The Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship (UEPS) program was created in 1973 to make available substantial scholarships for outstanding students at The University of Texas at Austin. The UEPS program is considered one of the most notable scholarship offers for UT students. UEPS awards are unrestricted and therefore open to students of any major. Students must be nominated by their academic department in order to be considered for this award. Selection is made by a presidentially appointed scholarship committee and recipients are selected in the spring of each year for the upcoming year's class.

The UEPS committee strongly recommends that students who are nominated be enrolled for 15 hours a semester. In addition, it is expected that nominated students will have taken a rigorous academic course load as well as exhibited a consistent employment history through paid or volunteer work. Students who are not already supported by substantial scholarship support, either from the University or external foundations or corporations, will be given priority consideration.

Scholarship recipients are recommended to the President of The University of Texas at Austin by the Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship Selection Committee. The following eligibility criteria has been established for 2008-2009:

• Must be nominated by the appropriate academic department
• Must be registered as a full-time undergraduate student (15 credit hrs is strongly suggested) at UT Austin during the 2008 Spring semester, 2008 Fall semester, and 2009 Spring semester.
• Must have completed at least 45 semester hours in residence at The University of Texas at Austin by January 1, 2008.
• Must have a cumulative Grade Point Average (G.P.A.) of at least 3.75 earned on the minimum 45 semester hours completed in residence at UT Austin by January 1, 2008. G.P.A. and hours in residence will be confirmed by university records.
• May not hold a baccalaureate degree from UT Austin or elsewhere AND must not receive a baccalaureate degree prior to May 2009.
• May not be classified as a graduate level student during the two long semesters of the year that the UEPS award is received.
  Note: Pharmacy students are eligible to receive UEPS awards provided they were enrolled in Pharmacy coursework designated as sequence ‘x6x' during both Fall 2007 and Spring 2008.

1. Nominated students must complete the UT Austin Continuing & Transfer Scholarship Application by February 15, Midnight (CST).
   • Select the UEPS scholarship on the Scholarship Choices page.
   • Complete the UEPS Essay.
2. Applicants must have financial information available. Because financial need may be considered during the selection process, information from either of the following sources may be used.
   • 2008-2009 FAFSA on file with the Office of Student Financial Services.
   • Financial Information page of the Continuing & Transfer Scholarship Application.
3. Applicants must complete and return TWO Faculty Recommendation for Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarship (PDF) forms. At least ONE of the recommendation forms must be completed by a faculty member who has taught the applicant in a course and who holds one of the following positions; Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor.
4. All recommendation forms with evaluations must be received in the Office of Student Financial Services no later than February 15, 4:30p.m. (CST).
   
   Important! It is your responsibility to ensure that all recommendation forms with evaluations reach our office by the February 15, 4:30p.m. deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered after this date.
   
   Deliver completed form and attached evaluation to:
   Attention: Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarships Selection Committee
   Office of Student Financial Services (E3700)
   100 West Dean Keeton, SSB, 3rd Floor, Suite 3.200, Front Counter
   
   OR
   
   Mail completed form and attached evaluation to:
   Attention: Unrestricted Endowed Presidential Scholarships Selection Committee
   Office of Student Financial Services, Scholarship Section
   The University of Texas at Austin
   P.O. Box 7758, UT Station
   Austin, TX 78713-7758

The UEPS Selection Committee will review applications and will recommend finalists to the President of The University of Texas at Austin by the end of March. Applicants will then be notified of the committee's recommendation in April. Presidential congratulatory letters will be mailed to the recipients in September.

The scholarships carry stipends of $2,500, released in two equal disbursements; $1,250 in the Fall and $1,250 in the Spring. The Office of Student Financial Services disburses the stipends during regular disbursement periods at the beginning of each semester.