The Keep Running With Us (KRWU) program is a highly selective, invitation-only admissions initiative developed by The University of Texas at San Antonio to retain top-performing undergraduate students and recent alumni as they pursue graduate education.
KRWU is designed for individuals who have demonstrated academic excellence during their undergraduate career at UT San Antonio. Candidates are identified through faculty nominations or by their college or academic department based on strong academic performance and leadership potential.
The KRWU application can be completed in minutes and removes many of the common barriers that come with applying to graduate school. Selected candidates are fast-tracked through the graduate admissions process that waives test scores and supplemental documentation, including the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, and resume/CV.
How are students selected?
Students invited to participate in the KRWU program will receive an official email from “UT San Antonio Graduate Admissions” or from a UT San Antonio faculty member. This email will contain step-by-step instructions on how to submit your application through the UT San Antonio Graduate Admissions Portal.
Participating Programs
More than 70 graduate programs participate in the Keep Running With Us initiative, offering eligible students an expedited path to admission. Programs that do not participate typically include:
- Highly competitive programs
- Programs requiring a full review of application materials to assess eligibility
- Doctoral-level programs
Admission availability varies by program, campus, and semester. If you’re interested in a program that does not offer Keep Running With Us, we encourage you to apply through the standard graduate admissions process.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
- Follow the application steps outlined in your invitation email.
- Submit your application only for the graduate program of your interest.
- If you were nominated for multiple programs and are undecided on which to pursue, please contact Graduate Recruitment to narrow down your choice. We strongly recommend students narrow down their choice before applying to avoid submitting multiple applications.
- You must upload a copy of your invitation email as part of your application materials.
- Important: Your nomination should be in full, including your name and nominated programs. Failure to upload a complete and legible nomination may cause delays in reviewing your application. View instructions on how to save it as a PDF.
- Are you interested in a program outside of your nomination? Please contact the Graduate Recruitment team at grad.recruitment@utsa.edu for guidance on submitting a graduate application outside of the KRWU program.
- You must apply by the program’s application deadline to be considered for admission.
- Invitations are valid for one full year following the semester in which they were issued. That means you have three consecutive semesters, including the semester of your initial nomination, to complete your graduate application through the KRWU pathway. For example: If you were nominated for Fall 2025, your invitation is valid for Fall 2025, Spring 2026, Summer 2026, and Fall 2026.
Didn't receive an invitation but believe you qualify?
If you meet the eligibility criteria but did not receive an invitation, you’re welcome to contact your program of interest directly to inquire about participation and next steps.
Need more detailed help with the application process? Check out our Graduate Application Guide for everything you need to know about graduate admissions.
For questions or technical difficulties during the application process, contact our One Stop Enrollment Center.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re excited you’re interested in KRWU! We are hosting a couple of information sessions. If you can’t attend or the dates have passed, please email our Graduate Recruiters, who will be happy to discuss this program with you. Check your email for information on how to sign up!
KRWU Information Sessions
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, from 12–1 p.m. CT
Wednesday, November 5, 2025, from 5–6 p.m. CT
Candidates are identified through faculty nominations or by their college or academic department. Selection is based on strong academic performance and leadership potential during the undergraduate degree at UT San Antonio. The minimum requirements for potential nomination are:
- A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00
- Must be in good academic standing with the university.
- Completed at least 90 semester credit hours and are on track to graduate.
- To be considered for a faculty nomination, applicants must have conferred a bachelor’s degree from UT San Antonio within the past three years.
Nominations are typically released in late October for students graduating in the Fall semester, and in April for students graduating in the Spring semester.
Invitations are valid for one full year following the semester in which they were issued. This gives applicants three consecutive semesters, including the semester of initial nomination to submit and complete their graduate application. For example: if you were nominated in Spring 2026, your nomination is valid until Spring 2027.
An application fee is required when submitting your graduate application. However, some programs offer fee waivers to nominated students. If you are eligible for a fee waiver, it will be clearly stated in your invitation. If no waiver is mentioned, please plan to pay the standard application fee.
Each program has a specific deadline. Please visit the website for your program of interest to find more information.
To save your nomination as a PDF to upload it to your application, click the link on Step 3 in your nomination email. You can also click the “View in Browser” link at the bottom of the email to open it in your preferred browser.
If you’re on an iPhone:
- Tap the Share button at the bottom of the screen (or the top, depending on your Safari layout)
- Scroll down and tap on “Print”
- Options will appear on the top, and you’ll tap the Share button again
- Then select “Save to Files”
- Choose a location in the Files app (such as “On My iPhone” or “iCloud Drive”), update the file name and tap Save
If you’re on an Android:
- Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮) in the top-right corner
- Select “Share” or “Print” from the menu that appears
- On the print screen, tap the drop-down menu at the top and choose “Save as PDF”
- Tap the Save or download icon
- Choose a location on your device to save the file (such as the “Downloads” folder) and tap Save
If you’re on a Windows computer:
- In your browser, click on File
- Click on “Print”
- Select “Microsoft Print to PDF” from the list of available printers
- Click on Print and choose a location where you want to save the file
If you’re on a Mac computer:
- In your browser, click on File
- Click on “Print”
- Select “Save as PDF” as your Printer Destination
- Click on Save and choose a location where you want to save the file
Invitations are extended to selected students and if you did not receive one it could mean your program does not participate or did not have space this cycle (see FAQ below). This decision is not always reflection of your potential or accomplishments, but rather the result of a highly competitive selection process.
Not all graduate programs at UT San Antonio participate in KRWU. While many master’s and graduate certificate programs are included, Ph.D. programs do not participate. Some programs opt out due to their highly competitive nature or because they require a holistic admission review that includes, but is not limited to, a resume, statement of purpose, audition, letters of recommendation, etc.
If you are unsure whether your program is part of the KRWU program, we recommend contacting the Graduate Advisor of Record for your program of interest.
If you are interested in a graduate program outside of your KRWU nomination, you will need to create a new application account using a different email address (for example, your UT San Antonio email account) and apply as a regular applicant. This is because once you apply under the KRWU student type, your application profile is locked in to ensure that KRWU applicants are only reviewed under KRWU criteria, and regular applicants under the standard criteria.
If your application is incomplete or you haven’t received an admission decision, and you were nominated, please reach out to Graduate.Recruitment@utsa.edufor further guidance.
If you graduated from UT San Antonio within the last three years, earned a minimum 3.0 GPA, and left in good academic standing, you may be eligible. Please contact the Graduate Advisor of Record for your program of interest to discuss the possibility of receiving a faculty nomination.
Please upload your nomination to the application. Ensure that your nomination is legible and complete.
Your nomination may have included multiple program choices. This may not be the most cost effective solution. Please pick one program of interest to select your KRWU application for. undecided, contact Graduate.Recruitment@utsa.edu to help narrow down your choice.
Students granted admission to a graduate program at UT San Antonio who do not register for courses by the census date of their first admitted semester must reapply for admission unless they have deferred their admission start date. Students who request and are granted a deferral can defer admission up to one year (three semesters) beyond the original term of admission.
Please contact Graduate.Recruitment@utsa.edu for more information.