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Frequently Asked Questions on Admissions
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Address
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Graduate Admissions
Department of Astronomy
1 University Station, C1400
Austin, TX 78712
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- Why should I apply to the University of Texas Department of Astronomy?
- What are the admissions requirements?
- How do I apply for admission?
- What does the Admissions Committee look for on an application?
- When will I hear from the Department about an admission decision?
- How can I tell if my application is complete?
- When should I take the GRE General Test and the GRE Physics Test?
- What if I don't do well on the GRE Physics Test?
- How do I finance my graduate education?
- How do I apply for an Assistantship?
- What about medical insurance coverage?
- What are the requirements for an MA in Astronomy?
- What are the requirements for a PhD in Astronomy?
- What courses fall into the required category?
- What are the current research projects in the Department of Astronomy?
- What about this rumor that UT fails a lot of students?
- Is there a qualifying exam?
- How long does it take to get a PhD?
- Where can I find out about housing?
- Where can I find information about living in Austin?
Why should I apply to the University of Texas Department of Astronomy?
The Department of Astronomy at the University of Texas at Austin is ranked in the top 10 in the nation.
Faculty members
have, over the years, won nearly every prize offered by the American Astronomical Society. The new
Hobby*Eberly Telescope
located at
McDonald Observatory
gives Texas astronomers direct access to one of the new generation of 9-m+ telescopes,
one of the few that serves only a small community of collaborating universities rather than a national or multi-national community.
Other facilities located at the University of Texas
McDonald Observatory include the 2.7-m Harlan J Smith Telescope, the 2.1-m
Otto Struve Telescope, the 0.8-m telescope , and the 0.8-m Lunar Laser Ranging Station. All these facilities are available to
graduate students. In addition to these optical telescopes, the Observatory has an agreement with the California Institute of
Technology for a share of the nights on the 10-m CSO submillimeter telescope at Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
The department offers strengths in many areas and the advantage of a diversity of fields in which to work. Graduate instruction
and research are conducted in observational and theoretical astronomy and astrophysics and in associated astronomical
instrumentation. Observational and instrumental opportunities are available in optical photometry, polarimetry, fast
photometry, spectroscopy, spectrophotometry, and spectropolarimetry as well as in infrared and millimeter astronomy,
in radio astronomy, and in space astronomy. These topics are applied to the study of asteroids, comets, planets, interstellar
matter, star formation, nebulae, stars in all stages of their evolution, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, supernovae,
the chemical and physical evolution of galaxies, quasars, and intergalactic matter. There are also instruction and research
opportunities in theoretical astrophysics including interstellar material and star formation, stellar structure and evolution
in single and binary stars, accretion disks, supernovae and nucleosynthesis, the formation and evolution of galaxies and
quasars, the formation of large scale structure, and cosmology.
The University of Texas offers the rewards of a first-class university. Austin, a growing high tech center, continues to
offer its unique and varied heritage of live music as well as sports, theater, film, and outdoor entertainment.
Generations of astronomy graduate students have found the department a stimulating and nurturing place to live and work.
We welcome you to join us.
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What are the admissions requirements?
Prerequisites for graduate work in astronomy are at least fifteen to eighteen semester hours of upper-division coursework
in astronomy and physics, including courses in mechanics, electricity and magnetism, statistical physics, and quantum
mechanics; and a satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examinations Physics Test. The Physics Test must be taken
in addition to the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations, which is required for admission to the Graduate School.
An applicant who does not present a satisfactory score on the Physics Test may, on recommendation of the Graduate Studies
Committee, be granted a conditional admission to the program requiring removal of deficiencies in physics. A detailed evaluation
is made of each new student's physics and astronomy background to identify any deficiencies that should be removed.
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How do I apply for admission?
There is a two part process for admission into the University of Texas Astronomy Program. You must complete both parts
of this process to be admitted. Part one is submitting an application to the University of Texas Graduate School. Part
two is submitting an application go the Department of Astronomy.
Part 1 - For information on applying to the Graduate School, see their
Graduate Admissions Bulletin available online from the
Graduate and International Admissions Center.
The deadline for applying for admission is February 1. The application fee is $50 for US students and $75 for
international students. We encourage you to use the online Graduate Application.
