Master’s in Accounting – Master in Professional Accounting Admissions News

Tag: Master’s in Accounting (page 1 of 3)

Early Deadline Traditional MPA Applicants

Traditional MPA Applicants: November 1 Early Deadline is Approaching!

The early deadline for U.S. and international traditional MPA applicants is just around the corner. If you are working on submitting your application by November 1 and completing your application by November 8… great! Early U.S. applicants should receive an admissions decision in mid-December, and your application will be first in line for consideration for potential scholarships. Early international applicants will receive a decision in January.

However, do not be concerned if you are still working on your application. Why?

We use a rolling admissions process for U.S. applicants in which we review completed applications on a continuous basis until the final May 5 deadline. Your chances for admission would not be affected if you submit your application after November 1 but still early in our admissions cycle. And, although we encourage early application submission for full scholarship consideration, we do award a limited number of scholarships throughout the admissions cycle.
International applicants still have time to submit an application by the final January 13 application deadline. Submitting your application by November 1 (and completing your application by November 8) will allow you to receive an earlier decision, but your chances for admission would not be affected if you submit your application by the final deadline (and complete your application by January 20). Those who complete their application by the final deadline should receive a decision by the end of March.
You should take your time to submit the strongest application possible. For example, you may be planning to submit (optional) GMAT or GRE test scores or TOEFL or IELTS test scores (international applicants) and need more time to study.

Your application will not be considered complete and reviewed for a decision until all application materials have been received (see the tMPA admissions packet for a comprehensive list of required materials). If you reported GMAT or GRE test scores or a future test date in the admissions application, we will hold on a decision until the official test scores are received from the testing agency.* Please notify the MPA admissions team if your testing plans change after you submit your application.

*Plan ahead: it takes about 3-4 weeks for the score report to be sent and added to an applicant’s record.

Do you have any concerns about your application? Contact the MPA admissions team or schedule an appointment for an application consultation.

Note to MPA Bridge applicants: Admissions are rolling all year. Apply for summer 2026 anytime before 11:59 pm CT on May 5, 2026.

Application Tips: Crafting Your Resume

October 22, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

Your resume provides an important opportunity to showcase your accomplishments and skills. Be sure to highlight honors, awards, language or computer skills, extracurriculars, volunteer and leadership experiences, internships, full-time work experience (if applicable), and other experiences outside of the classroom that developed your skills.

You may have noticed on the MPA admissions website that we provide MPA application resume guidelines (See the tMPA admissions packet or MPA Bridge admissions packet) and an MPA application resume template (See tMPA resume template or MPA Bridge resume template). Although this resume format is not required, we highly recommend using the MPA template if you are in the process of reconstructing your resume. If admitted, you will be required to use this format during the recruiting process, and our MPA career coaches will work with you to fine-tune your resume.

The MPA application resume guidelines include:

Resume length
Font and font size
Margins
Tips for listing education, achievements, experience, and work eligibility

If you need to submit an updated version of your resume after you submit your application, you can do so in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update). Be sure to submit any updates as soon as possible. We cannot guarantee that updates will be included in your application review, as it will depend on when you submit the updated resume and where your application is in the review process with the admissions committee.

Application Tips: Submitting Your Transcripts

October 16, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

What exactly are the steps for submitting your transcript(s) for your MPA application? Read on for the details!

MPA BRIDGE

You will provide a copy of a (free) UT Academic Summary in the admissions application.

Steps (See the MPA Bridge admissions packet for additional details):

List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of the admissions application. (Tip: Select Add Record to add a college or university to your list of institutions attended. Then type University of Texas Austin in the Institution Name field to search for UT Austin.)
For UT Austin only, upload a PDF of a Academic Summary in lieu of an official UT transcript. You do not need to provide copies of transcripts from any other colleges or universities attended.

TRADITIONAL MPA

You will provide a copy of your transcripts in two locations: 1) in the McCombs application portal (for the MPA admissions committee application review; unofficial transcripts are accepted) and 2) in the MyStatus portal (for UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions; official transcripts only). The Office of Graduate Admissions is responsible for verifying the validity of transcripts and degrees and calculating an upper-division GPA (based on junior- and senior-level courses and any graduate courses, if applicable).

Steps (see the tMPA admissions packet for additional details):

List all colleges and universities attended, including junior or community colleges, on the Educational Information page of your McCombs online application.
Order official transcripts from every four-year university or college you attended. Applicants who attended The University of Texas at Austin should download a PDF copy of a UT Academic Summary instead of ordering an official transcript. Transcripts from junior or community colleges should be requested if you completed our pre-enrollment requirements or any accounting courses at these institutions. If you are unable to obtain an official transcript in PDF format, you can scan your paper transcript to a PDF. Alternatively, if your college or university uses SPEEDE or Parchment, you can have your official transcript sent electronically to the Office of Graduate Admissions and upload a copy of an unofficial transcript in the McCombs application.
Pay your application fee in UT’s Office of Graduate Admissions MyStatus portal after submitting your application. (Note: It will take 1-2 days for the application to transmit from the McCombs application portal to UT’s MyStatus portal.)
After paying your application fee, upload your official transcripts (PDF format) to the MyStatus portal or have your official transcripts sent electronically via SPEEDE or Parchment (see the Submit Transcripts section of this Office of Graduate Admissions web page for detailed instructions). Former University of Texas at Austin students will pay a $20 transcript fee in lieu of uploading UT Austin transcripts.

