Application Procedures

NOTE: A list of Frequently Asked Questions has been compiled for this page.

Thank you for your interest in graduate studies in mathematics and statistics at Memorial University.

Applications should be submitted online. If you have any questions concerning the completion of the online application or if you are unable to access a credit card to pay the application fee, please contact the School of Graduate Studies by email at sgs@mun.ca, by calling (709) 864-2445, or by facsimile at (709) 864-4702. Please note that if you are attending or have attended Memorial University in the past, you should submit your application through Self-Service.

Applications are not considered complete until the School of Graduate Studies has received:

  1. An official record of courses and grades earned (i.e., a transcript, if such a document is issued by your university). Documents must be sent directly by the issuing university.
  2. Certification of completion of degrees (if not noted on the transcript). Photocopies are not acceptable unless they have been certified by the appropriate university or legal official as true copies of the original documents.
  3. Notarized English translations of all supporting documentation, including but not limited to, transcripts, certification of degree and diplomas. (This applies only to applicants who have completed programs at universities which issue documents in languages other than English or French.)Proof of proficiency in the English language. See below for acceptable forms of proof.
  4. Two letters of appraisal, at least one of which must be from an academic. The letters should be submitted electronically at http://www.mun.ca/become/graduate/apply.
  5. A (non-refundable) application processing fee of $60 for Canadian applicants and $120 for international applicants .

Please remember that submission of an application does not ensure your acceptance into the School of Graduate Studies. You will be informed of your status after all factors have been considered.

 Frequently Asked Questions about Application and Admission Procedures

If you have other questions about our department or the admissions process, please contact our Graduate Officer by email at mathgrad@mun.ca.

What is the application deadline?

All Masters programmes start in the Fall. On exceptional cases two programmes, Master of Science in Mathematics/Option 1 and Master of Science in Statistics, may admit students for the Winter term. However, under no circumstancs the programmes Master of Applied Statistics (MAS) and the Master of Science in Mathematics/Option 2 (course based) will take new admission in the Winter term. Doctoral programmes may start in the Fall and Winter terms. However, if you would like to be considered for full financial support, we encorage you to apply for the Fall term since for Winter admission, traditionaly, the funding options are limited.

If you are applying for September (i.e. Fall) admission, then you should make sure that we have received all of your application materials (including transcripts, letters of appraisal, and the application fee) by January 31.

If you are applying for January (i.e. Winter) admission, then you should make sure that we have received all of your application materials (including transcripts, letters of appraisal, and the application fee) by August 31. Notice that the programmes Master of Applied Statistics (MAS) and the Master of Science in Mathematics/Option 2 (M.Sc. course based) do not take new admission in the Winter term.

These deadlines are critical if you wish to be fully considered for financial support.

Is it helpful if I describe what topics I am interested in studying?

Yes, it is extremely helpful to us when you clearly state an area of specialization. We receive many applications and by indicating what your research interests are, your application becomes much easier to match up with potential supervisors with similar interests.

Likewise, if there are particular professors who you have been in contact with, or who you might prefer to work with, it is helpful to us when you mention them in your application as well.

What forms of proof of English proficiency do you accept?

Most international students submit TOEFL scores to us, although we do accept other forms of proof of proficiency in the English language. Some of the acceptable forms of proof are:

  • Transcripts showing the successful completion of a baccalaureate or post-graduate degree program at a recognized University where English is the language of instruction and from which transfer of credit may be allowed by Memorial University.
  • A TOEFL score of at least 550 plus a Test of Written English (TWE) score of 4.0 or higher, or a TOEFL Internet-Based Test (IBT) score of at least 19 in the reading, listening and speaking sections and at least 24 in the writing section.
  • The Michigan Test of English Proficiency with a score of 85% or more.
  • The English Language Testing Service (ELTS) Test with a score in Band 7 or higher.
  • The Carleton Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment with a minimum score of between 50 and 60 in each of four bands, and with at least 2 band scores of 60.
  • The Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTEST) with a Band Level 4.5 in the listening comprehension and reading comprehension sub-tests and a score of 4 in writing.

Note that official documents are required. Photocopies are not acceptable.

Do you require GRE scores?

No, we do not require GRE scores. However, we will be happy to include them in your application file if you submit them to us.

Can I be admitted into your PhD program if I don't have a Master's degree?

It is normal for students to first obtain a Master's degree before being admitted into one of our PhD programs.

If you are presently working on a Master's degree and expect to finish it before beginning a PhD program, then you may apply for admission to one of our PhD programs.

What happens if I submit an application but do not pay the application fee?

If no application fee is paid for your application, then the School of Graduate Studies will not forward any of your application materials to our department. We will never know that you even applied.

For the application fee, what forms of payment do you accept?

If you apply online, you can enter a Visa or Mastercard credit card number during the online application process.

Alternatively, you can pay the application fee by cheque or money order, made payable to “Memorial University” or you can mail us the details for your Visa or Mastercard credit card (see the bottom of the Checklist page from the Information Sheet and Checklist). If you pay by a cheque or money order issued by a non-Canadian financial institution, please ensure that the cheque includes the full mailing address (including street name) of the financial institution that issued the cheque.

Note that we accept cheques in either Canadian or US dollars. If you pay in US dollars, ensure that the amount is equivalent to $40 Canadian using the exchange rate on the date that the cheque is drawn.

For your own protection, please do not send cash in the mail.

How can I tell when you have received my application?

If you applied online then you can check to see which application materials (such as transcripts and letters of appraisal) have been received by the School of Graduate Studies by reviewing your application.

If you did not apply online, then you will need to contact our Graduate Officer by email at mathgrad@mun.ca if you wish to inquire about the status of your application. Note, however, that the Graduate Officer will not have any information about your application if the application fee has not yet been paid.

When can I hope to find out if I will be admitted?

We begin reviewing and ranking applicants for September admission in early February. Once our department has delivered its recommendations for admission to the School of Graduate Studies (usually by the end of February) we encourage faculty members to get in touch with those students that have been recommended.

After another few weeks the School of Graduate Studies will have made official decisions about admissions and funding, at which time we encourage faculty members to get in touch with those students who have been successful.

What happens if I am not admitted?

Once your file is closed and no longer under consideration, you will be sent a letter to this effect.

If you subsequently wish to re-apply, you will have to submit a new application and all the supporting documentation. You will also be required to pay the application processing fee for your new application.