University Catalog

Undergraduate Admissions

Office of Admissions

Application for Admission

New students who wish to enroll at The University of Texas at Arlington must apply for admission. They should apply as early as possible. All application materials—submitted application, application fee or fee waiver documentation, official copies of transcripts of all high school and all college coursework attempted, and official test scores when appropriate—should be submitted by the priority deadlines. Completed applications will be accepted after the priority deadlines on a limited basis.  Adherence to the deadlines ensures careful evaluation of credentials resulting in an admission decision and notification of that decision to the student in time for orientation, academic advising, registration, and tuition/fee payment.  Early admission also assists students seeking financial aid and scholarships. 

All documents, including official transcripts submitted to the Office of Admissions, become the property of the University and will not be returned to the student nor will copies be made for the student by the University. Official transcripts must be currently dated with an issue date that closely corresponds to the date the admission application is submitted.  An offer of admittance to UT Arlington is only valid for the semester indicated on the admission application. Applicants wishing to be considered for a future semester other than the one identified on their first application must submit a new application or request to update the application term. Although a new application may be completed, a second application fee will not be required if the application is being updated for the first time within the same academic year. If the second or subsequent admission application reflects a change in academic history, the student must provide the new official transcripts and test scores reflecting any new work completed since the first application was submitted. Once complete, the student's admission status will be re-evaluated. The application for admission can be found at www.CommonApp.org.

Priority Deadlines

Application Deadline Fall Semester Spring Semester & Winter Intersession Summer Semester & Summer Intersession
Freshman June 1 December 1 April 1
Transfer students June 1 December 1 April 1
Former students June 1 December 1 April 1
International students May 1 October 1 March 1
Transient students June 1 December 1 April 1

The above priority deadlines may not apply to some academic programs and particularly those offered exclusively online. Please consult the web site of the online program you will be participating in for application deadline information.

Admission Application Fee

All new undergraduate applicants to UT Arlington must pay a non-refundable $75 application fee or receive an authorized fee waiver. The fee may be paid online using a credit card at the time the application is submitted.  Undergraduate Admissions supports a Fee Waiver program for qualifying students.  Please refer to our Admissions page for qualification information.  Fee waivers are not available for students applying to the Accelerated Online programs.  Admission decisions will not be made until the application, application fee and all official academic credentials are received and reviewed. Applicants who are not admitted or who do not enroll on the basis of their original admission application may receive one free update to a future term within the same academic year upon completion of an update application.

International Students

All prospective students from countries other than the United States who are not immigrants and have not been granted permanent residency must submit:

  1. an International Student Admissions Application through The Common App.
  2. the admission application fee of $75 U.S., which is not refundable.
  3. Entering freshmen must present completed official secondary school transcripts, diplomas, certificates and/or national test examination scores as appropriate for the educational systems in their country. In order to be considered for freshman admission students must have completed secondary school studies equivalent to that of United States high school graduation. Transcripts and exam marks should be attested as true copies of the originals by the school you attended. Notarized copies are not used for admission. If documents are written in a language other than English, complete and official English translations must be provided with the original language transcripts, exam records and diplomas. Official SAT I or ACT scores are required for entering freshmen with less than 24 semester hours of university level course work (equivalent to one year of full time study). The minimum required SAT I (old format) score for entering freshmen educated in a country other than the U.S. is 900. The minimum required SAT I (redesigned format) score for entering freshmen educated in a country other than the U.S. is 980. The minimum ACT score is 19. International Freshman applicants educated in the U.S. must meet U.S. freshman admission standards regarding high school class rank and SAT I or ACT scores. Scores must be sent directly to UT Arlington from the Testing Service in order to be considered official. Student score reports are not used for admission processing.
     
