Apply to MSBA Today
Gain an in-depth understanding of how to harness Big Data and use it to develop effective business practices and strategies by applying to the MSBA Class of 2026. There are three steps for a completed application. Click the View Steps to Apply button below or continue scrolling for more details.

IMPORTANT DATES AND DEADLINES

Round 1
October 15, 2025
Round 2 - Final International Deadline
January 14, 2025
Round 3
April 1, 2025
Round 4
May 6, 2025

Step 1: Complete McCombs Electronic Application

Below is a description of each component of the McCombs application for admission that can be completed online. After reading through the information, apply this fall.

Review Program Readiness

To ensure you have the required background and suggested coursework, view MSBA program readiness..

Test Scores

Not applicable to UT Austin MS Bridge Undergraduate Applicants

  • GRE/GMAT scores are optional for all applicants. If you choose to self-report GRE/GMAT scores, you must upload a copy of your official score report. 
  • If you have questions about whether or not to submit GRE or GMAT scores as a part of our application portfolio, check out our blog.
  • International students must submit an official score report of TOEFL or IELTS demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English, however exceptions may apply.

Academic Supplements

The admissions committee reviews transcripts to ensure students meet the technical, quantitative, and qualitative coursework required by all programs. However, some university course titles are not immediately recognizable as such. As coursework titles vary from institution to institution, this section will help the admissions committee to better understand the coursework on your transcript. 

  • Example: A course titled “Modern Mathematics” is not immediately recognizable as linear algebra or calculus.  

MSBA Application Essay Questions

Each program requires multiple written essays to gauge your interest and abilities for admission. If you are planning on applying to more than one MS program, please refer to those program-specific pages to look at the prompts required for each one. Below are the MSBA program-specific essay questions.

  1. Why is the MSBA program the next logical step for you? How do you hope to develop, both personally and professionally, during this one-year program? (Required – 500 words maximum)
  2. Describe a time that you have had to solve a problem in your academic or work experience. Explain the steps you implemented to solve the problem and the insights that you gained from the experience. (Required – 500 words maximum)
  3. Please provide any additional information that you believe is important and/or will address any areas of concern that the Admissions Committee may encounter when considering your application. (Optional – 500 words maximum) 

Personal & Family Information

  • Please make sure you use an email and mailing address that you will be able to access throughout the entire admissions process. Some university email addresses expire, and you may miss important communications.
  • Information on your family’s education background will be used for some scholarship considerations.

Educational Information

  • You will be required to list your high school along with all higher education institutions attended. 
  • Please be prepared to upload individual transcripts from all higher education institutions attended (unless you have a transcript that lists all institutions attended). 

Employment History

Here, we ask for you to list post-baccalaureate full-time employers, including service in the armed forces. If you are a current undergraduate student, please list any relevant internships.

Letters of Recommendation

Each program requires multiple letters of recommendation. MSBA requires two (2) letters of recommendation. 

  • Letters should come from either professors or professionals with whom you have worked.  
  • One (1) letter should come from a professor or academic connection at minimum.  
    • If you have completed your undergraduate degree more than three years ago, it may be appropriate to have your letters come exclusively from professional recommendations. Reach out to our admissions team if you have questions.
  • Please do not submit personal/family recommendations. 

Questions on Step 1

If you have questions on any items in Step 1, email TexasMSBA@mccombs.utexas.edu.

Step 2: Complete The Graduate School Checklist

Complete your UT Austin Graduate School checklist for admission through MyStatus.

Step 2 is not applicable to UT Austin MS Bridge undergraduate students.

Pay Required Fee

  • Your application fee invoice will be available 1-to-3 business days after application submission. Please plan accordingly.
  • The application fee is $65 for domestic applicants and $90 for international applicants.
  • MS Programs does not manage fee waivers or eligibility; that is through our Office of Graduate Admissions.
  • Get information about fee waivers.

