Where to Apply

To start or complete your application, click here.

 

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: December 15

For full consideration, applications should be received by December 15. Applications received after this date will be considered on a case-by-case rolling basis.

Letters of Reference:
Number Required: 3

From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained from individuals who are well acquainted with the applicant's abilities and achievements in mathematics and related areas, particularly former instructors in mathematics courses and projects. Letters from instructors in related areas such as computation or the physical and life sciences are also appropriate. In certain cases, letters from employment supervisors or project leaders may be appropriate as well.

Coursework Required for Admission Consideration: Applicants must have completed fundamental undergraduate mathematics courses. Prospective students are encouraged to contact the department to discuss their background.

Master's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A master's degree is not required.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: All applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.

Statement of Goals:  Please describe your academic journey and your educational goals at Temple University. In prior years, successful applications have included several of the following elements:

•  Your motivation for pursuing graduate work in Mathematics.
•  A description of prior experience in research and/or rigorous self-study.
•  A discussion of your career goals.
•  A description of how you see yourself fitting into the research profile of the department.

 Feel free to add any additional information that might not be fully explained in other parts of your application.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: The GRE General Test is not required and will not be considered. The GRE Subject Test in Mathematics is optional.

For students whose undergraduate education was not in English, either one of the TOEFL iBT (minumum score 79), the IELTS Academic (minimum 6.5), PTE Academic (minimum 53), or Duolingo (minimum 110) is required.

Resume: Current resume required.

Advanced Standing: Students who have taken graduate courses at other institutions, or at Temple University prior to matriculation, may apply for Advanced Standing. For details see Transfer Credit

Test Waivers: An applicant who wishes to have certain admission requirements waived must contact the department directly. Requests are considered by the department on a case-by-case basis. In some cases, an additional appeal to the Graduate School may be required. In such a case, the department makes a preliminary determination for the applicant and, if positive, issues a supporting letter to the Graduate School on the applicant's behalf.

More: Graduate Bulletin

Application fee waivers: The department offers a limited number of application fee waivers to applicants in financial need. To be considered for a fee waiver, please start your application at our application portal. Please, upload your personal statement, your resume, and your transcripts (unofficial transcripts are OK for this purpose). You can do this without having to pay the application fee. Once all the above materials are received, please send the fee waiver request by email to the Graduate Chair. In your email please include the reason for requesting the fee waiver. For best consideration, please submit your application fee waiver requests by December 1. You will be informed about our decision before December 15. After December 1, the fee waiver requests will continue to be considered on a rolling basis.

 

Frequently asked questions

Q: Does the University provide funding for my studies?
A: Yes. All PhD students in the department are promised funding for a minimum of 5 years, contingent on making satisfactory progress toward the PhD degree. The majority of students are supported by Teaching Assistantships. A smaller number are supported by Research Assistantships or University Fellowships. Compensation for funded students includes full-year salary and benefits. The benefits include health care, parental leave, and more. Please see TUGSA for details.

Q: Will I have to pay tuition?
A: No. All funded students receive full tuition remission. You will, however, have to pay some student fees.

Q: Is the GRE exam required for my application?
A: No. The GRE General Test is not required and will not be considered. The GRE Subject Test in Mathematics is optional.

Q: Is the TOEFL or other language exam required?
A: It depends on the primary language of instruction at your university. If the primary language is English, no language exam is required. Otherwise, we require one of the following 4 exams: TOEFL iBT (minumum score 79), the IELTS Academic (minimum 6.5), PTE Academic (minimum 53), or Duolingo (minimum 110).

Q: Do you accept unofficial transcripts?
A: As of 2024, unofficial transcripts can be used for purposes of admission. However, students who matriculate at Temple will be required to bring official transcripts at the time of matriculation.

Q: What academic credentials do you require?
A: Successful PhD applicants will have completed a Mathematics major or equivalent. This includes coursework in Abstract Algebra and Real Analysis, in addition to some number of advanced courses in the student’s area of interest. Graduate-level coursework in Mathematics is a plus. Research experience leading to publications or presentations is also a substantial plus.

 

Q: Do I need to find an advisor before applying for graduate admission?
A: No. Graduate students generally choose advisors in their second year of studies. With that said, we definitely encourage you to familiarize yourself with the research that is done in the department to make sure that you will find a fit, and to write about this in your personal statement.

Q: Can I receive a fee waiver?
A: The department offers a limited number of application fee waivers to applicants in financial need. To be considered for a fee waiver, please start your application at our application portal. Please, upload your personal statement, your resume, and your unofficial transcripts. You can do this without having to pay the application fee. Once all the above materials are received, please send the fee waiver request by email to the Graduate Chair. In your email please include the reason for requesting the fee waiver. For best consideration, please submit your application fee waiver requests by December 1. You will be informed about our decision before December 15. After December 1, the fee waiver requests will continue to be considered on a rolling basis.