Graduate Admission

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Domestic and Permanent Residents International Students

Non-Degree StudentsReadmission / Deferment

Admission Deadlines

 

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:

1. Academic Records—All academic records may be considered.
2. 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” on the next page for more detailed information.
   
   Official scores on the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or, for programs in the College of Business Administration, 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 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 Accounting
   
   GFS-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
   
   Send all official documents to the following address:
   
   Office of Graduate Admissions
   Texas Tech University
   P.O. Box 41030
   Lubbock, TX 79409-1030
3. Individual Profiles—Profiles may include 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.

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.

 

Admission Deadlines

Domestic Admissions

• Complete admission application at least three months before intended enrollment date. Applications available at www.gradschool.ttu.edu.

International Admissions

• March 1 for fall semester
• September 1 for spring semester
• February 1 for summer session

Applications available at www.gradschool.ttu.edu.

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Domestic and Permanent Resident Students

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 Admissions:

1. Application—Applications should be submitted at least three months prior to date of intended enrollment. The applications are available at www.gradschool.ttu.edu. Falsification of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University.
2. $50 Nonrefundable Application Fee—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 Admissions.
   
3. 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. 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

4. Official GRE Score Report—see “Test Scores” in previous section.
   

 

5. Official GMAT score report (for College of Business Administration and other select programs)—see “Test Scores” in previous section.

    

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, applications, or letters of recommendation. They may find online applications at the Web sites of each department by viewing the main Texas Tech Web site at www.ttu.edu and selecting “Academics.” They also may call Texas Tech directory assistance at 806.742.2011 and ask for a specific department.

Evaluating Applications. Application files will not be evaluated until all of the above requirements have been met. Applicants will be notified by the Office of Graduate Admissions when an admissions decision has been made. 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).

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 Students

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

1. Application—Applications may be obtained from the Graduate School Web site www.depts.ttu.edu/gradschool. Falsification of application information will void admission to Texas Tech University. The applicant’s name must be the same as it appears on the passport.
2. $75 Nonrefundable Application Fee—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 in the Office of Graduate Admissions.
3. Official Transcripts
   • Theapplicant 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 submit an official transcript from each college or university attended. 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. Applicants must submit at least six semesters of coursework to be eligible for admission consideration.
     
     The applicant must have been in good standing in all schools attended at final matriculation.
     
     In addition to these standard requirements, international applicants must also provide an official English translation of all transcripts or marksheets if the documents are not provided in English. Certification of the translation must be made by an official government translator with the original signature and/or the university issuing the transcript or marksheets with original signature and seal. Graduate Admissions will not accept a public notary certification. If applicants have not completed their degree at the time of application, six semesters or three years of coursework are required to complete an evaluation. Once the degree is completed, a final transcript showing the degree awarded must be submitted.
     
     If an international student has attended another U.S. university and wishes to transfer to Texas Tech, an official transcript from that university is required.
4. Applicants must send a copy of the biographical page of their passport.
5. Degree—An official degree certificate, diploma, or statement that the degree has been granted is required, including an official English translation. Certification of the translation must be made by an official government translator with the original signature and/or the university issuing the degree with original signature and seal. Graduate Admissions will not accept a public notary certification.
6. Official GRE (or GMAT for College of Business Administration and Other Select Programs) Score Report—see “Test Scores” at the top of this page.
   
7. Official TOEFL/IELTS—TOEFL/IELTS score reports must not be more than two years old. The TOEFL score must be received directly from the Educational Testing Service (ETS), and the IELTS score must be received directly from ielts.org. All test scores are received by Graduate Admissions, not the department. Photocopies are not considered official. The minimum TOEFL score required is 550 (paper-based version), 213 (computer-based version), or 79 (internet-based version); the minimum IELTS required score is an overall band score of 6.5. The TOEFL/IELTS examinations are not waived unless an applicant has a degree from a U.S. university or from a university in a country where English is the native language. Countries Texas Tech University considers to have English as the native language include Australia, Canada (except the Province of Quebec), 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, Wales), and the United States. To determine whether additional English training is required along with graduate coursework, further evaluation of English proficiency will be given after the student arrives on campus.
   
   Information about the TOEFL may be obtained from the Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151. The institution code for Texas Tech is 6827.
   
   TOEFL —877.863.3546 (U.S., U.S. Territories and Canada), 609.771.7100 (all other locations), www.toefl.org. The institution code for Texas Tech is 6827.
   
   IELTS —Information about the IELTS may be obtained from IELTS International, 100 East Corson Street, Suite 200, Pasadena, CA 91103, T 626.564.2954, F 626.564.2981, Web site
   www.ielts.org, ielts@ieltsintl.org. There is no IELTS institution code for Texas Tech University.
   
8. Ability to Fund Graduate Studies—If a student is accepted by a department, the Office of Graduate 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 Admissions 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. Students should check with Graduate Admissions about the current amounts needed in their bank accounts. These amounts include tuition, books, living expenses, etc. Amounts will vary depending upon the financial assistance awarded by the department.
   

Submitting Applications. Students should be certain to give their full names on the envelope return address. 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, middle name. Send all official documents to the following address:

Office of Graduate Admissions
Texas Tech University
P.O. Box 41030
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 Admissions when an admissions decision has been made. Some departments, operating 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:

• March 1 for fall semester
• September 1 for spring semester
• February 1 for summer session

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, applications, or letters of recommendation. They may find online applications at the Web site of each department. To contact departments by phone, call Texas Tech directory assistance at 806.742.2011

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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Non-Degree Students

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.
• GTMP (Graduate Temporary)—A student in this category is considered a temporary non-degree student and may enroll for no more than 12 hours.
• 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.
• 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 are not required to submit GRE or GMAT scores but must meet all other requirements for graduate admission.

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

1. 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.
2. $50 Nonrefundable Application Fee—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 Admissions.
3. 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 Returning Student Form, which may be found online at www.gradschool.ttu.edu. Select “Forms.” Student should check the box labeled “Request to Re-Admit.” Automatic readmission is not guaranteed; departments will consider students on a case by case basis. The Office of Graduate Admissions will notify the student of the department’s decision.

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

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 and check the box labeled “Request to Change the Initial Entry Date.” The form can 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 Admissions will notify the student of the department’s decision.
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