Tip: If you attended a university outside the U.S., a foreign credential evaluation from WES or another organization is not required. However, if a transcript is written in a language other than English, a complete and official English translation must be uploaded together with the original transcript.

Should I submit my transcript without my fall grades?

If you are a traditional MPA U.S. applicant or MPA Bridge applicant, we recommend submitting a transcript (or UT Academic Summary) without your fall grades if you are aiming to apply early and your fall grades are net yet posted. We will reach out to you if we need your fall grades before making a decision. That said, we recommend waiting to submit your transcript with your fall grades if:

(For non-accounting majors:) You are taking pre-enrollment courses in the fall (see tMPA pre-enrollments or MPA Bridge pre-enrollments),
(For accounting majors:) You are enrolled in several upper-level accounting classes in the fall, and/or
Your upper-level GPA will be improved substantially with your fall grades.

If you are a traditional MPA international applicant (not a U.S. citizen or permanent resident), you should submit your application with transcript before either the early November 1 or final January 13 application deadline, even if the fall grades are not posted. After your fall grades are available, you have the option to provide a copy of an updated transcript in the McCombs application portal (Submitted Applications tab > Submit an Update).

Please contact the MPA admissions team if you have additional questions!

Join the MPA Bridge Info Session on October 8

October 2, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

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.

REGISTER: Wednesday, October 8, 5-6 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Application Tips: Recommendation Letters

September 29, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

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.

Who should write my letters of recommendation?

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.

How should my references submit their recommendation letters?

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:

Complete this part of your application first. This will allow your recommenders to get started while you’re working on the other components of your application.
Contact your recommenders to let them know they will receive an email. The message is sent from a general McCombs School of Business email address and may end up in their junk/spam email folder.
Monitor the status of your recommendations in the McCombs application portal. You can resend notifications from the portal as needed.

What should I do if I already submitted my online application but need to send a request to an additional recommender?

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).

Apply Now to Join the Master in Professional Accounting Program in 2026!

September 4, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

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.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

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!

Online admissions application
Application Fee (traditional MPA applicants)
Academic Transcripts: Traditional MPA applicants: provide copies of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended. MPA Bridge applicants: provide copy of UT academic summary.
Resume: Highlight your accomplishments and skills, such as honors, awards, language or computer skills, extracurriculars, volunteer and leadership experiences, internships, full-time work experience (if applicable), and other experiences outside of the classroom that developed your professional skills.
Two Recommendations: Preferably from faculty if you are currently in school, or if you already graduated with your bachelor’s degree, individuals who can speak to your professional capabilities and leadership potential.
Two Written Essays and One Video Essay: These essays provide additional insights into your strengths, skillsets, and goals.
English Proficiency Test (international applicants): Traditional MPA: All international applicants must submit either a TOEFL or IELTS official score report for the MPA application unless exempt (view exemptions for qualifying countries). MPA Bridge: MPA Admissions will review the official TOEFL or IELTS scores on your UT record; you are exempt if you were allowed to waive the test requirement for admission to UT Austin.
Optional Test Scores (traditional MPA applicants): GMAT and GRE test scores are optional for the Texas McCombs MPA admissions application. Applicants will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process if they do not submit test scores, and applicants who feel that their test scores reflect their potential for success in graduate school may submit scores for consideration. See this blog post for tips on whether you should consider submitting test scores.

APPLICATION DEADLINES

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

READY TO BEGIN?

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 website

Traditional MPA admissions packet

MPA BRIDGE

MPA Bridge admissions website

MPA Bridge admissions packet

QUESTIONS?

Connect with our admissions team. We’re here to support you every step of the way!

Join the MPA Bridge Information Session on August 28

August 21, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

REGISTER: Thursday, August 28, 4-5 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

REGISTER: Join the July 15 MPA Bridge Information Session!

July 8, 2025 / biancagosser / 0 Comments

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.

REGISTER: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 – 5:00 PM CT

We look forward to meeting you soon!

Submit Your MPA Application – Final Deadline is Approaching!

April 30, 2025 / Keri Ledezma / 0 Comments

The final deadline for traditional MPA (U.S.) and MPA Bridge applications is just around the corner! Submit your application no later than 11:59 p.m. on May 6 to be considered for the 2025 incoming class. Additionally, all supplemental materials (traditional MPA / MPA Bridge) must be received no later than May 13. Applications will not be reviewed for a decision until all required materials have been received.

You can expect to receive an admissions decision approximately two weeks after application completion. Submit your application today!

Questions? Contact the MPA admissions team

REGISTER: Accounting++ The Jobs you Didn’t Know You Wanted

March 27, 2025 / biancagosser / 0 Comments

Join us for an exciting evening of Accounting++ The Jobs You Didn’t Know You Wanted. Wondering what type of jobs you can have with an accounting degree? Hear from panelists who have unique jobs and learn how their careers have evolved.

Don’t miss this chance to explore how the MPA program can shape your future!

Master in Professional Accounting Admissions News

Insider Information for Prospective Texas McCombs MPA Students

Tag: Master’s in Accounting (page 1 of 3)

Traditional MPA Applicants: November 1 Early Deadline is Approaching!

Application Tips: Crafting Your Resume