Admissions

Application Procedure

The Graduate School of Arts and Science requires all applicants for degree programs to apply using their on-line application.  For further information, please go to the GSAS admissions web site to apply on-line. The GSAS web site also has instructions and links to the most frequently asked questions and verification about receipt of applications. 

The rules and regulations governing admissions to NYU's Graduate School of Arts and Science must be met by all applicants seeking admission to graduate study in mathematics.

  • All applicants must have an accredited baccalaureate degree or its equivalent.  Applicants in their last semester of undergraduate study must graduate before they begin their graduate work at NYU.
  • An official transcript from all previously attended institutions (undergraduate, graduate, and continuing educational programs) must be uploaded using the online application system.
  • A student must provide three letters of  recommendation (except non-degree).  It is strongly recommended that at least two of these letters be from faculty with whom the applicant took a mathematics or  other science course. Letters must be submitted using the online application system.
  • Submission of GRE scores is optional. The department views GRE scores – both the general GRE and the Mathematics Subject Test – as useful information; however, applications which do not include these scores will not be at a disadvantage: more weight will be placed on the other elements of such applications.
  • Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score; scores of  less than 600 (250 for the computer-based test; 100 for the internet-based test) are generally not recommended for admission.  This requirement may be waived  for an applicant with an accredited degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction. IELTS scores are accepted by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in place of the TOEFL.
  • When submitting test scores, applicants should list code 2596 (for the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science) when asking the Educational Testing Service to forward official GRE and TOEFL scores. The departmental code for the GRE is 0703; for the TOEFL it is 72. For the IELTS, applicants should contact the test center directly and request that the test scores be sent electronically to New York University, Graduate School of Arts and Science, New York, NY (an institutional code is not required).

 

Application Deadlines

The following application deadlines apply for both American and foreign students:

  • Admission to the M.S. programs except Mathematics in Finance - April 1 (Fall), November 1 (Spring), April 15 (Summer)
  • Admission to the M.S. program in Mathematics in Finance - February 8 (Fall, full-time only), August 1 (Fall, part-time only), December 1 (Spring, part-time only)
  • Admission to the M.S. program in Scientific Computing - February 15 (strongly recommended date), May 1 (final deadline date) (Fall only)
  • Admission on a non-degree basis in Mathematics (to take up to four courses) - August 1 (Fall), November 1 (Spring)
  • Admission on a non-degree basis in Financial Mathematics (to take up to four courses) or to a Certificate in Financial Mathematics (to take up to eight courses) - August 1 (Fall), December 1 (Spring)

 

Degree Programs

The following Master's-level programs are offered by the Department of Mathematics:

  • M.S. in Mathematics
  • M.S. in Scientific Computing
  • M.S. in Mathematics in Finance
  • Certificate in Mathematics in Finance

 

Admission on a Non-Degree Basis

Many students are interested in just a few courses, have considered the M.S. programs too late to apply, or were not accepted.  It is possible to apply as a non-degree, or non-matriculated student. Generally the non-degree option is used only by students who plan to study part-time and cannot be used by international students to obtain a student visa.

International non-degree applicants cannot apply on line and must request an application from the Graduate School of Arts and Science (please visit the GSAS website). Recommendation letters and GRE scores are not required for admission on a non-degree basis. The academic background required for non-degree admission is the same as the requirement for the master’s degrees, as these students will be taking the same courses as master’s degree students. Non-degree students are allowed to take up to four courses. They are expected to meet the same academic standards as matriculated students.

After completing four courses, students can apply for admission to the M.S. program in Mathematics, Math Finance or Scientific Computing. Students will need to formally apply through GSAS online. Students should note that due to limited resources, admission to an M.S. program is not automatic or guaranteed after completing four courses with good grades.
 

Admission Criteria

Admission decisions are based on a careful review of the applicant's previous academic record, letters of recommendation, TOEFL (if applicable) and GRE scores, as well as other credentials, such as work experience or previous research projects. Master's students can study either part-time or full-time. Note that international students must be full-time students.

 

Undergraduate Background

All applicants must have earned (or be about to complete) a B.A. or B.S. or the equivalent.  They must have taken three semesters of college-level calculus, including one semester of advanced calculus or linear algebra or the equivalent.  Students who do not have the advanced calculus course may be required to take the course MATH-GA 1002 Multivariable Analysis.

As previously emphasized, these are the very minimum requirements; additional undergraduate coursework in mathematics is desirable. Courses in analysis, linear algebra, complex variables, partial and ordinary differential equations, and probability theory are especially helpful.

Students who do not have some necessary mathematical preparation may be able to compensate by taking courses at Courant on a non-degree basis.

 

Financial Aid

The NYU Office of Financial Aid carries forms and information regarding loans and grants, including the Federal Student Aid Fact Sheet.

Office of Financial Aid
New York University
23 West 4th Street
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (212) 998-4444