Graduate Admissions: How to Apply
Background Anticipated
Although an undergraduate or graduate degree in the same discipline as the intended graduate degree is not necessary, all applicants for any of our graduate programs should have previously taken the necessary undergraduate courses. The table below summarizes the expected undergraduate prerequisites for various programs. A prospective applicant not having all the stated prerequisites should acquire them prior to applying to our graduate programs.
| Program | Expected Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| PhD in Mathematics | Calculus I, II, and III (including Multivariable Calculus), Linear Algebra, and higher level courses in Mathematics requiring to write proofs and derive equations (similar to our MATH 3310 Theoretical Concepts of Calculus and the sequence MATH 4301 Mathematical Analysis I and MATH 4302 Mathematical Analysis II) |
| MS in Mathematics | Mathematics specialization: Same as PhD in Mathematics. Applied Mathematics and Mathematics for Decision and Engineering Sciences specializations: Calculus I, II, and III (including Multivariable Calculus), Linear Algebra, and Differential Equations. Data Science specialization: Calculus I, II, and III (including Multivariable Calculus), and Linear Algebra |
| PhD in Statistics | Calculus I, II, and III (including Multivariable Calculus), Linear Algebra, higher level courses in Mathematics requiring to write proofs and derive equations (similar to our MATH 3310 Theoretical Concepts of Calculus and the sequence MATH 4301 Mathematical Analysis I and MATH 4302 Mathematical Analysis II), and courses in Probability and Statistics (similar to our STAT 4351 Mathematical Statistics I and STAT 4352 Mathematical Statistics II sequence) |
| MS in Statistics | Statistics specialization: Same as PhD in Statistics. Applied Statistics & Data Science specializations: Calculus I, II, and III (including Multivariable Calculus), Linear Algebra, and courses in Probability and Statistics |
| MS in Actuarial Science | Calculus I, II, and III (including Multivariable Calculus), and Linear Algebra |
| MS in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology | Undergraduate degree in a science or engineering discipline with at least one semester of Calculus. Additional requirements can be fulfilled by taking MATH 5303 Advanced Calculus and Linear Algebra as part of the curriculum. |
| Graduate Certificate in Data Science | Admission to a graduate program at UTD and prerequisites for the courses involved in the certificate |
Application Requirements
- Personal Essay: This essay should discuss the applicant’s motivation, background, interests, and goals in relation to the degree program and specialization to which they are applying. Applicants should also provide evidence of their potential for success in the program, and briefly discuss their career plans and professional goals. Applicants applying to PhD programs are encouraged to discuss any prior teaching, tutoring, and research experience.
- University Transcripts: The applicant must include transcripts for all previous undergraduate and graduate degrees. Competitive applications include strong grades in previous academic work. A scan of the official transcript is adequate for beginning review of the application but the official version is needed at the time of admission.
- Letters of Recommendation: Three letters of recommendation are required. The letters should be from individuals who are knowledgeable about the applicant’s previous academic performance and best able to judge probable success in graduate school. Previous teachers are strongly preferred. The letter is submitted directly by the author to an online portal.
- English Proficiency Requirement: If your native language is not English and you have been educated outside of the United States, you must demonstrate English proficiency as explained on the UT Dallas Graduate Admissions website. While the English proficiency score cutoffs mentioned at this website represent minimum scores, competitive applications include (if applicable) higher scores.
- GRE Score: GRE scores are optional for our programs. If you wish to submit a score, our School Code is 6897.
Fall Admission is Encouraged
Many key courses consist of two-semester sequences offered Fall-Spring. Therefore, we encourage applying for Fall admission. Spring admission is generally not offered for Statistics programs but may be offered for others. No Summer admission is offered.
Application Fee
Application fee is required unless the applicant qualifies for the Graduate Application Fee Waiver Program.
Application Steps
- Review the Application Requirements mentioned above
- Review the complete admission process
- Apply online
- Check your to-do list and application status
- Admitted? Congratulations! Complete Steps After Admission and contact your Graduate Advisor to register for classes.
Deadlines
For first-round consideration for assistantships and scholarships, the application must be complete by December 15 for the upcoming Fall term and August 31 for the upcoming Spring term. Applications may be accepted for later rounds also, see Graduate Admissions for additional deadlines.
Ready to start your application?
Before you apply, visit our How to Apply page to get familiar with the admission requirements and application process.