Interested in the Master in Professional Accounting program? Stop by for some coffee in the McCombs School of Business Hall of Honors to speak with a current student or an admissions team member, and learn more about earning your accounting master’s degree in just one year! No registration is needed.
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Hall of Honors, CBA 2.200
Are you a current UT undergraduate looking to expand your career options? The MPA Bridge program allows you to begin working towards a Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree while finishing your non-accounting bachelor’s degree in your senior year.
Join our upcoming virtual info session to discover how the MPA Bridge program can fast-track your path to success. You’ll learn about the admissions process, curriculum, career prospects, and what life is like in the program.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
The Texas McCombs traditional MPA and MPA Bridge admissions applications require at least two letters of recommendation. Keep reading for answers to frequently asked questions about recommendations.
Through the recommendation letters (and admissions essays), we aim to learn about your strengths, personal qualities, skills, and the potential for success in the classroom and as a business professional. Choose references who know you in an academic or professional context and are familiar with your abilities, achievements, and career aspirations. Also consider references who can provide unique and diverse viewpoints. If you are currently in school, we prefer recommendations from faculty members, although feel free to supplement with a third recommendation from a professional work or extracurricular experience. Although only two recommendation letters are required, the MPA admissions committee will review all that are submitted.
Letters are received directly from the recommender via a secure portal. You will be asked to provide the names and email addresses of at least two recommenders in the “Letters of Recommendation” section of the application. When you select “Continue,” your recommenders will be sent an email notification with a link to a secure portal where they will be asked to complete an online questionnaire and upload a recommendation letter.
Tips:
After you submit your application, you will have the option in the McCombs application portal to add recommenders and send them an email request (Submitted Applications tab > Manage Recommenders).
Traditional MPA and MPA Bridge applicants,
Are you working on your admissions essays and need some guidance? Are you wondering, “What should be the focus? How long should the essays be? Do I need videographer skills to create my video essay?” Here are some tips that will help you get started:
Traditional MPA Admissions Essay Questions
MPA Bridge Admissions Essay Questions
There is no “right answer” to the written or video essay questions. MPA applicants come from a variety of academic backgrounds and have diverse professional goals… exactly what we prefer! The essays can help you stand out from the applicant crowd and provide us an opportunity to learn about your strengths, skillsets, and aspirations. Avoid cliched responses and instead provide a genuine portrayal of why you are interested in the Texas McCombs MPA program. Take a moment to reflect. How will the MPA program assist you in reaching your goals? If you are a non-accounting major, why have you decided to pursue a graduate accounting degree? What has been your journey up to this point, and what have you learned about yourself along the way? How have your experiences prepared you for success in our program and the business world? What will you contribute to the Texas McCombs MPA community?
Although you should focus more on content than length, essay #1 should be between 350-500 words, essay #2 should be between 250-350 words, and the video essay should be approximately one minute in length. Avoid repeating information that is readily available in other parts of the application. For example, rather than simply listing your experiences, let us know how these experiences helped you to grow personally or professionally. We want to get to know you from a perspective that cannot be achieved by reviewing resumes and other application materials.
The written essays capture your reasons for pursuing the MPA degree, career goals, preparedness for graduate school, and an example of your analytical aptitude. They also are a demonstration of your written communication skills. Avoid being too wordy, stay focused and organized, and proofread. The formatting of the essays is flexible (line spacing, margins, font), but we do appreciate an easy-to-read layout!
Please be aware that applicants are not permitted to submit materials that were generated by artificial intelligence (AI) systems or completed by anyone other than themselves. This includes using AI or support from any individual to write answers to essay questions. You may use AI as part of your research or as a text/grammar editor, and you may also seek outside assistance in reviewing your materials, but all text that is ultimately submitted must be written by you.
Instructions:
The video essay helps your application “come to life” and provides you with an opportunity to showcase your verbal communication skills and personality. Be professional, relax (Try not to sound like you’re reading a script. We want to see you as your peers, instructors or employers see you!), and don’t worry about fancy editing techniques. Also, please do not include a link to a photo slideshow or PowerPoint presentation. Slideshows do not allow us to actually see and hear from you, which is really what we are looking for in a video submission.
Video link instructions:
If you prefer, you can submit an optional admissions essay to address address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in the MPA program and contribute to the University community and the profession.
Ready to apply? Start your traditional MPA or MPA Bridge application today!
Have questions about the MPA Bridge admissions process? Find answers to frequently-asked questions below!
You must satisfy the following criteria to be eligible to apply to the MPA Bridge program for summer 2026 entry:
The MPA admissions committee reviews completed MPA Bridge applications on a continuous, rolling basis. Eligible applicants may apply anytime during the admissions cycle until the final May 5, 2026 application deadline. We encourage you to apply as soon as you have completed the majority of the pre-enrollment courses.
If you’re aiming to apply early so that you can receive an earlier admissions decision, you can submit a transcript without fall grades. (We will reach out if we need your fall grades before making a decision.) That said, we highly recommend waiting to submit your application until fall grades are posted if:
It is better to wait and submit the strongest application possible rather than overly rush to apply!
