Admission to the Mathematics Graduate Program

We offer a PhD and Master of Science (MS) degree in Mathematics and a Master of Science or Arts (MS/MA) in Teaching Mathematics degree, all allowing study in both pure and applied areas of Mathematics.

This is a competitive program, with a minority of the applicants offered admission to the department. Fulfillment of the criteria specified below is not in itself sufficient for admission. The applicants with the strongest academic records will be offered admission. Most of our successful applicants have Bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics, or the equivalent, and have taken year-long sequences in both abstract algebra and modern analysis.

Accepted students are typically offered financial support, generally in the form of a Teaching Assistantship, which comes with a stipend, tuition waiver, and health insurance. Support for doctoral students is customarily continued for five years, as long as the student maintains good academic progress and fulfills their teaching responsibilities satisfactorily.

Contact for Further Help

If you have any questions for which you cannot find answers to on these web pages or need to contact the Graduate Selection Committee, please send an email to

math-gradapps@ufl.edu.

How To Apply

The application deadline is December 1 for admission the following Fall (only applications for the Fall semester are considered).

A complete application consists of the following materials:

Application Form submitted through the Office of Admissions: https://admissions.ufl.edu
Application Fee
Statement of Purpose
Three Letters of Recommendation
Transcripts and (copies of) Degree Certificates of all post-secondary work
TOEFL/IELTS Score (for international applicants from non-English speaking countries)
GRE General Test is recommended, but not required
GRE Subject Test in Mathematics is recommended, but not required

Non-U.S. citizens will also need their resident alien numbers.

The Statement of Purpose required in the application carries great weight in the admissions decision. In this statement, you should detail your mathematical experience and potential areas of interest.

The required Letters of Recommendation are also extremely important, and we ask that at least two come from instructors who can speak to your work in rigorous proof-based mathematics.

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a grade point average (GPA) for the last 2 years of undergraduate studies of B (3.0/4.0) or higher is required for admission to the University of Florida. Exceptions to this requirement require recommendation by the Department and approval by the Dean of the Graduate School.

The General GRE test is not required, but it is recommended. If you are taking the GRE or TOEFL, please arrange to take these tests so that we can be assured of having your scores no later than December 1. The GRE and TOEFL scores should be sent directly from the testing agency to the UF Office of Admissions. The school code for GRE and TOEFL is 5812.

The non-refundable application fee is $30. The application fee cannot be waived.

International Applicants

International students should note that the University requires transcripts and certificates in both the original language and in an English translation. For example, a person with a BS degree and an MS degree with non-English transcripts and certificates would need to send 8 documents.

Minimum Acceptable Language Proficiency Scores for Admission

The University of Florida requires that most foreign applicants must submit scores of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) iBT or the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic. The minimum acceptable score required for admission for the TOEFL iBT is 4.5, with scores of 4 for each of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing subsections, or 6.5 for the IELTS Academic.

Go to https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/international for more details on the minimum acceptable scores, exceptions (e.g. the TOEFL/IELTS requirement is waived for foreign students who have successfully completed at least one year at a college or university in the United States), and a list of countries from which graduate applicants are not required to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores. (Note: Puerto Rican students must submit TOEFL/IELTS scores.)

Minimum Acceptable Language Proficiency Scores for Teaching Assistants

Florida law requires that international Teaching Assistants (students from countries in which English is not an official language) must obtain at least a 4.5 on the TOEFL iBT Speaking test, 7 on the IELTS Academic Speaking test, or a 45 on the SPEAK Test administered by English Language Institute at the University of Florida. The SPEAK Test is given regularly and can be taken after students arrive on campus (and will have to be completed even by students that do not have to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores for admission). Go to https://eli.ufl.edu/international-teaching-assistant-support-speak-eap-5836/ for more details on the minimum acceptable scores.

Thus, an international applicant’s chances of receiving support in the form of a Teaching Assistantship are greatly increased by submitting a 4.5 or higher TOEFL iBT Speaking score or a 7 or higher IELTS Speaking score.

These tests are not required for students supported by fellowships or research assistantships. However, be aware that for the PhD degree, there is a graduation requirement of a minimum of two semesters teaching at the college level.

Financial Support

Up-to-date detailed information about graduate student financial support in the form of fellowships and assistantships can be found on the Graduate School’s website at https://grad.ufl.edu/future/funding/.