The address for the Graduate and International Admissions Center is:
Graduate and International Admissions Center
The University of Texas at Austin
P. O. Box 7608
Austin, Texas 78713-7608
(512) 475-7390
Part 2 - The Departmental process involves completing the on-line departmental summary and statement of
purpose and sending the Request for References, a copy of your transcripts (unofficial is fine) and a copy of your GRE scores
(photo copy is fine) directly to the Department of Astronomy at:
Graduate Admissions
Astronomy Department
1 University Station, C1400
Austin TX 78712
The deadline for all materials to reach the department is January 5.
Our complete application information can be found at:
http://www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/education/apppack.html
Please note that the Department only admits graduate students for entrance at the start of the next Fall
semester.
If you have any questions about the admissions procedure or for an application packet, please contact us
at: studentinfo@astro.as.utexas.edu.
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What does the Admissions Committee look for on an application?
First, the Admissions Committee will check that you have the basic background in physics and mathematics that is
needed for graduate level study in astronomy. Everything you send is important. One thing which benefits an
applicant is undergraduate research experience. This does not have to be in astronomy (we frequently admit
physics students who have taken few or no astronomy courses), but any research experience does boost your
chances of admission. Good reference letters and a well-written personal statement are also important. Less
important are GRE scores. Statistical analysis has shown that there is little correlation between GRE scores and
success in graduate school. As a result, while GRE scores are considered as just one factor among many, they
are not the deciding factor in any decision.
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When will I hear from the Department about an admission decision?
The Admissions Committee usually reviews applications around the end of January or beginning of February. Your application
file must be complete in order for the Admissions Committee to consider your application. Once they have made a decision
to admit, the Department makes a recommendation to the Graduate School via the
Graduate and International Admissions Center. If the Graduate School
application (see Part 1 above) is complete, a letter of admission will be mailed within a couple of days. If the Graduate School
application is incomplete and the Department wishes to admit you, you will be contacted about completing your Graduate School
application. The Astronomy Department will also send decision letters to all applicants notifying them of the Department's
recommendation, whether positive or negative. These letters usually go out mid to late February.
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How can I tell if my application is complete?
You can check on your Graduate School application at this web address:
Status of Admission Application.
The Astronomy Department will mail departmental application status notices to all applicants on January 16th.
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When should I take the GRE General Test and the GRE Physics Test?
Take any GRE tests in early fall of the year before you desire to begin your studies.
It can sometimes take up to six weeks for the official scores from GRE tests to be reported to the University. This should be taken
into account so that you take the tests early enough for the scores to be reported before the January 5 application deadline.
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What if I don't do well on the GRE Physics Test?
The GRE Physics score is just one of several factors considered in an admissions decision. Statistical analysis has shown that
there is little correlation between GRE scores and success in graduate school. The Physics score will be balanced against how
well you did in physics classes and is never the deciding factor in an admissions decision.
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How do I finance my graduate education?
The Astronomy Department makes an effort to provide support to all of its students through Teaching Assistantships and
Graduate Research Assistantships. Both assistantships provide a salary and at least partial (in some cases full) reimbursement
of tuition and fees. An attempt is made to keep salaries competitive with other graduate schools in astronomy, accounting for
cost of living in various areas. All of our current students are employed in the department, as has been the rule throughout
the Department's history: 19 of our students work as Graduate Research Assistants, 14 work as Teaching Assistants, and 3
have full fellowships. The Department regularly nominates its outstanding students for University Fellowships and encourages
and supports applications for outside fellowships. See also information on
Financing Your Graduate Education available from
the Graduate Outreach Office.
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How do I apply for an Assistantship?
Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) are usually arranged by the student with a faculty or research scientist doing
work of interest to the student. This is done on an informal basis since most GRAs are employed by their Thesis/Dissertation
Supervisor. New students are usually employed as Teaching Assistants unless they make arrangements for a GRA position
prior to the beginning of the fall semester in which they enter the program. Some supervisors do not have grant money to
support a student, in which case the student usually works as a Teaching Assistant.
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What about medical insurance coverage?
All Teaching Assistants and Graduate Research Assistants qualify for coverage under the
University's Employee Insurance Program. University Fellowship
holders receive a medical insurance supplement with the Fellowship towards purchasing
Student Medical Insurance. Both programs offer
coverage of spouses and dependents for an additional cost.
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What are the requirements for an MA in Astronomy?
