University of Minnesota

• Curriculum Vitae (CV)Required

  Include educational institutions attended, degrees awarded, and employment history, with dates. If not listed elsewhere, include a table or list showing how you have satisfied each of the admission prerequisites (list specific courses or other specific experiences). Short descriptions of special projects or experiences can be included; longer descriptions belong in the statement of purpose.

• Diversity of Views and Experiences Statement (optional)Optional

  Listed under 'The following items are optional in your application'. A 4,000-character limit (excluding spaces) is recommended. Other optional items: extenuating circumstances statement, writing sample, and a description of research.

• Personal statement (statement of purpose)Required

  A statement of purpose is listed under 'Documents to upload'. A 4000 character limit (or approximately 700 words) is strongly recommended; the limit does not include spaces and is not strictly enforced. Applicants missing one or two prerequisites must include their plans to fulfill them. The prompt is in _unpublished (printed without a year).

• Unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary schoolsRequired

  Upload unofficial transcripts directly to your application; official transcripts will be required if you are admitted. You must submit transcripts or academic records for each institution of higher learning from which you have earned credit, including partial or incomplete transcripts, uploaded BEFORE you submit. Non-English transcripts must be accompanied by an English translation. Do not submit paper or fax copies. A four-year bachelor's degree must be documented with a valid transcript.

• Three letters of recommendation3 letters

  Ideally familiar with the background experience described in your statement of purpose. One of the three letters must be recent (in the last two years); if you have been out of school for less than 5 years, it is encouraged for one of three letters to come from a faculty member.

  'Submit the names of three individuals who can speak to your ability to do graduate-level work in data science'. Letter writers must use the online recommendation system; letters should arrive by the posted application deadline (writers may submit before or after you submit the application).

• GRE (not required or accepted)Not accepted

  'We do not require or accept GRE scores as part of the application process.' Do not enter GRE scores in the application or send official scores; 'GRE test scores that are submitted as part of an application for our program will not be reviewed.' FAQ: effective September 2023.

• Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBTIf your degree wasn't taught in EnglishRequired — waiver possible

  Duolingo English Test: The program page gives instructions for 'Submitting your Duolingo Score' and notes 'Duolingo scores are not eligible for teaching assistantships.' Graduate School minimums for 'Entry Terms - Fall 2027 and Beyond': Overall 120 or above, Writing 120 or above, Reading 120 or above. Exam date should be within two years of the program start date.

  IELTS Academic: Program page: 'International students must send official TOEFL or IELTS scores.' The Graduate School requires proof of English for 'International and domestic applicants whose first language is not English'. Exam date should be within two years of the program start date. Graduate School minimums: Total 6.5, Writing 6.5, Reading 6.5; the IELTS One Skill Retake is not accepted. Teaching assistantships need 7 or higher.

  TOEFL iBT: Program page: 'International students must send official TOEFL or IELTS scores.' The Graduate School requires proof of English for 'International and domestic applicants whose first language is not English'. Exam date should be within two years of the program start date. Graduate School minimums: for exams taken before January 21, 2026, Total 79, Writing 21, Reading 19; for exams on or after January 21, 2026, Total 4.5, Writing 4.5, Reading 4.5. MyBest scores do not meet the minimum total score. Send official scores from ETS to institution code 6874. Teaching assistantships need a speaking score of 23 or higher.

  Waiver / exemption: Program page: 'Applicants who have English as a first language from the countries on this list are exempt from submitting proof of English proficiency' (the Graduate School's English Proficiency Exemption List). Graduate School: you satisfy the requirement if you completed secondary school in the U.S. or a listed country, or completed post-secondary coursework there of at least 16 semester credits or 24 quarter credits, not including ESL coursework, within the past 2 years, while living in the U.S. or a listed country. Program FAQ: 'Exceptions may be made' for applicants who have completed 24 quarter credits or 16-semester credits (within the past 24 months) at a U.S. university, are in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution in the United States (or other English-speaking countries), or have been working full-time in the United States in a data science related field for at least two years.

Who can apply

• Four-year bachelor's degree in a related fieldRequired

  A four-year bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university in computer science, math, statistics, engineering, natural sciences, or a related field, documented with a valid transcript. Whatever the undergraduate major, the successful candidate must show the prerequisites for admission.

• Calculus (2 semesters)Required

  Equivalents to MATH 1271 and MATH 1272 at the University of Minnesota. Listed among 'the minimum requirements to apply'; a lack of one or two prerequisites does not automatically preclude admission, but the statement of purpose must give your plans to fulfill them, and admission may be conditional on meeting them within a limited time.

• GPA of 3.5 normally expectedOptional

  'A minimum GPA of 3.5 (or the equivalent in other grading scales) in undergraduate coursework is normally expected to be considered for admission.' Self-report your GPA on your school's original scale.

• Linear Algebra (1 semester)Required

  Equivalent to either MATH 2142, MATH 4242, or CSCI 2033 at the University of Minnesota. Listed among 'the minimum requirements to apply'; a lack of one or two prerequisites does not automatically preclude admission.

• Multivariable Calculus (1 semester)Required

  Equivalent to MATH 2263 at the University of Minnesota. Listed among 'the minimum requirements to apply'; a lack of one or two prerequisites does not automatically preclude admission.

• Computer Programming (2 semesters) or equivalent experienceRequired

  Two semesters or equivalent experience in a general-purpose programming language (e.g., C, C++, Java, Python), including basic algorithms and data structures equivalent to the first two semesters of beginning computer science courses (equivalents to CSCI 1103, 1113, 1133, 1913 or 1933). Experience with Matlab, R or the equivalent is a definite plus but not a total substitute; a class on advanced data structures (CSCI 4041) is also a plus. Listed among 'the minimum requirements to apply'; a lack of one or two prerequisites does not automatically preclude admission.

• Statistics (1 semester)Required

  Equivalent to STAT 3021 or a higher level STAT equivalent at the University of Minnesota. Listed among 'the minimum requirements to apply'; a lack of one or two prerequisites does not automatically preclude admission.