Fellowships for Incoming Students

Some incoming students receive a supplemental Grinter Fellowship.

Students who participated in McNair undergraduate research programs are eligible to apply for the McNair Doctoral Program.

Teaching Assistantships

The Department usually appoints about 15 to 18 new graduate teaching assistantships each year. About 80 graduate students currently hold Teaching Assistantships in the Department and several are supported through fellowships.

Teaching Assistantships are normally a one-half time appointment. Reduced tuition and fee rates apply to one-half time Teaching Assistants enrolled in nine credit hours, and the amount varies from year to year according to regulations established by the Florida State Legislature. Up-to-date information on tuition and fees is available at https://www.sfa.ufl.edu/cost/.

Typically, a one-half time Teaching Assistant is expected to devote an average of 20 hours per week to teaching-related duties. These duties generally include 3-4 contact hours with undergraduate students in the classroom, as well as time for class preparation, office hours, proctoring, grading, and tutoring in the CLAS Academic Resources Math Study Center.

Academic requirements associated with a Teaching Assistantship are:

Take a minimum of 9 credit hours each fall and spring semester in courses approved by the Graduate Coordinator, and
Maintain a grade point average of not less than 3.0 to continue your appointment.

The Graduate Committee reviews student progress each year. Students who maintain satisfactory performance may expect support for up to five years. Supplementary summer support is available to many of the graduate students enrolled during the preceding academic year.

Benefits

One-half time Teaching and Research Assistants are eligible to participate in the GatorGradCare health, dental, and vision insurance plan. Enrollment is automatic, but please be aware that dependent enrollment is not automatic and you must complete a waiver with the Student Health Care Center every term to avoid being automatically enrolled in student health insurance (more expensive).

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students are admitted each year?

Usually around 15, though incoming classes have ranged from about 15 to more than 20.

What are the types of financial support available?

Most of our graduate students receive full financial support (tuition waiver + stipend). Most are supported through Teaching Assistantships, and a limited number of others are supported through various scholarships.

What are the minimum requirements for admission?

The minimum requirements for admission to the University are listed in the Graduate Catalog on the Admission page.

Is it true that GRE General Test is no longer required?

Yes, the GRE General Test is no longer required, but it is recommended.

Should I take the GRE Subject Test in Mathematics?

It is recommended for PhD applicants.

What is the minimum General GRE score to enter the Mathematics Graduate Program?

The University no longer has a minimum requirement for the GRE. Most successful applicants to the Mathematics Graduate Program have scores (sum of verbal plus quantitative) far exceeding 1000 in the old scoring system (approximately 300 in the new scoring system).

How can I check if my application is complete?

Please be sure you have followed the steps to apply listed on https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/.

Using your UFID number, you can check the status of your application online at https://my.admissions.ufl.edu/account/login.

If you run into a problem, or have other questions, please email math-gradapps@ufl.edu.

What is the deadline for application?

The application deadline is December 1. Applications completed before the deadline will receive full consideration for admission and financial support. Applications completed after the deadline will only be considered if time allows.

Generally, it is best to have taken any standardized tests (GRE and TOEFL, if necessary) by October since it takes time for the official scores to be sent. International students should also take into account the time required to send and receive mailed documents, apply for a visa, and make travel arrangements.

In general, it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible.

Can I apply for January admission?

No.

When can I expect a decision on my application?

If you qualify for admission and are eligible for a Teaching Assistantship, you will hear from us as soon as the committee has decided to admit you. We begin reviewing files in December, so the first notifications could be as early mid-late January, with more following in February and March. If we are waiting for the result of a test, there will naturally be a delay before we can decide on your application.

If you are ineligible for a Teaching Assistantship, e.g. you are an international student who does not have a TOEFL iBT Speaking score of 4.5 or better, then you may have to wait for the fellowships to be decided.

There are very few fellowships, and only when the top candidates decline can the next ones be offered, so we may not have news for some applicants until as late as April or May.

If you feel the committee should have reached a decision but have not heard from us yet, please email math-gradapps@ufl.edu.

Where do I send the application fee? What form of payment is acceptable?

The application fee is paid during submission of the online application form (see Step 3 of https://admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/).

I am a domestic applicant. Where do I send transcripts?

For the purpose of initial review, the UF Office of Admissions accepts unofficial transcripts. These can be uploaded through your Application Status page.

