Prospective Students
Watch a video tour of graduate student life in Mathematics,
and
read our brochure.
Check out our Ph.D. graduates and their jobs. Then click on the links in the left sidebar for information and to apply for admission and financial aid (tuition waivers and graduate student stipends).
Ph.D. in Mathematics
Students working toward a Ph.D. in Mathematics usually require from four to six years to complete the degree requirements. The principal requirements (in the order in which most students complete them) are:
- Comprehensive Requirements
- Preliminary Examination (Thesis Proposal)
- Doctoral Thesis
- Final Examination
For detailed PhD program information, please see the Guide for Graduate Students in Mathematics.
Note: Ph.D. students who do not already hold a Masters degree can usually earn an M.S. on the way to the Ph.D. See the Associate Director (Karen Mortensen) for procedures.
Students who wish to earn a doctorate should apply directly to the PhD program. It is not necessary to hold a master's degree before entering the PhD program and, at the University of Illinois, students do not normally transfer from the MS program to the PhD program.
Most applicants admitted to the PhD program are offered financial assistance in the form of a teaching assistantship, which provides a full tuition waiver (regardless of student's residency classification), partial fee waiver, and a stipend sufficient for living expenses in Champaign-Urbana. Summer support is often available, even before one's first year, though the department's Research Experiences for Graduate Students program. Extraordinarily strong applicants may be offered fellowships. Students normally begin the PhD program in the Fall semester.
Master's Degree in Mathematics
The Master's degree program in Mathematics can be completed in one to two years. There are no language requirements, and a master's thesis is optional. No comprehensive examinations are required. Students are advised to consult the Associate Director of Graduate Studies to plan their programs. For detailed MS program information, please see the Guide for Graduate Students in Mathematics. Students who are currently enrolled in other graduate programs at the University of Illinois should read the webpage "MS for PhD Students."
MS in Mathematics
This MS in Mathematics program allows students a wide range of course choices and can offer good preparation either for a job in industry or for pursuit of a doctorate in mathematics at another University. It is rare, though not impossible, for students to enter the PhD program at the University of Illinois after finishing the MS in Mathematics. The degree requires 32 credit hours and can normally be completed in 18 months. A master's thesis is optional. Students may begin the program in either the Fall or the Spring semester. Financial aid is generally not available, although students in this program are occasionally hired as teaching assistants after they are enrolled.
MS in Applied Mathematics
The MS in Applied Mathematics program is intended for students wishing to pursue a career in applied mathematics. It is also suitable as preparation for a PhD program in Applied Mathematics. It is rare for students to enter the PhD program at the University of Illinois after finishing this degree. Students may choose one of three tracks: Optimization and Algorithms, Applications to the Sciences, Computation Science and Engineering. This degree program requires 32 credit hours and can normally be completed in 18 months. A master's thesis is optional. Students may choose one of three tracks: Optimization and Algorithms, Applications to the Sciences, Computation Science and Engineering. Students may begin the program in either the Fall or the Spring semester. Financial aid is generally not available, although students in this program are occasionally hired as teaching assistants after they are enrolled.
MS in Applied Mathematics – Actuarial Sciences
This program prepares students for actuarial science careers; it provides background for much of the material on the basic professional actuarial examinations. Admission to this program does not require an undergraduate degree in actuarial science, but students who have not already passed the first actuarial exam (probability theory) should be prepared to sit for it during their first semester. A student successfully finishing the program will typically have mastered the material covered on most or all of the basic actuarial exams (Exams P, FM, MLC, MFE, and C), and will have had an opportunity to study some finance, economics, or other areas of potential application to actuarial work. The program requires 32 credit hours and can normally be completed in 18 months. Financial aid is normally not available; however, a small number of students who are native speakers of English or who have satisfied the English Proficiency Requirement for International Teaching Assistants may be offered a teaching assistantship, which provides a full tuition waiver (regardless of student's residency classification), partial fee waiver, and a stipend sufficient for living expenses in Champaign-Urbana. Students may begin the program in either the Fall or the Spring semester.
MS in the Teaching of Mathematics
The MS in the Teaching of Mathematics is intended for those who wish to teach at the high school or community college level. It does not lead to certification to teach in public schools. The program requires 32 credit hours and can normally be completed in 18 months. Partial financial aid is offered to most admitted students in the form of a teaching assistantship for two Fall semesters, which includes a full tuition waiver (regardless of student's residency classification), partial fee waiver, and stipend for those semesters. In order to be employed as a teaching assistant, students must be native speakers of English or satisfy the English Proficiency Requirement for International Teaching Assistants.