Courant Institute New York University FAS CAS GSAS

Application And Admission Policies

Application Procedure


The Grduate School of Arts and Science expects all applicants for degree programs to apply on-line using EMBARK.  For further information, please go to the GSAS admissions web site to apply on-line.

Students applying on a non-degree basis cannot apply on line, but can download an application from the GSAS web site. The GSAS web site also has instructions on mailing applications 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 submitted to the GSAS Graduate Enrollment Services office.
  • 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.
  • General GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores are required of all applicants (except non-degree); applicants for the Ph.D. program must also provide the subject GRE score, preferably in mathematics, but accepted in other relevant sciences.
  • 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.
  • List  code 2596 for the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Science in your request to the Educational Testing Service for forwarding official GRE and TOEFL scores. The departmental code for the GRE is 0703; for the TOEFL it is 72.

    • Application Deadlines

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

    Ph.D. applicants who missed the January deadline may apply to the M.S. program (without support).

    Degree Programs

    The following degree programs are offered by the Department of Mathematics:

    The Graduate School of Arts and Science now offers a doctoral program in Computationl Biology.  Students may apply to this progsram through the Departments of Mathematics, Computer Science, Biology, Chemistry, or the Center for Neural Sciences.

    The department also admits students on a non-degree basis, permitting them to take up to four courses.  These applicants do not need to submit test scores or recommendation letters (but will later be required to do so if they apply to any degree program). They are expected to meet the same academic standards as matriculated students.

    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 (contact Ms. Kristi Schwindt Ramos at kms257@nyu.edu).  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. 

    After completing four courses, students can apply for admission to the M.S. program in Mathematics. In a case of contiguous registration, no formal application to GSAS is required, but the student will have to provide the Department with three letters of recommendation and general GRE scores.  If time has lapsed between non-degree study and applying for the M.S. program, a formal application will be required.  Students should note that due to limited resources, admission to the M.S. in Mathematics in Finance program is not automatic 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.  In the evaluation of applications, applicants should note the following:

    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 G63.1002 Multivariable Calculus.

    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.