Students must complete any six of the courses in the required course category. These include 380E, 382, 383C, 383D, 386C,
392D, 392J, 393F, 396C (information on these courses is listed below). Students must also complete 185C. In addition, two
elective courses must be completed. If more than six courses in the required category are taken, the additional courses may
be counted as electives. At least 33 semester hours, including Astronomy 398R, or 30 hours, including Astronomy 698 are
required.
Students begin research during their first year. Research is done under the supervision of an advisor and committee.
Research for a Masters Degree normally occupies one and a half years. Upon completing an acceptable research project,
with thesis or report, the student is awarded a degree. Alternatively, a student is awarded a degree upon completion of
preparation for teaching college-level astronomy, which includes teaching experience and preparation of a report. This
program normally takes two full years.
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What are the requirements for a PhD in Astronomy?
Students must complete, with a grade of B or better, 185C and any six of the courses in the required course category. These
include 380E, 382, 383C, 383D, 386C, 392D, 392J, 393F, 396C (information on these courses is listed below). In addition, two
elective courses must be completed. If more than six courses in the required category are taken, the additional courses may
count as electives.
Students begin research during their first year. Research is done under the supervision of an advisor and committee. PhD
research normally requires about five years. In spring of their second year, students must present a summary of their research
to date, and pass an oral Qualifying Examination. Students must apply for PhD candidacy by the end of the summer of their
second year. Two presentations on research must be given in colloquia or seminars. Finally, the student must complete the
dissertation and pass an oral examination on the dissertation.
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What courses fall into the required category?
Course
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Title
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AST 380E
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Radiative Processes and Radiative Transfer
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AST 382C
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Astrophysical Gas Dynamics
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AST 383C
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Stellar Atmospheres
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AST 383D
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Stellar Structure and Evolution
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AST 185C
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Conference on Modern Astronomy (required of all students in the first year)
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AST 386C
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Properties of Galaxies
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AST 392J
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Astronomical Instrumentation
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AST 392D
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Mathematical and Numerical Methods for Astronomy
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AST 393F
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Survey of the Interstellar Medium
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AST 396C
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Elements of Cosmology
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AST 381C
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Gravitational Dynamics
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More information on these courses can be found in the Graduate Catalog.
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What are the current research projects in the Department of Astronomy?
Information about papers and research can be found in the AAS Annual Reports, listed in the
Research section of our website. Also, check out the
web pages of our
faculty,
research scientists,
postdocs and current
graduate students.
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What about this rumor that UT fails a lot of students?
We've heard those rumors too and that's just what they are, rumors. The Department of Astronomy has never had a policy of
admitting more students than we intend to graduate. Nevertheless, some attrition does occur. For information
about graduation statistics, click this link:
Graduation Statistics.
We also have a listing of where our graduates are currently
working at this internet address:
Current Employment of PhD Graduates.
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Is there a qualifying exam?
Yes. Towards the end of your second year, you will make a public oral presentation summarizing the research you have done
up to that point. This is accompanied by a written report of the research which is submitted to your Research Committee for
review. The Research Committee will also conduct an oral exam after the public presentation. The oral exam will cover the
research you presented as well as three areas of increasing breadth in which you will be expected to be knowledgeable. In
consultation with your advisor, you identify these three areas beforehand to your committee. The approved written report
may be submitted to the Graduate School as your thesis for obtaining the MA degree.
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How long does it take to get a PhD?
The average number of years to obtain a PhD has been decreasing in our Department. Due to legislative measures limiting the
amount of time graduate students qualify for in-state tuition, the Astronomy Department revised its curriculum to enable
students to complete their degree within five full years beginning with the class which entered in the Fall of 1998. For
students who graduated in 2000-2001, the median number of years to PhD was 5.6 years.
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Where can I find out about housing?
The University has dormitories and married student housing available through
University Housing and Food. On campus housing costs approximately
$5000-5200 for 9 months which includes meals. Most graduate students live off campus in apartments. There are links to apartment
locator services at the page UT maintains about
Austin. Off campus housing costs approximately $560/month for a one bedroom apartment,
$750/month for a two bedroom apartment. If possible, it is wise to arrange housing in the summer, before all the undergraduates
return to Austin.
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Where can I find information about living in Austin?
UT maintains an Austin web page with links to sites full of information about Austin.
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