GRE & TOEFL
Fall 2026 Admissions Announcement
For admission in Fall 2026, for the PhD program, the GRE is waived. For the MA program, the GRE is optional. Please see below for more details.
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UT Austin ETS Code |
6882 |
*There is no Departmental code *
The university generally receives scores four to six weeks after a test is taken if the university is designated as a score recipient at the time of testing. If you are sending scores from a prior test, the scores must still be valid at the start of the semester for which you are applying (within the last five years for the GRE and two years for the TOEFL or IELTS).
GRE
MA (MES) Applicants
Submission of the GRE scores to the MA program in Middle Eastern Studies is optional. This means that applicants may submit GRE scores but are not required to do so and they will not be penalized for omitting GRE scores. The MA admissions committee reviews all applications holisitically to determine preparedness for the degree program. Factors that the committee considers include academic background, prior GPAs, relevant pre-requisite coursework, writing sample, statement of purpose, and letters of recommendation.
Applicants may choose to submit GRE scores to demonstrate their potential and readiness. Though doing so is not required, it may be important for applicants who wish to enhance their portfolio by providing evidence to address gaps, uneven performance, or areas of their application they feel are less fully developed. Optional materials will be used as additional data points for application evaluation.
PhD (MELC) Applicants
Applicants to the PhD program in Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures are not required to submit GRE scores. Any GRE scores that are submitted will not be considered by the program in its evaluation of applicants.
English Proficiency Exams (TOEFL/IELTS)
TOEFL
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) is not accepted.
TOEFL / IELTS Exemptions
International applicants who are from a country where English is the only official language are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor's degree from a U.S. institution or an institution in a country where English is the only official language.The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master's—but not a bachelor's—degree from a similar institution.
