Applying to the program.

Below, you'll find the essential information you need to prepare a strong application to our Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program, including qualifications, expectations, and application steps.

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Our Ph.D. program builds on a strong foundation in mathematical and computational sciences. Candidates should have coursework in analysis, algebra, advanced calculus, probability, and statistics, along with programming and data analysis experience. Additional preparation in advanced topics like measure theory and stochastic processes strengthens applications.

Students with significant gaps in their coursework background will be at a disadvantage when applying. However, exceptional students from outside of statistics may be admitted to the Ph.D. program without this background, making up any important deficiencies during the first year. 

How to Apply

Admission procedures are described on the Graduate School website. Financial assistance is available on a competitive basis and may be applied for by completing the appropriate item in the online application. In general, the Field of Statistics only admits students for whom we expect to be able to provide financial support.

An application is not complete (and will not be evaluated by the Admissions Committee) until all supporting documents have been received. 

Deadline for applications has been extended to January 6, 2026. 

Apply

Your application should include completed and scanned transcripts of all previous college and university work, including any work done at Cornell. 

Applicants should scan their transcripts and upload the documents into the online application system themselves as part of the submission process. All transcripts or academic records must be official documents provided in the original language. If that language is not English, they must be accompanied by certified translations into English. 

Your application must include two letters of recommendation. The letters should be from professors or supervisors who are familiar with your academic or professional work and who can testify to your potential in Statistics. 

These letters are a very important part of your application, and you should ensure that they are submitted into the electronic application system by the appropriate deadline. We will not accept paper copies of letters of recommendation.

Your statement of purpose  should include a description of your background, your motivation for pursuing a Ph.D. and any particular research focus that you have. You may also use it to highlight particular qualifications or experience that you have and you may include a CV in this document.

International students must submit an Official Test of English as a Foreign Language Exam (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores. The English language proficiency requirement may be waived if the applicant meets a Standing Exemption outlined by the graduate school. 

Further information on the TOEFL exams is available from ETS: Educational Testing Service, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. For reference, the proper Graduate School code number is 2098.

 

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Tuition and Funding

Nearly all of our graduate students are fully supported: full tuition, a generous stipend, and full health insurance. Support may be provided in one of several possible ways. In any given year, the majority of available positions come in the form of Teaching Assistantships. However, depending on availability, students may receive financial support from multiple sources during the course of their studies. 

The Statistics and Data Science Department typically seeks to provide a maximum of 5 years of support for students who enter the Ph.D. program. The actual amount of time a student is supported will never be less than the guaranteed period of support, assuming satisfactory progress towards the Ph.D. degree.

A teaching assistant is an academic appointment in support of the teaching of a course. Teaching assistants may assist in teaching a section of a course, lead discussions, and/or lead laboratory sections. Teaching assistants spend 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week, for the base stipend as established by the Board of Trustees.  

Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs)
A GRA is an academic appointment focused on thesis or other degree-related research of a type that is required from all candidates for the degree. The research project for a GRA directly supports the student’s thesis or dissertation. Because a student devotes considerable time to thesis or dissertation research, the time spent is connected with the project.  
 
Research Assistantships (RAs)
A RA is an academic appointment for research that is not directly thesis-related. RAs spend 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week. For example, a RA appointment might include data analysis on a faculty research project not directly related to the student’s dissertation topic. As with other assistantships, there is no separate application. Students are appointed by departments, fields, or individual faculty.

Fellowships constitute full financial support without a specific work commitment. Information on external fellowships may be found at this site. Students who receive external fellowships in their first year are expected to take an increased course load.

A variety of other funding sources exist, both within Cornell (e.g., assistantships in other departments), and external to Cornell (e.g., corporate grants, intern/externships, etc.). We strongly encourage students to apply for all external fellowships for which they are eligible; they not only provide prestige and allow you to concentrate on research, they also allow the Field to admit students that it could not otherwise support.

 

External Funding for Graduate Students

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