An Overview of the Process

• What is the application process?
  For step-by-step instructions, go here.
• What are the application deadlines?
  Applications are due by the following deadlines: 

  • December 12, 2012
  • February 6, 2013
  • March 20, 2013

  The last date for applications from international students is February 6, 2013.  Students who wish to submit an application after March 20, 2013, should contact our office to find out about available space.

  Please note that in order to have your application considered, it must be complete, including the submission of all supporting documents, by the deadline. Please allow ample time for letters of recommendation and official test scores to arrive. You can check the status of your application on the GIAC Application Status Page.

• Is an interview required? If so, how do I set one up?
  The Admissions Committee may choose to interview select applicants, but not all applicants will be interviewed. If the committee wishes to interview you, program staff will contact you to set that up. Please do not contact our office to request an interview.
• How can I check the status of my application?
  To see if your application materials have been received by the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC), please check the Application Status Check page. You will be required to login using your UT EID and password, which are assigned after submitting your online application. If you have questions about the status of your application materials after viewing the online information, please contact GIAC directly. Please avoid mailing in documentation, as hard copies will significantly delay the processing of your application.
• Can you review my application using an unofficial score report?
  We must receive all application materials, including official score reports sent directly from the testing agencies, before reviewing your application.
• When will I get an admissions decision?
  Decisions are generally returned within 6-8 weeks of the admissions deadlines. Applications received after the final deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis, but will still take 6-8 weeks from their completion date to receive a decision.
• How will I know a decision has been made?
  Once a decision has been reached, you will receive an email from the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) and can use the My Status page to view the decision. If you are accepted into the program, you will also receive an email from the MSF office.

Application Materials

• What materials must I submit?
  A complete application consists of the following:

  • Complete applytexas.org application, including application fee.
  • Required essay, and, if desired, two optional essays.
  • Three letter of recommendation.
  • Official test scores for either the GRE or the GMAT.
  • Resume.
  • Completed MSF Applicant Profile
  • Transcripts from any undergraduate institutions you attended.

  Applications will only be reviewed if ALL documents are received by the deadline.

• Where should I mail my documents?
  The application system is set up so that all documentation can be submitted online. Hard copies of documents will slow down the admissions process, so please do not mail documents in.
• Can I get the application fee waived?
  The MSF Program does not grant fee waivers for application fees.
• How long should my application essay be?
  The ApplyTexas application will allow for a maximum of 120 eighty-character lines of text, including spaces and blank lines. Of course, content is more important than length.
• Can I view the essays without starting an application?
  Application essays can be found at the MSF Application Essays page.
• Who should I request letters of recommendation from?
  Letters of recommendation should give the admissions committee a complete picture of you, and should reflect your academic abilities, your work ethic, your ability to thrive in the workplace, and your career aspirations. Ideally, choose references who know you in an academic or professional contact. Suggestions for references include past professors and instructors, research advisers, and employment supervisors.
• Can my references submit paper letters of recommendation?

  If you are unable to provide an e-mail address for a recommender, you may have the recommender return the recommendation form and attached letter to you in sealed envelopes with their signatures across the seal, and you can include mail the letters to GIAC; please contact them directly for mailing info.

  Please note that submitting a paper copy instead of an online recommendation will delay the processing of your application, so it is highly recommended that your recommenders submit an online recommendation whenever possible.

• Can I change my reference information once my application is submitted?
  Changes in reference contact information or additions to your list of references can be made through the application status check page.

Admissions Requirements

• What are the prerequisite courses for the program?
  Entering students must have a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution. In addition, completion of a three credit hour course in statistics and a three credit hour course in economics is required. If you do not meet these requirements at the time of your application, you will be required to take them by Summer 2012, prior to beginning the program.
• Can I take the prerequisite courses while enrolled in the MSF program?
  Prerequisites should be completed before beginning the program. Acceptance and enrollment into the MSF does not allow students to register for other UT classes so your registration will be limited to classes in the MSF curriculum.
• I have a three-year bachelor’s degree. Am I eligible for the MSF program?
  Your degree must be comparable to a four-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States. The Graduate and International Admissions Center will determine eligibility at the time of application; our program staff does not make that determination.
• Is an undergraduate degree in finance necessary or recommended?
  Not at all; in fact, the Master of Science in Finance Program is specifically designed to accommodate students with non-business backgrounds or those from business disciplines other than finance.
• If I have an undergraduate degree in finance, may I still apply?
  Certainly. You may apply and we will be happy to consider your application. However, when making the admission decision, we will consider your previous coursework and the extent to which the Master of Science in Finance is a good fit given your training and our curriculum.
• Is work experience required?
  No, there is no work experience requirement. A required part of the curriculum, the Practicum in Finance, is designed to provide valuable work experience to program participants.
• Should I take the GRE or GMAT?
  The MSF program accepts scores from either exam. You should choose which exam to take based on personal preference, the timing of the exams, and the requirements of any other graduate programs you are applying to.
• What GRE or GMAT scores are required for admission?
  While there are no specific score requirements for admission in to the program, reviewing our class profile will give you a range of scores for a typical MSF student.