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

Application Details

  • 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 of $95 for international students and $75 for domestic students
  • The GRE score requirement is currently waived for spring of 2022 and fall of 2022. Scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examination are required. We receive them electronically, if you specify UMD as one of the recipients when you take the test. The Duluth campus GRE institutional code is 6873. It is also a good idea to upload and/or self-report your scores as part of your online application. We do not require the GRE Math Subject Test
  • Letters of recommendation from three 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
  • Please note that the following are not required and are therefore optional: Diversity Statement, Extenuating Circumstances Statement, Resume/CV, Writing Sample, and Description of Research

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.

Deadlines: Students can apply for financial aid at any time. Those wishing to enter the program in the fall semester should have all application materials submitted by February 15th; late applications will be considered if resources are available. For initial enrollment in the spring semester, the deadline is November 1st. There are usually a very limited number of GTA positions available in the spring. Therefore, the application for financial aid should be submitted as soon as possible. 

The Graduate School 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.

Deadlines

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.

For initial enrollment in the spring semester, the deadline is November 1st. There is usually a very limited number of GTA positions available in the spring. Therefore, an application should be submitted as soon as possible. 

Deferral or Readmission

Any graduate credits earned at UMD or any other institution expire after seven years (or after five years if you started your study in 2013 or later). That means you can only use the credit towards meeting the graduation requirements within seven (or five) years since you started a particular course.

You can start your graduate studies even if you are at most 7 credits (and at most 2 courses) short of your undergraduate degree.

Additional useful information for international student can be found at International Student Services web.