How to Apply for the Ph.D. Program
See below for the admission requirements, especially the minimum English requirement for international students. The Mathematics Department requires a TOEFL iBT speak score of 22 (or IELTS 7.0 speaking score) or higher. If you are an international student with a score < 22, then do not apply.
No "Program specific requirements" are imposed on Ph.D. applicants in Mathematics, and no "writing sample" is required.
Deadlines
Applications received after these deadlines might still be considered, but are not guaranteed full consideration. Applications will be reviewed only after they are complete.
October 1, 2013: Deadline for applications for Spring 2014. PhD applicants normally begin in the Fall semester, and the department currently does not have funding for students beginning in the Spring semester. If you wish to apply for Spring, please contact us at math-grad@illinois.edu before applying.
January 7, 2014: Deadline for applications for Fall 2014. All materials, test scores and letters should be submitted by this date.
April 15, 2014: Deadline for applications which do not request financial aid. Earlier submission is recommended.
Online Application
First complete the online portion of the application, including payment of the application fee.
Under-represented minority applicants can apply here to have the fee waived.
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 math-grad@illinois.edu.) The GRE general and subject test are strongly recommended for all other applicants as well, and are submitted by most applicants. Note that GRE scores are required for all fellowship applications.
Mathematics subject GRE scores of entering Ph.D. students in 2013: upper quartile 850, median 790, and lower quartile 690.
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) showing grades for the most recent semester. For example, applicants for Fall admission should submit a transcript showing grades for the preceding Fall.
An official transcript will be needed later if you are admitted.
Letters of recommendation
Please arrange for three letters of recommendation to be uploaded to our online application system. Letters from professors who have taught you in mathematics classes or who have supervised you in a research project are the most useful.
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
For Admission to the Graduate Program:
1. All international applicants must satisfy the Graduate College English Proficiency Requirement for Admission.
2. The Mathematics Department further requires a minimum TOEFL iBT speak score of 22 (or IELTS 7.0 speaking score) for admission to the PhD program. The only exceptions will be for those applicants exempt from the English requirement for admission or those applicants coming with at least 5 years of fellowship support from an external source.
For Teaching Assistantships:
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. Students who do not satisfy the spoken English requirement can still be granted a Teaching Assistantship in Mathematics outside the classroom (e.g. grading) for the first two years, provided they have a TOEFL iBT speaking sub-section score of 22 or 23. After 2 years, continuation of the Teaching Assistantship is assured only for students who have successfully demonstrated proficiency in spoken English.
International students who are exempt from the English requirement for admission must still demonstrate proficiency in spoken English if they want to be appointed as a Teaching Assistant.
Declaration of Finances
International students must submit the Declaration and Certification of Finances form along with the required bank statement. Your application will be reviewed without this form, but the form must be submitted before you are officially admitted. Hence it is advisable to submit it with your application in order to avoid delays in your visa later. The bank statement must show resources for the full cost of education and living expenses listed on the Declaration and Certification of Finances form. If you are offered a teaching assistantship, then a bank statement showing about US$3300 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.