Graduate FAQs
The Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics provides a list of frequently asked questions by prospective and current graduate students. For more information or if your topic is not covered below, reach out to our Graduate Program Administrator at ase.grad@utexas.edu.
Programs
FAQs regarding ASE/EM graduate programs, coursework, contacting faculty, visiting the department and more.
The best resource to learn about the graduate programs is by reading the Graduate Program Handbooks. These handbooks cover all program requirements.
All questions about the program should be directed to the ASE/EM Graduate Program Administrator at ase.grad@utexas.edu.
UT Austin permits the transfer of up to 6 hours of coursework as long as those courses do not count toward another conferred degree.
Due to the overwhelming number of requests to visit our department, we do not conduct individual visits. Applicants who are offered admission will have the opportunity to visit during the recruitment event in February. To meet with a faculty member outside of a recruitment event, please contact them directly.
To schedule an official UT Austin campus tour, please register through the Office of Admissions here: https://admissions.utexas.edu/explore/visit-campus
Change of Major applications are not accepted for our graduate programs. Even if you are currently a UT graduate student, you must apply to the program.
The department accepts students from other engineering backgrounds. We recommend a number of college-level prerequisites be complete at the time of application.
The minimum background for new graduate students without ASE or EM undergraduate degrees is following (Select the area of expertise you wish to pursue to determine the courses required).
- Aerothermodynamics & Fluid Mechanics:
- ASE 320: Introduction to Fluid Mechanics
- ASE 376K: Propulsion
- Estimation, Decision-Making, Controls, Autonomy and Robotics:
- ASE 330M: Linear System Analysis
- ASE 370C: Feedback Control Systems
- Space Systems and Astrodynamics:
- ASE 330M: Linear Systems Analysis
- ASE 366K: Spacecraft Dynamics
- Solids, Structures and Materials:
- EM 319: Strength of Materials
- COE 321K Computational Methods for Structural Analysis
- ASE 365: Structural Dynamics
Admitted students without the minimum background are required to take any missing courses and receive a letter grade of B or higher in addition to the degree requirements.
Prospective graduate students can learn more about the ASE/EM program requirements on our department’s Admissions page.
Typically, the M.S. Program takes approximately 1.5-2 years to complete, whereas the Ph.D. takes approximately 3-4 years (beyond the MS).
Our faculty teach, research and travel often. Please follow up with them. If you still cannot get in touch after a period of time, you may contact the Graduate Program Administrator at ase.grad@utexas.edu.
The UT Austin Graduate School maintains all application statistics.
Graduate students have the opportunity to be involved with many activities at The University of Texas at Austin, in the Cockrell School of Engineering and the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. We encourage students to get involved in graduate student organizations to help foster social and professional relationships with members of their community. Learn more about our ASE/EM Graduate Community.
Top 10 Reasons to join a Student Organization: Graduate Student Organizations | Graduate School
Admissions
- Fall Admission: December 1st
- Spring Admission: October 1st
- Summer Admission: December 1st
We strongly recommend submitting your application well in advance of the deadline to ensure all materials are received on time. After submitting the initial application and paying the application fee, it takes up to 48 hours to receive the link to upload the required documents. Please note that GRE scores take about 10-15 business days to be received; please consider taking the GRE test at least 1 month before the application deadline.
No, you may not submit materials after the deadline or change your application. Ensure your first submission is accurate and complete, as changes are not allowed.
Applicant eligibility and instructions for fee waivers are available at the UT Office of Graduate Admissions website. Fee waivers are not available for international citizens. Do not pay the application fee when prompted if submitted a fee waiver. Instead, submit the application and indicate payment will be made later
Prospective graduate students can learn more about the ASE/EM application requirements on our department’s Admissions page.
All application materials must be submitted online. If you must submit paper documents, do not send them to the ASE/EM department. Instead, send materials to Graduate and International Admissions.
Applicants may check their application and materials submission on the MyStatus page. The department cannot confirm that application materials have been received.
Submitting an early application will ensure your recommendation letters are received by the deadline.
- Enter a valid email address for each referee.
- Use the university domain address for each professor reference.
- Once submitted, a notice will be sent to each referee with instructions to complete an online recommendation.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that reference letters are submitted before the deadline. Once you have submitted your application, you can use the self-service feature on the MyStatus page to resend the Request for Reference email to your recommenders, if necessary.
For fall admission, applicants who received an offer from faculty will be notified between February and March. All other applicants will receive a notification before April 15th.
For spring admission, applicants who received an offer from faculty will be notified between November and December. All other applicants will receive a notification before the winter break in Mid-December.
All applicants are required to submit copies of official transcripts as part of the application process. The Graduate School does not accept unofficial transcripts or score reports. Your application is not complete until you fulfill transcript requirements. For questions about how to submit your transcripts, please Contact Graduate Admissions | Graduate School
Each year, we receive a large number of competitive applications. Know that every applicant’s materials are reviewed. Coursework, GPAs, references, personal statements, CVs and GRE scores are all heavily considered in the admissions process.
The GRE test is required for Spring, Summer and Fall admissions.
Averages for previously admitted students for reference:
- Verbal: 160
- Quantitate: 168
- Writing: 4.5
International students must submit an official score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English, such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Beginning with the summer/fall 2027 admissions cycle, UT-Austin will accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) as an approved measure of English proficiency, alongside TOEFL and IELTS.
Yes, you may apply to multiple graduate programs at UT Austin.
Funding
All graduate school applications are considered for financial aid. Prospective graduate students can learn more about financial aid on our department’s funding page.
No, we do not accept TA applications prior to admission. Please note that TA appointments are not guaranteed semester to semester. We encourage students to apply for a TA in our department as well as other departments (ex., Math, Physics, COE, etc.) to maximize the likelihood of receiving a TA assignment.
- TA Applications for the Fall semester for admitted students open April-May. Decisions are typically made late June-mid July.
- TA Applications for the Spring semester for admitted students open September-October. Decisions are typically made in late November- mid December.
The ASE/EM minimum stipend for those with TA or GRA assignments for the 2026–2027 academic year is $34,000 per year. This amount may be supplemented with fellowships from the Cockrell School of Engineering.
Master’s students who earn a position as a TA or GRA will receive commensurate stipend rates as well.
Student academic employees (TAs and GRAs) receive a tuition reduction benefit and are eligible for health insurance at no cost. Admitted students should discuss professional development (travel) support with their supervisor.
Whether or not you apply for financial aid is up to you. Doctoral students are fully funded at a competitive rate above UT Austin’s established cost of attendance and typically do not apply for aid.
Master’s students are not fully funded and may require financial support in the form of financial aid. Information on financial aid is available from Student Financial Services.
The ASE/EM department nominates students for travel awards to attend major professional meetings for the fall, spring and summer sessions. Some research advisors also fund student travel to present at conferences.
In general, wages and fellowship earnings are taxable. Departmental staff cannot provide tax guidance to students. However, the Graduate School provides more information about tax considerations.