phd statistics requirements

Ph.D. Program in Statistics

The Ph.D. degree includes a thorough background of coursework in contemporary statistical theory, and provides an opportunity for studying a field in which statistics is applied.

Degree requirements , approved by Grad Council on May 5, 2023

Admission Requirements

For information on admissions requirements, please see our Admissions Section .  

• Program of Study

Course Requirements for the Ph.D. degree:

Required Courses (34 units):

Mathematical Statistics: STA 231A-231B-231C ( 4 units each ) Applied Statistics: STA 232A-232B-232C ( 4 units each) Statistical Programming: STA 242 or Computational Statistics: STA 243 ( 4 units ) Seminar in Statistics: STA 290 ( taken three quarters, 1 unit each, graded S/U ) Methods in Teaching Statistics: STA 390 ( 2 units, once, at the first offering of the course during residence, graded S/U ) Methods in Statistical Consulting: STA 260 ( 3 units)

Elective Courses (18 units total):

In addition, five elective graduate-level courses (at least 18 units total), out of which at least four must be from Statistics, from the following list of potential elective courses:

STA 222 , Survival Analysis (4 units) STA 223 , Generalized Linear Models (4 units) STA 224 , Analysis of Longitudinal Data (4 units) STA 225 , Clinical Trials (4 units) STA 226 , Statistical Methods for Bioinformatics (4 units) STA 235A-235B-235C , Probability Theory (4 units each) STA 237A-237B . Time Series Analysis (4 units each) *STA 250 , Topics in Applied and Computational Statistics (4 units) *STA 251 , Topics in Statistical Methods and Models (4 units) STA 252 , Advanced Topics in Biostatistics (4 units)

Please note that other graduate STA courses (STA 200ABC, STA 201, STA 206-207-208 for example) may not be used to satisfy the graduate elective requirement for the Ph.D. degree. If you have any questions please ask the Graduate Advisor or the graduate program coordinator. *The topics of these courses change each quarter and with each instructor. For examples of the topics taught in these courses, click here: 250 & 251 .

All coursework (a total of at least 52 units: 34 required and 18 elective units) and the program of study must be approved by the Graduate Advisor.

Ph.D. Pre-Qualifying Written Examination

The Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination will be given each year during Spring Break and also at the beginning of each Fall Quarter. Students in the Ph.D. program must attempt the exam in the Spring immediately after they complete both the STA 231AB and STA 232AB core course series. If a student does not attempt the examination at this time, it will be recorded as a ‘no pass.’  Every Ph.D. student needs to pass the examination in a maximum of two attempts. In case of not pass at the first attempt, the second attempt must take place at the next time the examination is offered, and if a student does not attempt the exam at that time, it will be counted as a failure. Two ‘not passes’ of the examination will result in a recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies for discontinuation of the student in the Ph.D. program.

The Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination is a written exam with two separate parts: a theoretical part and an applied part. The duration of each part is about 3-4 hours. The applied part may be offered in a computer lab and may include the use of statistical software. If at the first attempt one part is passed but the other is not, only the part which was not passed must be repeated at the next attempt.

The Chair of the Graduate Program in Statistics (GPS) will appoint an examination committee that will be responsible for preparing, administering and grading the examination. This committee will forward its recommendation to the GPS, which will make the final decision on each student.

Ph.D. Qualifying Examination

The Ph.D. Qualifying Examination (QE) is an oral exam whose purpose is to determine if the student is capable of independent research. The QE will be composed of a forty-five minute presentation given by the student and is followed by a question period which covers a special research topic as well as coursework in general. A student who passes the QE is eligible for advancement to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The QE is expected to be attempted within one year from the quarter in which the student passes the Ph.D. Pre-qualifying Written Examination, but no later than the end of the student's third year of the Ph.D. program. In consultation with the Dissertation Adviser, the student will submit to the Graduate Advising Committee (GAC) a date for the exam and a dissertation proposal.

