Admission to the Human Development and Family Sciences Program (HDFS) is based on academic merit; a personal statement outlining the applicant’s background, research interests, and career goals; letters of recommendation; and work samples or other evidence of academic promise. Experience as a research assistant in a faculty research lab is highly valued.
The Admissions Committee also examines the fit between applicants’ goals and the goals of the program. Applicants are encouraged to identify one or more HDFS faculty whom they would like to serve as their research mentor and to contact them before applying to ensure compatibility of research interests and space in the faculty mentor’s research lab.
Applicants are required to have an undergraduate degree before beginning the graduate program. A master’s degree is not required for admission. HDFS only accepts applicants for the Ph.D. program and only for the Fall semester.
Approximately 15% of applicants are accepted for admission. Admissions decisions are made by the Graduate Admissions Committee based on a review of each applicant’s particular profile of strengths. Admitted students have different profiles. Some, for example, have extremely high test scores or grade point averages, whereas others have unusually strong prior research experience. International students should first contact the Graduate School for information on application to The University of Texas at Austin.
The deadline for Fall 2026 admission is December 1, 2025.
How to Apply
The Graduate School processes all applications for graduate admission at The University of Texas at Austin and requires that all applications be submitted online.
For official guidance and instructions, please visit the Graduate School Admissions Page. The items listed below are required by the Graduate School to complete your application:
- Online application: https://students.gradschool.utexas.edu/portal/app
- Application fee
- Application fee cannot be refunded, even if the application is not completed. If you think you qualify for a fee waiver, please review the information under Step 2.
- Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended. Closely follow Step 3 of the Graduate Admissions Application guidance.
- International Applicants–TOEFL or IELTS requirements
- Students should not submit GRE scores. In the event that GRE scores are submitted, it will not be reviewed in admissions consideration.
Additional Required Materials
- Statement of purpose, uploaded through MyStatus, which should include: a description of your research interests, the name(s) of HDFS faculty with whom you would be interested in working and why, and your career goals and how an HDFS Ph.D. will help you reach these goals.
- A writing sample, such as an undergraduate thesis, a manuscript under review or a research paper for a class. This can be uploaded through the My Status link.
- Your curriculum vitae (i.e., academic resume), also uploaded through the My Status link.
- The names and email addresses of at least three academic references who have agreed to provide letters of recommendation for you. ApplyTexas will contact them so that they may enter their letters directly into the system.
All admissions inquiries can be sent to our Graduate Program Administrator.