Applying to freshman-year honors programs and honors housing Honors Programs
If you’re looking for more than the usual academic challenges, you may want to apply to one of the freshman honors programs.
Honors classes are typically smaller than regular classes and offer an atmosphere that encourages intellectual exploration and engagement. Outside the classroom, honors students interact with faculty and fellow honors students in Honors Residence Halls or in the Joynes Reading Room in the University Honors Center. Honors students also enjoy social and recreational activities together like taking part in special honors dinners and playing on intramural sports teams.
Honors Programs Applications Now Available
The online honors application for the fall 2009 semester is available. You won’t be able to access the application until you submit your ApplyTexas Application for Freshman Admission. Learn more about applying.
Freshman Honors Programs
Business Honors Program
Early consideration deadline: November 1 | Regular deadline: January 15
The Business Honors Program is a highly-selective program that enrolls about 100 students each fall. Courses are accelerated and modeled after MBA courses taught by top faculty. Dedicated academic and career counselors assist students throughout their college careers.
If you’re interested in applying to the Business Honors Program, please contact one of our BHP Recruiters.
Dean’s Scholars Honors Program in Natural Sciences
Recommended deadline: December 1 | Deadline: January 15
A broadly-based honors degree program that emphasizes community, research and individual discovery, the Dean’s Scholars Honors Program selectively admits students to pursue honors degrees in any major in the College of Natural Sciences. The program offers individualized faculty advising, special honors classes, hands-on research training and experience, and many networking and leadership opportunities.
Dean’s Scholars Honors applicants are highly encouraged to complete their honors application and ApplyTexas scholarship application by December 1 so they may be considered for possible scholarship opportunities.
Engineering Honors Program
Deadline: January 15
The Engineering Honors Program enrolls outstanding students prior to their freshman year. It offers special honors sections of engineering classes, individual academic advising, the Engineering Honors Council and special seminars and social activities.
Liberal Arts Honors Program
Deadline: January 15
The Liberal Arts Honors Program offers the community experience of a small liberal arts college along with the resources of a large university. Liberal Arts Honors students choose from a variety of honors courses in preparation for advanced work in Liberal Arts majors. Program advisers emphasize honors options at UT Austin, study abroad programs and internships. Liberal Arts Honors students graduate broadly and deeply prepared for professional and civic leadership. Many go on to attain graduate degrees.
Plan II Honors Program
Early consideration deadline: November 1 | Regular deadline: January 15
The Plan II Honors Program is a competitive four-year honors degree program with a strenuous curriculum in the arts and sciences. The program includes year-long courses, small seminar classes, independent study and flexible major concentrations.
Turing Scholars Program in Computer Sciences
Deadline: January 15
The Turing Scholars Honors Program offers an intensive, accelerated path through the core computer sciences curriculum. The program exposes student to concepts and ideas typically not encountered until graduate school. Participants take part in undergraduate research and receive increased visibility with corporate recruiters.
Apply to Freshman Honors Programs
- Apply to honors programs.
- Review Special Instructions for applying to honors programs.
Honors programs available to incoming freshmen are connected to the area of study the student is pursuing. If you’re interested in applying to an honors program, you must complete and submit the online honors program application by the specified deadline (see list of honors programs above).
You may apply for an honors program only after you’ve submitted the ApplyTexas Application for Freshman Admission at www.applytexas.org. Before applying to an honors program or beginning the honors application process, review the Special Instructions page for important information about applying to honors programs.
Some programs also require applicants to submit additional items; details are available as part of the online honors application process and on the Honors Programs Special Instructions page of Be a Longhorn.
Most freshman honors programs accept only students who apply for admission to UT Austin for the fall semester. Students applying for the spring or summer should contact the honors program(s) in which they’re interested to learn more about applying to a particular honors program.
Honors Housing
All prospective freshmen who are applying to an honors program are also eligible to apply for on-campus honors housing once their application for admission is complete. The Honors Residence Halls offer special support, services and a close-knit community for first-year students participating in honors programs.
If you think that you might be interested in living in honors housing, apply for housing as soon as your entire application for admission is complete. The housing office will then send you a housing contract. On your housing contract you may specify honors housing as your first choice residence hall. There are three honors halls from which you may choose: Andrews, Blanton or Carothers.
Updated 1 August 2008
