Admission Requirements

We welcome your interest in our interdisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Applied Mathematical and Computational Sciences (AMCS).Students applying for admission should have a solid undergraduate training in a mathematical science and in another science so they can start graduate-level courses in both areas. A suitable background for admission is a bachelor's degree with a double major in mathematics and a science, or a major in mathematics with a strong minor in a science, or a major in a science with a substantial mathematics component including some theoretical courses in analysis and algebra. Students also may enter with a master's degree. Students should have a desire to apply mathematics to the solution of relevant scientific problems and should state their area of interest in their application.

Admission and financial decisions are based on Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, courses taken, grade point average (GPA), academic goals, letters of recommendation, area of interest, and, for students for whom English is not their first language, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. We usually expect GRE scores that are at least 500 verbal, 700 quantitative, and 4.5 in analytical writing. Please be sure to have your GRE scores sent to The University of Iowa by the testing agency. We usually expect applicants to have a GPA that is at least a B+ (3.40 out of 4.00) in their previous course work. We consider all the evidence available, consequently it is to your advantage to submit as complete an application as possible.

The TOEFL scores are used to predict the ability of an international student to function effectively in courses taught in English and to work effectively in English as a teaching assistant (TA). In order to be considered for admission, we generally expect a TOEFL score of at least 600 (250 on computer-based exam, 100 on internet-based exam). For consideration as a TA we would like a TOEFL score above 620 (260 on computer-based exam, 105 on internet-based exam). Please be sure to have your TOEFL scores sent to The University of Iowa by the testing agency. The mean TOEFL score of international students entering the program recently was 614. Students whose first language is not English but who have a degree from an institution in the U.S. or other English-speaking country, may have this requirement waived. Please contact us for further details.

Admission decisions are made throughout the year as applications become complete. Consideration of applications for Fall Semester admission and financial support starts on January 15, so applications should be completed by that date.Offers of admission are extended to those who have the best overall qualifications and most closely match the interests of the faculty at The University of Iowa. Most Teaching Assistantships are awarded for the academic year, beginning with the Fall semester (late August). Only a few Teaching Assistantships are available beginning in the Spring semester (mid-January), so most students requesting financial support should apply for admission for the Fall semester. We look forward to receiving your application.