Applying to freshman-year honors programs and honors housing Honors Programs
Honors Application
The Honors Programs application is now open.
If you’re looking for more than the usual academic challenges, you may want to apply to one of the freshman honors programs. (Freshman Honors Program flyer PDF 155K)
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.
Freshman Honors Programs
Business Honors Program
Priority Deadline: October 15 | Regular Deadline: December 1
The Business Honors Program is modeled after case-based MBA programs. Small classes focus on discussion and presentation, group collaboration, and analytical exercises. Robust programming and dedicated advisors provide students with personalized attention and unique opportunities.
If you’re interested in applying to the Business Honors Program and have questions about the program, contact one of the BHP Student Recruiters.
Review the Business Honors Program's Freshman Application Checklist.
Engineering Honors Program
Deadline: December 1
The Cockrell School of Engineering offers a select group of students the opportunity to participate in the Engineering Honors Program (EHP). The Engineering Honors Program is a non-degree, four-year program which enhances the undergraduate experience by offering: Engineering Honors scholarships, access to honors housing on campus, honors faculty mentors, social and cultural events, and the opportunity to complete an undergraduate honors thesis.
Liberal Arts Honors Program
Recommended Deadline: October 15 | Regular Deadline: December 1
The Liberal Arts Honors Program offers the community experience of a small liberal arts college while providing access to the unparalleled resources of a large research 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.
Review the Liberal Arts Honors Program's admissions information and statistics.
Natural Sciences Honors Programs
Recommended Deadline: October 15 | Regular Deadline: December 1
The College of Natural Sciences Honors Programs include both college-wide and departmental honors program opportunities that provide small honors classes, dedicated academic advising and participation in the college's nationally-recognized Freshman Research Initiative. The college-wide honors programs include the Dean's Scholars Honors Program and the Health Science Honors Program.
- Dean's Scholars Honors Program: Dean's Scholars pursue honors degrees in the Natural Sciences major of their choice. These honors degrees focus on innovative and interdisciplinary curriculum, extensive elective hours and continuous research culminating in an Honors Research Thesis.
- Health Science Honors Program: The Health Science Honors Program provides access to an extensive array of clinical and research internships, support for career exploration and a capstone health sciences presentation.
The departmental honors programs include Computer Science's Turing Scholars Program and Human Ecology's Nutritional Sciences and Human Development & Family Sciences Honors Programs.
- Turing Scholars offers an intensive, accelerated path through the core Computer Science curriculum and extensive research opportunities.
- Human Ecology's honors programs offer robust internship opportunities, faculty-guided research and personalized academic support through small classes and specialized advising.
Students may apply to both programs by selecting College of Natural Sciences Honors on the UT Austin Honors Application.
Deadline: December 1
Plan II Honors Program
Recommended Deadline: October 15 | Regular Deadline: December 1
The Plan II Honors Program is recognized as one of the most respected and selective honors programs in the country. It offers a strenuous interdisciplinary curriculum in the arts and sciences and the flexibility to incorporate other majors and degrees.
The program includes year-long courses, small seminar classes, independent study and flexible major concentrations.
Review Plan II's Frequently Asked Questions and Tips for Applying.
How to Apply to Freshman Honors Programs
Honors Application Deadline
December 1
1. Review the Special Instructions page for important information about applying to honors programs.
2. Submit the online UT Austin Honors Application.
3. Complete any additional steps and submit any additional materials required by the individual honors programs. (These additional steps and materials are listed in the Application Requirements section on the Special Instructions page.)
Deadlines
You must submit the online honors program application and all required application materials by December 1. Some programs have earlier recommended deadlines that may increase your likelihood of admission to the program. Please check with the honors program of interest for more information.
Honors Housing
The university’s Honors Living Community offers special support, services and a close-knit community for first-year students participating in honors programs. Living with other honors students from varied disciplines guarantees opportunities for lively conversation and assures a stimulating living and learning environment.
Students accepted into a first-year honors program who apply for on-campus housing are eligible for consideration for honors housing. However, there is no guarantee that students accepted into an honors program will be assigned to honors housing. Decisions about assignments to the honors living community are made jointly by the Division of Housing and Food Service and the university’s honors programs. All housing assignments, including those to the honors residence halls, are based upon original housing application dates.
If you’re interested in living in honors housing, apply for on-campus housing as soon as your admissions application is complete. The sooner you apply for housing, the better your chances of being assigned to one of the residence halls you prefer. After you sign and return your housing contract and pay your advance payment, you’ll be able to select your housing preferences online.
Students who have outstanding academic records but who are not in one of the university’s honors programs may be considered for assignment to the honors hall.
To learn more about living on campus, please visit Applying to Live On Campus.
Spring Admission
Most freshman honors programs only accept students who apply for admission 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.