1 . The dissertation proposal should be between three and five pages in length and should contain an outline of the general context of the thesis research, a description of the special problem(s) to be addressed, and an indication of the methods and techniques to be used.

2. A draft version of the proposal must be submitted to the GAC for the purpose of determination of the composition of the QE committee at least 6 weeks before the proposed date of the exam. The student must submit a final version of the proposal to the QE committee a week before the exam date.

3. Based on the proposal, the GAC will recommend the appointment of a committee of four examiners to Graduate Studies (in consultation with the student and the student's Dissertation Adviser). Normally the exam committee with be composed of three members from the Department of Statistics. Per Graduate Council guidelines, at least one member must be external to the Graduate Program in Statistics. The student’s intended Dissertation Adviser (and/or co-adviser) is not eligible to serve on the Qualifying Examination committee. 4. Outcome of the Exam - The committee will reach a decision on the student's performance immediately after the exam.  The committee, having reached a unanimous decision, shall inform the student of its decision to:               -  Pass - no conditions may be appended to this decision               -  Not Pass - the Chair's report should specify whether the student is required to retake all or part of the examination, list any additional requirements, and state the exact timeline for completion of requirements to achieve a "Pass."               -  Fail

A student who passes the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination is eligible for Advancement to Candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. The student must file the appropriate paperwork with the Office of Graduate Studies and pay the candidacy fee to be promoted to Candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

Graduate Studies guidelines for Ph.D. Qualifying Examinations apply. These can be obtained from the Graduate Studies Website .

Final Exam (Defense)

Defense of the dissertation before the dissertation committee will constitute the final examination for the Ph.D. degree. The final examination must be passed within four years after promotion to Candidacy, unless a special exception is granted. Pass or no pass is determined by a vote of the dissertation committee. The title and abstract of the Ph.D. Defense presentation must be submitted to the graduate program coordinator one week ahead of the defense. This will be distributed to all faculty and students of the Graduate Program in Statistics, who are invited to attend the presentation portion of the examination. The subsequent question period is a closed session between the student and the committee.

Dissertation

The doctoral dissertation is an essential part of the Ph.D. program. A topic will be selected by the student, under the advice and guidance of a major professor (thesis adviser) and the dissertation committee chaired by the major professor. Students are encouraged to begin some research activity as early as possible during the second year of their graduate studies. The dissertation must contain an original contribution of publishable quality to the knowledge of statistics that may expand the theory or methodology of statistics, or expand or modify statistical methods to solve a critical problem in applied disciplines. Acceptance of the dissertation by three designated members of the dissertation committee follows Graduate Studies guidelines (Plan A with defense). The dissertation must be completed and submitted to the dissertation committee prior to taking the final examination. Students should be guided on matters of style by the chair and members of the thesis/dissertation committee. Graduate Studies is not concerned with the form of the bibliography, appendix, footnotes, etc. as long as they are done in some acceptable, consistent and recognized manner approved by your committee. (See https://grad.ucdavis.edu/current-students/academic-services-information/filing-thesis-or-dissertation )

Normative Time to Degree

The Normative time to Degree is five years.

Sample Study Plan

Every full-time student at UC Davis is required to take 12 units of coursework per quarter. Financial support, if granted, is contingent on normal progress towards the degree goal. In addition to the coursework as outlined below, students will take Statistics 290 and generally will take additional electives later on, in consultation with their major professor.

The following would be a typical program for a well-prepared student seeking a Ph.D. degree who opts for the fast track.

Graduate Student Handbook (Coming Soon: New Graduate Student Handbook)

Phd program overview.

The PhD program prepares students for research careers in probability and statistics in academia and industry. Students admitted to the PhD program earn the MA and MPhil along the way. The first year of the program is spent on foundational courses in theoretical statistics, applied statistics, and probability. In the following years, students take advanced topics courses. Research toward the dissertation typically begins in the second year. Students also have opportunities to take part in a wide variety of projects involving applied probability or applications of statistics.

