Honors

Interested in an honors program at UT Austin? We offer a variety of honors programs across multiple colleges and schools, with many open to both freshman and transfer applicants. The application for honors programs is available only to students who apply to certain majors. 

Required Application Materials Deadline Extension: Summer/Fall 2024
The Common App and ApplyTexas summer/fall application is due December 5 (11:59 Central). Students may submit all additional application materials until Monday, December 11 (11:59 p.m. Central).

How to Apply

Freshman Honors

Freshman applicants have two options to apply to honors programs:

  1. You can start the process to apply for a freshman honors program by indicating interest on your admission application and responding to the short-answer questions of the program of your choice within the application.
  2. You can also apply by using the separate online honors application. This is available to you after you’ve submitted your ApplyTexas or Common App application and once you gain access to MyStatus.

If you want to change your first- and/or second-choice major(s) so that you can apply to an honors program, email us at usprocessing3@austin.utexas.edu. Include your full name, UT EID and updated first- and/or second-choice majors. If your request is approved, you will gain access to the honors application within 3-5 business days.

Additional Materials Submission

Submit any resumes or letters of recommendation required by your specific program in MyStatus using the Document Upload System. Letters of recommendation may also be submitted directly from your school via Naviance/Edocs. Self-report any AP or IB scores you may have taken or plan to take on your résumé.

Transfer Honors

Submit your application for admission, then complete the steps outlined by the program you’re applying to:

Note: Additional honors programs exist within many academic departments. Contact your academic advisor to learn more about programs and their application processes.

Key Dates

Freshman applicants applying for summer and spring enrollment are not eligible to apply for freshman honors programs.

Fall 2024 Enrollment

  • Honors Application Opens
    August 1
  • Honors Application Deadline
    December 11

Program Requirements

Canfield Business Honors

Required Majors

  • Unspecified Business (Business must be the first-choice selection).

Availability

  • Freshman applicants
  • Transfer applicants

Writing Prompt

Canfield Business Honors is more than a major and program at the University. It is a community. During the last four years of high school, what community have you had the most impact in and how did you achieve that impact? Limit 250 words.

Additional Materials

  • Resume
  • A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)

Electrical and Computer Engineering Honors (ECE)

Required Major

  • Electrical and Computer Engineering in the Cockrell School of Engineering

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Describe your significant activities, employment, and achievements, particularly those relevant to the study of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Also describe your educational and career goals. Please limit your response to no more than 500 words.

Additional Materials

  • Resume
  • A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher

Engineering Honors

Required Major

  • Any major in the Cockrell School of Engineering

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

The Cockrell School of Engineering awards merit scholarships to first-year participants in the Engineering Honors Program. Additionally, participants can be considered for honors housing. Selections are made by reviewing the standard materials required to apply for admission to the university. No additional essays or application materials are required, but submitting an expanded résumé is recommended. If you would like to be considered for the Engineering Honors Program, please acknowledge your interest on your application.

Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (ECB)

Required Major

  • Both Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business, one as your first and the other as your second choice. Your first-choice major should be the one you are most interested in.

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Texas Honors Electrical and Computer Engineering and Business (Texas ECB) is a powerful dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both an electrical and computer engineering and business honors education. Why do you see this as a combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school, in the classroom and outside, to prepare you for honors engineering and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas ECB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

Additional Materials

  • Resume
  • A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)

Liberal Arts Honors

Required Major

  • Any major in the College of Liberal Arts (First-choice selection of a Liberal Arts major is strongly encouraged).

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Answer the following prompts:

  • At the University of Texas at Austin, we say that what starts here changes the world.  The Liberal Arts Honors Program seeks change agents, students who are going to draw upon a liberal art education to make lifelong contributions to society that will make life better for their fellow citizens in the 21st century.  Please tell us succinctly and imaginatively how a liberal arts education will help you become such a change agent and what contributions you expect to make.
  • Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1–5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

Additional Materials

  • Resume

Moody College Honors

Required Major

  • Any major in the Moody College of Communication

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

“With great power comes great responsibility” is a popular adage. How do you think it applies to the realm of human communication? Explain your thoughts using an example from current events, history, film, literature, or your own life. Please limit your response to 350 words.

Natural Sciences Honors

Required Major

  • Any major in the College of Natural Sciences

Availability

  • Freshman applicants
  • Transfer applicants (with the exception of Human Ecology Honors)

Writing Prompt

Each of the three CNS Honors Programs has a distinct profile. Why are you a good fit for the Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, or Polymathic Scholars program? How will you contribute to that community?

For Human Ecology Honors:

Briefly describe why you have chosen to apply to the School of Human Ecology Honors Program, specifically Nutritional Sciences or Human Development and Family Sciences Honors. Please limit your response to no more than 250 words.

Additional Materials

  • Resume
  • A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher

Plan II Honors

Required Major

  • Plan II or any major in the College of Liberal Arts

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Answer the following prompts:

  • If you could add one required course—on any topic—to your high school’s curriculum, what would it be and why? What would you have liked to learn that wasn’t available to you? Limit your response to no more than 250 words.
  • Help us get to know you better. Please write five sentences (numbered 1–5) that give us some insight into you, your life, your interests and your experiences. There are no right answers — feel free to be creative and think outside the box.

Additional Materials

  • Resume

Texas Honors Computer Science and Business (Texas CSB)​

Required Majors

  • Both Computer Science and Business, one as your first and the other as your second choice. Your first choice major should be the one you are most interested in.

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Texas CSB is an innovative dual degree program looking for students who are dedicated to both computer science and business. Why do you see this as a powerful combination of skills for your career goals? What have you done in high school to prepare you for computer science and business course work? Please limit your response to no more than 500 words. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review the Texas CSB website for additional requirements to complete their application.

Additional Materials

  • Resume
  • A letter of recommendation from a teacher (not a counselor or principal)

Turing Scholars

Required Majors

  • Computer Science 

Availability

  • Freshman applicants

Writing Prompt

Additional Materials

  • Resume
  • A letter of recommendation from a math or science teacher