Graduate Admission

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Domestic and Permanent Residents International Students

Non-Degree Students Readmission / Deferment

The Graduate School of Texas Tech University aspires to have a diverse student body. Although all students are admitted to the university by the dean of the Graduate School, applications for degree programs also must be evaluated by the department to which the student is applying.

Three general categories of criteria are used as part of a holistic process to evaluate all applicants for admission and competitive scholarships:

Academic Records—All academic records may be considered.
Test Scores—International students must submit official scores on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing Service) examinations. TOEFL and IELTS results must be no more than two years old. See “International Student Admissions” below for more detailed information.

Official scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, for programs in the Rawls College of Business, the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) must be no more than five years old. Each score is considered separately with percentile scores viewed by broad major. Students should check with the individual program to determine whether it requires the GRE or GMAT. In accordance with Texas Education Code §51.842, the applicant’s performance on a standardized test may not be used in the admissions or competitive scholarship process as the sole criterion for consideration of the applicant or as the primary criterion to end consideration of the applicant. Information about the GRE may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6000, Princeton, NJ 08541-6000. All test scores are received by Graduate Admissions, not the department. The institution code for Texas Tech is 6827.

GRE — 866.473.4373 (U.S., U.S. Territories and Canada), 609.771.7670 (all other locations), www.gre.org

Information about the GMAT may be obtained from Pearson VUE, P.O. Box 581907, Minneapolis, MN 55458-1907. All test scores are received by the Office of Graduate and International Admissions, not the department. The institution code for Texas Tech is 6827.

GMAT— 800.717.4628, 952.681.3680, Fax 952.681.3681,
www.mba.com, GMATCandidateServicesAmerica@pearson.com

GFS-3F-17 Master’s in AccountingGFS-3F-24 M.B.A., Flexible Part Time

GFS-3F-05 M.B.A., Full Time

GFS-3F-64 Ph.D. Program

GFS-3F-96 M.S. in Business Administration

GFS-3F-29 Other Programs

Individual Applicant Materials—Depending on the program to which the applicant is applying, individual academic departments may require recommendations, research background, motivation, multilingual proficiency, undergraduate institution, presentations, portfolios, interviews, work experience, demonstrated commitment to a particular field of study, community involvement, and family and socioeconomic background. The department to which the student applies may have additional requirements, including a separate application form. Applicants should send individual profile documents to their prospective department, not to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions.
Academic Common Market — Texas Tech participates in the Academic Common Market, an interstate agreement that provides reciprocal higher education opportunities to citizens of states declared as parties to the Southern Regional Education Compact. Graduate students who are from these states and are admitted into approved out-of-state programs qualify for resident tuition if the program of study is not offered in their home state.

Approved programs at Texas Tech University and the member states from which qualified students may gain resident tuition are as follows:
- Master of Architecture (Alabama, Kentucky)
- Master of Science, Doctor of Philosophy—Wildlife, Aquatic, and Wildlands Science and Management (Arkansas, Louisiana)
- Doctor of Philosophy—Fine Arts (Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia)
- Doctor of Philosophy—Family and Consumer Sciences Education (Kentucky)
- Doctor of Philosophy—Land-Use Planning, Management, and Design (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Virginia)
- Doctor of Philosophy—Marriage and Family Therapy (Kentucky)
- Doctor of Philosophy—Technical Communication and Rhetoric (Tennessee)
Two steps are necessary to qualify for these programs: (1) Applicants must be accepted into a program for which an interstate agreement has been arranged, and (2) applicants must submit to Student Business Services proof of legal residency in a member state by providing documentation from the qualifying state’s Coordinating Board or Board of Regents.

A list of state coordinators is available from the Southern Regional Education Board, 1340 Spring Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309. For information about the ACM program in Texas, contact the Program Development Division of Senior Colleges and Universities, Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Box 12788, Capitol Station, TX 78711.

For information about services for students with disabilities, contact Student Disability Services, 335 West Hall or Box 45007, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-5007, 806.742.2405.

Domestic and Permanent Resident Student Admissions

Admission to any graduate degree program is granted by the dean of the Graduate School upon the recommendation of the department of proposed study. The applicant must have been in good standing in the school last attended. Applications will not be evaluated until all admission requirements have been met. All materials submitted become the property of Texas Tech University and are not returnable or refundable.