Students are expected to register continuously until they distribute and successfully defend their dissertation. Our core required and elective curricula in Statistics, Probability, and Machine Learning aim to provide our doctoral students with advanced learning that is both broad and focused. We expect our students to make Satisfactory Academic Progress in their advanced learning and research training by meeting the following program milestones through courseworks, independent research, and dissertation research:

By the end of year 1: passing the qualifying exams;

By the end of year 2: fulfilling all course requirements for the MA degree and finding a dissertation advisor;

By the end of year 3: passing the oral exam (dissertation prospectus) and fulfilling all requirements for the MPhil degree

By the end of year 5: distributing and defending the dissertation.

We believe in the Professional Development value of active participation in intellectual exchange and pedagogical practices for future statistical faculty and researchers. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants and present research during their training. In addition, each student is expected to attend seminars regularly and participate in Statistical Practicum activities before graduation.

We provide in the following sections a comprehensive collection of the PhD program requirements and milestones. Also included are policies that outline how these requirements will be enforced with ample flexibility. Questions on these requirements should be directed to ADAA Cindy Meekins at [email protected] and the DGS, Professor John Cunningham at [email protected] .

Applications for Admission

• Our students receive very solid training in all aspects of modern statistics. See Graduate Student Handbook for more information.
• Our students receive Fellowship and full financial support for the entire duration of their PhD. See more details here .
• Our students receive job offers from top academic and non-academic institutions .
• Our students can work with world-class faculty members from Statistics Department or the Data Science Institute .
• Our students have access to high-speed computer clusters for their ambitious, computationally demanding research.
• Our students benefit from a wide range of seminars, workshops, and Boot Camps organized by our department and the data science institute .
• Suggested Prerequisites: A student admitted to the PhD program normally has a background in linear algebra and real analysis, and has taken a few courses in statistics, probability, and programming. Students who are quantitatively trained or have substantial background/experience in other scientific disciplines are also encouraged to apply for admission.
• GRE requirement: Waived for Fall 2024.
• Language requirement: The English Proficiency Test requirement (TOEFL) is a Provost's requirement that cannot be waived.
• The Columbia GSAS minimum requirements for TOEFL and IELTS are: 100 (IBT), 600 (PBT) TOEFL, or 7.5 IELTS. To see if this requirement can be waived for you, please check the frequently asked questions below.
• Deadline: Jan 8, 2024 .
• Application process: Please apply by completing the Application for Admission to the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences .
• Timeline: P.hD students begin the program in September only.  Admissions decisions are made in mid-March of each year for the Fall semester.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the application deadline? What is the deadline for financial aid? Our application deadline is January 6, 2025
• Can I meet with you in person or talk to you on the phone? Unfortunately given the high number of applications we receive, we are unable to meet or speak with our applicants.
• What are the required application materials? Specific admission requirements for our programs can be found here .
• Due to financial hardship, I cannot pay the application fee, can I still apply to your program? Yes. Many of our prospective students are eligible for fee waivers. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers a variety of application fee waivers . If you have further questions regarding the waiver please contact  gsas-admissions@ columbia.edu .
• How many students do you admit each year? It varies year to year. We finalize our numbers between December - early February.
• What is the distribution of students currently enrolled in your program? (their background, GPA, standard tests, etc)? Unfortunately, we are unable to share this information.
• How many accepted students receive financial aid? All students in the PhD program receive, for up to five years, a funding package consisting of tuition, fees, and a stipend. These fellowships are awarded in recognition of academic achievement and in expectation of scholarly success; they are contingent upon the student remaining in good academic standing. Summer support, while not guaranteed, is generally provided. Teaching and research experience are considered important aspects of the training of graduate students. Thus, graduate fellowships include some teaching and research apprenticeship. PhD students are given funds to purchase a laptop PC, and additional computing resources are supplied for research projects as necessary. The Department also subsidizes travel expenses for up to two scientific meetings and/or conferences per year for those students selected to present. Additional matching funds from the Graduate School Arts and Sciences are available to students who have passed the oral qualifying exam.
• Can I contact the department with specific scores and get feedback on my competitiveness for the program? We receive more than 450 applications a year and there are many students in our applicant pool who are qualified for our program. However, we can only admit a few top students. Before seeing the entire applicant pool, we cannot comment on admission probabilities.
• What is the minimum GPA for admissions? While we don’t have a GPA threshold, we will carefully review applicants’ transcripts and grades obtained in individual courses.
• Is there a minimum GRE requirement? No. The general GRE exam is waived for the Fall 2025 admissions cycle. 
• Can I upload a copy of my GRE score to the application? Yes, but make sure you arrange for ETS to send the official score to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
• Is the GRE math subject exam required? No, we do not require the GRE math subject exam.
• What is the minimum TOEFL or IELTS  requirement? The Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences minimum requirements for TOEFL and IELTS are: 100 (IBT), 600 (PBT) TOEFL, or 7.5 IELTS
•  I took the TOEFL and IELTS more than two years ago; is my score valid? Scores more than two years old are not accepted. Applicants are strongly urged to make arrangements to take these examinations early in the fall and before completing their application.
• I am an international student and earned a master’s degree from a US university. Can I obtain a TOEFL or IELTS waiver? You may only request a waiver of the English proficiency requirement from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences by submitting the English Proficiency Waiver Request form and if you meet any of the criteria described here . If you have further questions regarding the waiver please contact  gsas-admissions@ columbia.edu .
• My transcript is not in English. What should I do? You have to submit a notarized translated copy along with the original transcript.

