How to Apply for the MS Programs in Mathematics
For Fall 2012 admission:
December 1, 2011: Deadline for the online portion of the application, including the application fee. Please upload a copy of your transcript(s) with the online application. An official transcript will be needed later if you are admitted.
January 2, 2012: Deadline for the receipt of letters of recommendation.
March 1, 2012: Deadline for applications which do not request financial aid. Earlier submission is recommended.
For Spring 2012 admission:
October 1, 2011: deadline for applications for Spring 2012. Financial aid is rarely available for students beginning in the spring semester.
Applications will be reviewed only after they are complete.
Financial Aid
Financial aid information can be found at www.math.illinois.edu/GraduateProgram/financial-support.html
Admission Requirements
The Department of Mathematics considers all aspects of the application to determine which students are most likely to succeed in the graduate program; there is no single parameter which determines whether or not a student will be admitted.
In addition to the University requirements for admission to the Graduate College, the Department of Mathematics requires the following:
GPA (Grade Point Average)
The minimum GPA for admission is 3.00 on a 4.00 scale. Exceptions are very rare.
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
The GRE general test is required for all applicants living in the United States or Canada and is strongly recommended for other applicants as well. The GRE mathematics subject test, while not required, can strengthen an application.
Transcripts
As part of the online application process you will be asked to upload a copy of your undergraduate transcript (and also graduate transcript if applicable). An official transcript will be needed later if you are admitted.
Letters of recommendation
Please arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent. Letters from professors who have taught you in mathematics classes or who have supervised you in a research project are the most useful. If possible, have the letter writers submit their letters through the online application process. If not, have the letters sent directly to the address at the bottom of this page.
Personal Statement
Please include a personal statement as part of your online application.
Program Specific Questions
The Department of Mathematics does not require any program specific questions.
English proficiency
All international applicants must satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement for Admission.
International Teaching Assistants
For students whose native language is not English the University admission requirements include proof of proficiency in English, as measured by the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). For more information on these requirements for admission see http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/taengprof.htm.
In addition, International Teaching Assistants must demonstrate proficiency in spoken English, as measured by the Internet Based TOEFL (iBT), the IELTS, the TSE (Test of Spoken English), or the university-administered EPI (English Proficiency Interview) test. For more information on these requirements for appointment as an International TA see http://cte.illinois.edu/testing/oral_eng/main.html. Students who do not satisfy these requirements are not eligible to receive appointments as Teaching Assistants in the classroom.
International students who have studied in the United States may be exempt from the English admission requirement, but must still submit the TOEFL or equivalent to qualify as a teaching assistant.
Declaration of Finances
International students must submit the Declaration and Certification of Finances form along with the required bank statement. More details can be found at http://www.grad.illinois.edu/admissions/instructions/04d. Your application will be reviewed without the declaration of finances form, but the form must be submitted before you are officially admitted, so it is advisable to submit it with your application in order to avoid delays in your visa later. If you are offered a teaching assistantship, a bank statement showing about $3300 US to cover any additional cost of living will be sufficient. Please note that you are not required to pay this amount, only to show evidence of such finances in a bank account. For all other international students, the bank statement must show resources for the full cost of education and living expenses listed on the Declaration and Certification of Finances form.
Mailing Address:
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Mathematics
University of Illinois
1409 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801