UC San Diego
Department of Mathematics
SearchMenu

How to Apply to the Graduate Program

We appreciate your interest in our graduate program here in the Department of Mathematics at UC San Diego!

For doctorate degrees, we offer a Ph.D. in Mathematics allowing study in any area of mathematics (encompassing Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics), a Ph.D. in Mathematics with a Specialization in Computational Science, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics with a Specialization in Statistics.

For master degrees, we offer a M.A in Pure Mathematics, a M.A. in Applied Mathematics, and a M.S. in Statistics. Admission decisions for all degree programs are made separately.

Admission to the graduate program is managed through the Department of Mathematics and the Office of Graduate Studies (OGS). We accept applications for the Fall quarter only.

Departmental support is only offered to Ph.D. students, which typically includes a Teaching Assistantship each academic year as well as full Tuition and Fee Scholarships. This is guaranteed for four years as long as a student is in good academic standing and fulfills all teaching responsibilities satisfactorily. For the past several years we have been able to provide a fifth year of support. There will be no changes to this policy as long as funds remain available.

For admission to the graduate programs, a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics is recommended or a strong background in mathematics with a minimum GPA of 3.0 required. A year's sequence in both upper-division algebra and real analysis is strongly encouraged.

The general GRE and the Math Subject GRE are required for all degree programs. There is no required minimum GRE score.

The TOEFL exam, with a minimum score of 550 for the paper based test (PBT) or 80 for the internet based test (iBT), is required for all international applicants:

  1. Whose native language is not English and
  2. Who have not studied for one uninterrupted year at a university-level institution in a country where English is the official language.

The school code for GRE and TOEFL is 4836.


Applying to the Graduate Program

Applications are accepted for the Fall quarter only. The application deadlines for Fall 2013 admission are:

The Department of Mathematics application process is paperless. All application materials must be uploaded to your online application. Please do not send any application materials to us in the mail.


Apply Online

Online Graduate Applications for Fall 2012 will be available the beginning of September at:


Application Requirements

The application fee is:

  • $80.00 for U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents
  • $100.00 for International Applicants

Only applications with all of the following documents uploaded will be reviewed - no exceptions:

  1. Statement of Purpose
  2. Transcripts (official transcripts will be required if admitted into the program)
  3. List of mathematics courses taken/projected as well as textbooks used
  4. Exactly three letters of recommendation (do not send more than 3 letters of recommendation)
  5. General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) test scores
  6. GRE Math Subject test scores
  7. TOEFL test scores (for foreign applicants from non-English speaking countries)
  8. PhD Applicants Who Are U.S. Citizens Only: Complete a FAFSA application, by January 7, 2013 (the same deadline for submitting your online application for our PhD Program), whether or not you consider yourself eligible for student aid. You can access the FAFSA application, along with instructions, via the following web site: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/.

    Note: The UCSD Financial Aid Office assists the Department of Mathematics in determining which of our applicants are eligible for grants that have been awarded to the Department of Mathematics by various agencies and donors. The information you provide on the FAFSA application goes directly to the UCSD Financial Aid Office. No one in the Department of Mathematics sees your FAFSA. FAFSA information plays no role in admission decisions.

Candidates applying to the PhD in Mathematics with a Specialization in Statistics, must select "Statistics" in the "Current Area of Interest" section of their on line application (this means the person is applying to the Specialization in Statistics degree).

Candidates applying to the PhD in Mathematics with a Specialization in Computational Science (CSME), must select "Computational Science" in the "Current Area of Interest" section of their on line application (this means the person is applying to the Specialization in Computational Science degree).

The GRE examinations must be taken no later than December in order for the scores to be considered by the Admissions Committee.

Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

For answers to your questions, please read the answers to Frequently Asked Admissions Questions before submitting inquiries to mathgradadmissions@math.ucsd.edu.