The doctoral program in finance provides an opportunity for specialized study in one or more of the following finance areas: corporate finance, investments, financial intermediaries, international finance and real estate. The core of the program consists of a set of courses required of all students. This is supplemented with special courses and electives. In addition, students are required to become competent in two minor fields. Typically students choose economics, statistics or mathematics, as these provide skills important to financial research.
Many of the Department of Finance faculty members have established national reputations in both research and teaching by winning nationally competitive research awards and grants as well as school-wide teaching awards. The department typically produces a number of papers and books in an academic year, and faculty present papers at national meetings of the American Finance Association, European Finance Association, Western Finance Association, the Financial Management Association and the American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association. Many faculty members serve on the editorial boards of academic journals. For additional information on the faculty members, please visit the Finance Department faculty website.
Admissions
To be eligible for admission to the doctoral program in finance, an applicant is required to have (at least) a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and a high level of competency in the English language.
All doctoral students are admitted for a full-time degree program, which begins in the fall. Spring enrollment is not permitted. Over 180 applications are received each year for three to six spots in the entering class so the admissions process is very competitive. For example, the average GMAT percentile score for entering students is typically around the 95th percentile.
All applicants are required to take either the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) in time for the results to reach the Department of Finance by the application deadline, January 15. The test must be taken within the past five years. International students must also submit an official report of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). An exception is made for foreign students who obtained a bachelor's degree in the U.S. or another English-speaking country.
Application Process
How to Apply
Please note, all applicants are expected to review the Graduate Admissions page of the Graduate and International Admissions Center webpage for a list of minimum requirements and other important University admission information.
The application for admission to the doctoral program consists of TWO parts. You must submit both parts in order for your application file to be reviewed. Please follow the instructions carefully. Do not assemble your materials in folders or booklets. We strongly recommend that you apply online at Texas Common Application.
Part 1: The following materials must be uploaded after you have completed and paid for your application via UT's Status Check webpage by January 15. Please note all uploaded documents will be considered unofficial copies and official copies must be mailed to GIAC only after you have been admitted into the program. If you mail application material to GIAC prior to being admitted into the program the speed at which your application is reviewed will be greatly reduced. The mailing addresses for GIAC are listed below.
GIAC Mailing Addresses:
The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC)
University of Texas at Austin
P.O. Box 7608
Austin, TX 78713-7608
U.S.A.
Street Address (for overnight letter or package delivery):
The Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC)
University of Texas at Austin
Walter Webb Hall
405 West 25th Street
Austin, TX 78705
U.S.A.
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Online Application: U.S. applicationor international application
Please apply via http://www.applytexas.org.
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Transcripts (Please request your official transcripts, with the final grades from all of the colleges and universities you have attended, be sent directly to GIAC only after you have been admitted into the program)
When uploading transcripts, note you will only be allowed to upload one PDF file per school. This means if you have a multiple page transcript for one school you will need to create one PDF file for that school. Grade sheets should not be uploaded in place of transcripts. Applications with grade sheets in place of transcripts will be considered incomplete. If you are uploading a foreign transcript, you must also included the translated version as part of the one PDF file for that school.
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Official GRE or GMAT scores
Please request your GRE or GMAT scores be sent to GIAC. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for the University of Texas at Austin is 6882; the Finance department code is 4102.
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Official TOEFL scores (International students)
An exception is made for foreign students who obtained a bachelor's degree in the U.S. or other English-speaking country. International students must submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
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Application fee (please note: applications submitted without the required application processing fee will not be reviewed)
Please do not send cash or personal checks. You may pay by credit card (Visa or MasterCard), cashier's check, money orders or bank drafts in U.S. dollars drawn in U.S. banks.
Part 2: The following materials must be sent to the Department of Finance by January 15. Please send the materials in one envelope if possible.
Address (for regular mail, express mail or priority mail):
Graduate Coordinator
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Finance
1 University Station B6600
Austin, TX 78712-1179
U.S.A.
Address (for overnight mail or package delivery):
Graduate Coordinator
The University of Texas at Austin
Department of Finance
CBA 6.222
Austin, TX 78712
U.S.A.
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Departmental application form (PDF document)
This is for the Finance Department only. Please download the form from the above link and upload the completed form via
UT's Status Check webpage
.
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Three Letters of Reference and your Statement of Purpose
(Word document)
We prefer academic references, and please try to get all three letters of recommendation in one packet with sealed envelopes. Your Statement of Purpose should discuss your interest in our Ph.D. program and your reasons for doing graduate work at the University of Texas. Your statement should be no more than two pages long; it may be accompanied by a current resumé or c.v., list of publications, etc. Your statement of purpose is an important part of your application and care should be taken in writing it. If you have requested your letters of reference electronically and submitted your statement of purpose online you do not need to mail them in to the department.
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A Resumé
Please provide your current resumé. You can upload it via
UT's Status Check webpage
or mail it into the department.
Forms for Items 1 and 2 can be obtained by clicking on the items above. (You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to read the PDF documents.) Questions about the application procedure can be sent to finphd@mccombs.utexas.edu.
Contact Us
For additional information contact Scott Lauger at finphd@mccombs.utexas.edu. Application Deadline January 15.
Ph.D. Program Staff:
Ph.D. Program Coordinator: Scott Lauger
Ph.D. Program Faculty Advisor: Andres Almazan
Frequently Asked Questions
How competitive is the application process?
Each year we receive between 180 to 200 applications for 3 to 6 available openings.
What are the minimum requirements to be eligible for admissions?
Please review the Graduate School's admissions page for a list of minimum requirements to apply for graduate school at UT.
What is the minimum GMAT/GRE score?
There is no minimum GMAT/GRE score required to apply. Our application process is completely holistic and there are many factors taken into consideration. The average GMAT/GRE percentile score for entering students is typically around the 95th percentile.
What is the required TOEFL or IELTS score?
A score of 550 (paper test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to The University of Texas at Austin.
As an international applicant, how can I waive the TOEFL?
If you hold a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country, you will receive a waiver of the TOEFL or IELTS. We will not waive the requirement for the TOEFL or IELTS scores if you earned only a master's degree from a U.S institution or from an institution in another English-only speaking country.
Can I apply for admissions for the spring semester?
No, spring enrollment is not permitted. We only enroll new students for the fall semesters.
What is the average cost of the program?
Because the tuition, fees and other program cost vary based on several factor, we cannot provide you with an exact number. For an estimate please review the Graduate School's Tuition, Fees and Other Costs webpage.
What is the ETS code for UT at Austin?
The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for the University of Texas at Austin is 6882. Test scores sent to this code are made available to all graduate departments. The GMAT code is 396-44-45.
After I apply, where can I check my application status and upload application material?
Once you have completed your online application you can upload application material and monitor your application status using the University's
My Status webpage
.
Financial Assistance
Merit-based fellowships are available through the Finance Department. An accepted applicant is automatically considered for these fellowships. The Finance Department typically offers 20-hour teaching or research assistants to all incoming students and most continuing students. In addition, a student holding a 20-hour appointment will qualify for in-state tuition.
Information about loans, work-study or other financial assistance based on need can be obtained from the Office of Student Financial Services Web site or by writing to Office of Student Financial Services, Box 7758, University Station, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78713-7758. Their phone number is (512) 471-6282.