Submit the following information to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions to either of the following addresses:

Regular Airmail
Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Texas Tech University
PO Box 41030
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030, USA .
Express Mail
Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Texas Tech University
Boston Ave. at Akron Ave.
328 Administration Bldg.
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030

Application—Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to date of intended enrollment. Preferred deadlines for priority processing are June 1 for fall, September 1 for spring, and March 1 for summer. Applications are available on the Graduate School website (www.gradschool.ttu.edu). All institutions (including name and location) attended must be included on the application. Falsification of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University.
Nonrefundable Application Fee—An application fee is required for the initial application ($60) and also for any subsequent application ($50). Acceptable methods of payment are credit card, money order, cashier’s check and traveler’s check; do not send cash. Full-time Texas Tech employees, their spouses, and dependents under age 25 are exempt from this fee. The faculty/staff fee waiver form may be obtained from the Office of Graduate and International Admissions. The application fee may be paid either through the ApplyTexas application (www.applytexas.org) or on the Graduate School website if using the paper application.
Official Transcripts
- The applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
- The applicant must submit an official transcript from each college or university attended, including any transcript for which no degree was awarded.
- All degrees earned must appear on an official transcript.
- The applicant who, because of current enrollment, cannot provide final transcripts at the time of application must submit transcripts of all completed study. Consideration may then be given for tentative admission upon the condition that final transcripts are provided within the initial semester of enrollment at Texas Tech.
- The applicant must have been in good standing in all schools attended at final matriculation.
Resident Alien Card—Permanent residents must provide a copy of the front and back of their Resident Alien Card.

Residency Questionnaire—A Residency Questionnaire is required of all Texas Tech University graduate applicants. The Residency Questionnaire is available through the Graduate School website. Applicants who submit an ApplyTexas application do not need to submit a residency questionnaire because the questions are included in that application.

Contact Department. Prospective students must also contact the department in which they are planning to study to obtain information regarding any special admission requirements, such as additional tests (e.g., GRE or GMAT), applications, or letters of recommendation. They may find online applications at the website of each department. Send individual profile documents to your prospective department, not to the Office of Graduate and International Admissions. A list of graduate advisor/department contact information is available on the Graduate Admissions website.

Evaluating Applications. Application files will not be evaluated until all of the above requirements have been met. Applicants will be notified via Raiderlink and must check their admissions status at
www.raiderlink.ttu.edu. If admitted, students can print an official acceptance letter from Raiderlink. Some departments that operate with a limited number of spaces for students will make final decisions for the fall semester in early spring. U.S. or permanent resident applicants who, for whatever reason, cannot provide all documents required for admission to a degree program by the time of planned initial enrollment may request permission to register for graduate courses through temporary non-degree admission (GTMP). Up to 12 hours of graduate study is allowed as a GTMP.

Admission to a Second Graduate Degree Program. Permission to work toward a second graduate degree of the same level is granted only upon approval by the relevant department and review by the graduate dean. In addition, the applicant is subject to all requirements as a new student. While there is no guarantee that any work from the first degree may apply to the second, at least one full year (24 semester hours) must be taken specifically for the new degree program.
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International Student Admissions

Texas Tech has been fortunate to attract sizeable numbers of highly qualified and talented international students. Recognizing the difficulties involved in moving from their home countries and home schools to a new environment and new scholarly procedures and expectations, Graduate Admissions is committed to helping international students in this important transition.

The following procedures should be followed carefully in order for international students to be admitted to a master’s or doctoral degree program at Texas Tech University. Applications will not be evaluated until all admission requirements have been met. All materials submitted become the property of Texas Tech and are not returnable or refundable. January 15 is the application deadline for fall and summer semesters, and June 15 is the deadline for spring semester.

Application—Applications may be obtained from the website www.gradschool.ttu.edu. The applicant’s name must be the same as it appears on the passport. All institutions (including name and location) attended must be included on the application. Falsification of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University.
Nonrefundable Application Fee—An application fee is required for the initial application ($60) and also for any subsequent application ($50). Acceptable methods of payment are checks drawn on a U.S. bank, international money orders, cashier’s checks, U.S. or international postal money orders, traveler’s check, or U.S. credit card. The application fee may be paid either through the ApplyTexas application (www.applytexas.org) or the Office of Graduate and International Admissions website.
Official Transcripts—The applicant must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in the United States or its equivalent from a foreign institution. Foreign institutions must be recognized by their government/governmental ministry as a degree-granting institution. The applicant must have been in good standing in all schools attended at final matriculation.

