Admissions
Admissions
Prerequisites
The prerequisite courses required to apply to the STOR Ph.D. program are: real analysis, linear algebra, calculus-based probability and statistics.
Deadlines
The Ph.D. program begins in the Fall semester.
The approximate application deadline is mid-December of each year. Exact dates can be found here.
Financial Assistance
Most of our Ph.D. students receive some form of financial support, such as Graduate School fellowships, departmental assistantships, research assistantships, or internships. Departmental assistantships involve grading or teaching an undergraduate course. Some of our students are supported as Research Assistants by faculty members and some work as interns in industry at one of the nearby firms in Research Triangle Park (e.g., IBM, SAS, GlaxoSmithKline, Becton-Dickinson). Our supported students receive tuition and fee waivers as well as health insurance coverage for the duration of their studies.
How to Apply
Please refer to and apply by following the instructions given on the Graduate School website: http://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html.
International applicants have additional application requirements including the submission of a TOEFL or IELTS score and a financial certificate. Please read the instructions about these requirements at http://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html#fincert.
Visiting Campus
Students admitted to a Ph.D. program are encouraged to visit the department. We will arrange for you to meet with faculty and current students, and will provide partial reimbursement for travel expenses. We encourage you to check the UNC Visitors’ Center’s website for more information and to make arrangements for guided campus tours for prospective graduate students.
If you have any questions which you cannot find the answer to, please contact us.
Prerequisites
Applicants to the MS program should have a strong record of undergraduate coursework in statistics and mathematics. Statistics coursework should include an introductory course in statistics (similar to STOR 155), an intermediate level course in inference and regression (similar to STOR 455), and a calculus based probability course (similar to STOR 435). Mathematical coursework should include single and multivariable calculus, as well as an intermediate or advanced level course in linear and matrix algebra. Students interested in theoretical statistics or probability should have prior coursework in advanced calculus or real analysis.
Deadlines
The application deadline is mid-December each year for students applying for Fall admissions. Exact dates can be found here. If you are NOT currently enrolled in another graduate program at UNC-CH, then you can only begin an M.S. program in the Fall semester.
Financial Assistance
The Department is not able to provide financial assistance to M.S. students.
How to Apply
Please refer to and apply by following the instructions on the Graduate School’s website: http://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html.
International applicants
International applicants have additional application requirements including the submission of a TOEFL or IELTS score and a Financial Certificate. Please read the information about these requirements at
http://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html#toefl
http://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions.html#fincert.
Students from other UNC programs
If you are currently a graduate student enrolled in another graduate program at UNC-CH, please check this website for the application process: http://gradschool.unc.edu/academics/degreeprograms/
If you are an international student currently enrolled at UNC-CH then you are exempt from the TOEFL or IELTS score requirement.
Important Note Regarding Courses Completed Prior to Admission into the STOR M.S. Program: At most six credit hours may be transferred from another accredited institution, or from within UNC-CH, for courses taken before admission to the STOR M.S. program. (This limit on transferring credits applies to courses taken in the STOR Department as well.)
Frequently Asked Questions
How many students apply to your programs? How many are admitted?
| Applications | Matriculated | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MS | PhD | Total | MS | PhD | Total | |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 36 |
| 2016 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 12 | 36 |
| 2017 | 298 | 281 | 579 | 12 | 13 | 25 |
| 2018 | 272 | 303 | 575 | 19 | 15 | 34 |
| 2019 | 250 | 296 | 546 | 11 | 13 | 24 |
What are the average scores of admitted students? What are their undergraduate GPA’s?
| Undergrad GPA | GRE Quantitative | GRE Verbal | GRA Analytical Writing | TOEFL | |
| 2015 | 3.5 | 167 | 155 | 4 | 103 |
| 2016 | 3.68 | 165 | 157 | 4 | 101 |
| 2017 | 3.73 | 167 | 159 | 4 | 107 |
| 2018 | 3.76 | 168 | 158 | 4 | 104 |
| 2019 | 3.79 | 168 | 162 | 4 | 104 |
How can I apply to your department?
We only accept online applications. The application and detailed instructions can be found here: Instructions for Graduate Applicants
When does your department begin accepting applications?
The application program typically becomes available in the beginning of August for the following fall.