Can I apply to more than one PhD program? You may not submit more than one PhD application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. However, you may elect to have your application reviewed by a second program or department within the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences if you are not offered admission by your first-choice program. Please see the application instructions for a more detailed explanation of this policy and the various restrictions that apply to a second choice. You may apply concurrently to a program housed at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and to programs housed at other divisions of the University. However, since the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences does not share application materials with other divisions, you must complete the application requirements for each school.

How do I apply to a dual- or joint-degree program? The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences refers to these programs as dual-degree programs. Applicants must complete the application requirements for both schools. Application materials are not shared between schools. Students can only apply to an established dual-degree program and may not create their own.

With the sole exception of approved dual-degree programs , students may not pursue a degree in more than one Columbia program concurrently, and may not be registered in more than one degree program at any institution in the same semester. Enrollment in another degree program at Columbia or elsewhere while enrolled in a Graduate School of Arts and Sciences master's or doctoral program is strictly prohibited by the Graduate School. Violation of this policy will lead to the rescission of an offer of admission, or termination for a current student.

When will I receive a decision on my application? Notification of decisions for all PhD applicants generally takes place by the end of March.

Notification of MA decisions varies by department and application deadlines. Some MA decisions are sent out in early spring; others may be released as late as mid-August.

Can I apply to both MA Statistics and PhD statistics simultaneously?  For any given entry term, applicants may elect to apply to up to two programs—either one PhD program and one MA program, or two MA programs—by submitting a single (combined) application to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.  Applicants who attempt to submit more than one Graduate School of Arts and Sciences application for the same entry term will be required to withdraw one of the applications.

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences permits applicants to be reviewed by a second program if they do not receive an offer of admission from their first-choice program, with the following restrictions:

