Application Process

Entrance Requirements and Procedures

An undergraduate degree in mathematics, statistics (or a related field, such as computer science), or its foreign equivalent is the normal prerequisite to admission.

An applicant who lacks certain lower-level prerequisites for graduate level courses may make up these deficiencies while enrolled in the program. Because the program involves broad and often interdisciplinary programs of study with a wide variety of emphases, the strength of an applicant's general background plays an important role in the admissions process.

If you have questions, you can contact our Director of Graduate Studies [email protected] or the Graduate School through [email protected] or at the following address:

Graduate School 
University of Minnesota Duluth 
218-726-7523 
431 Darland Administration Building

Deadlines

Fall semester: Students applying for financial aid should have all application materials submitted on or before February 1st; late applications will be considered if resources are available.  Applications for the fall semester may not be considered after April 15th.

Spring semester: For initial enrollment in the spring semester, the deadline is November 1st.  We typically admit students in Fall. In exceptional years, limited Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) positions may become available in the Spring. Please contact the Director of Graduate Studies before applying if you are interested in spring GTA support. 

Application Details 

  • Application process 
    There is an online application. More information about the application process is provided by the UMD Graduate Program. Mathematical Sciences should be the program selected and University of Minnesota Duluth should be the campus selected when filling out an application
  • Transcripts 
    Unofficial transcripts or academic records should be uploaded directly to the online application. Please do not mail in paper copies of your transcripts, there is no need for official transcripts or academic records for initial review. If you are admitted, the University will then request official copies of this material
  • Application fee 
    You can find the required application fee here. We cannot provide any application fee waivers not on this list. 
  • GRE scores are optional at this time.  
    If you wish to submit GRE scores, you should specify UMD as one of the recipients when you take the test. The Duluth campus GRE institutional code is 6873. We do not require the GRE Math Subject Test.
  • Letters of recommendation  
    We require three letters of recommendation from people who are familiar with your education/professional background. Request forms for the letter are part of the online application. Please note that you can submit your application even when your letters have not been submitted yet.
  • Personal Statement 
    When writing your personal statement, please respond to the three prompts below. Your application will be evaluated in part using the bullet points. When we consider you for admission to our program, we assess your answers to all of these aspects. It is important to tie these prompts together into a cohesive, well-written personal statement essay as a cornerstone of your application to our program. The personal statement should not be longer than 1-2 pages in length.

      
Aspects for evaluation by the admissions committee:
 

  • Research ability and interest: Describe your experience with scientific research, in an official and unofficial capacity. What drives your scientific curiosity, and what motivates you to want to be a mathematician or statistician?
  • Teaching ability or interest: Describe your teaching and mentoring experience, through TA or tutoring positions, outreach, volunteer work, or other venues both inside and outside of the classroom.
  • Career goals: What are your career goals, and specifically how does this Math & Stats MS program fit into your career plans?

Masters students in our program are typically supported with a Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). Please indicate in bold on your personal statement whether or not you wish to receive a GTA. 

Finally, if you choose, your statement may touch upon any leadership experience and teamwork skills you have.

  • Optional supporting materials 
    Please note that the following are not required but may be included at your discretion: Diversity Statement, Extenuating Circumstances Statement, Resume/CV

Financial Assistance

Students who wish to receive a Graduate Teaching Assistantship position should indicate it in a few lines or a paragraph uploaded with other written materials.

In addition to the standard Graduate Teaching Assistantships, the Graduate School also offers the Diversity of Views and Experiences (DOVE) Fellowship as an option for underrepresented groups. The fellowship is awarded to approximately 20 first-year students from underrepresented groups within a specific graduate program (U.S. citizens or permanent residents). The fellowship provides a $25,000 stipend, tuition at regular graduate school rates (up to 14 credits per semester), and subsidized health insurance for one academic year. Students who wish to be nominated must contact the Director of Graduate Studies in advance.  The department deadline for this is January 25th.

Special Application Requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English (see exceptions) should submit official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Specify the University of Minnesota, Duluth code 6873 when requesting that the scores be sent to the Graduate School. The operational standard for admission to the Graduate School is a score of at least 79 on the Internet based TOEFL with section scores of 21 on writing and 19 on reading (550 on the paper based TOEFL). You may not be eligible immediately for a TA appointment if your speaking score is below 28. It that case you may be required to take an additional language training.

For additional information on assistantships, fellowships and ways to fund graduate school, please see scholarships and financial aid.

 

FAQ for Graduate Admission

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