APPLY NOW: Texas Intelligence Academy

Dec 01, 2017

The TIA will offer a competitively-chosen group of UT System undergraduates the opportunity to learn about US intelligence through lectures by distinguished scholars and practitioners, simulation exercises, and visits to intelligence-related sites and facilities in the Washington, D.C. Area.

Students selected for the first TIA cohort will be housed in the District of Columbia and study at the UT System’s Archer Center one block from the White House. All travel, lodging, and program expenses for the TIA are provided by the Texas National Security Network.

Applicants must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at a UT System institution, demonstrate a strong academic record and interest in public affairs, and hold U.S. Citizenship. No academic credit is provided for completing the TIA.

To download a list of Frequently Asked Questions, please follow this link.


May 20-30, 2018
Washington, D.C.

Applications Open: December 1, 2017
Applications Deadline: December 31, 2017

Please carefully review and complete all of the following steps to submit your application to participate in the TIA. If you have any questions about the application process, please see the FAQ page or contact us at [email protected].

To download the full application instructions, please follow this link

Application Deadline

Applications for the 2018 TIA are due by December 31, 2017 by 11:59 PM CST. Finalists will be notified by January 15, 2018 and will be invited for either a phone or on-campus interview. Students selected to participate in the TIA will be notified on or before February 1, 2018. If you do not hear back after receiving a confirmation of receipt, this means you have not been selected as a finalist.

Eligibility Requirements

Required at time of application:

  • Enrolled as an undergraduate student within The University of Texas System
  • Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
  • Sophomore or junior class standing
  • U.S. Citizenship

Application Materials

Resume or Curriculum Vitae: Provide a resume that describes your education, professional (including volunteer work or internships), leadership, and/or extracurricular experiences.

Official or Unofficial Transcripts: Submit transcripts from your UT System institution. These can either be official or unofficial copies.

Personal Statement: Prepare a personal statement that explains your interests in intelligence, national security, or public affairs. Please explain why you are interested in participating in the TIA, your academic interests, previous experiences and/or coursework, career ambitions, and describe any hardships overcome in pursuing your educational goals. Submissions should be no more than three pages in length, double-spaced with 12-point font.

Letters of Recommendation: Please include at least two letters of recommendation. The letters should address your academic skills, analytic abilities, and leadership potential. At least one letter should be from a faculty member at your UT-System institution.

Signed Disclosure Statement. Please include a signed a statement addressing the following points:

Any student disciplinary actions imposed against you or pending at a UT-System institution or any other institution you have attended. 

Any criminal convictions and/or deferred adjudications, as well as any pending criminal charges. A conviction includes the initial plea, verdict, or finding of guilt, plea of no contest, or pronouncement of sentence by a trial court, even if that conviction may not be final or sentence actually imposed, until appeals are exhausted. Only minor traffic infractions may be excluded. For each pending charge or conviction listed provide the following details: 

  • Date, city and state of arrest 
  • Name and location of the court where the case was/will be heard 
  • Details of the violation of which you were charged and/or convicted 
  • Dates of imprisonment 
  • Dates of period of probation 
  • Amount of fine 

If you none of the above apply, you still must submit a signed disclosure stating that you have not received and are not currently subject to any pending student disciplinary actions, criminal convictions or charges, and/or deferred adjudications.  

Please note that disclosure of such information does not automatically disqualify you from the TIA; however, nondisclosure of this information is considered falsification of your application.

Submission Procedures

After you have assembled all of the described application materials, please email it to [email protected] in PDF format.