Information for Prospective Students
Deadline for Applications
We accept students once a year. New students are admitted only during the fall semester and applications for fall admission are due December 1st.
Application Requirements
Because all of our graduate programs focus on research and require extensive one-on-one contact between faculty and students, we can accept only a limited number of students each year. Admission is competitive, and admission recommendations are made by a committee that carefully reviews each applicant’s academic history, performance, and interests. To be admitted, one must have bachelor's degree (or the equivalent for non-U.S. students) from an accredited university. Students who are still working on their bachelor’s degree and who will complete it before starting graduate work are given full consideration. Individuals who do not have a degree in psychology are also given full consideration, but admission may be conditional on satisfactorily completing a few undergraduate psychology courses.
If you are interested in applying, please submit the following materials to the UTEP graduate school application portal:
- A UTEP graduate school online application;
- Official transcript(s) for all academic work;
- A two- to three-page personal statement outlining your experiences, skills, and training. In addition, please indicate which concentration you are applying to, indicate faculty with whom you would like to work, and include your career goals and how this specific program will benefit your professional development;
- Three letters of recommendation;
- Application processing fee (paid electronically through the admissions portal): $45.00 for U.S. citizens/permanent residents or $80.00 for international applicants.
- Official GRE General Test scores from ETS taken within the last five years. *if you have questions about the GRE requirement, reach out to our Graduate Program Director.
- Official TOEFL scores for international students.
If you have general questions about applying to UTEP, please contact the graduate school (gradschool@utep.edu or 915-747-5491). If you have specific questions about applying to the Behavioral Neuroscience Ph.D. Program, please email Dr. Katherine Serafine, Graduate Program Director for the Department of Psychology (kmserafine2@utep.edu).
Available Faculty Mentors
To see a list of faculty considering applications for admissions in the upcoming cycle click here. We encourage students interested in working with specific faculty to contact them in advance of submitting an application.
For Additional Information
For more information regarding application to the Department of Psychology graduate programs please visit the Applying to the Graduate Program page.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a listing of Frequently Asked Questions regarding application to the graduate programs please visit the FAQ page.