  4. International Transfer Students must submit official transcripts or mark-sheets of all college or university level course work showing subjects completed and grades (marks) earned. Transcripts and diplomas must be attested as true copies of the originals by the school you attended or UT Arlington. Notarized copies are not used for admission. If documents are written in a language other than English, complete and official English translations must be provided with the original language transcripts, exam records and diplomas.
  5. Official TOEFL scores are required from International students (entering freshman and transfer students) from non-native English speaking countries on the following visas: B, C, D, F, H-4 dependents of H-1C, H-2A, and H-2B visa holders, J, M, O-2, O-3, P, Q, S, TN, TD, TWOV. Applicants who have graduated from secondary schools or colleges in the following countries are exempt from the TOEFL: Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Grand Cayman, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, Liberia, Montserrat, New Zealand, Sierra Leone, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad/Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and United Kingdom.
    The TOEFL will be waived for those applicants:
    1. who have an SAT I verbal score of at least 480 or an ACT I English score of 19, or
    2. who have completed English Composition I and II with a grade of C or better, plus 24 additional transferable hours at a college or university located in the U.S.
      The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 79 on the Internet-based test, 550 on the paper-based test and 213 on the computer-based test. The IELTS can be substituted for TOEFL scores. The minimum acceptable overall score of 6.5 is required for admission. Scores must be sent directly to UT Arlington from the Testing Service in order to be considered official. Student score reports are not used for admission processing.
  6. The applications of prospective students from countries other than the United States are reviewed on an individual basis, and admission decisions are based on the strength of the previous academic work, scores on the SAT if required, and the Test of English as a Foreign Language score. Academic background and curriculum are important considerations in decisions on admissibility.
  7. International students who plan to attend UT Arlington on an F-1 (student visa) and who wish to be issued an I-20 must present a copy of their passport, I-94 card and evidence of sufficient financial support while studying in this country. Please see the latest Financial Statement Form at UT Arlington's Web site at www.uta.edu/admissions for the most current estimate to be documented and types of acceptable documentation.
  8. International Students on any visa other than F-1 must present a copy of their passport and I-94 card.
  9. Prior to course registration each prospective International student must clear through the Office of International Education. In addition, International students on the following visas are required to attend an International Orientation before registering for classes: A-2, e-2, F-1 (including transfer students) H-4, J-1, J-2, L-2, O-3, R-2, TD.
  10. Prior to course registration each prospective International student must have a Tuberculosis screening and/or chest X-ray in order to enroll.  The University of Texas Board Of Regents has passed Regents Rule 50402, which now requires only F1, F2, J1 and J2 students who are currently enrolled, to have medical insurance compliant with the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). The UT Student Health Insurance Plan (UT-SHIP) meets these requirements. New students will have the opportunity to enroll in the UT-SHIP at international student orientation. The charge will be automatically added to your student MyMav account and paid when you pay your tuition and fees. The UT System has established criteria in which an international student can request a waiver from the UT-SHIP by providing alternate health insurance coverage. In order to be approved for a waiver, your alternate health coverage must meet or exceed the requirements as set in the System regulation and be PPACA compliant. Waivers must be submitted online and approved each semester to have the insurance charge removed from your student account.

Meningitis Requirement

Incoming Texas college students under 22 years old as of the first day of classes for the term in which they intend to enroll must be immunized against bacterial meningitis before they enroll in any Texas institution of higher education per SB 1107.  Students transferring from another institution and students who are re-enrolling following a break of at least one fall or spring semester must be inoculated against the illness. Students who plan to audit a course also must comply with the law. Students enrolling in programs offered only online are exempt from the legislation.

It is imperative that students who plan to enroll at UT Arlington be vaccinated as soon as possible. Under the law, new college students must have received the vaccine within the past five years. Proof of inoculation is required 10 days before the start of the semester as the vaccine is considered effective several days after it is administered. Additionally, the vaccine must have been administered within the past five years.  Limited exemptions are specified in state law.  Upon acceptance to the university, the student will receive detailed information sent to their UT Arlington email address concerning compliance with the law.  Students enrolled in classes who must meet the requirement will be dropped from their classes the day prior to the first day of class if they have not completed the requirements as defined by the law.

Frequently asked questions regarding this requirement are available online at UT Arlington’s web site.

Major Classifications

All entering students will be classified either as undeclared majors, intended-majors/meta-majors, or majors. All entering students who are not ready to declare a major will be admitted as undeclared majors.  Note:  Students interested in the Architecture or Interior Design programs will only be accepted for the Fall semester.

All first-time freshman students and freshman transfer students will be advised by the University Advising Center in Division of Student Success for their first year and then advised by departmental advisors thereafter.  Undeclared majors beyond the first year will continue to be advised in the University Advising Center until they are ready to move into an intended-major/meta-major or major.

Transfer students will be advised by a departmental advisor for the intended-major/meta-major or major, unless admitted as an undeclared major and be advised by the University Advising Center.

A meta-major is a collection of academic majors that fit within a career area and have related or overlapping courses. 

Enrollment as a Non-Degree Student

A student who holds a bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, including The University of Texas at Arlington, may choose to apply for admission as a non-degree student in one of the undergraduate colleges or schools and is subject to the rules that apply to other undergraduates. Students may, with the approval of the director of admissions and the academic dean, change to degree-seeking status in an undergraduate college.

Consideration for the non-degree option is made by submitting an admission application, application fee and an official transcript showing the awarding of at least a bachelor's degree. Materials must be submitted by the deadline for undergraduate admission.

Admission to a Degree Program

Admission to the University's degree programs is determined by application to the academic unit offering the degree. Before being admitted to a degree program, students must fulfill all departmental and college requirements. Degree programs may require students to complete additional courses or hours in residence prior to applying for admission to the degree program. Until students are admitted into a degree program, students will remain on intended-major/meta-major status.

Criminal Background Check

Some programs require a criminal background check as a condition of admission or program completion or licensure expectations concerning acceptable qualifications. Applicants should examine departmental requirements with care.

