Master's Degree Admission Requirements

Application Process

A student seeking a graduate degree must fulfill the following in addition to the general graduate admission requirements:

  1. Complete a graduate application at uttyler.edu/graduate, select a specific program, pay the application fee, and have official transcripts showing proof of baccalaureate sent to the Office of Graduate Admissions.
  2. Take the appropriate entrance examination for the selected degree program. Individual programs may waive examination requirements for applicants who hold master’s degrees from regionally accredited institutions, for a certain undergraduate GPA, or for those who have requisite years of relevant employment experience as determined by the program. Check the specific program’s admission requirements section for waiver information.
  3. Satisfy the entrance examination, grade-point average and any other specific requirements for the selected degree program.
  4. Receive official admission to the selected degree program. 

Admissions

The University of Texas at Tyler recognizes four categories of graduate admission at the master's level: Full Graduate Admission; Conditional Admission; Provisional Admission; and Non-Degree Seeking.

With the exception of the Pharm.D., students pursuing doctoral degrees are admitted only under Full Graduate Admission.

Applicants with an undergraduate degree from a foreign institution must submit a course-by-course evaluated transcript showing a GPA on a 4.0 scale and equivalency to a 4 year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited US institution. We accept evaluations from the agencies listed online: uttyler.edu/graduate/gradadmissions/admission-requirements.php.

For Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, an official English evaluation of the transcript may be waived. Visit uttyler.edu/graduate/gradadmissions/admission-requirements.php to see if you qualify for a waiver.

Although some programs do not require an evaluated transcript for admission, to be considered for the New Graduate Fellowship students must submit an evaluated transcript showing a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Students who submit an evaluated transcript and subsequently enroll will receive reimbursement for the evaluation.

International Graduate Student Admissions

Applicants from countries other than the United States may be admitted to the university subject to the following regulations in addition to the general admission requirements:

  1. An official English evaluation of transcripts from an approved evaluation agency must accompany the application if the academic transcripts are from a foreign institution.  For Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering, an official English evaluation of the transcript may be waived. Visit uttyler.edu/graduate/gradadmissions/admission-requirements.php and select the "Evaluation Needed?" link under International Transcript Evaluation to see if you qualify for a waiver. For all other programs, the official English evaluation of the transcripts is required if the academic transcripts are from a foreign institution.*
  2. Evidence of English proficiency must be submitted before admission will be granted. Applicants whose primary language is not English (the undergraduate degree is from a foreign institution) must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Pearson Test of English (PTE), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or EIKEN. Minimum score requirements are as follows:
    1. 79 TOEFL iBT (internet-based test)
    2. 550 TOEFL PBT (paper-based test)
    3. 53 PTE
    4. 6.5 overall band score and 6.0 in each subsection IELTS 
    5. Grade 1 on EIKEN exam
    6. Please note that individual graduate programs may have higher standards for English proficiency. Applicants should check with program advisors for details on English language proficiency requirements. Individual departments may, at their discretion, consider one or more of the following options to determine whether an applicant may be exempted from the English Language Proficiency exam requirement:
      • Earned a High School Diploma, Associate’s, Bachelor’s, Master’s, Doctoral or Professional Degree or their equivalent in the US or another exam exempt country
      • Have earned a grade of B or better in English 1301 and 1302 or equivalent at a regionally accredited US institution 
      • Interview (Skype, Zoom, phone, face-to-face)
      • Submit writing sample (completed face-to-face) to academic department
      • Minimum score of 146 on GRE Verbal
      • Completed Level 6 of the University of Texas at Tyler Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) with no grade lower than an A or completed Level 7 with no grade lower than a B
      • Naturalized US citizens are exempt
  3. An affidavit of support is required indicating the source of funds being made available to the student and the amount of money being provided and the length of time the funds will be made available.
  4. Holders of student (F-1) visas must be classified as full-time students. For international graduate students, the minimum course load is 9 semester credit hours.
  5. The filing deadlines for applications and the required documents to be received in the Office of Graduate Admissions are available online at uttyler.edu/graduate/calendar.php.
  6. International students holding non-immigrant visas are required to maintain approved comprehensive medical insurance, repatriation insurance and medical evacuation insurance. Contact the International Student, Scholar and Faculty Services office for details. 
* Although some programs do not require an evaluated transcript for admission, to be considered for the New Graduate Fellowship students must submit an evaluated transcript showing a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Students who submit an evaluated transcript and subsequently enroll will receive reimbursement for the evaluation.