• This option is only available for fall-term applicants.
• Applicants will be able to view and opt for a second choice (if applicable) after selecting their first choice. Applicants should not submit a second application. (Note: Selecting a second choice will not affect the consideration of your application by your first choice.)
• Applicants must upload a separate Statement of Purpose and submit any additional supporting materials required by the second program. Transcripts, letters, and test scores should only be submitted once.
• An application will be forwarded to the second-choice program only after the first-choice program has completed its review and rendered its decision. An application file will not be reviewed concurrently by both programs.
• Programs may stop considering second-choice applications at any time during the season; Graduate School of Arts and Sciences cannot guarantee that your application will receive a second review.
• What is the mailing address for your PhD admission office? Students are encouraged to apply online . Please note: Materials should not be mailed to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences unless specifically requested by the Office of Admissions. Unofficial transcripts and other supplemental application materials should be uploaded through the online application system. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Office of Admissions Columbia University  107 Low Library, MC 4303 535 West 116th Street  New York, NY 10027
• How many years does it take to pursue a PhD degree in your program? Our students usually graduate in 4‐6 years.
• Can the PhD be pursued part-time? No, all of our students are full-time students. We do not offer a part-time option.
• One of the requirements is to have knowledge of linear algebra (through the level of MATH V2020 at Columbia) and advanced calculus (through the level of MATH V1201). I studied these topics; how do I know if I meet the knowledge content requirement? We interview our top candidates and based on the information on your transcripts and your grades, if we are not sure about what you covered in your courses we will ask you during the interview.
• Can I contact faculty members to learn more about their research and hopefully gain their support? Yes, you are more than welcome to contact faculty members and discuss your research interests with them. However, please note that all the applications are processed by a central admission committee, and individual faculty members cannot and will not guarantee admission to our program.
• How do I find out which professors are taking on new students to mentor this year?  Applications are evaluated through a central admissions committee. Openings in individual faculty groups are not considered during the admissions process. Therefore, we suggest contacting the faculty members you would like to work with and asking if they are planning to take on new students.

For more information please contact us at [email protected] .

For more information please contact us at  [email protected]

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Ph.D. in Statistics

Our doctoral program in statistics gives future researchers preparation to teach and lead in academic and industry careers.

Program Description

Degree type.

approximately 5 years

The relatively new Ph.D. in Statistics strives to be an exemplar of graduate training in statistics. Students are exposed to cutting edge statistical methodology through the modern curriculum and have the opportunity to work with multiple faculty members to take a deeper dive into special topics, gain experience in working in interdisciplinary teams and learn research skills through flexible research electives. Graduates of our program are prepared to be leaders in statistics and machine learning in both academia and industry.

The Ph.D. in Statistics is expected to take approximately five years to complete, and students participate as full-time graduate students.  Some students are able to finish the program in four years, but all admitted students are guaranteed five years of financial support.  

Within our program, students learn from global leaders in statistics and data sciences and have:

20 credits of required courses in statistical theory and methods, computation, and applications

18 credits of research electives working with two or more faculty members, elective coursework (optional), and a guided reading course

Dissertation research

Coursework Timeline

Year 1: focus on core learning.

The first year consists of the core courses:

• SDS 384.2 Mathematical Statistics I
• SDS 383C Statistical Modeling I
• SDS 387 Linear Models
• SDS 384.11 Theoretical Statistics
• SDS 383D Statistical Modeling II
• SDS 386D Monte Carlo Methods

In addition to the core courses, students of the first year are expected to participate in SDS 190 Readings in Statistics. This class focuses on learning how to read scientific papers and how to grasp the main ideas, as well as on practicing presentations and getting familiar with important statistics literature.

At the end of the first year, students are expected to take a written preliminary exam. The examination has two purposes: to assess the student’s strengths and weaknesses and to determine whether the student should continue in the Ph.D. program. The exam covers the core material covered in the core courses and it consists of two parts: a 3-hour closed book in-class portion and a take-home applied statistics component. The in-class portion is scheduled at the end of the Spring Semester after final exams (usually late May). The take-home problem is distributed at the end of the in-class exam, with a due-time 24 hours later. 