Your application will not be considered complete and reviewed for a decision until at least two faculty recommendation letters have been received. Verify the receipt of your recommendation letters in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Manage Recommenders). If needed, send additional requests for letters through the portal. Decisions are released approximately six weeks after application completion.
We recommend that you attend an upcoming MPA Bridge information session, schedule an admissions consultation, or send us an email! We’re happy to help.
Are you ready to take the next step in your educational and career journey? The McCombs School of Business at The University of Texas at Austin is excited to announce that the Fall 2026 Master in Professional Accounting application is now open! Whether you will have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in pursuing the one-year traditional MPA (tMPA) program, or you are a current UT undergraduate (non-accounting major) and would like to get an early start via MPA Bridge, Texas McCombs offers a top-quality learning experience that will provide you with a solid background in the language of business and prepare you for a variety of careers.
Our admissions committee takes a holistic approach to evaluating MPA applications, taking all of your application materials into account. Your essays, previous academic performance, letters of recommendation, and non-academic achievements all play an important role in your acceptance into the MPA program. Find tips on enhancing your application in this admissions blog!
MPA Bridge (all applicants) and traditional MPA (U.S. applicants) admissions decisions are made on a continuous, rolling basis throughout the admissions cycle. Traditional MPA (international applicants) decisions are released in two rounds: after the early and final deadlines. Online applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM Central Time on the final deadline date, and all application steps must be completed by the final completion date.
TRADITIONAL MPA DEADLINES
Early – U.S. and international applicants
Deadline to submit online application: November 1, 2025
Deadline to complete application: November 8, 2025
Final – International applicants
Deadline to submit online application: January 13, 2026
Deadline to complete applicati0n: January 20, 2026
Final – U.S. summer starts*:
Deadline to submit online application: March 15, 2026
Deadline to complete application: March 22, 2026
Final – U.S. applicants:
Deadline to submit online application: May 5, 2026
Deadline to complete application: May 12, 2026
*Students who are unable to waive ACC 381 ideally should start in the summer (see tMPA core course waivers), and U.S. applicants are highly encouraged to apply by the summer start final deadline. We cannot guarantee a summer start date for applications received after this deadline. Depending on your academic background, starting in the fall may result in a delayed graduation date.
MPA BRIDGE DEADLINE
Final – All applicants:
Deadline to submit online application & all recommendation letters received: May 5, 2026
Start by attending an upcoming information session to explore our program and admissions process in depth. Then thoroughly review the following resources before applying:
TRADITIONAL MPA
Traditional MPA admissions packet
MPA BRIDGE
Connect with our admissions team. We’re here to support you every step of the way!
Are you a current UT undergraduate looking to expand your career options? The MPA Bridge program allows you to begin working towards a Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) degree while finishing your non-accounting bachelor’s degree in your senior year.
Join our upcoming virtual info session to discover how the MPA Bridge program can fast-track your path to success. You’ll learn about the admissions process, curriculum, career prospects, and what life is like in the program.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Interested in earning a master’s degree in accounting? Look no further than the top-ranked Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) program at The University of Texas at Austin! The fall 2026 traditional MPA application and the summer 2026 MPA Bridge application open on August 27, 2025. It’s never too early to start preparing to apply. Here are suggestions to get you started.
If you have questions along the way, we encourage you to send us an email or schedule an admissions consultation. We’re here to help!
Are you a current UT undergraduate looking to expand your career options? This program allows you to begin working towards a Master in Professional Accounting (MPA) while finishing your bachelor’s degree in your senior year—regardless of your major.
Join our upcoming virtual info session to discover how the MPA Bridge program can fast-track your path to success. You’ll hear all about the admissions process, curriculum, career prospects, and what life is like in the program.
We look forward to meeting you soon!
Jasmin Blas-Mendieta, MPA Senior Recruiting and Admissions Officer.
The recent MPA tailgate was more than just pre-game fun—it was a testament to the camaraderie within the MPA community. One student shares their unique experience as a former University of Florida undergrad cheering for the Texas Longhorns while donning a Florida Gators jersey!
The MPA tailgate was a great bonding experience for students within the MPA program. It was great seeing my friends from different classes come together, wear burnt orange, and get excited for the Longhorns’ SEC matchup against the Gators. Many of us rooted for different teams throughout our undergrad, but this game meant much more to me since I did my undergrad at the University of Florida and was a photographer for the Florida Gators’ athletics program. When I showed up to the tailgate with a Texas Longhorns hat and Florida Gators jersey, my fellow MPA students made sure to get a good laugh, and it made for a lot of fun. This MPA community really thrives off of each other as we are all battle the stresses that come with a prestigious academic program together. I also made sure to fuel up with some catered Chick-fil-A.
As for advice I have for new/prospective students, prioritize and make time for friends and meet fellow students through social outings such as the MPA tailgate. Having friends in all of your classes will make you look forward to your 8 am classes, give you a sense of home away from home, and provide you with lifelong friends down the road. I am looking forward to what the next semester brings and hope we can all get together for a baseball or basketball outing.
-Craig Haas
Learn more about the Master in Professional Accounting program
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