An applicant must submit an official transcript from each college or university attended, including transcripts/marksheets for each semester. An applicant who, because of current enrollment, cannot provide final transcripts at the time of application must submit transcripts of all completed study. Consideration may then be given for tentative admission upon the condition that final transcripts are provided within the initial semester of enrollment at Texas Tech. Applicants must submit at least six semesters of coursework to be eligible for admission consideration.

International applicants must also provide an official English translation of all transcripts/marksheets if the documents are not provided in English. The Office of Graduate and International Admissions will not accept a public notary certification. If official English translations are not supplied by the applicant’s institution(s), the applicant must provide a translation done by an American Translators Association-certified translator. A list of ATA-certified translators is available online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories.
Official Diploma/Degree Certificates—The applicant is required to submit an original or certified photocopy of the degree certificate, diploma, or official statement that the degree has been granted. If the degree is not complete when the application is made, six semesters or three years of coursework are required. After the degree is completed, a final transcript showing the degree awarded must be submitted.

Texas Tech University requires a degree that is equivalent to a U.S. undergraduate degree. Texas Tech University does not equate three-year bachelor’s degrees from any country to be equivalent to a comparable Texas Tech University-earned bachelor’s degree; holders of such bachelor’s degree are not eligible for graduate admission. A list of acceptable credentials for graduate admission is available on the Office of Graduate and International Admissions website.

International applicants must also provide an official English translation of all diplomas/degree certificates if the documents are not provided in English. The Office of Graduate and International Admissions will not accept a public notary certification. If official English translations are not supplied by the applicant’s institution(s), the applicant must provide a translation done by an American Translators Association-certified translator. A list of ATA-certified translators is available online at www.atanet.org/onlinedirectories.
Copy of biographical page of passport (OPTIONAL)—This page will be used only if an international applicant is admitted and an I-20 needs to be issued. This document is not necessary for application evaluation purposes.
Official Proof of English Proficiency—All international applicants must provide proof of English proficiency before their applications can be considered for admission. This test is waived only for graduates of U.S. universities or universities in English proficiency-exempt countries. Applicants who have completed at least two consecutive years at a college or university in the U.S. or in an English proficiency-exempt country are also exempted from the English proficiency requirements. Texas Tech University considers the following countries to have English as their native language: Australia, Canada (except the Province of Québec), Commonwealth Caribbean countries (Anguilla, Antigua, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, and Turks and Caicos Islands), Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales), and the United States. Applicants may submit one of the following measures of English proficiency:
Ability to Fund Graduate Studies—If a student is admitted to a graduate program, the Office of Graduate and International Admissions will then determine if there is enough financial information to issue an I-20. If there is, the I-20 will be issued by the Office of Graduate and International Admissions (or by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services in some situations) and mailed to the student. If financial information is needed, it should be in the form of a bank statement converted to U.S. currency. This statement should not be sent to the department. A statement of support from the sponsor must accompany the bank statement; an Affidavit of Financial Support is available on the Graduate School website (www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool). Students should check with the Office of Graduate and International Admissions about the current amounts needed in their bank accounts. These amounts include tuition, books, living expenses, mandatory international student insurance, etc. Amounts will vary depending upon the program to which the student is admitted and any financial assistance awarded by the department.
Conditional Admission for English Proficiency. Prospective international students who meet the minimum academic requirements for admission consideration except for proof of English proficiency may apply for conditional admission through ELS University Admissions (www.els.edu/en/UniversityAdmissions). If an international graduate student is admitted conditionally, the student must complete ELS Level 112 plus any additional departmental requirements before beginning an academic program at Texas Tech University.

Submitting Applications.Students should be certain to give their full names on the envelope return address. An application Document Cover Sheet is available on the Office of Graduate and International Admissions website. Correspondence should include the full name and date of birth.

All entries into the records system are made by family name (last name), first name(s), middle name(s; if any). Send all official documents by one of the following methods:

Regular Airmail
Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Texas Tech University
PO Box 41030
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030, USA
Express Mail Delivery
Office of Graduate and International Admissions
Texas Tech University
Boston Ave. at Akron Ave.
328 Administration Bldg.
Lubbock, TX 79409-1030

Evaluating Applications. Applications will not be evaluated until all of the above requirements have been met. Applicants will be notified by the Office of Graduate and International Admissions via the Raiderlink portal when an admissions decision has been made. Some departments that operate with a limited number of spaces for students each year make final decisions for the fall semester in early spring.

