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UT Austin international students and ISSS

For new international undergraduates: where ISSS is, what a year costs, I-20 and check-in, English scores, work, aid, and insurance

ISSS: where and when

ISSS is part of Texas Global. Advisors meet in person or online, and some things don’t need a visit.

  • Address · Texas Global, ISSS2400 Nueces St., Suite B
  • Phone512-471-2477
  • Front desk hours · Monday–Friday8 a.m.–5 p.m.
  • Front desk help · General questions and pre-scheduled document pickupsWalk in
  • Express advising, Mon and Wed · Quick questions, no appointment1–3:30 p.m.
  • Express advising, Fri · Quick questions, no appointment9–11:30 a.m.
  • Signature hours, Wed · I-20 travel signatures1–4 p.m.
  • Signature hours, Fri · I-20 travel signatures9 a.m.–noon
  • Full advising · In person or online, booked aheadAppointment

What a year costs

UT’s 2026–27 estimate for a nonresident undergraduate, based on 12 hours a semester. Tuition varies by college, so you get a range.

  • Tuition · Range depends on your college and major$42,554–$51,106
  • Housing and food$15,420–$15,580
  • Transportation$1,840
  • Books and supplies · Course materials and equipment$724
  • Personal and miscellaneous$3,666
  • UT’s total · Fall and spring, living on or off campus$64,204–$72,916
  • Health insurance (UT’s student plan) · Not a line in UT’s total; fall through summer, with fees$3,893

Key dates and deadlines

Freshman dates for summer or fall 2027, then the steps after you arrive.

  • Application opens · Summer or fallAug 1
  • Early Action application · Supporting materials due Oct 22Oct 15, 2026 (passed)
  • Early Action decisions · Or a deferral to Regular DecisionBy Jan 15, 2027
  • Regular Decision application · Supporting materials due Dec 10Dec 1, 2026
  • Regular decisions out · Honors decisions by March 1Feb 15, 2027
  • Earliest U.S. entry · Before the start date on your I-20, the form for your F-1 visa30 days
  • Arrive in Austin · Fall semesterThe day before orientation
  • Arrival check-in in myIO · myIO is ISSS’s online portalFirst day of classes
  • Spring and summer 2027 scholarships · ISSS applications, now closedOct 1–Nov 1, 2026
  • Fall 2027 scholarships · ISSS applicationsFeb 1–Mar 1, 2027
Where is ISSS at UT Austin?2400 Nueces St., Suite B

International Student and Scholar Services is in Texas Global at 2400 Nueces St., Suite B, Austin, TX 78705. The front desk is open 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday.

Call 512-471-2477. The front desk can answer general questions, but it can’t give immigration advice. For that, use express advising or book an appointment.

ISSS drop-in hours

Do I need an appointment at ISSS?Not for quick questions

Not always. Express advising takes quick questions with no appointment on Mondays and Wednesdays, 1–3:30 p.m., and Fridays, 9–11:30 a.m. Longer questions need an appointment, in person or online.

Express advising may end early if the line is long.

Book an appointment

How much does UT Austin cost for international students?$64,204–$72,916 a year

UT estimates $64,204–$72,916 for the 2026–27 year for a nonresident undergraduate, living on or off campus. UT doesn’t publish a separate budget for international students.

Tuition is $42,554–$51,106 depending on your college. Housing and food run $15,420–$15,580, and the rest is transportation, books, and personal costs.

That total has no insurance line. UT’s student health plan is billed separately: $3,893 for fall through summer.

UT cost of attendance

What English test scores does UT Austin need?TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5, DET 115

You need at least a 79 on the TOEFL iBT, a 6.5 overall on IELTS Academic, or a 115 on the Duolingo English Test. UT doesn’t accept TOEFL ITP, TOEFL Essentials, or IELTS General Training.

Some applicants are exempt, including those who finished three years of high school in the U.S. or in a qualifying English-speaking country. The TOEFL code is 6882.

Info for international students

What do I need to apply as an international freshman?Common App, SAT or ACT, transcripts

Send the Common App, a $90 fee, an essay, short answers, and an official SAT or ACT score. Add high school transcripts and any college transcripts. Fee waivers aren’t available to international students.

The English score applies if you’re not exempt. Early Action closed October 15. The next deadline is Regular Decision on December 1, 2026.

Apply as an international student

How do I get my I-20?Request it in myIO after admission

Your I-20 is the form you use to apply for an F-1 student visa. After you’re admitted, complete the admissions check-in in myIO and upload your passport page and proof of funding. UT issues the I-20 about 3 weeks after the form is complete.

For F-1, your proof of funds must cover one academic year of estimated expenses. You can enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the start date on your I-20.

New student check-in steps

What do I do when I get to Austin?Finish myIO check-in right away

Finish the arrival check-in in myIO as soon as you get to Austin. Confirm your arrival, upload your passport, visa stamp, and I-94, and report your Austin address. Do it by the first day of classes.

Your registration hold is waived for your first semester only. Until you finish, you can’t register for later ones. Also submit immunization and TB proof before you register.

Pre-arrival checklist

Can international students work at UT Austin?20 hours a week on campus

Yes. F-1 and J-1 students can work up to 20 hours a week on campus during the fall and spring. During vacation periods, enrolled and continuing students can work full time.

F-1 students need a valid I-20 from UT. Off-campus work needs separate approval, such as CPT or OPT.

On-campus employment

What are CPT and OPT?Internships now, work after graduating

CPT (Curricular Practical Training) is paid work tied to your major, such as an internship. You need two consecutive long semesters first, and an updated I-20 before you start. OPT (Optional Practical Training) is work authorization for your field after you finish your program.

Request CPT in myIO at least 3 weeks before you start. It can’t be back-dated. Twelve months of full-time CPT removes your Post-Completion OPT.

For Post-Completion OPT, apply from 90 days before to 60 days after graduation. It can take 3 to 5 months.

CPT Post-Completion OPT

Does UT Austin give financial aid to international students?No federal aid; some scholarships

Not federal aid. UT says international students aren’t eligible and shouldn’t file the FAFSA. ISSS offers need-based and other scholarships, plus tuition and emergency loans.

A few international students count as Texas residents for tuition. They can apply for state aid with the TASFA, Texas’s aid form for students who can’t file the FAFSA. ISSS scholarship awards are one-time. Most ISSS aid doesn’t cover nonresident tuition, but a few named awards, such as Tuition Assistance for Mexican Students, include a waiver.

ISSS scholarships Texas residency for tuition

Is health insurance required for international students?F-1 and J-1 are enrolled automatically

Yes. UT enrolls F-1 and J-1 students in the UT System student health plan each semester. For 2026–27, fall through summer comes to $3,893.

Fall is $1,298, spring is $1,622, and summer is $973. You can waive the plan if you show comparable coverage that meets UT System and visa rules.

ISSS insurance Plan costs

SourcesTexas Global, UT Admissions, and Texas One Stop

Checked November 11, 2026. Offices, hours, rules, dates, and costs come from Texas Global’s ISSS pages, UT Admissions, and Texas One Stop.

Student health insuranceUT admissionsTexas residency for tuition

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