How to Apply for the Ph.D. Program 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.
April 15, 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. PhD applicants normally begin in the Fall semester. If you wish to apply for Spring, please contact us at gradoffice@math.uiuc.edu before applying.
Applications will be reviewed only after they are complete.
Admission Requirements
The Department of Mathematics considers all aspects of the application to determine which students are most likely to succeed in the doctoral 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 3.25 on a 4.00 scale. Exceptions are very rare.
GRE (Graduate Record Examination)
The GRE general test and mathematics subject test are required for all applicants living in the United States or Canada. This requirement may be waived for applicants with a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; please contact gradoffice@math.uiuc.edu. The GRE general and subject test are strongly recommended for all other applicants as well and are submitted by most applicants. There is no minimum GRE score required. In 2009, the median math subject GRE score for entering Ph.D. students was 810.
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.
For International students applying to the PhD program after 2009: A minimum TOEFL iBT speak score of 20 (or TSE 42) is required to even be considered for the Math Ph.D. program at Illinois. The only exceptions will be for those applicants exempt from the English requirement for admission, http://www.grad.uiuc.edu/admissions/instructions/04c or those applicants with at least 5 years of fellowship support from another source.
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 or fellowship, a bank statement showing $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 funds in a bank account.
Mailing Address:
Director of Graduate Studies
Department of Mathematics
University of Illinois
1409 West Green Street
Urbana, IL 61801