Optional Transfer Considerations

There are additional options for students to consider when applying for transfer admission. Review the information below and contact transferadmissions@austin.utexas.edu with questions.

Academic Fresh Start

Beginning with the Spring 2026 application cycle, Texas Residents can select to have their academic record from 5-10 years ago or older ignored for admission purposes through Academic Fresh Start. Applicants are required to be a Texas resident at the time of application to exercise Academic Fresh Start, regardless of the source of their credits, which need not be exclusively from a Texas community college or university. Academic credits or degrees awarded (5-10 years or older) are not expunged or rescinded; instead, they are disregarded to facilitate the establishment of a new transferable GPA. Credits ignored using Academic Fresh Start cannot later be used for any UT Austin degree requirements.

Academic Fresh Start is an irreversible procedure, and students are limited to invoking it only once within the State of Texas. In cases where admission is not granted, Academic Fresh Start will not be implemented; however, students may reapply for this option in subsequent applications at UT Austin or another Texas university. Students who believe they qualify must apply for transfer admission (or readmission) with all required credentials, attend an Academic Fresh Start Info Session, then complete the Academic Fresh Start Contract, which will be available in MyStatus with 24-48 hours of attending the information session. Applicants will have until the application materials deadline to submit their Academic Fresh Start contract.

Reverse Transfer

Reverse transfer allows students to earn an associate degree from their previously attended community college after transferring to a university. UT Austin monitors students’ accumulated semester credit hours and, once certain thresholds are met, sends their transcripts back to the community college. If the student has completed the necessary coursework for a degree, the community college may award the associate degree and receive credit for doing so. To participate, students must authorize UT Austin to send their transcript to their former community college. This can be done through the admissions application. Each semester, UT Austin provides the community college with a list of eligible students who may qualify for an associate degree.