What is the deadline for application?
Application deadlines for the Fall 2023 class will be December 13, 2022.
Exact dates change each calendar year and can be found here: http://gradschool.unc.edu/academics/degreeprograms/
I have missed the deadline, can I still apply?
No, unfortunately once the deadline has passed no further applications can be received.
Are there waivers available for application fees?
Application fee waivers are only available in limited circumstances. More information about who qualifies can be found here.
When will I know your decision?
Acceptances begin to be sent out in late January and continue through early April.
Does your department admit students in the Spring Semester?
We consider applications once a year, and all applications need to be submitted by the same deadline in December. If you are a graduate student currently enrolled in another graduate program within UNC-Chapel Hill, and are applying to a STOR M.S. program and do not need financial support, it is possible for you to start the program in the Spring semester. In the latter situation, you need to send an email to explain your interest in starting the program from the Spring semester, and submit your application by the same deadline in December.
If I am graduating in the Spring of 2023, can I apply for a graduate program at UNC for Fall 2023?
Yes.
Can I update transcripts as new grades become available?
Applicants can update their transcripts once by accessing their application and uploading the new document.
Can I update my documents after submitting my application?
Only transcripts can be updated by an applicant. CVs or personal statements will not be updated.
What should I do if I have sent test scores but they are still shown online as missing?
Official TOEFL and IELTS results are not matched until after an application has been submitted.
The matching process can take anywhere from 7-10 days. If more than two weeks have passed since you submitted your application, please contact us or contact the Graduate School.
My Transcripts Status says ‘Partial Received’; is this because I am currently an undergraduate?
Yes. If you plan to receive your degree in the upcoming spring, your current semester grades will not be included on the transcript. This transcript is considered as partial.
Do I need to specify which professors I am interested in working with?
No. That is optional and will have no effect on our consideration of your application.
Do all of my recommendations need to be from my professors?
At least three letters of recommendation are needed. They should come from persons who are familiar with your academic and professional qualifications, and can address your potential to succeed in our graduate program. Ideally these would be professors, however if you have been out of school for a significant amount of time other individuals who can address these qualities are acceptable.
My recommenders won’t be able to get their letters submitted before the deadline. Is that OK?
As long as you have listed your recommenders on your application and submit the application by the deadline, it is acceptable for the actual letters to come in later. We begin reviewing applications in January so we ask that they be sent before then, so that you can have our full consideration.
My recommenders are not able to receive the link to upload their letters. What can be done?
This usually occurs when the recommender is from outside the U.S. and is using an email address that is tied to a government agency or national university. If your recommender has a private email address such as gmail or hotmail, ask if they are willing to use that. If so, you can update your recommender’s information to change the email address and then re-send the link.
Another alternative is that the recommender can send the letter directly to us and we will upload it to your application. Letters should always be written on university or company letterhead.
Can someone check that all my materials have been received?
There is a checklist displayed when you log into your application. A green check mark indicates that the information has been received. A red “x” indicates that the information has not been received. Due to the high volume of applications received, we may not be able to respond to each individual request for us to verify that documents have been received.
I am an international applicant. Can I send my application in without a financial certificate?
Yes. The financial certification forms are not provided until after you have accepted an offer of admission from us.
Do you consider international students for financial support?
All applicants for the PhD program are considered for financial support, regardless of citizenship. No financial support is available from the department for MS students.
I have a 3-year bachelor’s degree from India. Is this sufficient for admission?
That depends. According to the Graduate School, students from India must have either a bachelor’s degree in engineering or medicine, or a Master’s degree in any other subject. See special requirements for other countries here.
How can I check the status of my application? I have received offers from other universities, and need to reply soon. My top choice was UNC – Chapel Hill.
After an application is submitted you can always log back in to see the status. You will receive automated email notification whenever your status changes. We usually make the first round of offers by the end of January, and you will be notified if the decision is positive. Negative decisions are usually posted by late April.
Who can I contact if I still have unanswered questions about the applications process?
You can contact us or the Graduate School for further assistance.
How many programs am I allowed to apply to?
If you would like to be considered for both the PhD or MS degree, two separate applications are required.
I would like to apply for your MS in Data Science and Analytics, but I can’t find it listed among the options on the application.
