Tackling UT Austin’s Transfer Application

Between August and December of 2024, UT Austin received a record-breaking 90,562 applications for the fall 2025 semester, a 24.3% increase from the previous year alone. This demonstrates how the regular undergraduate admissions process is more competitive than ever, with top students struggling to find spots in their desired programs, especially if they are outside of the top 5% of their graduating high school class.

Fortunately, UT Austin accepts approximately 2,300 fall transfer students each year, so applying to transfer is a great option for current college students still wishing to pursue a UT Austin degree. For students interested in transferring for the summer/fall 2025 semesters, the March 1st deadline is quickly approaching! Today, we will provide an overview of the application process as well as tips for successful transfer admission. 

Transfer Eligibility

To be eligible to transfer to UT Austin, students are required to have 24 semester hours of transferable coursework from another college or university. While summer/fall semester applicants have the ability to use coursework in progress, spring semester applicants do not, so plan your schedule accordingly!  Students transferring from any Texas college or university institution can determine their number of transferable credits using the ATE (Automated Transfer Equivalency) System.

Course transferability is also partially determined by grades; students must receive a C- or above in a course to receive transfer credit at UT Austin. Keep in mind that some programs at UT Austin may limit the number of transfer credits they will accept, and all UT programs require students to complete at least 60 semester hours in-residence in order to graduate. Therefore, a high volume of transferable coursework does not necessarily guarantee an earlier graduation date. 

Application Requirements

The UT Austin Summer/Fall 2025 Transfer Application has slightly different requirements compared to their standard college application, including: 

• A completed application form*

• One essay (applicants to the School of Architecture must submit an additional essay). All transfer students must respond to the Topic A prompt (a statement of purpose), which asks students to explain any extenuating circumstances and to provide additional background on their personal and academic experiences. This response should emphasize your resilience and recent personal and academic growth. 

• Your official college and/or high school transcripts

• A resume

• A non-refundable $75 application fee

*Note that summer/fall applicants should use the CommonApp, while students interested in transferring in the spring semester should use ApplyTexas

Depending on the major or department, UT transfer applications may also require additional materials such as letters of recommendation, a residency affidavit, or an automatic transfer admission form. Additionally, certain competitive majors and departments require major-specific prerequisite coursework—take the McCombs School of Business, which requires students to earn credit in Calculus I, Calculus II, Microeconomics, and Macroeconomics.  

Students will also need to pay close attention to specific deadlines for certain schools and programs. For example, transfer admission to the McCombs School of Business, the Cockrell School of Engineering, the School of Architecture, and the College of Fine Arts is only available in the fall. Students seeking to study Computer Science or Environmental Science at UT Austin must also apply to transfer in the fall. 

Top 3 tips for transfer applicants

Interested in applying to UT Austin as a transfer student or in transferring to another institution after starting your undergraduate career? Keep these three tips in mind to build the strongest transfer application possible!

#1: Maintain a competitive GPA of at least 3.8 

Transfer programs at most universities are primarily concerned with academic performance at the college level. Though top universities typically stipulate a 3.0 GPA minimum for transfer applicants, students should aim for a GPA of at least 3.8 to remain competitive in the application process. Students should also demonstrate a consistent improvement in grades on their transcripts; the UT Austin Office of Admissions specifically lists "evidence of positive academic trend (GPA)"  as one of its primary considerations when reviewing transfer applications. 

#2: Seek out relevant professional and academic experience to strengthen your resume

Like students applying through regular admission, transfer students should build a profile with unique and major-specific extracurricular activities. However, for transfer applicants, having a strong sense of purpose in terms of your chosen field of study is particularly important. As mentioned above, the UT Austin transfer application requires you to submit a resume, so focus on quality experiences that can be described in concrete detail. If you are over 18, take advantage of your increased access to professional opportunities and academic resources—seek out college-level internships, ask to join a professor on their current research project, pursue leadership positions in organizations on (and off) campus, and more! For majors like Computer Science or Engineering, consider working on a personal project that shows off your knack for problem-solving and innovative spirit.  

#3: Supplement your application with strong letters of recommendation. 

Though letters of recommendation are often listed as optional requirements, we encourage all prospective transfer students to submit quality recommendations whenever possible. Recommendation letters should focus on your college-level experiences, so avoid submitting recommendations from high school teachers or counselors. Instead, seek letters from college advisors, professors in your field, and professional mentors. Make sure to communicate important deadlines and your reasons for transferring to your recommenders so they can better support your application. 

Need additional support?

B2A’s experienced college admissions team is here to help with the transfer process! We encourage you to take advantage of our College Admissions Services (CAS) hours and schedule a 1:1 meeting with one of our college admissions counselors, who can provide guidance on any aspect of the transfer application.

Contact us today to schedule a meeting!