Academic Fresh Start

Section 51.931 of the Texas Education Code provides that a resident of Texas may apply for admission to the University as an undergraduate student without consideration of course credit or grades earned 10 or more years prior to the semester the applicant plans to enroll. To be admitted, the applicant must meet the admissions standards in effect at the time of application. Students admitted under the "fresh start" option may not receive credit for any course work taken 10 or more years prior to enrollment. The Academic Fresh Start provision does not affect Texas Success Initiative exemptions claimed on the basis of college credit earned prior to September 1989.

After enrollment, a message will be posted to the student's academic record at UT Arlington indicating admission has been granted through the Academic Fresh Start provision. Once this option has been claimed and the student has enrolled at any state institution, the provision cannot be reversed. An applicant may use the Academic Fresh Start provision only once at UT Arlington.

  • Fresh Start must be requested at the time of application to UTA
  • If previously accepted to UTA without applying for Fresh Start, it may be requested during readmission to the University if one calendar year has lapsed since last enrollment
  • Students must demonstrate college readiness to enroll in courses subject to TSI standards
  • Students who have earned a bachelor’s degree are not eligible for Fresh Start at UTA
  • Courses removed by the Fresh Start program are not applicable to core curriculum requirements or course prerequisites
  • Credit and GPA earned prior to the student’s Fresh Start will not be used to evaluate admission to graduate or professional programs
  • All requests for Fresh Start should be made to the Office of Admissions by completing an Academic Fresh Start form

NEW MAVERICK Orientation and Early Registration

Orientation and Early Registration is a program which includes placement testing, group sessions to prepare for the transition to UT Arlington, resources for academic success, and an introduction to social and extracurricular opportunities. A highlight of the program is early advising and registration.

Upon completion of the admission requirements and admittance to the University, students are sent information regarding orientation from the UT Arlington Division of Student Affairs. The orientation program is required for all first-time freshmen students.

For students starting UT Arlington in the fall semester, several orientation options are available. New freshman students may attend one of many sessions offered in June, July and August. Students have the option to stay overnight in the residence halls. Parents of freshman students are invited to attend a separate but concurrent program. There are limited accommodations for parents or guests on campus. Transfer students are also required to attend an orientation program. All Orientation programs include Academic Advising and Early Registration. For students starting in the other semesters, Orientation and Early Registration is offered prior to the start of the semester.  Please contact the UTA Division of Student Affairs for additional information regarding the orientation programs.

International Student Orientation

The New International Student Orientation provides new international students with information about immigration matters, health services and health insurance, registration procedures, academic rules and regulations, cultural adjustment, and Office of International Education programs and activities. Attendance at this orientation program is required for all non-immigrants who are new to UT Arlington, including transfer students. Orientations are offered on various days in the two weeks preceding each semester. Students are notified by letter of this New International Student Orientation at the time of notification of admission. The dates and details of orientation are included in this letter. Attendance at any other UT Arlington orientation does not substitute for attendance at the New International Student Orientation. Those who do not attend will not be allowed to register during regular registration and must attend a makeup orientation program before being allowed to register in late registration.

College Credit by Examination

The University of Texas at Arlington recognizes that many excellent students have gained academic achievement in certain subject areas prior to entering an institution of higher education. UT Arlington strongly encourages such superior attainment, recognizes it for academic purposes and permits students who have done such work to obtain course credit through examination. Students will be given the opportunity to receive credit by examination in courses within the regular curricular offerings of the University where proficiency may be practically and validly determined by examination.

UT Arlington uses several examination programs to assess the prior academic achievement of undergraduate students. The University awards credit for scores on certain tests from the College Board Advanced Placement Program (AP), the College Board College Level Examination Program (CLEP), the College Board SAT II: Subject Tests, the DANTES Subject Standardized Test (DSST), and the International Baccalaureate Program (IB). UT Arlington also offers advanced standing examinations prepared by departmental faculties.

The following policies govern the awarding of credit by examination by UT Arlington:

  • Credit by examination is available to undergraduate students with a completed application on file, currently enrolled students, and formerly enrolled students who meet eligibility requirements. Provided the student has neither passed nor failed that course at the University of Texas at Arlington (including a Z in English). Credit by examination will not be given for a course the student previously passed or failed, or received transfer credit at UT Arlington. Additional eligibility requirements for certain courses are listed in Assessment Services Credit by Examination brochure or on their Web site.
  • Prospective students may take examinations to establish their eligibility to receive credit, however, credit is awarded only to currently enrolled students or to former students who meet eligibility requirements. A prospective student may claim credit prior to enrollment but the credit will be posted as earned credit after Census day of the first enrolled semester.

