Admissions Information

• Information for future Graduate students at the University of Arizona.
• Information for International students.
• Information on funding.
• Information on costs and fees including a tuition calculator.

Application Requirements for PhD, MS and Certificate.

All students entering any Statistics & Data Science Program are required to have a substantive background in mathematics, including at least three semesters of Calculus through multivariable/vector calculus (at the level of MATH 125, MATH 129, MATH 223), one semester of Linear Algebra (at the level of MATH 310 or 313), and experience with computer technologies.

• These requirements are a minimum.  As part of the SDS application process you will need to provide a list of courses that you have taken that shows that you have met these requirements.

 G.R.E. General Test is NOT required but is strongly recommended- (GRE - general test only) that exceed 75th percentile Quantitative and 50th percentile Verbal. (GRE scores must be dated no older than five years from the time of application to the program.)

• While a GRE score is not required, acceptance to the program is competitive and your application will be weaker and less competitive without it.

Applicants from non-English-speaking countries must exhibit proficiency in English as per the Graduate College's basic requirements  for proficiency.

A minimum 3.0 GPA is required. 

Additional application materials include: statement of purpose, official Transcripts, three letters of recommendation (not required for certificate), and a list of college-level statistics and mathematics courses completed (including final grades)

For Ph.D. applicants:  Applicants must have or be in the process of completing a B.S. in Statistics, Biostatistics, Mathematics or Applied Mathematics or an advanced degree in a field that makes significant use of quantitative methods.

Application Requirements for the Accelerated MS Program

Completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of application; a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours will be required at the time of entry into the AMP. If the student's GPA falls below 3.3 at the time they have completed 90 units, the student will not be admitted into the program. Courses taken for audit may not be included in the total number of units counted for eligibility or admission.

At the time of application the student must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3 on a minimum of 12 units of undergraduate UA.

• While 3.3 is the minimum GPA, a more realistic GPA expectation is 3.7.

Completion of at least 12 earned undergraduate credits in their major at The University of Arizona's main campus. Units still graded Incomplete, units graded Pass/Fail or units taken as audit will not count toward the requirement of the 12 undergraduate units.

A typical successful applicant will have taken Math 363, MATH 375 and MATH467.

Completion or near completion of general education requirements.

In almost every circumstance, the letters of recommendation are key documents in determining admission and the financial package. Good letter writers are those who will take the time to write a candid and thoughtful letter.  Your letter writer should be chosen so that they speak to the most important issues for the Admissions Committee, namely your academic achievement and your accomplishments during activities like internships and teaching and research experiences. Thus, focus the choice for letter writers among your instructors for the most advanced and relevant courses or your recent mentors. Make sure that your letter writers have all of your supporting materials – resume, transcripts and personal statements. Having this material readily available makes it easier for them to write an effective letter.  

Three letters of recommendation are required.  It is recommended that all three recommenders are academic.  However, if necessary one can be a professional recommendation.

You need to make an effort to distinguish yourself beyond high scores on exams. So, stay engaged actively in the course both in the classroom and with your classmates, meet with your instructors, mentors and supervisors, and prepare assignments and projects carefully. Beyond helping you obtain a good letter of recommendation, this level of commitment is a good general approach to education. A good letter both describes your accomplishments and says something unique and original about you. This letter ought to complement and reinforce the points you made in your personal statement.

Review the information on English Proficiency for International Students if this applies to you.

Your personal statement should make it clear why you want to obtain an advanced degree in Statistics, how your background makes you qualified to achieve your aim, and why the University of Arizona is a good fit for you. Thus, you will need to spend time exploring the Program webpages and the webpages of our faculty and imagining yourself participating in the Program.  Personal statements are personal and so we have no absolute standard for a good statement. Look over some guidelines from websites like from Berkeley and Crunch Prep.  Prepare a statement that has your authentic voice. Sometime soon the Admissions and Recruitment Committee may meet you during a visit to Tucson or during a video chat. This statement is your introduction to us. Have trusted friends and associates look it over and provide construction criticism, especially if they have been through this process recently. Your goal should not be to get into every graduate program where you apply, but into the right program for you.

A good personal statement, curriculum vitae, transcript and foreign language or graduate exam scores are important and establish that you have genuine interest in a program and have met standards that will merit a substantive review or your application material. Graduate schools will have some need-based awards. However, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and fellowships are largely merit based.

You will need copies of your transcripts.  These do not need to be official transcripts.  Include all degrees that you have earned and those that you have not completed.  Don't forget to include any degree that you may be working on currently.

You will need a separate list of college-level statistics and mathematics courses completed (including final grades) or in progress.  The preferred document format is PDF.  Please do not submit another copy of your transcript.  Provide a list of the courses that you have taken that fulfill the following requirements:  "All students entering any Statistics Program are required to have a substantive background in mathematics, including at least three semesters of Calculus through multivariable/vector calculus (at the level of MATH 125, MATH 129, MATH 223), one semester of Linear Algebra (at the level of MATH 310 or 313), and experience with computer technologies."

Statement of Purpose

GRE Scores (if submitting), you will need to attach a copy of the GRE score sheet to your application.

English Proficiency Score For International students only.  

A CV (Curriculum Vitae) is not required but is encouraged.

Certificate applications only need transcripts, CV (not mandatory), and English Proficiency (for International Students).

Once you have gathered all the necessary information and documents it is time to apply.

Good luck with your application and rest assured that the Statistics Program’s Admissions and Recruitment Committee will give your application very careful consideration. We hope to see some of you soon.

1. Submit Application by January 1 for the fall semester.
2. Application Review starts at the beginning of January and runs through February.
3. Applicants will be notified if they are recommended for admission
4. The Graduate College reviews the recommended applications for compliance with University requirements.
5. PhD applicants that have been recommended for admission and pass the Graduate College checks will be considered for funding.