Graduate Admissions

• Prerequisites
• Finances
• Duties
• Deadlines
• Housing
• Visiting Campus

This user-friendly, online application is faster and easier than completing a paper application and provides for the prompt receipt and distribution of your application information. Individuals with special needs, or internet access problems, can request paper information via email at: gradinfo@unc.edu.

Admission to the Graduate Program is necessarily a selective process, and only applicants with academic records of high quality should seek admission. The minimal requirement is a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university in this country with a B average or better, or its equivalent based on a four-year curriculum in a foreign institution.

The department places strong emphasis on the mathematical theory of probability and statistics and thus sound mathematical preparation is an essential prerequisite for admission. An applicant's mathematical background should include a one-year course in advanced (multivariable) calculus or real analysis, at least a one-semester course in matrix algebra, and calculus-based courses in probability and statistics.

A complete application includes transcripts from all previously attended institutions, GRE scores -- including the Advanced Mathematics Graduate Examination -- and three letters of reference.  Students whose native language is not English are further required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language examination (TOEFL) administered by the Educational Testing Service.  In addition to the above, the department strongly recommends that applicants submit the following material:

1. Brief course descriptions, including text titles where applicable, of all previous undergraduate and graduate courses in (a) probability and statistics, (b) mathematics above the level of elementary calculus, and (c) other courses of a mathematical nature, such as computer science, mathematical physics, etc.
2. A statement of areas of interest in probability and statistics, and of career goals

More useful information for foreign students is available at The International Center.

Detailed information on schedules, registration tuition and fees is provided by The University Registrar; The entire Graduate Bulletin is also on line.

Assistance

Over 90 percent of Ph.D. graduate students in the Department of Statistics and Operations Research receive financial aid. The department offers a number of departmental assistantships each year to students who enter the Ph.D. program. These assistantships are renewable each academic year, contingent upon satisfactory progress toward a degree and availability of funds. Normally assistantships are not awarded to a student beyond the fifth academic year. The stipend for 2002-031 is $13,000 for new students, $13,000 for continuing students who have grading assignments, and $15,000 for continuing students having full reponsibility. The university also offers a variety of fellowships which are listed on the Graduate School pages.

Students interested in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology are encouraged to investigate BCB traineeships at UNC. BCB trainees pursue a joint Ph.D. program in Statistics while participating in special courses, seminars, and laboratory rotations in bioinformatics and computational biology, with support available from the university. See the BCB website for more information.

Minority Presence Awards

Under the Board of Governors general Minority Presence Grant Program, African American students may be eligible for special financial assistance if they are residents of North Carolina, enrolled for at least three hours of degree-credit coursework, and demonstrate financial need.

The Minority Presence Grant Program for Doctoral Study provides stipends of $9,000 for the academic year, with an option of additional support for study in the summer session, for African American residents of North Carolina who are selected to participate. Recipients must be full-time students pursuing doctoral degrees at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Tuition and Fees

Full-time students who have been awarded assistantships are eligible for a special tuition rate, currently identical to the in-state rate of $2,865 per academic year for both tuition and fees. The out-of-state rate for 1998-99 is $12,030. Entitlement to the special rate is forfeited if a student fails to complete a full semester. Tuition and fees are due at registration; accounts not paid in full by the last day of registration are subject to a late payment fee and the student's possible disenrollment. These rate are determined by the state legislature and may change each year.

More information on student finances can be found at the UNC Cashier's Office page.

Duties

First-year students on assistantships are not required to teach. Instead, they are assigned to assist one of the instructors with an undergraduate statistics course. Typically this includes helping undergraduate students with problem solving, holding periodic tutorials, and grading homework. Such assignments are carefully controlled so that a full-time course load can be pursued, and normally do not require more than 6-8 hours per week. After the first year, qualified students on assistantships teach one elementary-level statistics course per year. The average class size is 40-45 students, and assistance is provided for grading homework. Student-taught sections are monitored by the Director of Undergraduate Studies and TA's have access to advice, training and teaching aids from the University's Center for Teaching and Learning. The Department awards two teaching prizes each year.

Deadlines

The department normally admits students in the fall semester. The deadlines for application for admission in the fall semester are as follows:

• January 31 for admission and financial aid
• March 31 for admission without aid, if space is available

Further Information

The department welcomes applicants for admission and aid from members of minorities. Admission and aid are awarded without consideration of race, religion, sex, ethnic origin, or handicap.

For more information, contact the department's Admissions Coordinator, Charlotte Rogers, at crogers@email.unc.edu, or contact us via

Graduate Admissions
Department of Statistics
The University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3260
919-962-2307