  • Credit by examination may not be used for graduate credit and no such credit, graduate or undergraduate, may appear on graduate student transcripts.
  • Credit earned by examination satisfies degree requirements in the same way as credit earned by passing courses except it does not count as credit earned in residence. Credit by examination cannot be used to satisfy general degree requirements for: (a) 30 semester hours in residence, (b) at least 18 semester hours in residence of advanced course work (courses numbered 3000 and 4000), to include 12 hours of advanced course work in the major field. Credit by examination can be used to meet prerequisites for higher-level courses.
  • After the official Census Date, students may earn credit by examination for a course they are enrolled in only if the student drops the course with a W or upon written approval of the chair of the appropriate academic department. Once a grade is posted for the course the student may not petition for credit earned by exam.
  • Most academic departments award semester hours of credit, but no letter grades. In a few subjects, credit may be awarded with grades of A, B or C, depending on the level of test performance. For each course in which grades are assigned, students may choose to accept credit hours recorded either with the letter grade or as credit only. Accepting credit only will not affect a student's cumulative grade point average. After credit has been posted to the academic record, a student's choice, letter grade or credit only, cannot be changed.
  • To have credit reported to Office of Admissions, official test scores must be sent to Testing Services for credit by examination to be awarded. Students must complete a Petition to Record Credit by Examination at the Testing Services office. Credit by examination will be posted to a student's official record after the student has enrolled and completed one semester at UT Arlington. Unsuccessful attempts to earn credit by examination are not recorded on students' academic records.
  • Credit by examination on a transcript from another institution of higher education is considered transfer work and will transfer to UT Arlington, subject to the same conditions as corresponding resident course work from that institution. The Office of Admissions is responsible for evaluating all transfer work.

Further information regarding test dates, registration procedures and deadlines, fees, current eligibility criteria and petitioning to record credit may be obtained from the Testing Services Office.

Placement Examinations

Some academic departments offer (or require of) the student an exemption from taking courses based on departmental placement examinations. Such exemption does not grant credit for the course but permits the student to enroll in the next course in the subject area.

Modern Language Placement Examination

The Modern Language Department recommends that students who are native speakers, have high school credit, or equivalent knowledge of French, German or Spanish language take a placement exam prior to enrolling in certain lower-division language courses. Modern Language placements tests are the CLEP French, German, or Spanish Language exams and may be taken in an attempt to earn credit by examination. Students have the option to choose credit with letter grade or credit without letter grade for credit earned depending on level of test performance.

Texas Residency for Tuition Purposes

The Office of Admissions determines Texas residency status for all new and continuing UT Arlington students.  A review of responses on the admission application is conducted by the residency determination official in accordance with Title 19, Chapter 21, Subchapter B of the Texas Administrative Code.

When incomplete, insufficient or conflicting information is presented on the admission application, the student will be sent a Core Residency Questionnaire. This should be completed and returned to the Office of Admissions (Box 19114, Arlington, TX 76019-0114) with the appropriate supporting documentation prior to registration. After the Core Residency Questionnaire has been reviewed, the student will receive a written response of the residency determination from the Office of Admissions.

Report of Medical History

A Report of Medical History form will be sent to students when they are accepted to the university.

First-time students: Prior to registration, a first-time student must submit a Report of Medical History to UT Arlington Health Services. It is the responsibility of the student to complete the health form and mail it to UT Arlington Health Services at least two weeks prior to registration. A Report of Medical History form will be sent to students when they are accepted for admission.

Students who are from countries other than the United States and who are not immigrants or have not been granted permanent residency: All students who are from countries other than the United States and who are not immigrants or have not been granted permanent residency must submit to UT Arlington Health Services an International Health Card issued within the past year. The International Health Card must note that the student has tested negative for tuberculosis. Once the card has been presented, the student will be cleared to register for classes. Students who do not present this card will not be permitted to enroll in classes.

International students: In addition to the International Health Card requirement, all international students must be tested by a U.S. medical facility for tuberculosis prior to the 25th class day. Failure to receive clearance from a U.S. medical facility will result in the removal from classes. Testing is available at UT Arlington Health Services.

First-time Non-U.S. Citizen/Non-Permanent Resident and Intensive English students: The University of Texas at Arlington requires all entering Non-U.S. Citizen/Non-Permanent Resident and Intensive English students to:

  • Have a Tuberculosis screening and/or chest X-ray performed at UT Arlington Health Services upon arrival to the University for classes. TB screening or chest X-ray will be performed even if the student has been vaccinated with BCG (vaccine for TB usually administered to children and effective for 8-10 years-not widely used in the U.S.).
  • Ensure that all documentation is complete and submitted to UT Arlington Health Services by the 25th class day or the student will be dropped from classes without reinstatement privileges. Students dropped from classes due to non-compliance will not be eligible for a refund of tuition or fees.

For the complete text of the UT Arlington policy concerning Tuberculosis screening, please visit UT Arlington Health Services.