The Mathematics Graduate Program
Our Faculty
Our faculty are internationally recognized leaders, who have received external funding from numerous sources, including NSF, NIH, DOE, NSA, Burroughs Wellcome, ONR and AFOSR, NSF Research Training Grants in Fluids, Department of Education GAANN Fellowship Programs, and a new NIH Big Data Training Grant. Our faculty includes numerous fellows of the AMS and SIAM, and are working in research areas spanning topics as below.
Program Funding and Information
Students are admitted into our Ph.D. program as fully supported teaching assistants, and roughly half move to federally supported research grants. UNC also offers generous internal fellowships for which our students have successfully competed. Our Ph.D. program offers flexible training opportunities both within the department and through interdisciplinary partnerships with other departments, centers, and institutes. Our graduates have earned academic postdoctoral positions at top R1 universities in the US and abroad, at national labs, in industry, and many ultimately have gone into tenure track positions.
Interdisciplinary Partnerships and Affiliated Programs
- Carolina Center for Interdisciplinary Applied Mathematics
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Statistical and Applied Mathematical Sciences Institute
Degree Programs
Master of Science, Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy. Courses offered in the areas of algebra, analysis, applied mathematics, combinatorics, dynamical systems, geometry, and topology.
Apply Online
Admissions Requirements
- Graduate School Online Application
- Application Fee – $95.00
- Transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation
- Statement of Purpose
- Resume
- Math supplemental application, available as a PDF or Word
International applicants are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS score, no more than two years old. A completed financial certificate must be submitted after being offered admission.
Financial Assistance
Most of our Ph.D. students are supported as Teaching and Research Assistants. Our 9-month academic year stipends typically range from $18,000 to $20,000. Most students receive additional funding in the summers through teaching or research positions. The graduate school provides a cost of living comparison chart. Students may also be recommended for various university and national fellowships.
For Additional Information Contact

Hans Christianson
Professor, Director of Graduate Studies
Phillips Hall 304B
hans@unc.edu

Laurie Straube
Graduate Student Services Manager
331 A Phillips Hall
919-962-4178
straube@email.unc.edu