FAQs
FAQ for UTNY
Choosing the UTNY program is a big decision. We suggest all potential students attend an information session to get their specific questions answered. Below is a list of questions we hear most frequently.
Three sessions are available each year: Fall, Spring, and Summer.
UTNY is open to all UT majors.
Yes. If admitted, students can participate in the program up to one year after graduation. Graduated students must follow all program policies, including enrolling in UTNY's required coursework, which will continue to be factored into the student's UT Austin GPA.
In most cases, students who have already graduated are not eligible for financial aid or scholarships. There may be fewer internship opportunities available due to company policies which may require internship applicants to be full-time students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.
The internship search and application process begins immediately after a student is admitted to the program, approximately two semesters ahead of a student’s arrival to New York.
The UTNY program teaches students how to navigate and stand out in New York's competitive internship market. Participants are supported by UTNY staff based in Austin and New York and their college's career services office. UTNY is not a placement program. Students are ultimately responsible for securing their internship through the skills the UTNY program teaches.
In the pre-departure semester, the UTNY staff in Austin and New York hold workshops and offer one-on-one support to help students tailor their resumes and cover letters to the New York audience. The UTNY team also provides students with industry-specific guidane to help them successfully secure their internship.
UTNY's internship database provides students exclusive access to a wide range of opportunities with our industry partners as well as other vetted internship opportunities. The UTNY staff tracks each student’s search and application progress and offers support and suggestions as they navigate the entire process—from preparing application materials to internship acceptance.
Each UTNY participant decides which internships to apply for based on their experience and professional goals. Paid internships are especially competitive in New York. UTNY encourages students to apply to both paid and unpaid internships with the goal of securing a paid offer.
All UTNY participants are required to enroll in UTNY-specific coursework as part of the program.
In Fall and Spring semesters, undergraduate students are required to be enroll full-time in at least 12 hours of UTNY-specific coursework, which includes an internship course (3 or 6 credits) or Independent Study course (3 credits), Leadership and Urban Engagement (3 credits), and 1 or 2 additional UTNY academic classes (3 credits each).
In Summer semester, undergraduate students are required to enroll in an internship course or independent study course (3 credits) plus two UTNY academic classes (3 credits each) for at least 9 credits of UTNY-specific coursework. Leadership and Urban Engagement is a highly recommended elective course in Summer.
Graduate students who enroll in the UTNY program are required to take one fewer UTNY academic course.
Yes, in Fall and Spring semeser students may take extra classes in addition to UTNY's coursework requirements under UT Austin's flat-rate tuition. The extra classes do not count toward the minimum amount of UTNY-specific credits required for the program. Additional coursework is not recommended in Summer semester.
Experiential learning activities and programming vary each semester. UTNY tailors them to each cohort. In the past, cohorts have experienced worksite visits, networking events with UT alumni, guest speakers, professional development panels, and other events. Previous cohorts activities have included:
- Company site visits
- The 9/11 Museum and Memorial
- The Tenement Museum
- CNBC Broadcast Studies, including a taping of Mad Money with Jim Cramer
- The Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art
- Radio City Music Hall
- Broadway musicals, including with talkback sessions with cast and writers
- Tapings of TV shows
In many instances, UT alumni living in NYC have played a role in facilitating these experiences.
Like in Austin, UTNY students select where they live. Students can choose to live in dorm-style housing, student apartments, longer-term rentals, or stay with friends or family in New York or the Tri-State area. UTNY provides information and resources to UTNY program participants to help them choose a housing option for their budget and lifestyle.
No, UTNY highly recommends that students refrain from bringing a vehicle to NYC as parking is limited and expensive, and mass transit (e.g., subway, bus) in NYC is efficient and affordable.
The UTNY program fee covers operational costs of UTNY, including program management, the UTNY campus in Manhattan, curriculum oversight, internship support, and experiential learning opportunities and programming that are available exclusively to UTNY students throughout the semester. The University of Texas requires students to pay tuition in addition to the program fee.
Yes, the UTNY coursework is an essential component of the UTNY program and students' New York experience. All UTNY participants are required to enroll in a minimum UTNY-specific credits for their semester, even if their degree does not require them.
Students can withdraw from the program at any time but will be held financially responsible for all fees incurred per the semester timeline. Fees are non-refundable after the payment deadlines.
UTNY and UT Austin are not responsible for any costs associated with withdrawing from the program.
No, exchange students to UT Austin are ineligible to participate in the UTNY program due to visa regulations.