Year 2: Transitioning from Student to Researcher

In the second year of the program, students take the following courses totaling 9 credit hours each semester:

• Required: SDS 190 Readings in Statistics (1 credit hour)
• Required: SDS 389/489 Research Elective* (3 or 4 credit hours) in which the student engages in independent research under the guidance of a member of the Statistics Graduate Studies Committee
• One or more elective courses selected from approved electives ; and/or
• One or more sections of SDS 289/389/489 Research Elective* (2 to 4 credit hours) in which the student engages in independent research with a member(s) of the Statistics Graduate Studies Committee OR guided readings/self-study in an area of statistics or machine learning. 
• Internship course (0 or 1 credit hour; for international students to obtain Curricular Practical Training; contact Graduate Coordinator for appropriate course options)
• GRS 097 Teaching Assistant Fundamentals or NSC 088L Introduction to Evidence-Based Teaching (0 credit hours; for TA and AI preparation)

* Research electives allow students to explore different advising possibilities by working for a semester with a particular professor. These projects can also serve as the beginning of a dissertation research path. No more than six credit hours of research electives can be taken with a single faculty member in a semester.

Year 3: Advance to Candidacy

Students are encouraged to attend conferences, give presentations, as well as to develop their dissertation research. At the end of the second year or during their third year, students are expected to present their plan of study for the dissertation in an Oral candidacy exam. During this exam, students should demonstrate their research proficiency to their Ph.D. committee members. Students who successfully complete the candidacy exam can apply for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. once they have completed their required coursework and satisfied departmental requirements. The steps to advance to candidacy are:

• Discuss potential candidacy exam topics with advisor
• Propose Ph.D. committee: the proposed committee must follow the Graduate School and departmental regulations on committee membership for what will become the Ph.D. Dissertation Committee
•   Application for candidacy

Year 4+: Dissertation Completion and Defense

Students are encouraged to attend conferences, give presentations, as well as to develop their dissertation research. Moreover, they are expected to present part of their work in the framework of the department's Ph.D. poster session.

Students who are admitted to candidacy will be expected to complete and defend their Ph.D. thesis before their Ph.D. committee to be awarded the degree. The final examination, which is oral, is administered only after all coursework, research and dissertation requirements have been fulfilled. It is expected that students will be prepared to defend by the end of their fifth year in the doctoral program.

General Information and Expectations for All Ph.D. students

• 2023-24 Student Handbook
• Annual Review At the end of every spring semester, students in their second year and beyond are expected to fill out an annual review form distributed by the Graduate Program Administrator. 
• Seminar Series All students are expected to attend the SDS Seminar Series
• SDS 189R Course Description (when taken for internship)
• Internship Course Registration form
• Intel Corporation
• Berry Consultants

Attending Conferences 

Students are encouraged to attend conferences to share their work. All research-related travel while in student status require prior authorization.

• Request for Travel Authorization (both domestic and international travel)
• Request for Authorization for International Travel  

DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS AND DATA SCIENCE

Phd program, phd program overview.

The doctoral program in Statistics and Data Science is designed to provide students with comprehensive training in theory and methodology in statistics and data science, and their applications to problems in a wide range of fields. The program is flexible and may be arranged to reflect students' interests and career goals. Cross-disciplinary work is encouraged. The PhD program prepares students for careers as university teachers and researchers as well as research statisticians and data scientists in industry, government and the non-profit sector.

Requirements

Students are required to fulfill the Department requirements in addition to those specified by The Graduate School (TGS).

From the Graduate School’s webpage outlining the general requirements for a PhD :

In order to receive a doctoral degree, students must:

• Complete all required coursework. .
• Gain admittance to candidacy.
• Submit a prospectus to be approved by a faculty committee.
• Present a dissertation with original research. Review the Dissertation Publication page for more information.
• Complete the necessary teaching requirement
• Submit necessary forms to file for graduation
• Complete degree requirements within the approved timeline

PhD degrees must be approved by the student's academic program. Consult with your program directly regarding specific degree requirements.

The Department requires that students in the Statistics and Data Science PhD program:

• Meet the department minimum residency requirement of 2 years
• STAT 344-0 Statistical Computing
• STAT 350-0 Regression Analysis
• STAT 353-0 Advanced Regression
• STAT 415-0 I ntroduction to Machine Learning
• STAT 420-1,2,3 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Methodology 1, 2, 3
• STAT 430-1, 2 Probability for Statistical Inference 1, 2
• STAT 440 Applied Stochastic Processes for Statistics
• STAT 457-0 Applied Bayesian Inference

Students generally complete the required coursework during their first two years in the PhD program. *note that required courses changed in the 2021-22 academic year, previous required courses can be found at the end of this page.

