Preparing Your Documents
Departmental Documents/Credentials
Beginning with the Summer/Fall 2027 admissions cycle, applicants may upload most departmental application materials (such as statements of purpose, resumes/CVs, portfolios, departmental forms, and letters of recommendation) directly within the online application before submission. Applicants who choose not to upload these materials during the application process may submit them later through the MyStatus portal after their application has been submitted. The application fee can only be paid via MyStatus. Please note that the non-refundable application fee is still required before an application can be processed and considered complete.
Statement of Purpose
Your statement of purpose carries a lot of weight in the assessment of your application. It should not exceed the 3 double-spaced pages with 12-point Times New Roman font. It must outline your academic, research, professional objectives, and language training. A Statement of Purpose is not a personal statement. While your story and background are naturally important, please ensure that it is not overly autobiographical. Additionally, please identify which core MES faculty you wish to work with and do not submit a generic statement.
The most successful Statement of Purposes identifies key research target areas, an interest in the region as a whole, an inclination toward interdisciplinary study, familiarity with our program's initiatives and resources, and illustrate past study abroad, research experience, language experience and identifies core faculty with related research interests. It is also helpful to explain which type of courses in the past have fueled your research interests and what you wish to gain from UT and our degree program.
Academic Writing Sample
The sample should be 10-20 pages in length, in English, and in the form of an academic thesis/professional report, a journal article, or a similar format. Applicants may select the subject matter, although it is helpful if the content is germane to the program to which the applicant is applying. Writing samples are submitted as a PDF through the Document Upload System. Please ensure that the text is 12-point Times New Roman or similar, at least 1.5 spacing.
Résumé/curriculum vitae
Among other items, such as study abroad, research experience, and language abilities are a priority that should be prominently featured in your résumé/curriculum vitae.
Transcripts
After submitting their application and gaining access to MyStatus, applicants will have the opportunity to upload official transcripts via the portal. They can also send transcripts via Parchment or SPEEDE.
You must provide an official transcript from every senior college you have attended. Even if courses taken at one institution are recorded on another college's transcript, transcripts must be submitted from the institution at which the courses were taken. Each transcript should contain a complete record of studies at the institution from which it is issued (i.e., the subjects taken and grades earned in each subject).
Official transcripts bear the facsimile signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts from U.S. colleges or universities must have been produced within the last calendar year, and transcripts written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation.
If your college or university uses Parchment, you can have your transcript(s) sent electronically. Please see the Parchment ordering guide for more information.
If your college or university uses the SPEEDE service you can have your transcript(s) sent electronically. Check with the registrar of your institution to find out if transcripts can be sent via the SPEEDE server. Otherwise, create and upload a PDF of the official paper transcript issued to you by the registrar using the Document Upload System. Complete guidelines for uploading transcripts are available in Instructions for Uploading Transcripts guide.
Letters of Recommendation
Please bear in mind that recommendations are due by the firm December 1 deadline.
You will be given the opportunity to list the name, position, organization and email address for three recommenders when you complete the application. After you submit your application, emails will be sent to your recommenders directing them to a website where they may upload their letters.
MyStatus offers a self-service feature you can use to resend the requested email to your recommenders, if necessary. Use it to supply an alternate email address if your recommender’s spam filter blocks the original request or has removed the link. You can also add a new recommender or revise your right-to-view-status from "retained" to "waived".
Contact Admissions
If you have specific questions about the following topics, please email one of the addresses below.