Masters in Advertising

You must submit the following to the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC): 

1. Online Application: A completed and submitted Electronic Online Admissions application. This application should be submitted as soon as possible even if other data and documents are to follow.
2. Three Letters of Reference: Three letters of reference from academic or professional sources. Reference contact information will be submitted online as part of your online application. Once you submit your complete application, an online recommendation form will be sent to each recommender to fill out. You may confirm receipt of your letters, send reminders to your references, or add a new reference via the recommendation module on the online status check. 
3. Statement or Essay: A statement of purpose or short essay (no more than 2-3 pages double spaced) defining and discussing goals in pursuing graduate work in advertising, intended research areas, and previous training, education and preparation
4. Optional GRE Score: An optional report from Educational Testing Service of the required GRE. An official report from Educational Testing Service of the required TOEFL or EILTS Examination for non native English speakers.
5. Official Transcripts: Transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work at all schools previously attended. All transcripts must be uploaded electronically following Graduate School Directions.
6. Official Resume: A resume in PDF format describing work background or professional experience, if any. Your resume can be uploaded to your admissions record shortly after you submit your application. You will receive an acknowledgment email from the Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) once your documents can be uploaded.

Our applicant evaluation process is holistic and will consider all components of your application materials. The code for The University of Texas at Austin is 6882. International applicants must submit the required, official TOEFL or IELTS score. View more information on TOEFL scores.

We admit new students for the fall semester only. Please refer to the Graduate Handbook for detailed information on admission procedures. Apply Now using the Graduate School Application for Admission to begin your application. 

GPA: UT Austin requires a minimum GPA of 3.0

GRE: Optional

TOEFL: Applicants whose first language is not English must submit scores from the TOEFL exam. https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/how-to-apply/graduate-admission#TestScores

Most students complete this program in 21 months or less. Our M.A. program is a full-time, in-person, Monday through Friday curriculum.

Many of our applicants have never taken a course in advertising and enter with degrees from other fields. That is not a problem. You can apply to the program even if you have absolutely no background in advertising. However, you must complete the following two prerequisites prior to your first semester in the program. Courses do not need to be completed prior to the application process.

• A basic marketing course
• A basic statistics course

Almost any statistics course can be used to satisfy this prerequisite; from sociology statistics to business statistics. Any basic marketing course can satisfy the marketing prerequisite. If you have taken a statistics or marketing course during your undergraduate program, we can waive that prerequisite for you during your advising session at the start of your first semester. 

To be eligible for graduate study at The University of Texas at Austin, you should satisfy the following requirements: 

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution or proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.  
2. At least 3.0 grade-point average in all undergraduate upper-division work (junior & senior). 
3. OPTIONAL A satisfactory score on the Graduate Record Examinations General Test (GRE) is not required. We DO NOT accept the GMAT. 
4. Written and oral English skills must be sufficient, at the outset of the program, for participation and contribution in classes and all written work. Non-native English speaking applicants  must submit either a TOEFL or an IELTS exam score.  

Admission materials are important for identifying applicants who possess an appropriate level of English. The statement of purpose, for example, indicates not only the applicant’s goals and training, among other things, but also the applicant’s written communication ability. 

University Portfolio Programs are opportunities for students to obtain credentials in a cross-disciplinary academic area of inquiry while they are completing the requirements for a master's degree in their chosen discipline. A portfolio program usually consists of four thematically-related graduate courses and a research presentation (for a master's portfolio program, practical experience related to the portfolio program may replace the presentation). Portfolio Program courses fulfill the minor course requirement in the Advertising Degree Plan. 

View all current Portfolio Programs, program descriptions and application procedures.
 

In addition, the Moody College of Communication offers several dual-degree options with the following programs:

• McCombs School of Business
• The Institute for Latin American Studies
• The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs
• The Center for Middle Eastern Studies

The purpose of the Select Admissions Program is to encourage current undergraduate students with top academic records to remain at the university for a Texas Advertising graduate degree. Each year, exceptionally outstanding undergraduates are nominated for the program. For more information please see the website here or contact the Graduate Advisor.

Dr. Gary Wilcox is the M.A. Advisor and he approves the students' course selections each semester as well as all formal documents during each student's program of study. Every student is required to consult the Graduate Advisor prior to registration each semester so that advising bars may be cleared. An online advising site is available to facilitate the process.

The Graduate School provides a limited number of university fellowships to graduate students. Fellowships are awarded competitively on the basis of three main criteria, as represented in records, letters of recommendation, and GRE scores. Financial need is considered where academic merit is equal. There is no formal application for fellowships; you will automatically be nominated if you meet the criteria.

The Graduate School offers Preemptive Fellowships to attract new top-quality graduate students to the University. A University-devised formula is used to determine eligibility. These fellowships are for recruitment only and all applicants with completed files are automatically considered.

The Moody College of Communication scholarship application is open each January to admitted and continuing students. Students do not need to apply for each scholarship individually. By completing the application, students are considered for any of the scholarships for which they are eligible. 

Visit the Moody College of Communication Scholarship Application website for application information.

If you present at a recognized conference, you may submit an application for support form. Two things will determine the amount of the support: the amount of money available and the number of students presenting. In the past, the amount has been $500 per student each year. Please attach the abstract and proof of conference acceptance to the application. Submit all paperwork to the Graduate Coordinator at least two weeks prior to the conference. 

The Stan Richards School of Advertising & Public Relations awards a very limited number of graduate teaching assistantships. Ph.D. students are given priority and are guaranteed funding for the first three years of study. 

If you have an interest in a Teaching Assistant position, please fill out a TA/AI electronic application. The deadline for the Fall and Summer semesters is March 27, with both applications opening on March 13. The Spring semester application will open on October 11 with the deadline being October 20.

For more information review the Teaching/Graduate Assistant/Assistant Instructor Hiring Policy.

Inquiries about other financial assistance, such as loans and work/study opportunities, should be directed to The Office of Student Financial Services.