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Graduate Admission

Advance your degree

Choosing a Ph.D. Program is a very important decision. No program is ideal for everybody, and the Penn State Ph.D. Program in Mathematics is no exception. It may however be an excellent choice for students who are interested in certain areas of Mathematics, can live without hustle and bustle of a major city, and would appreciate our attentive and lively atmosphere. When considering Penn State, we suggest that you take into account the following:

  • The Department is large, with about 65 faculty representing a wide variety of Research Areas.
  • The Department boasts a number of first-rate research groups and centers, some of which are among the very best in the world. Check Mathematics Research for our centers and research groups, Seminars and Workshops for our Mathematics activities, and Distinguished Visitors for our Visitor Program.
  • We strongly encourage inter-disciplinary collaboration.
  • We offer a well-thought selection of graduate courses, including first year basic courses, more specialized sequences in subject areas, and many topic courses in the areas of strength.
  • Our graduate students receive a lot of attention!
  • All new teaching assistants attend a semester-long training program before they begin teaching carefully selected undergraduate courses.
  • The main source of financial assistance is teaching assistantships that include tuition waiver and a stipend. There are also several special departmental and Graduate School fellowships.
  • State College is a very nice university town. It is within driving proximity to New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. Living in State College is inexpensive, compared with major metropolitan areas, which together with high stipends provides for a very comfortable life. Most graduate students live within walking distance from campus. The climate is mild, the surrounding nature is gorgeous, and there are endless opportunities for outdoor activities. The campus is large, and there is an excellent selection of student activities and events in State College.