Transcripts

  • Provide an official transcript from every senior college that you have attended, which includes undergraduate and graduate degrees. Even if courses taken at one institution are recorded on another college’s transcript, transcripts must be submitted from the institution at which the courses were taken.
  • Failure to list all colleges on the application and provide those transcripts will be considered an intentional omission and may lead to the cancellation of your application for admission or withdrawal of your offer of admission. If your transcripts are in a foreign language, they must be translated into English. 
  • If you are a current student or graduate of UT Austin, please do not upload your UT Austin transcript in MyStatus. Instead, the Graduate School will charge you a $20 UT transcript fee and will access your transcript. If you attended any other institutions before or after UT Austin, you will still be required to upload those official transcripts. 

Test Scores

GRE/GMAT scores are optional, but if you choose to submit a GRE or GMAT score, you must request that the official scores be sent to UT Austin.  

UT Austin’s institutional code for the GRE is 6882. We do not require you to enter a department code when reporting your score. You may enter any department code in your score request, as all scores will route through to the Graduate School. 

UT Austin’s institutional codes for the GMAT are:

  • MSBA: 396-44-73
  • MSF: 396-44-78
  • MSITM: 396-44-30
  • MSM: 396-44-93 

TOEFL/IELTS is required of all international students; however, exceptions apply. See exceptions and more information.

To report TOEFL scores, the institutional code for UT Austin is 6882. There is no institutional code for the IELTS examination. To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account. 

Residency Requirements

Permanent Residents will be required to show proof of permanent residency. Please contact the UT Austin Graduate School for more information or email residency@austin.utexas.edu for questions about classification as a Texas resident, nonresident, or international student.

Questions on Step 2

If you have questions or need assistance on any items in Step 2, contact the UT Austin graduate school directly.

Step 3: Complete Video Assessment

Complete your Texas McCombs MS Video Assessment through the Kira Talent platform.

Invitation to McCombs MS Video Assessment

Applicants will be sent a link within 24 hours of paying the application fee. The video assessment will be run through Kira Talent’s platform. 

UT Austin MS Bridge Applicants will receive an invitation after applying.  

McCombs MS Video Assessment Details

  • All applicants will have 7 days to complete the assessment upon receiving access to the video submission platform. The number of questions asked depends on the program(s) you applied to and will take no more than 30 minutes to complete. Applicants will be allowed to practice before submitting their video assessment and will have 1-2 minutes to answer each prompt.
  • If you are applying to more than one Master of Science program, you must complete a video assessment for each program.
  • For more information on the video assessment, check out our blog.

Questions on Step 3

If you have questions on any items in Step 3, email TexasMSBA@mccombs.utexas.edu.

Monitor Your Application Status

After completing Steps 1 – 3, you can monitor your status for admission online.

How You’ll Hear from McCombs

Once the admissions committee has reviewed applications and interviewed selected applicants, we will begin sending decisions. You will receive an email from the program regarding your decision status.

  • You can track your application status through MyStatus with the Graduate School.
  • You can track your application through the McCombs Application.

What You’ll Hear from McCombs

The majority of students will hear a final decision on whether or not they are admitted into their program(s) during the round in which they applied.

  • The Texas McCombs MS Programs receive many applications from highly qualified applicants throughout the year. Therefore, some applicants are placed on our waitlist. The waitlist is not a final decision.
  • Your decision email will include your next steps and how to prepare for your time on
    campus.

When You’ll Hear from McCombs

You will receive a decision 6-8 weeks after the posted application deadlines.

We cannot expedite the decision timeline. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding.

Questions on Step 4

If you have questions on any items in Step 4, email TexasMSBA@mccombs.utexas.edu.

UT Undergrads can Earn Two Degrees in Five Years
UT undergrads have the opportunity to apply during their junior year to the MS degree program of their choice. The MS Bridge Program offers students enrollment for a Master of Science Program graduate degree while completing their undergraduate degree. Admission as a Bridge Student is highly competitive but includes a number of benefits.