Go to www.math.fsu.edu/apply to learn how to submit an application!

Here is the direct link to the University online application page: http://admissions.fsu.edu/graduate

All MS and PhD students are admitted for the Fall term only. The Fall term normally begins in the last week of August.

December 15th is the due date for PhD degree applications to receive full consideration for Fall admission and financial aid.

April 30th is the due date for MS degree applications to receive full consideration for Fall admission, and may in certain cases be considered for limited financial support if available. Applications completed after April 30 but before June 30 may sometimes be considered if space is available.

Consult the Director for questions about the degree majors; specific questions about the Actuarial Science track of the MS degree may be sent to the Coordinator of Actuarial Science. Questions about financial support may be directed to the Associate Chair for Graduate Studies.

The Financial Mathematics major leads to a graduate degree in mathematics and requires an undergraduate background in mathematics courses equivalent to those included in a mathematics major. Applicants should have experience with proof-based mathematics courses at the advanced undergraduate level, and with using computers to solve mathematical problems.

Also, please consult the FSU Math Graduate Program page for further information about graduate study at FSU.

Admission checklist: Required Background

1. Please include a CV with your application, including the years of study at all institutions of higher education that you attended, along with any significant jobs you held after earning your first Bachelor's degree.
2. The following specific math courses are required prerequisites:
   • Calculus I, II, and III (multivariate calculus)
   • Differential equations
   • Linear algebra
   • Probability and Statistics
   • For PhD applicants: Real Analysis or Advanced Calculus

     An upper division undergraduate course in proof-based Real Analysis or Advanced Calculus provides the needed background for further coursework in financial mathematics. Representative texts for this material include:

     • W. Rudin, Principles of Mathematical Analysis, 3rd edition; or
     • S. Abbott, Understanding Analysis, Springer.
3. You should have experience with proof-based mathematics courses at the upper-division level.
4. You should have some experience programming in a high level computer language like C++, Fortran, Python, and/or Julia before the start of the first semester.

   Students are encouraged to take programming as part of their undergraduate coursework. Admitted students unsure of their background are encouraged to consult Resources for C++ Programming for guidance and self-study, if needed.

Admission checklist: Recommended Background

• The following is recommended background for preparation for the MS coursework:
  • Real Analysis or Advanced Calculus.

    See above note.

  • Numerical Analysis.

    Some prior exposure to numerical methods of mathematics is recommended to prepare for MAD 5403-04 Foundations of Computational Mathematics in the first year of the program.

  • Finance and Economics.

    Some prior coursework in economics and/or finance is recommended.

• For admission to the PhD degree, it is recommended that students have taken, in addition to the courses listed above:
  • A two-semester sequence in Advanced Calculus; and
  • Several other upper division mathematics courses, to prepare for the required graduate analysis course in the first year.

How much does it cost to study at FSU? Do you give any financial aid?	Visit the Financial Aid page to learn about financial aid and the FSU tuition page for cost of registration at FSU. Currently, PhD students making timely progess toward the degree are financially supported with a Departmental Teaching Assistantship or University Fellowship that includes a stipend and most tuition. MS students are normally self-funded, but in some years the Department has a few tuition waivers available.
Should I apply for the MS or PhD?	The MS degree is a two-year coursework degree aimed at professional preparation for the quant world. Students considering the PhD degree need a stronger mathematical background and a greater degree of independence. The PhD usually takes 5 or 6 years to complete, and PhD students normally earn the MS degree after the first two years.
If I am admitted for the MS degree only, can I switch to the PhD?	If you were admitted as an MS student, but wish to pursue the PhD, you may elect the first year PhD qualifier courses, and if successful apply after one year to transfer to the PhD degree. Transfers to the PhD degree are competitive and not guaranteed. See the Director for more information.