Please select the “Statistics & Operations Research” option when applying to our MS degree.
If I am not admitted into the PhD program, will my application automatically be considered for the Master’s program?
No. If you would like to be considered for both the PhD and MS programs, you must complete and submit two separate applications. Two application fees are also required.
Do you offer any online classes?
No, we do not offer any online classes at this time.
Are your M.S. and Ph.D. programs considered STEM programs?
Yes.
Can I be enrolled in a lab with one of your faculty members without being admitted to one of your graduate programs?
No. Students are admitted into the graduate program, not the labs of individual faculty members.
My undergraduate degree is in a major other than statistics, am I a good candidate for your program?
Any student with a strong Math background reflected in transcripts and/or recommendation letters may be just as qualified. Many of our graduate students have degrees in fields such as Economics, Math, Engineering, Physics, Psychology, and Computer Science.
How long does it take to finish the Master’s program?
Typically two years or one and a half years.
Do you offer any scholarships for MS students?
No, we do not offer any scholarships for MS students.
How long does it take to finish the PhD program?
Typically five years, but it could be less or more depending on the special circumstances.
Do you offer funding for PhD students?
All PhD students are admitted with full departmental support, which includes payment of all tuition and fees, health insurance, and a stipend. In exchange for this, PhD students are assigned duties such as graders, teaching assistants, or research assistants.
What is the average cost of tuition and fees?
Please see the current year’s tuition and fees information provided by the cashier’s office.
Is the GRE required to be able to apply?
The GRE Test is not required.
What are the minimum GPA and scores for admission?
The Graduate School recommends the following minimum qualifications: GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. For international students, the minimum TOEFL score is 90 and minimum IELTS score is 7
I am sending a TOEFL or IELTS test score. What is your department code?
A department code is not needed when submitting your test scores to UNC. Send all scores to the UNC Graduate School, Institution Code #5816.
Can you consider my application without official scores?
We can review your application with a self-reported score, but an official score is necessary before we can admit you.
Are scanned versions of score reports acceptable?
No, we need official scores sent directly from ETS.
Can I update my scores if I take the test again?
If you take one of the exams again, have ETS send the scores and they will be matched to your application.
Can the TOEFL or IELTS exam be waived?
Yes if you are an applicant from a country where English is the SOLE OFFICIAL language of instruction you will receive an exception to the exam. Click on this UNC Graduate School admissions webpage for more details.
If you have received or will receive a degree from a university in the United States, or from any accredited university where English is the SOLE language of instruction, then you can request a waiver of the exam. The waiver request is available on your application. The transcript that you upload to your application will also be used as the supporting documentation required for the waiver request.
I am a lawful permanent resident of the United States, do I need to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score?
English proficiency exams are only required of international applicants. LPR’s are considered domestic applicants and do not need to take these exams. There is no need to request a waiver.
If I visit campus does the department reimburse traveling expenses?
We encourage admitted students to visit the campus and may offer partial reimbursement for those Ph.D. students offered admission who are currently in the US depending on funding availability. Please refer to your acceptance email and letter for more details.
Will you notify applicants of the admissions decisions by mail or e-mail?
You will receive an initial email notification from the Director of Admissions, which will include an offer letter signed by the department Chair. You will also receive a separate letter from the Graduate School.
What is the deadline by which I must accept the offer?
April 15, or within 30 days of admission for anyone admitted after March 25th.
If I accept the offer, when do I have to pay the enrollment deposit?
If you are accepted before March 15, you need to pay the enrollment deposit by April 15.
If you are accepted after March 15, you have 3 weeks to do the same.
How long before I receive my I-20?
Once the International Student and Scholar Services office receives the financial certificate, it will take appropriately three weeks before the I-20 can be issued. Any questions regarding the status of your I-20 should be addressed with them.
What is the average cost of tuition and fees?
Please see the current year’s tuition and fees information provided by the cashier’s office.
When will I be assigned a faculty advisor?
The Director of Graduate Studies will serve as your course advisor. Pairing of students with research advisors typically takes place during a student’s second year of study.
How much does housing cost?
Housing depends on if you are living on-campus or off-campus. For the cost of on-campus apartments, visit the campus housing website.