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The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883. It is one of the largest and most prestigious universities in the world and hosts some 51,000 students.The University of Texas is a public research university, which campus is located only 0.25 km away from the Texas State Capitol. It holds a first place in the state of Texas in terms of enrollment, with 51, 233 students enrolled in 2010; nationally, it has the fifth largest single-campus enrollment.

The University of Texas at Austin was founded in 1883, while in 1929 it was included in the American Association of Universities. Except for being a principal center for academic research, there are Nobel Prize, Pulitzer Price, and Wolf Prize laureates among the members of the faculty.  The J. J. Pickle Research Campus and the McDonald Observatory are some of the facilities the university prides itself with. Furthermore, there are seven museums and seventeen libraries under its wing.

As far as rankings are concerned, the university ranked 45th in the U.S. News and World Report, while it took 13th place among public universities in 2010. In terms of the programs it offers, The McCombs School of Business was ranked seventh among undergraduate business programs in 2010, and the Cockrell School of Engineering was ranked ninth among undergraduate engineering programs in 2009. In international terms, the ‘World’s Best Universities’ placed the school in 70th place, and it was also ranked 38th in the world by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, where factors like Nobel laureate affiliation and number of highly cited researchers were considered. In 2009, The Economist ranked the school 49th worldwide. A final important point to mention is that the school is well-known for its sports achievement, some examples of which are the 19 Olympic medals UT Austin athletes won in 2004 in Athens. Overall, 88 Olympic medals have been won by the school. In 2002, Sports Illustrated named the school as ‘America’s Best Sports College.

The University of Austin offers world-class facilities, and in order to meet students’ growing needs, new buildings are constantly added on campus. In total, there is 500,000 square feet of indoor and 40 acres of outdoor activity space. The Rec Center is fully equipped with machines, weights, a pool, volleyball courts, racquetball courts, an indoor track, and a climbing wall. A second student union has also been built – it is called the Student Activity Center, and it is a modern and exciting new place for students.

The university is also proud of the numerous libraries it has on campus, while the Benson is the largest collection of Latin American books in North America, which can actually be accessed by every student in the university. Other notable things to mention are the constant exhibits of the Gutenberg Bible and the world’s first photograph.

Another very useful facility on campus is the Undergraduate Writing center, where you can have your papers looked at and get help with improving your writing skills free of charge. Career centers are also available in every college, as well as the Jester Learning center, where you can receive tutoring in every subject.

The University of Texas has a 350-acre main campus, encompassing 150 buildings, 17 colleges and schools, about 24,000 faculty and staff, and more than 50,000 students of all backgrounds and nationalities.

One of the most noteworthy attributes of UT Austin is the Beaux-Arts Main Building, placed in the middle of the campus, which features a 307-foot (94 m) tower designed by Paul Philippe Cret. There is a carillon of 56 bells on top of the tower, which is the biggest in Texas.

There are seven museums on campus, the newest of which is Blanton Museum of Art – it is the largest university art museum in the United States, hosting approximately 17,000 works from Europe, the United States, and Latin America.

Furthermore, the university is constantly expanding its facilities on campus, and an example is the Norman Hackerman building, which is dedicated to chemistry and biology research and teaching laboratories. In 2010, work began on the $120 million Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex, the Dell Computer Science Hall, and the $51 million Belo Center for New Media. They are planned to open in 2012. The new Student Activity center we talked about earlier opened in January 2011, and is LEED gold-certified, comprising study rooms, lounges, and food vendors. It was built as a result of a student referendum passed in 2006, which actually raised student fees by $65 per semester.

A final important point to mention is that there are a number of additional, ‘satellite’ campuses and research centers around Texas, including the J.J. Pickle Research Campus, the Marine Science Institute, the McDonald Observatory, the Montopolis Research Center, and the Brackenridge tract.  The university has been generating its own electricity since the late 1940s, while also operating a 1.1 megawatt TRIGA nuclear reactor at the J.J. Pickle Research Campus.

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All Programs Available:
  • Architecture, Building and Landscape
    • Architecture
  • Arts, Design and Crafts
    • Fine Arts
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Performing Arts
    • Dance
    • Interior Design
    • Design
    • Visual Arts
    • Art Studio
    • Music Composition
    • Jazz Studies
    • Piano
    • Guitar
    • Harp
  • Business
    • Advertising
    • Public Relations
    • Marketing
    • International Business
    • Management
    • Project Management
    • Technology Management
    • Sports Management
    • Transportation and Logistics Management
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Leadership
    • Governance
    • Operations Management
    • BBA
  • Communications
    • Communications
    • Journalism
    • Cinema/Film Studies
    • Radio/TV/Video
    • Music Performance (Vocal)
  • Computing
    • Management Information Systems
  • Economics
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  • Education
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    • Early Childhood Education
    • Health Education
    • Teacher Preparation
    • Physical Education
  • Engineering
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Language of instruction

English

Type of school

Public University

Telephone

(512) 475-7390

Location

2400 Inner Campus Dr., Office of Admissions, P.O. Box 8058, Austin, Texas, The United States, 78713-8058

More information about Academic Programs

The school has 17 colleges and schools, covering a good variety of disciplines. The undergraduate degrees offered by the school are more than 100, while the graduate ones are 170. In the academic year of 2008-2009, the percentage of bachelor’s degrees awarded was 67%, this of the master’s degrees – 22.6%, together with 6% doctoral degrees. Here is the list of colleges and schools:

