Admissions

Prerequisites

There are no course or major requirements for admissions into the MSISP degree program. The program's interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to engage and educate professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Qualified applicants will demonstrate a substantial interest in understanding and improving the issues surrounding information security and privacy.

Ready to Apply?

For detailed instructions on how to apply, or if you are ready to start an application, please refer to our How-To-Apply page. To schedule a 1-on-1 appointment with an MSISP enrollment advisor please visit our Request Information page.

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant that wishes to study in the US under an F1 (or similar) visa, please visit the section below for international students.

Admissions Requirements

  • A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in the United States or proof of equivalent training at an institution outside the United States
  • A grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.00 (on a 4.00 scale) in upper division work (junior and senior-level courses) and in any graduate work completed Adequate undergraduate preparation (applicants with GPAs below 3.0 that have significant and relevant professional experience may be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis
  • Demonstration of career interests in the field of information security and privacy as evidenced in the applicant’s
  • 3 affirming letters of recommendation (professional or academic)
  • A statement of purpose describing (1) the applicant’s academic and professional experience, (2) the applicant’s interest in the MSISP program and how it aligns with their career goals and interests, and (3) why the candidate believes they are a good candidate for the MSISP program
  • A professional resume or CV
  • GRE or GMAT scores are not required, but an applicant may submit Application fee
  • For international applications that are not from an exempted country, IELTS or TOEFL score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English (see below for more details)
  • Full-time international applicants should have a minimum of 3 years relevant professional experience.

Admissions Dates and Deadlines

Enrollment is currently closed for Fall 2023.  We will begin accepting applications for Fall 2024 on October 1, 2023.

We have divided the application period leading up to June 1 into 3 rounds of applications in order to give applicants a clear idea when to expect a decision after applying. Each round has two important dates:

  • Application deadline: Due date for each round of reviews
  • Notification dates: Date admissions decisions are sent

You can apply in any of the three rounds, but there are limited seats in each cohort, and those seats are reserved on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Round 1

Applications Due: January 15, 2024

Decision Date: February 15, 2024

Round 2

Applications Due: April 15, 2024**
Decision Date: May 15, 2024

Round 3

Applications Due: June 1, 2024 

Decision Date: June 15, 2024

**April 1 2024 is the final deadline for full-time international applicants

 

To apply on time, you must successfully submit your application, along with all of the necessary application materials, before 11:59 PM CST the date of the application deadline

Please note that uploads require verification, a process which can take 2-3 business days. You should upload your transcripts well in advance of our application deadline to allow adequate time for processing, otherwise your application may be considered late. 

Acceptance of admission

If admitted to the program, a $1,000 deposit is required to reserve your space in the upcoming cohort. The deposit will be applied towards Fall tuition and is non-refundable.

International Admissions

Given the unique nature of the MSISP program, international students are highly encouraged to schedule a 1-on-1 appointment with an enrollment advisor prior to submitting an application.

The MSISP program is a part-time, Option III program with primarily part-time working professionals as students.  However, we do have the ability to sponsor a limited number of full-time students under an F1 visa. 

As a result of the MSISP being and Option III program the admissions requirements are somewhat different.  In particular, international applicants that wish to study full-time on an F1 visa should demonstrate at least 3 years of relevant professional experience.  

  • International students that wish to take the standard part-time program from their home country can take the entire program online--there is no requirement to visit the university or take any classes in-person.
  • In addition to completing the prescribed graduate admissions process, international students applying to The University of Texas at Austin must submit either an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. The Institutional TOEFL (ITP) and the IELTS General Training are not accepted. The minimum scores considered acceptable for admission by the Graduate School are:
    • TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT)
    • IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination 
  • International students intending to study in the U.S. under an F1 or J1 Visa are required to enroll in an additional 3-credit hour independent study course each semester (not including summer) in order to reach the full-time enrollment status required for the Visa. 
  • Full-time students studying on an F1 or J1 visa must attend ALL classes in-person. 
  • The tuition cost for full-time students is $63,000. Please note that health insurance fees—which are required for international students—and an international student support service fee are not included and will be billed separately.
  • Please note that as per University of Texas guidelines for Option III programs (including the MSISP), MSISP students are not eligible for TA, AI, GRA, AA, or A(G) appointments or departmental fellowships, nor for university financial aid, except federal guaranteed loans and some private sector loans. 

For more information about international admissions, please visit: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/international-students

All inquiries about F1 and J1 visas are handled by the international graduate admissions department: https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/contact

To schedule a one-on-one appointment with an enrollment advisor, please visit: https://msisp.ischool.utexas.edu/request-information.