graduate programs in-person or online?

Our programs are all in-person. 

Whom can I contact with questions about residency?

residency@austin.utexas.edu

How long should my academic writing sample be and what should it be on?

Each degree program has different requirements for academic writing samples, and the MFA in Screenwriting program only requires a creative writing sample. Please check the specific degree program's admissions criteria.

• MA, Concentration in Media Studies
• PhD, Concentration in Media Studies
• MFA, Film & Media Production
• MFA, Screenwriting

How long should the Statement of Purpose be and what should it say?

The Statement of Purpose should be around 2 pages, double-spaced. It should tell us about your background and why you are interested in doing graduate work at The University of Texas. Avoid giving a laundry list of your accomplishments without saying specifically what your most important achievements or interests are. We want to know who you are, what you are interested in, what you can contribute to the program, and what your goals are. If you are familiar with some of our faculty or their work, by all means, mention that, but be sure it is relevant to your program and interests. There are many fine examples of Statements of Purpose available on the web, but remember that your statement should be very personal and show your passion and experience.

My writing samples are in another language. Do they need to be in English?

Yes, writing samples need to be in English for the admissions committee to review.

While many of our students do work, our programs are structured for full-time students in residence. In particular, our MFA programs are intensive, and most students find it hard to work more than 10 hours in their first year.

Here are some resources for employment at UT:

• General graduate student employment information
• The Sanger Center for Teaching and Learning is always looking and offers help to Teaching Assistants and Assistant Instructors.
• The Undergraduate Writing Center often hires writing tutors.
• UT Austin Athletics often hires mentors and tutors for athletes in all areas.
• Nonacademic employment — includes links to many job search sites for The University of Texas students.

Graduate School Finances 
Tuition and Cost of Attendance 
Funding for MFA Film and Media Production , MFA in Screenwriting, and  PhD in Media Studies 
Financial Aid and Loans

We offer several dual degree options in our MA program, and a few of our PhD students have entered into portfolio programs and pursued interdisciplinary degrees. However, students may not pursue another degree while in our MFA programs.
 

We are very proud of our accomplished, diverse faculty of media scholars and working professionals. Please read more about RTF faculty and graduate students.

Graduate Coordinator: rtfgradprospectivestudent@austin.utexas.edu 
Graduate Advisor for MFA programs: Sarah Oh 
Graduate Advisor for MA & PhD programs: Madhavi Mallapragada

To be eligible for admission consideration, applicants must meet the Graduate School’s minimum requirements: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/where-to-begin/eligibility-for-admission-consideration. If you have questions regarding your degree accreditation or GPA conversion, please check with the Graduate and International Admissions Center at intladm@austin.utexas.edu.

We do not offer recruitment fellowships or scholarships to MA students. We appoint a limited number of MA students to TA positions; however, TA positions are not guaranteed. In addition to funding availability, factors involved in selecting TAs include prior work experience and skills possessed, existing knowledge of course content, and degree of fit for the particular course. TAs can be employed to work either 10 or 20 hours per week during the semester. In most cases, MA TA appointments typically are for spring semester of their first year and/or fall semester of their second year. Many MA students are able to find other employment opportunities elsewhere on campus; many departments regularly solicit calls for Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants across campus.

Find information about the prgoram of studey for the MA in Media Studies. You may also find our course descriptions helpful, as they illustrate the breadth of subject matter in our graduate courses.

Applicants to the PhD program must hold a Masters-level degree before they can matriculate into our program. Further details about admission requirements can be found here. Please note that the GRE is just one element of your entire application. If applicants have a weaker GRE score but their other materials are very strong, they may still be considered for admission.

Learn more about the PhD Program of Study and review our graduate course offerings.

All are guaranteed four years of funding, usually in the form of Teaching Assistantships. Students making satisfactory progress toward degree completion during their fourth year may be eligible for a fifth year of funding. Students receive a salary, a resident tuition entitlement (which allows students to pay the Texas resident tuition rate), a tuition reduction benefit which covers most costs, and free basic medical insurance. Additional, merit-based fellowships of between $6,000–$20,000 are offered to a limited number of admitted students.

The PhD in Media Studies is a residential program.

As part of the application, we will ask you to list four or five faculty members you would be interested in working with closely. Learn more about our Research and Teachings Areas and which areas our faculty focus on. You can also find biographies and CVs of individual media studies faculty.

Our objective is to see students defend their dissertations and complete the PhD by the end of their fifth year in the program. Students meet with the faculty they work closest with for an annual progress review at the end of each academic year to review their recent accomplishments and map their plans for the upcoming school year.

RTF graduates have secured employment at a range of universities around the world. Recent graduates have secured tenure-track positions at Boston University, University of Michigan, University of Iowa, University College Dublin, and Chinese University of Hong Kong. Find more information about job placement.

Yes. At the end of the three years of the program, each student will have directed four short films.

Students learn advanced production skills for both documentary and narrative filmmaking and can choose to focus on either or both forms.

The program prepares students to work as filmmakers as well as to teach filmmaking at the university level. Many of our graduates go on to teach production courses (e.g. narrative/documentary filmmaking, cinematography, directing, etc.) at colleges and universities across the U.S.

Our program is best suited for those who have been professionally working in the film/media industries and returning to graduate studies after having gained hands-on professional experience. It is rare that we admit students who have only just graduated with their bachelor’s degree.

Learn more about the Program of Study.

For this 3-year, full-time program, the tuition students pay is based on how many classes they enroll in (typically 13 credit hours the first semester and around 10 credit hours in subsequent semesters). The most up-to-date tuition rate information can be found online. 
Notes: Tuition rates may increase every year. Also, Texas resident tuition rates may be available in year two.

As the curriculum is very demanding, especially during the first year of the program, students are strongly discouraged from working during the first year. During years 2 and 3 of the program, we may offer Teaching Assistant positions to students, which, in addition to providing funding, may qualify them to be eligible for the Texas resident tuition rate.

We also offer a few competitive fellowships as well as opportunities to apply for partial funding for thesis films.

Our 2-year MFA Screenwriting program is one of the most affordable and highly ranked in the country, and we are able to admit very talented students. You can find detailed information about our program structure and graduate courses here:

• https://rtf.utexas.edu/graduate/mfa-screenwriting
• https://rtf.utexas.edu/graduate/admissions-mfa-screenwriting

Find a description of RTF graduate courses to learn more.

All incoming students are awarded a $5000 fellowship for their first year. Students making good academic progress are awarded $5000 for their second year in the program. Since students receive fellowships, they also become eligible to pay the Texas resident tuition rate.