  • Cockrell School of Engineering
  • College of Communication
  • College of Education
  • College of Fine Arts
  • College of Liberal Arts
  • College of Natural Sciences
  • College of Pharmacy
  • Continuing and Innovative Education
  • Graduate School
  • Jackson School of Geosciences
  • Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
  • McCombs School of Business
  • School of Architecture
  • School of Information
  • School of Law
  • School of Nursing
  • School of Social Work
  • School of Undergraduate Studies

Admission Requirements

In 2009, from all students who applied, 45.6% were accepted, so the university is considered to be fairly selective in its application process, which includes:

  • The completion of an online application form. When selecting a major and a minor degree, please keep in mind that you would initially be considered for the first degree you choose.
  • The application fee is $60 for domestic and $90 for international applicants, and online payment is preferred.
  • Official transcripts are required from all institutions you have attended.
  • Two original essays have to be submitted, the topics for which are given according to the school you are applying to.
  • A full resume that gives details of your academic and work experience so far is also requested. Again, online submission is highly recommended.
  • You should also review the list of majors, for which there are additional admission requirements.
  • Letters of recommendation are an optional item, but would definitely support your application.

For international students, a TOEFL or IELTS score is required unless they have spent a significant amount of their high school education in an English-speaking country. If the university notices a problem with the level of English of any candidate, they would provide specific instructions of how this can be overcome. Admission will not be permitted until proper levels of proficiency in English are achieved.

Financial Aid

The financial aid options that the university offers are the following:

Grants – these are mostly given to students with the highest financial need; other factors taken into consideration are academic classification, housing situation, and FAFSA priority status.

Scholarships – although the university offers a very diverse range of scholarships, funds are limited and highly competitive. In order to be considered for some of the scholarship options, you should not simply meet all of the scholarship criteria, but also strictly adhere to all application deadlines.

Work-study – the program provides part-time employment to students who are in financial need. In order to be considered for a Work-Study award, students must complete the FAFSA every year, on top of maintaining satisfactory academic progress. For returning students, preference is given to those who earned at least 80% of their award in the previous academic year.

Loans

Short-term university loans – these are emergency loans offered by the university, to meet immediate financial needs.

Housing payment deferment – freshmen who have accepted on-campus housing contracts are eligible to be considered for their $300 advance payment to be deferred.

Tuition exemptions and waivers.

Pre-paid tuition funds – these allow families to pay for future tuition at current fees.

Fellowships – awarded to graduate students, and normally depend on scholastic excellence.

Teaching assistantships – graduate students assisting faculty members in teaching undergraduates.

Housing

UT Austin provides to students fourteen residence halls, the newest of which was opened in 2007, while total capacity of housing facilities is 7,100 students. As can be noticed, the students enrolled at the university greatly outnumber the housing places available on campus, which has resulted in the need of students to live in private residence halls, apartments, housing cooperatives, with Greek organizations, or make any other off-campus arrangements.

The contract for students who choose to live on campus covers meals, microwave, refrigerator and cable. You would also have access to lounges, study areas, 24-hour computer labs, laundry facilities, and many more services. All residential areas are controlled 24 hours per day by swipe cards, rooms are fully furnished, and include a MicroFridge, giving the flexibility to store and heat your own food. Graduate and family-living options are also available.

The Profiler Roommate Matching system is also worth mentioning. You can opt to find a roommate with its support by answering a few questions on your personal habits and preferences. The system matches you with other students of similar interests, with whom you may or may not choose to become roommates.

To end with, there is a five-step application process involved, in which you have to submit your application, accept and return your contract, submit your immunization documentation, select your preferences, and finally receive your assignment.

What is unique about the University of Texas is the underground tunnel system that links all the buildings on campus. It was constructed in the 1930s and has grown together with the university, providing communications and utility service. Furthermore, it is closed to the public and is guarded by silent alarms.

A free shuttle bus is also offered to students, which makes transportation around campus and Austin very easy and convenient; it makes stops to the malls, airport, and off campus student apartments. There is the public transportation system, Capital Metro, too, which is free to UT Austin’s students. As far as getting to class is concerned, most students walk or bike.

Services and Activities

With over 1,000 student organizations and an excellent range of sports and recreational activities, student life on campus becomes extremely vibrant and dynamic. There are a large number of sporting events that take place all year round to engage and entertain students, while here is an example of the types of clubs within the university:

  • Educational/Departmental – these focus on various academic areas of interest and provide vast opportunities for trips, business meetings, or social activities.
  • International/Cultural – these encourage cultural diversity, offering advice and support to membersHonorary societies – priding achievements in the academic field.
  • Political – these support various parties or candidatesRecreational – sports-oriented societies, initiating various sports clubs, or recreational activities.
  • Professional – supporting students in the pursuit of their future career; these societies organize happenings with guest speakers, trips, and volunteer or field work.
  • Religious
  • Service – these encourage volunteering of students by providing opportunities of this kind both on and off campus.
  • Social & Special Interest
  • Student Governance – these take care of students needs and opinions, and include the Student Government.

There are annual events and performances in which students can participate, some of which are Texas Revue, a student talent show, the Forty Acres Fest, Party on the Plaza, and Torchlight Parade. Many other events are organized and run by students, and sponsored by the Texas Union.

Austin is famous for the great number of parks scattered around, for which reason it is considered to be the greenest area of Texas. A lot of the parks are located quite close to the campus and are perceived as fun places by many students.

The population of Austin itself is about 700,000 people, which definitely gives an urban feel to it, and means that there are a lot of things you can do off campus. There are many venues offering live music, nightlife is pretty vibrant, and the choice of restaurants is great. There is also the Austin Rodeo, as well as football games taking place during football season. There is a little something for everyone, according to taste and preferences.


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