Catalogs and other general information about graduate study at UMass are available from the Graduate School. Information about how to apply, as well as a link to the online application, are available here. You can check whether your materials have been received here.
Please note that applications must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions, not to the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, and that the Department will not even see the application if the application fee is not paid. The application for admission also serves as an application for financial aid.
The Department of Mathematics and Statistics has a number of application fee waivers it can grant to prospective students who have faced adversity, such as societal, economic or academic disadvantages. We will additionally consider application fee waiver requests from applicants who are first generation students and students who have been traditionally underrepresented in
graduate education in mathematics and statistics. Please submit a request for an application fee waiver to Kaitlyn O'Konis (kokonis@umass.edu), and include a cv and state which program you wish to apply to in your email.
Please make sure that your application clearly indicates which degree(s) you wish to apply for. These categories have different criteria for admission, and the applications may even be read by different people. On the online application, choose "Program: Mathematics", and then make the following make the following selection under "Intended Degree(s)":
- Ph.D. in mathematics (this includes students interested in applied areas): choose Mathematics (Ph.D.)
- Ph.D. in statistics: choose Statistics (Ph.D.)
- M.S. in statistics at Amherst campus: choose Mathematics - Statistics (M.S.) Amherst
- M.S. in statistics at Newton satellite campus and 100% remote M.S. degree in statistics: choose Mathematics - Statistics (M.S.) Newton (applications accepted on a rolling basis through June 30 [domestic students] and May 31 [international students] for Fall semester for Newton only).
- M.S. in applied mathematics: choose Mathematics - Applied Mathematics (M.S.)
Note that although the graduate school lists an M.S. in mathematics, we do not usually admit students who only want a Master's; you should apply to the Ph.D. program.
Applicants to the Ph.D. in mathematics can indicate specific areas or subjects they are interested in under Sub-field or specialization. Do not put statistics in this space — instead use the statistics items from the pull-down menus as explained above.
It is possible to apply for both the M.S. and Ph.D. program in statistics at the same time; choose Statistics (M.S./Ph.D.).
A complete application to the Graduate school consists of the following (see here for further instructions):
- The University's application form (either paper or online form), with the application fee paid,
- Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended,
- At least three letters of recommendation
- A personal statement explaining the student's interest in pursuing graduate studies in mathematics or statistics,
- For international applicants: an International Student Financial Statement,
- The following exam scores (all score reports should be sent by ETS using the code for UMass, which is 3917):
- The GRE mathematics subject exam score (required for applicants to the Mathematics PhD program, except for the Statistics subfield).
- The TOEFL score report (not required for U.S. citizens or those whose undergraduate institution used English as the primary language). Other test scores can also be used to demonstrate English proficiency. We accept any of the methods described in the English Language Proficiency Requirement here.
- The GRE general exam scores are strongly recommended, but not required, (please see the FAQ for additional details).
- UPDATE for Admission in Fall 2024: Because of the continuing impact of COVID-19 on ETS test administration, the GRE subject test will not be required in order to apply to the PhD program in Mathematics. Optionally, prospective candidates are welcome to submit their subject GRE scores in case they have taken the Mathematics test. We do require submission of a TOEFL score to demonstrate English proficiency, as described by the UMass Graduate School.
Answers to some questions applicants frequently ask
Information especially for international applicants
Note that the letters of recommendation are read very seriously; we encourage sending more than two letters if they will provide a better picture of a student's achievements. See the FAQ for details on GRE scores.
All applicants are expected to have a strong undergraduate preparation in mathematics, including (at least) advanced calculus and linear algebra. Other advanced courses such as real analysis, differential equations, and abstract algebra, are highly recommended. A list of courses taken, with names of textbooks and instructors, would be a useful supplement to the application.
For the statistics option, an undergraduate degree in statistics is not required. Many of our successful statistics students have a degree in mathematics or another field such as engineering, computer science, biological sciences, together with substantial coursework in mathematics.
Deadline
To be considered for a fall teaching assistantship, all application materials should be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office by January 10, preferably earlier in the case of foreign applicants. Most offers are made by mid-April. Except in unusual circumstances, we do not admit students for the Spring semester.
The University of Massachusetts has signed the Council of Graduate School's resolution, which says that students offered admission for the Fall semester have at least until April 15th to decide whether to accept the offer.
Department of Mathematics and Statistics