Admissions Deadline
Applications to the Ph.D. in Statistics program are due by December 15. Newly admitted students enter the program in the fall only.
- Application deadline for all materials: December 15
- Application available: September 1
- Admissions decisions communicated: February – March
- GRE Required? Waived for Fall 2025 admissions
- Part-time Study Available? No
- Distance Learning Available? No
All applicants are recommended to submit the application and supplemental materials before December 15 for full consideration. Late information will not be included in the initial review process but may be available to the Admissions Committee during deliberations.
Admissions Criteria
Admission decisions will be based on consideration of several factors including letters of recommendation, courses previously taken, GPA, and the number of spots available in the program.
To be competitive for admission into the Ph.D. Statistics program, applications are reviewed for:
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1
Subject Preparation
Adequate subject preparation for a Ph.D. in Statistics is necessary. Evidence of such preparation would be either:
- An earned master’s degree in Applied Statistics, Mathematical Statistics, Biostatistics, or an equivalent to any of these from an accredited college or university OR
- An earned bachelor’s degree in Mathematics, Statistics, or a course of study that satisfactorily covers many of the key subjects in these degrees from an accredited college or university.
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2
Strong GPA, including in Key Courses
Copies of previously attended college or university transcripts must be submitted with the application. A GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or comparable GPA in upper-division work and any graduate work already completed is required, but 3.4 or higher is recommended. The GPA average of recently admitted Ph.D. students is 3.80 on a 4.0 scale. A degree in mathematics is not required to be admitted to the program, but applicants must have evidence of strong performance in the following courses, documented via the Mathematics Preparation Form:
- Calculus
- Calculus-based probability
- Introductory statistics (including the basics of statistical inference: sampling distributions, hypothesis testing, and confidence intervals)
- Linear algebra
- Mathematical Statistics
- Programming
- Real Analysis
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3
Statement of purpose
A statement of purpose should discuss the intellectual preparedness of the applicant to undertake graduate studies in statistics or to special circumstances in an applicant’s background that might indicate the potential for success in a graduate statistics program.
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4
Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation written by those who are familiar with the applicant’s academic qualifications are needed. Letters from professors who have taught the applicant in mathematics or statistics courses are the best. Letters from employers are usually not useful in judging qualifications, unless the employer has qualifications in mathematics and statistics at a master’s level or higher.
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5
CV or résumé
Applications include a curriculum vitae or résumé.
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6
GRE Scores
The GRE has been waived for Fall 2025 admissions.
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7
English Proficiency
- International students whose native language is not English must also submit scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- A score of 550 (paper test), 213 (computer-based test), or 79 (internet-based test) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is considered the minimum acceptable score for admission to The University of Texas at Austin.
- International applicants who are from a qualifying country are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or a qualifying country. The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master’s—but not a bachelor’s—degree from a similar institution.
How to Apply
The Ph.D. in Statistics Admission committee begins reviewing applications for fall admission in December of each year. Applications must be received by December 15.
Graduate School Application for Admission
Apply Now using the Graduate School Application for Admission. Please note that applications may not be available until September 1 of the year before the desired start date.
Graduate and International Admissions Center
Complete the appropriate actions listed on the Office of Graduate Admissions (OGA) website. After submitting an application and paying the application fee, OGA will send the applicant a UT EID by email. OGA assigns the UT EID, so applicants with any question about this or the Graduate School application should contact OGA directly. An applicant’s UT EID should be included in all correspondence to the department and university.
Please do not create another EID for yourself. Only the EID that is sent in the email acknowledging receipt of an application will be linked to the applicant’s academic record.
To check to see if application materials have been received, use the online Application Status Check.
Admissions Decisions
Applicants can check their application status using Application Status Check.
Please see After Your Decision page for any next steps.
Note to Applicants Denied Admission: Admissions to the Ph.D. in Statistics program is overseen by the Admissions Committee that is composed of experienced faculty members who are best-suited to determine the individuals who best meet program standards. Unfortunately, when there are more qualified applicants than can adequately be instructed by the faculty or accommodated in the facilities, the Admissions Committee may deny admission to many applicants. Admissions recommendations to the graduate dean are final; there is no appeal. Please note, that the Admissions Committee does not provide feedback on individual applications or admissions decisions.
For more information about the Ph.D. Statistics program’s application materials and process, email the department at stat.admin@austin.utexas.edu. You can also find resources on the websites for the UT Graduate School and UT International Office.