Either electronic transcripts may be sent from your institution directly to UF at te@admissions.ufl.edu, or paper transcripts may be sent in a sealed envelope to:

UF Office of Admissions
201 Criser Hall
PO Box 114000
Gainesville FL 32611-4000

I am an international applicant. Where do I send transcripts and degree certificates?

For the purpose of initial review, the UF Office of Admissions accepts unofficial transcripts. These can be uploaded through your Application Status page.

Applicants who receive an offer of admissions must arrange to have official transcripts and degree certificates sent to the UF Office of Admissions from each postsecondary institution attended. International applicants must send official versions of all documents in both English and the original language. Either electronic transcripts may be sent from your institution directly to UF at te@admissions.ufl.edu, or paper transcripts may be sent in a sealed envelope to:

UF Office of Admissions
201 Criser Hall
PO Box 114000
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
USA

Where do I send my GRE and TOEFL scores and what is the code for the University of Florida?

Official test scores must be sent to UF electronically by the testing agency. The University of Florida’s school code for submission of GRE and TOEFL scores is 5812.

Do you accept the IELTS instead of TOEFL?

Yes. The minimum acceptable score for the IELTS Academic for admission to UF is 6.5 (see https://www.admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/international).

The minimum IELTS Academic Speaking score to qualify as a Teaching Assistant is 7 (see https://eli.ufl.edu/international-teaching-assistant-support-speak-eap-5836/).

What is an acceptable score on the TOEFL?

The university requires: a 4.5 or better on the TOEFL iBT with scores of 4 for each of the Reading, Listening, Speaking, and Writing subsections.

I am from a country where English is an official language. Am I required to submit a score from the TOEFL iBT Speaking test to be eligible for a Teaching Assistantship?

Even in situations where the University does not require a TOEFL score, all international students must demonstrate English speaking proficiency by scoring 45 or better on the University-administered SPEAK Test as an alternative to scoring at least a 4.5 on the TOEFL iBT Speaking test or at least a 7 on the IELTS Academic Speaking score.

For example, international applicants who have spent at least one year at a US institution may be exempt from the TOEFL exam, but they are still required to have a qualifying score on either the SPEAK Test, TOEFL iBT Speaking test, or IELTS Academic Speaking score. More details are available at https://www.admissions.ufl.edu/apply/graduate/international and https://eli.ufl.edu/international-teaching-assistant-support-speak-eap-5836/.

I have not taken the iBT Speaking test. Am I eligible for financial support?

Most of our graduate students are supported through Teaching Assistantships.

Florida law requires international Teaching Assistants to demonstrate oral proficiency before being appointed to teach. The minimum score to be able to teach immediately is 55 on the University-administered SPEAK Test, 6 on the Speaking and 4.5 on the Listening on the TOEFL iBTS, or 8.5 on the IELTS Academic Speaking. With a score of 45-50 on the SPEAK Test, 4.5-5.5 on the TOEFL iBT Speaking test, or 7-8 on the IELTS Academic Speaking test, teaching is allowed if concurrently enrolled in EAP 5836. See https://eli.ufl.edu/international-teaching-assistant-support-speak-eap-5836/ for more information.

Each year, there is a possibility that we will offer a very small number fellowships, which are awarded to the strongest applicants regardless of English speaking proficiency. Not surprisingly, the competition for these is intense. Therefore, If you do not have 4.5 or better on the TOEFL iBT Speaking test or 7 on the IELTS Academic Speaking test, a fellowship is your only chance of admission with financial support.

I have a very high score on the TOEFL and top grades in all my English classes. Moreover, I have asked several native English speakers to attest to my ability in English. Am I eligible for a Teaching Assistantship if my TOEFL iBT Speaking score is less than 4.5?

These are certainly strong points in an application. However, for the purpose of obtaining a Teaching Assistantship, no combination of the above can be used as a substitute for evidence of English-speaking proficiency in place of the impartial and standardized speaking TOEFL iBT or IELTS.

Should I send in the Certificate of Financial Responsibility at the same time as my application? What figures should I use?

International applicants who are admitted will be contacted by the UF International Office with instructions concerning the Certificate of Financial Responsibility (CFR). You should not submit any forms related to the CFR when first applying.

Is health care insurance available?

Yes. For eligibility, coverage, and cost details visit https://hr.ufl.edu/benefits/health/health-coverage/gatorgradcare/.