Deadlines. Deadlines for international applicants are as follows:

January 15 for fall and summer semester
June 15 for spring semester

Contact Department. Prospective students must also contact the department in which they are planning to study to obtain information regarding any special admission requirements (e.g., additional tests, applications, or letters of recommendation). To contact departments by phone, call Texas Tech directory assistance at 806.742.2011.

Non-Degree Student Admission Procedures

Admission to a non-degree program is not a guarantee of admission to a graduate degree program at a later date, nor does it guarantee that credits earned in a non-degree program will count toward a graduate degree.

PGRD (Post Graduate)—PGRD category is for students who have earned an undergraduate degree and desire to take only undergraduate courses. In this status, a student may register indefinitely as a non-degree graduate student but may not be appointed to teaching assistantships or research assistantships. Students in this category may not register for graduate courses. PGRD students are not eligible for financial aid.
GTMP (Graduate Temporary)—A student in this category is considered a temporary non-degree student and may enroll for no more than 12 hours. GTMP students are not eligible for financial aid.
CERT (Teacher Certification), FCSC (Teacher Certification/Human Sciences)—A student who desires to earn certification through the College of Education or the College or Human Sciences may apply for this type of non-degree status. Graduate courses may be taken, but if the student wishes to pursue a degree at a later time, only 12 graduate hours completed before admission to a degree program can be counted toward a degree. The student must also apply through the College of Education or the College of Human Sciences, in addition to Graduate Admissions. CERT and FCSC students may be eligible for financial aid.
CPED (Continuing Professional Education Development)—CPED is designed to meet the needs of professionals such as engineers, certified public accountants, architects, social workers, teachers, and others who require continuing professional educational development. In addition to applying to Graduate Admissions, students must request permission for this non-degree status from the graduate advisor or faculty administering the program in their department. The GRE will be waived as long as a GPA of 3.0 or greater is maintained as a non-degree student.
GCRT (Graduate Certificate Program)—GCRT is intended to meet the supplemental educational needs of professionals. A graduate certificate program is comprised of a set of courses that provide a coherent knowledge base. These courses may be derived from more than one academic program and may be more practice-oriented than the courses in a graduate academic program. Students applying for a graduate certificate program may not be required to submit GRE or GMAT scores (although some of the programs do require these scores). Students must meet all other requirements for graduate admission.

Applicants seeking non-degree admission in any category must provide the following:

Application—Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to date of intended enrollment. The online forms are available at www.gradschool.ttu.edu. Falsification of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University.
Nonrefundable Application Fee—An application fee is required for the initial application ($60) and also for any subsequent application ($50). Acceptable methods of payment are credit card, money order, cashier’s check and traveler’s check. Full-time Texas Tech employees, their spouses, and dependents under age 25 are exempt from this fee. The faculty/staff fee waiver form may be obtained in the Office of Graduate and International Admissions.
Official Transcripts—The bachelor’s degree must be equivalent to one from Texas Tech. A student who, because of current enrollment, cannot provide final transcripts at the time of application must submit transcripts of all completed study, as well as incomplete transcripts from the current institution. Consideration may then be given for tentative admission upon the condition that final transcripts are provided within the initial semester of enrollment at Texas Tech. Official transcripts showing the prospective student is in good standing from all higher education institutions attended are required.

Graduate School Readmission / Deferment

Students who fail to register or who leave school during a spring or fall semester must fill out and submit the “Request to Be Readmitted” form, which may be found online at www.gradschool.ttu.edu. Automatic readmission is not guaranteed; departments will consider students on a case-by-case basis. The Office of Graduate and International Admissions will notify the applicant of the department’s decision via the Raiderlink portal.

Previously enrolled students who do not enroll for more than 12 months must fill out and submit a new application (OP 64.01) and application fee.

International and domestic students who defer admission to a semester for which they did not originally apply must fill out and submit the “Request to Change the Initial Entry Date” form. The form can be found online at www.gradschool.ttu.edu. A new application and application fee is required if it has been more than three semesters since the student’s original admission term. Automatic readmission is not guaranteed; departments will consider students on a case-by-case basis. The Office of Graduate and International Admissions will notify the student of the department’s decision via the Raiderlink portal.