PhD Mathematics at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

These descriptions summarize the requirements for the master's and Ph.D. degrees. More detailed statements may be obtained from the department. The director of graduate studies must approve all aspects of a student's program. The purpose of the graduate programs is to develop mathematical skills appropriate for competition in academia or industry. The course schedule for first-year students will depend upon each student's undergraduate training. The normal course load for a graduate student is three courses (nine credit hours) per semester. Graduate students must maintain full-time status in order to qualify for tuition and health insurance benefits.

Faculty: The Graduate School | Department: Mathematics | Duration: The department considers two years to be the normal time needed to complete a master's degree. | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Perform satisfactorily in 30 hours of graduate work in a program approved by the director of graduate studies.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School minimum (applies to all graduate programmes): a four-year bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better; application via the Graduate School online application with transcripts, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose and CV, plus any programme-specific tests/materials; international applicants add a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score; admission decisions are made by each programme.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants apply for a start term; fall is the main start term. Very few programmes admit new students for spring or summer terms.

Graduate applications and payment must be received by the deadline of the academic programme applied to, which varies by programme; the application closes at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. The Graduate School recommends complete applications by December 15, 2026 for full fellowship consideration.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions/

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