• Pass the Qualifying Exam. This comprehensive examination covers basic topics in statistics and data science and and is typically taken in fall quarter of the second year.

Pass the Prospectus presentation/examination and be admitted for PhD candidacy by the end of year 3 . The department requires that students must complete their Prospectus (proposal of dissertation topic) before the end of year 3, which is earlier than The Graduate School deadline of the end of year 4. The prospectus must be approved by a faculty committee comprised of a committee chair and a minimum of 2 other faculty members. Students usually first find an adviser through independent studies who will then typically serve as the committee chair. When necessary, exceptions may be made upon the approval of the committee chair and the director of graduate studies, to extend the due date of the prospectus exam until the end of year 4.

• Successfully complete and defend a doctoral dissertation. After the prospectus is approved, students begin work on the doctoral dissertation, which must demonstrate an original contribution to a chosen area of specialization. A final examination (thesis defense) is given based on the dissertation. Students typically complete the PhD program in 5 years.
• Attend all seminars in the department and participate in other research activities . In addition to these academic requirements, students are expected to participate in other research activities and attend all department seminars every year they are in the program.

Optional MS degree en route to PhD

Students admitted to the Statistics and Data Science PhD program can obtain an optional MS (Master of Science) degree en route to their PhD. The MS degree requires 12 courses: STAT 350-0 Regression Analysis, STAT 353 Advanced Regression, STAT 420-1,2,3 Introduction to Statistical Theory and Methodology 1, 2, 3, STAT 415-0 I ntroduction to Machine Learning , and at least 6 more courses approved by the department of which two must be 400 level STAT elective courses, no more than 3 can be approved non-STAT courses.

*Prior to 2021-2022, the course requirements for the PhD were:

• STAT 351-0 Design and Analysis of Experiments
• STAT 425 Sampling Theory and Applications
• MATH 450-1,2 Probability 1, 2 or MATH 450-1 Probability 1 and IEMS 460-1,2 Stochastic Processes 1, 2
• Six additional 300/400 graduate-level Statistics courses, at least two must be 400 -level

PhD Program

Advanced undergraduate or masters level work in mathematics and statistics will provide a good background for the doctoral program. Quantitatively oriented students with degrees in other scientific fields are also encouraged to apply for admission. In particular, the department has expanded its research and educational activities towards computational biology, mathematical finance and information science. The doctoral program normally takes four to five years to complete.

Doctoral Program in Statistics

Statistics phd minor.

How to Apply

GRE and TOEFL/IELTS Scores

GRE scores are not required or reviewed. 

Any international student who does not qualify for an English language proficiency  waiver will be required to submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores. There can be no exceptions to this policy. 

Academic Statement of Purpose & Personal Statement

The Statistics PhD program will require applicants to submit both an academic statement of purpose and a personal statement . 

Applications are submitted electronically using the  Web-Based Application form . Required application materials include a CV, transcripts from all undergraduate/graduate institutions, and two letters of recommendation. Additional information beyond what is requested as part of the Web-Based Application form is not required. All requested application materials should therefore be submitted as part of the Web-Based Application process.

IMPORTANT : no other materials should be sent to the Field of Statistics by e-mail, FAX or surface mail unless applicants are contacted directly and asked to submit additional information. Neither the Field of Statistics nor Department of Statistics and Data Science will accept, or otherwise assume liability for, unsolicited information submitted by PhD and MPS program applicants.

Please refer to the Graduate School's page for further details on admission requirements, information on degrees, subjects, and concentrations for the Statistics PhD program. Please refer to the Graduate School Fellowship in Support of Diversity page for details about fellowships. 

Application Deadlines

Applications for the PhD program are due by January 1st for admission in the following Fall term; Spring term admission is not permitted.