Organizer Information
The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Relevant creative and media education is offered through the College of Fine Arts, the Department of Art and Art History, the Department of Design, and the Moody College of Communication’s Department of Radio-Television-Film. Relevant offerings include undergraduate and graduate study in Studio Art, Design, Film and Media Production, Screenwriting, Media Studies, Art History, Theatre, and related fields.
Key Information
- Official Institution Name: The University of Texas at Austin
- Opportunity Type: University Programs & Admissions
- Study Levels: Undergraduate / Graduate / Doctoral
- Degrees Offered: BA, BFA, MA, MFA, PhD, DMA, MMusic and other university degrees
- Academic Fields: Fine Arts / Studio Art / Design / Film / Media / Art History / Theatre / Music / Dance
- Relevant Programs: BA Studio Art; BFA Studio Art; BA Design; BFA Design; MFA Studio Art; MFA Design; MFA Film & Media Production; MFA Screenwriting; MA Media Studies; PhD Media Studies; MA/PhD Art History
- Language of Instruction: English
- International Applicants: Yes
- Application Period: Program-specific; major Fall 2027 creative programs open from September 2026
- Application Deadline: Program-specific; several major creative programs have deadlines between December 1, 2026 and January 5, 2027
- Start of Studies: Fall 2027 for the listed Fall 2027 admissions cycles
- Application Fee: $90 for international undergraduate applicants; $90 for international MFA Studio Art applicants
- Tuition: 2026–27 undergraduate non-resident tuition $42,554–$51,106; graduate non-resident tuition $17,312–$19,340
- Funding: Scholarships and other financial-support opportunities are available; international eligibility varies by award.
Field of Study & Eligible Disciplines
- Relevant study areas include Studio Art, Design, Film & Media Production, Screenwriting, Media Studies, Art History, Theatre, Dance, and Music. Studio Art includes Painting & Drawing, Photography & Media, Print, Sculpture & Extended Media, and Transmedia. The MFA Studio Art program welcomes spatial, lens-based, two-dimensional, interactive, sound, and performative practices.
- Eligibility varies by program. For example, the MFA in Screenwriting requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent and expects undergraduate preparation, internships, or professional experience demonstrating preparation for graduate-level film and video work.
General Eligibility
- UT Austin accepts international applicants for relevant undergraduate and graduate programs. Applicants must satisfy the university's general admission requirements as well as any program-specific requirements. Requirements differ substantially between undergraduate majors and graduate programs.
- For Studio Art, applicants to the BA or BFA must submit a portfolio and artist statement. Design first-year applicants submit a Creative Design Prompt and Behind-the-Scenes Video rather than a formal portfolio.
Additional Eligibility Conditions
Program-specific academic preparation and creative experience may apply. The MFA in Screenwriting requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent and relevant preparation; the MFA programs in Film & Media Production and Design have their own creative and academic requirements.
Educational Background
- Graduate applicants must meet the Graduate School's degree requirements as well as the requirements of the individual program. The MFA in Screenwriting explicitly requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution.
- The MFA Studio Art application requires official transcripts, while the MFA Design admissions process evaluates academic qualifications alongside the portfolio, statement of purpose, and recommendations.
Language Requirements
International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS Academic, or Duolingo English Test (DET) unless they qualify for an official exemption. Minimum accepted scores are TOEFL 79, IELTS Academic 6.5, or DET 115. UT Austin does not accept institutional TOEFL, TOEFL Essentials, or IELTS General Training for this requirement.
Application Fee
| Applicant / Program | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| International undergraduate applicants | $90 |
| MFA Studio Art — international applicants | $90 |
| MFA Studio Art — U.S. and permanent-resident applicants | $65 |
The undergraduate international application fee is non-refundable, and UT Austin states that fee waivers are not available to international applicants.
Tuition
| Study Level | Applicant Type | 2026–27 Tuition | Billing Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | Non-resident | $42,554–$51,106 | Fall + Spring |
| Graduate | Non-resident | $17,312–$19,340 | Fall + Spring |
These figures are UT Austin's estimated 2026–27 tuition ranges based on full-time enrollment and can vary by program and enrollment. The university publishes detailed tuition tables by level, residency, college/school, and hours.
Funding & Financial Support
UT Austin offers scholarships and other financial-support opportunities. Certain scholarship opportunities are open to international students who meet their individual eligibility requirements. For Fall 2027 and the 2027–28 academic year, international scholarship applications are scheduled for 1 February–1 March 2027. Awards are not guaranteed and may be one-time awards.
University Services & Academic Support
Relevant support includes international-student services through Texas Global/International Student and Scholar Services, graduate program advising, faculty mentorship, studios and laboratories, and program-specific creative facilities. The MFA Film & Media Production program emphasizes individualized faculty mentorship and access to production facilities, while Studio Art students work across dedicated studio areas and media.
Application Requirements
- BA/BFA Studio Art: UT Austin application, artist statement, and 12–15-piece portfolio, including two works made from direct observation.
- BA/BFA Design: UT Austin application, Creative Design Prompt, and Behind-the-Scenes Video; a formal portfolio is not required for first-year applicants.
- MFA Studio Art: application, fee, official transcripts, English-language test score for international applicants, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose, résumé, and visual-art portfolio.
- MFA Design: portfolio, statement of purpose, academic qualifications, and letters of recommendation. The portfolio may contain up to eight projects in one PDF.
- MFA Film & Media Production: transcripts, résumé/CV, three recommendations, academic writing sample, creative writing sample, and creative video portfolio of up to 20 minutes cumulatively.
- MFA Screenwriting: statement of purpose, three recommendations, transcripts, résumé/CV, and a primary creative writing sample; a secondary writing sample is optional.
How to Apply?
Deadline & Timeline
- Application Opens — MFA Film & Media Production: 1 September 2026
- Application Opens — MFA Screenwriting: 1 September 2026
- Application Opens — MFA Studio Art: 1 September 2026
- Application Deadline — MFA Film & Media Production: 1 December 2026
- Application Deadline — MFA Screenwriting: 1 December 2026
- First-Year Studio Art Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
- MFA Studio Art Recommended Completion: 15 December 2026
- MFA Studio Art Final Application Deadline: 5 January 2027
- BA/BFA Design First-Year Application Deadline: 1 December 2026
- Fall 2027 International Scholarship Application: 1 February 2027 – 1 March 2027
- International Undergraduate Admission Decision: 15 February 2027 for regular-deadline applicants and applicants notified of deferral.
Location
The University of Texas at Austin — Austin, Texas, United States
Additional Details
UT Austin's creative programs do not share one universal admissions process. Portfolio, writing-sample, recommendation, and supplemental-material requirements are program-specific. The MFA Design page states that information for the 2027–2029 cohort will be published later in 2026, so its 2027–29 deadline should be checked again when the new cycle information is released.