Application

 

Please Note:  Deadline for fall admission and financial support is December 31.

 

Admission Requirements

 

The Department of Mathematics offers two graduate programs: the PhD and the Master’s.  (For actuarial mathematics, contact the School of Business.)  The PhD program provides a background in basic and advanced graduate mathematics and requires the completion of a significant piece of original research.  The Master’s program provides a background in basic graduate mathematics and training in some specialty within mathematics or some outside specialty on which mathematics bears.  The breadth of the department is such that the PhD specialty and dissertation may be in any of the several areas of mathematics: algebra (including combinatorics, algebraic geometry, and number theory), analysis, applied mathematics, computational mathematics, logic, probability or topology (including differential geometry).  A complete list of faculty and their areas of expertise is available through the Mathematics Department web page.  The department also offers a PhD specialty in mathematics education.

At the moment we look mainly for applicants interested in pursuing the PhD degree.  Applicants who do not intend to study beyond the Master's degree are admitted only in exceptional cases.  Applicants to the PhD program are automatically considered for financial support.  To be admitted it is necessary that in the department's opinion the applicant is likely to complete the program.  This, of course, is a highly subjective judgment.  The department does welcome applications from outstanding students whose background and credentials do not match the description below.  Typically we expect:

  1. A GPA of at least 3.0 overall and substantially higher in mathematics courses.

 

  1. 18 or more credits of mathematics beyond calculus.  The 18 credits should include at least one semester of both rigorous analysis (sometimes called advanced calculus) and abstract algebra, and preferably two semesters.  Advanced undergraduate courses in other topics further strengthen your application.

 

  1. Official transcripts or academic records from each institution attended.  International academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation.  Documents must be issued by the school with the official seal/stamp and an official signature.  Send two transcript(s) to the Mathematics Department only (address below).  Do not send any transcripts to the Graduate School.

 

  1. A “Supplemental Application Form” is required after submitting your online Graduate School application.  It is important that you include all advanced mathematics courses you have completed, are currently enrolled in, or intend to take.  For each course give the name of the school where you took it, the course number, the title and description, and the grade you received (for completed courses).  If you have more than 20 courses, please include only the more advanced courses.  Submit the Supplemental Application Form electronically with this link. 

 

  1. A statement of reasons for graduate study.  Submit this electronically with your online Graduate School application.

 

  1. GRE (Graduate Record Exam) scores, including the Subject test in mathematics.  In exceptional cases, advanced GRE's from other sciences can be substituted for the advanced GRE in mathematics.  December scores will be received online by mid-January.  If you have taken the exam by December 31, this will not present a problem.  If you take the exam after December, your scores will not reach us in time.  You may submit your application without a GRE or Subject test score, but your application may be at a severe disadvantage.  Have ETS (Educational Testing Service) electronically submit your scores, using our institution code of 1846.  (There is NO department code.)

 

  1. Three letters that address the question of mathematical promise.  These letters should be from mathematics faculty, or other faculty familiar with the demands of graduate work in mathematics.  Please note we do not require forms for letters of recommendation.  Have your recommenders submit their letters electronically after you complete your online application.

 

  1. Applicants, whose native language is not English or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide official scores from the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).  Please see the Graduate School’s website for exemptions from taking the TOEFL.  Please have ETS electronically submit your scores, using our institution code of 1846.  For minimum scores related to the TOEFL Exam, click here.  Competitive scores for the TOEFL are 630 (paper), 267 (computer), 109 (iBT) or above. 

 

After acceptance we require international students attend a summer (July & August) orientation program and successfully complete the SPEAK test of spoken English (given on campus).  Attendees are given some financial support during the summer orientation.

 

  1. Graduate School application fee (currently $56).  The Mathematics Department is not able to waive this fee.

 

An applicant who does not meet all of our expectations may be admitted on probation, provided there is evidence of mathematical promise.  Such promise is evidenced by high GRE scores or by comments from mathematics faculty.  In addition to the above departmental requirements, Graduate School has minimum admission requirements which are listed here.

 

If you have any questions about the above requirements, please see the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

 

The Graduate School Application Form

All applicants must apply online. The Graduate School has discontinued printing paper applications.

 

  • To submit an application online click here. 

 

  • Have two copies of your transcripts mailed to the address below:

 

Admissions & Recruitment Committee
Department of Mathematics
480 Lincoln Dr.
Madison, WI 53706

 

  • Click here for information on what to submit to the Graduate School.  International student financial information will only be requested by the Graduate School after the departmental recommendation for admission. For information on International Student Expenses, please click here.

 

  • Please do not call or send inquiries about whether your materials have arrived, check online at MyUW.  If materials were sent through the postal service, the online system will be updated as mail is processed.  This could take a few weeks.

 

  • If you submitted your statement of purpose and/or your supplemental application online, it will NOT show as having arrived.  These materials are located on a different computer system.  If you submitted these materials electronically, assume they are here and have been received.

 

Decisions for acceptance to the program will not occur until March and we will contact you.  If you have not heard from us, it is possible that we are still considering your application.  Please do not contact us to find out the status of your application.  You may also check the MyUW website for more information. 

 

Graduate Program Administrator
Department of Mathematics
480 Lincoln Dr.
Madison, WI 53706

 

Deadline for fall admission and financial support is December 31.