Ph. D. Program: Applying for Admission

Completed applications for admission to the Doctoral Program in Mathematical Finance will be accepted until Jan. 15, 2008. Applications that are complete at the time of the deadline will be given priority. An application is considered complete when it and all required supporting documents have been received by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.

1. Completed application for admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
   
   
2. $70 application fee (non-refundable)
   
   
3. Official transcripts of each college or university attended
   
   
4. Official GRE General and Mathematics Subject Test results
   
   
5. Official TOEFL examination results*
   (* Recent TOEFL test scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English.
   In general, applicants to the Ph.D. Program are expected to have a total score of at least 104 in the internet-based TOEFL, with sub-scores of at least 26 in listening, reading, speaking and writing, OR, a total score of at least 260 in the computer-based TOEFL, OR, a total score of at least 620 in the paper-based TOEFL. Applicants whose TOEFL scores are lower, but are otherwise qualified, may still file an application, but they may be asked to re-take TOEFL before a decision for admission can be made.
   Important note: The ETS Institution Code for Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is 3087. No department code is required when requesting that test scores be sent to the Graduate School.
   
   
6. Three letters of recommendation (Letters written in English from at least two faculty members in mathematics who are familiar with American higher education are required.)
   
   
7. A personal statement OR a 700-word (or less) essay on a topic related to the interaction between finance and mathematics (e.g., the topic of the essay may be "What I learned from the book entitled, 'Fischer Black and the Revolutionary Idea of Finance' by Perry Mehrling").
   
   
8. International Student Data Form, including documentation of all sources of financial support*
   (*required only for international students)
   
   
9. Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college and must have taken all courses needed as prerequisites:
   
   All levels of Calculus (CAS MA 123, 124, 225 or equivalent), Linear Algebra (CAS MA 242 or equivalent), Differential Equations (CAS MA 226 or equivalent), two semesters of of Mathematical Analysis at 500-level or higher (CAS MA 511 and CAS MA 512 or equivalent), at least one semester of Probability Theory at 500 level or higher (CAS MF 590 or equivalent), at least one semester Finance or Financial Economics at 500-level or higher (CAS MF 502 or equivalent).

Important Information for International Students

Most lectures present material that involves very specialized, technical language. Therefore, students are expected to have full command of the English language (including expressions commonly used by native-English speakers).

To allow sufficient time to obtain a U.S. visa, applicants who are not citizens of the U.S. or have not been granted official Permanent Residency Status in the U.S. must submit the International Student Data Form (ISDF), including documentation of all sources of financial support, no later than January 15. Processing time and visa requirements are subject to change. Note that it may take applicants several weeks to receive documents mailed from the U.S. to other countries. The ISDF is available for view or download at: http://www.bu.edu/grs/forms/admissions/isdf.pdf.

Detailed instructions for completing the form are included on the form itself. You cannot be offered admission to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences without submitting a completed ISDF. It is required by the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) in order to process your visa application.

Please read Page 2 of the ISDF carefully for information on the Financial Declaration. Past experience indicates that the submission of satisfactory financial documentation usually takes longer than most applicants anticipate. Periodically, the University revises its estimates of the cost of living in the Boston area. It is recommended that you contact our office before you begin to fill out this form so that we may provide you with a current estimate of expenses.

Submitting an on-line application

To apply on-line, access the link to the Graduate School's website:
http://www.bu.edu/link/bin/uiscgi_graduate_application.pl?College=grs

Obtaining the application forms

Completed applications, supporting documents, and inquiries should be directed to:

Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Admissions Office
Boston University
705 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 112
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
U.S.A.

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