Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When do new students begin?
A: New students enter the program in the fall semester. The semester typically begins near the end of August. We do not accept new students in the spring semester under any circumstances.

Q: When is the department's deadline for the PhD program?
A: Application deadline for the Department of IROM is January 5. All applications must be submitted by this date.

Q: Can I request a paper application?
A: Sorry, the paper application is no longer available. Applicants must apply on-line at Texas Common Application https://www.applytexas.org/. Please follow the instructions carefully.

Q: What form of financial aid do you offer?
A: We offer University Pre-emptive Fellowships or McCombs School of Business Fellowships to our most qualified applicants. In addition, we offer 20-hour per week teaching or graduate research assistant positions. If you have a 20-hour appointment or hold a pre-emptive fellowship, you will qualify for in-state tuition.

Q: How long does it take to get a Ph.D.?
A: Normally, students complete their dissertation work in the fourth or fifth year of the program.

Q: Which standardized tests must I take and when must I take them?
A: The IROM Department will accept either the GMAT or the GRE. For your scores to be acceptable, you must have taken the exam within the last five years.  In order to be considered for the University Pre-emptive Fellowship your scores must arrive before the January 5 deadline.

International students must 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 US or other English-speaking countries. A Master’s degree does NOT qualify for an exception. 

Q: What is the minimum Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) test score?
A: A score of 550 (paper test) , 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) on the TOEFL is considered the minimum acceptable for admission to the University of Texas at Austin.

Q: How competitive is the admissions process?
A: Because the concentrations differ in terms of the number of applications received, the average GMAT and GRE scores, and the number of positions available, a simple answer cannot be given. However, competition in all three concentrations is keen, and admitted applicants ordinarily have test scores above the 90th percentile. They also have very high grade point averages from their undergraduate institutions. Master's degree and work experience are not required for admission. The admission's committee will evaluate all aspects of an applicant's background.

Q: When will I receive notification of the admissions decision?
A: Although the notification dates for each of the concentrations vary slightly, admissions decisions are usually sent out by early March.