Thank you for your interest to learn about our graduate program!  Our department features an excellent learning environment in Southern California, with a wonderful location close to the beach at one of the top scientific institutions in the nation. Over 40 mathematics faculty members carry out research in all major areas of the field, including geometry, algebra, analysis, applied mathematics and mathematical biology.  The Mathematics Department is based in the same building where chemist Sherwood Rowland did groundbreaking work that led to the discovery of the ozone hole and a Nobel Prize in 1995, and it also features a nuclear reactor in its basement.  

UC Irvine as been listed as #9 Top Public School in the nation by U.S. News & World Report (2024), #1 for Doing the Most for the American Dream by The New York Times (2015 and 2017), and #1 Campus for Beach Lovers by Money Magazine (2017).  UC Irvine is a Hispanic Serving Institution and an Asian American, Native American and Pacific Islander-Serving Institution.  We are proud of our diversity heritage and particularly encourage diversity candidates such as underrepresented minority students and female students to apply.   

If you would like to speak with a graduate student about the non-academic aspects of attending UCI as a graduate student, connect with a UCI Graduate Student Ambassador!

Application Process

We accept applications for the fall quarter only. A complete application with all supporting documents must be received by the deadline - December 1st.  Please refer to the link at the bottom of the page for additional information from Graduate Division.

A completed application includes the following:

  • A completed UC Irvine Graduate Division online application, including the application fee ($135.00 for US Citizens/Permanent Residents, $155.00 for all other applicants). This payment must be paid by credit card only; checks will no longer be accepted.
    • Please note that fee waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only including members of certain programs such as Math Alliance, California Alliance for Minority Participation (CAMP), US Veterans, and students with documented financial need. More information can be found here: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/applying-to-uci/fee-waivers.php 
  • Transcripts – Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended since high school.  If an applicant is admitted, official transcripts will be request only from the institutions where a degree was earned and we will direct them to mail it to the Graduate Division office. Foreign applicants must provide transcripts converted to English, and a calculated US GPA
  • Personal History Statement – This will be required by all students. In your Personal History Statement, please discuss how your personal background—including any relevant educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities—informs your decision to pursue a Ph.D. in Math. You may also discuss, if you wish, how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within the department.
  • Letters of Recommendation – We require three letters of recommendation. Letters must be uploaded digitally; paper LORs will not be accepted.
  • Statement of Purpose- This will be required by all students. In your Statement of Purpose, please describe your career goals, your research interests, how/why you think the UCI Ph.D. in Math program and its faculty can help you to achieve your research and career goals, and what about your background and experience has prepared you to become an outstanding mathematical researcher.
  • GRE subject exam in Mathematics – Official scores are required for the Math Subject GRE exam, taken within the last five years for MS & PhD applicants.  Note: For applications due December 2024, several students have contacted us about limited test site availability for the GRE math subject exam. As an exceptional policy, should you not be able to take this exam for reasons beyond your control, such as the need for significant travel, we still encourage you to submit your application to UCI. In that case, please include a short paragraph at the end of your Personal Statement explaining why you were not able to take the exam. In order to submit the application, you will also need to list a future test date. An application with all documents except for the GRE subject exam will still be considered complete and be fully evaluated.
  • GRE General exam - this exam is optional to submit, and there is no minimum score requirement.  GRE scores are sent directly from ETS, choose Institution Code 4859.

*If you are applying to the Math PhD program, and you have obtained a Subject GRE score in a subject other than math, please contact Professor Solna ksolna@uci.edu for further consultation.

  • TOEFL scores - Required only for applicants whose primary language is not English. The TOEFL requirement is made for admission purposes only, and it will be waived for applicants who have received a post-baccalaureate degree from a U.S. college or University. Please send your official TOEFL or IETS scores to UC Irvine using Institution Code 4859.

Additional English proficiency information can be found HERE.

International Students - International and permanent resident graduate students who are not citizens of countries where English is either the primary or dominant language (as approved by the UC Irvine Graduate Council) who wish to be considered for appointment as a Teaching Assistant (TA) must have a score of at least 26 in the speaking component of TOEFL iBT or a score of 8 or higher on the speaking module of the IELTS exam.  This is a university requirement, the department cannot make exceptions for scores below 26 or 8, respectively.

 

For further information please join our Zoom information session November 8th 4-5pm PT, see flyer at bottom of page.

RSVP Here for the information session: RSVP Link

Join Zoom Meeting
https://uci.zoom.us/j/97403543872

Meeting ID: 974 0354 3872

 

APPLY NOW - School of Physical Sciences, Mathematics Department, specify PhD or MS.  Indicate specific area of interest in the space provided.

To log back into your submitted application please go to: apply.grad.uci.edu

If you have questions, please visit the following website prior to emailing the Student Affairs Officer and/or the Graduate Division: https://grad.uci.edu/admissions/faq/. For further math program questions, please contact  zbeam@uci.edu or ksolna@uci.edu.

 

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If you need assistance submitting your application please contact: gradapplicant@uci.edu. 

 

Attachments: 

PDF icon Grad Info Session 2024.pdf