Full Graduate Admission

A student seeking a graduate degree must fulfill the following admission requirements:

  1. Hold a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution* and submit the following items:  
    1. Application for admission to a degree program. Only applications made online at uttyler.edu/graduate will be accepted;
    2. Official transcripts (sent directly from the issuing institution) showing proof of baccalaureate (NOTE: some programs may require transcripts of all college and university level work);
    3. Official scores for any required entrance examination;
    4. Other admission materials required by the graduate degree program.

      * Graduates of recognized academic institutions outside the US should hold a degree comparable to a US bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Comparability is determined by approved international transcript evaluation service providers. A list of providers can be found here: uttyler.edu/graduate/gradadmissions/admission-requirements.php

      Students enrolled in accelerated undergraduate to graduate programs may be exempt from this requirement if the degrees are to be awarded simultaneously.

  2. Meet the admission standards established for the degree program.
  3. Contact the program graduate advisor to review specific entrance requirements of the selected degree program. The decision to admit a student is made at the program level. Because some programs accept only a limited number of students or do not have the faculty or facilities to accommodate a student’s particular area of study, some applicants who exceed minimum requirements for admission may not be accepted.

Conditional Admission

This status may be granted to applicants who have submitted all required materials but who do not meet the standards for Full Graduate Admission. It is expected that a small percentage of applicants will be awarded conditional admission. Students who do not maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 during the semesters in which they are conditionally admitted will be denied full admission.

A graduate program may stipulate conditions that must be met by applicants for whom this status is requested. Any conditions stipulated must be designed to provide compensatory evidence that applicants will be successful in the program despite not meeting the standards for Full Admission. All conditions must be met by the time an applicant has completed nine graduate hours in the program. Examples of reasonable conditions are 1) successful completion of specific prerequisite courses and 2) maintenance of a graduate GPA for the first nine semester hours that is substantially above the minimum 3.0 GPA required for good standing in a graduate program. Advisors shall prepare conditions for any applicant for whom conditional status is requested. Conditions must be approved by The Graduate School and will be monitored by the program. Upon completion of the requirement(s) for conditional admission, the academic program will contact Graduate Admissions to move the student to Full Graduate Admission. 

International students on a student visa are not eligible for conditional admission.

Guidelines for conditional admission do not apply to the Integrated BBA\MAcc.

Provisional Admission

Individuals may be admitted provisionally to a graduate program before all admission documents have been submitted if they complete a graduate application and provide evidence of having completed or that they will complete a baccalaureate degree prior to matriculating in a graduate program. For an applicant to be eligible for provisional admission, the materials provided by the individual must provide persuasive evidence that the applicant is likely to meet the standards for full admission or conditional admission. Students who are provisionally admitted are allowed one semester to furnish all the materials needed for a program to make a decision whether to deny the applicant admission or to grant full or conditional admission. Provisional admission is good for one semester only during which no more than nine hours may be taken.

Readmission

A new application is required whenever a student fails to register three consecutive semesters or has an approved leave of absence for twelve or more months. To resume studies, students must submit a graduate school application at uttyler.edu/graduate according to the deadlines posted online: uttyler.edu/graduate/calendar.php.

Readmission is not automatic and will be reviewed carefully by The Graduate School and the academic program prior to making a recommendation.

If a student is readmitted, the applicable catalog is the one in effect at the time of readmission. Master’s students should consult the Time Limitation standards for master’s degrees. Doctoral students should consult the Residency and Time Limit standards that apply.

Non-Degree Seeking

A student who desires to take graduate courses for personal enrichment, for job advancement, or for transfer to another institution, may do so by completing a graduate application. Non-degree seeking students are limited to enrolling in a total of nine graduate hours unless approval is given by the Dean of The Graduate School.

A maximum of nine graduate hours of UT Tyler credit earned as a non-degree seeking student may subsequently be applied toward a master’s degree if approved by the degree-granting program. Individual programs may limit the number of hours applicable to the program. Some programs do not allow non-degree seeking students to take courses in their programs.

A student who completes nine graduate hours as a non-degree seeking student may not subsequently be admitted conditionally or provisionally to a graduate degree program.

Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid.