Mathematics and Statistics

Mathematics and Statistics

Location

Location

  • Department of Mathematics and Statistics
  • Burnside Hall, Room 1005
  • 805 Sherbrooke Street West
  • Montreal QC H3A 0B9
  • Canada
  • Telephone: 514-398-3800
  • Email: grad.mathstat [at] mcgill.ca
  • Website: mcgill.ca/mathstat/

About Mathematics and Statistics

About Mathematics and Statistics

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs that can be focused on applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics leading to master’s (M.A. or M.Sc.) and Ph.D. degrees. The research groups are:

  • Algebra;
  • Algebraic Geometry;
  • Analysis;
  • Applied Mathematics;
  • Differential Equations;
  • Differential Geometry;
  • Discrete Mathematics;
  • Geometric Group Theory;
  • Logic;
  • Mathematical Biology;
  • Mathematical Physics;
  • Number Theory;
  • Probability;
  • Statistics.

In the basic master’s programs, students must choose between the thesis option and the non-thesis option, which requires a project. The Ph.D. program in Mathematics and Statistics is thesis only.

The Department's website provides extensive information on the Department and its facilities, including the research activities and research interests of individual faculty members. It also provides detailed supplementary information concerning our programs, admissions, funding of graduate students, thesis requirements, advice concerning the choice of courses, etc.

Students are urged to consult the Institut des Sciences Mathématiques (ISM) website, which coordinates intermediate and advanced-level graduate courses among Montreal and Quebec universities. A list of courses available under the ISM auspices can be obtained from the ISM website. The ISM also offers fellowships and promotes a variety of joint academic activities greatly enhancing the mathematical environment in Montreal and in the province of Quebec.

Master of Arts (M.A.) Programs in Mathematics and Statistics

Detailed program requirements for the following M.A. programs are found in Arts > Graduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Mathematics and Statistics.

Master of Arts (M.A.) Mathematics and Statistics (Thesis) (45 credits)

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs with concentrations in applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics leading to the master's degree (M.A.). The thesis option requires a thesis and six approved courses.

Master of Arts (M.A.) Mathematics and Statistics (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs with concentrations in applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics leading to the master's degree (M.A.). The non-thesis option requires a project and eight approved courses.

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Programs in Mathematics and Statistics

Detailed program requirements for the following M.Sc. programs are found in Science > Graduate > Browse Academic Units & Programs > Mathematics and Statistics.

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Mathematics and Statistics (Thesis) (45 credits)

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs with concentrations in applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics leading to the master's degree (M.Sc.). The thesis option requires a thesis and six approved courses.

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Mathematics and Statistics (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)

The Department of Mathematics and Statistics offers programs with concentrations in applied mathematics, pure mathematics, and statistics leading to the master's degree (M.Sc.). The non-thesis option requires a project and eight approved courses.

Ph.D. Programs in Mathematics and Statistics

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Mathematics and Statistics

The Department offers a course of studies leading to the Ph.D. degree. It differs substantially from the master’s programs in that the student must write a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge. The thesis topic is chosen by the student in consultation with the research supervisor. The thesis must be examined and approved by an internal examiner (usually a member of the Progress Tracking Committee), an external examiner, and the Oral Examination Committee. The student must present an oral defence of the thesis before that Committee. To submit a thesis for examination, the student must first pass the Ph.D. Qualifying Examination.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)

Mathematics and Statistics Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Mathematics and Statistics Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

Admission Requirements

In addition to the general Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies requirements, the Department requirements are as follows:

Master's Degree

The normal entrance requirement for the master's programs is a Canadian honours degree or its equivalent, with high standing, in mathematics or a closely related discipline in the case of applicants intending to concentrate in statistics or applied mathematics.

Applicants wishing to concentrate in pure mathematics should have a strong background in linear algebra, abstract algebra, and real and complex analysis.

Applicants wishing to concentrate in statistics should have a strong background in linear algebra and basic real analysis. A calculus-based course in probability and one in statistics are required, as well as some knowledge of computer programming. Some knowledge of numerical analysis and optimization is desirable.

Applicants wishing to concentrate in applied mathematics should have a strong background in most of the areas of linear algebra, analysis, differential equations, discrete mathematics, and numerical analysis. Some knowledge of computer programming is also desirable.

Students whose preparation is insufficient for the program they wish to enter may, exceptionally, be admitted to a Qualifying year.

Ph.D. Degree

A master's degree with high standing is required, in addition to the requirements listed above for the master’s program. Students may transfer directly from the master’s program to the Ph.D. program under certain conditions. Students without a master's degree, but with exceptionally strong undergraduate training, may be admitted directly to Ph.D. 1.

Application Procedures

Application Procedures

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/apply.

See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.

Additional Requirements

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:

  • Personal Statement – In the personal statement, the applicants should clearly explain their choice of preferred research group(s) and preferred area(s) of research, as well as providing relevant information that will not be reflected on their transcripts
  • Research Proposal (optional) – If applicants have a specific research problem of interest that they want to pursue, they may discuss the details in the research proposal
  • Applicants in pure and applied mathematics should provide a GRE score report, if available

For more details, please consult mcgill.ca/mathstat/postgraduate/prospective-students/admissions.

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.

Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.

Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late and/or incomplete applications are considered only as time and space permit.

Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty

Mathematics and Statistics Faculty

Interim Chair
Rustum Choski
Graduate Program Director
Jérôme Vétois
Undergraduate Program Director
Armel Djivede Kelome
Emeritus Professors
William J. Anderson; Michael Barr; Peter Bartello; William G. Brown; Ian Connell; Stephen Drury; Kohur N. GowriSankaran; Paul Koosis; Michael Makkai; Sherwin Maslowe; Arak M. Mathai; Karl Peter Russell; Georg Schmidt; George P.H. Styan; Kwok Kuen Tam; John C. Taylor; David Wolfson; Jian-Jun Xu; Sanjo Zlobec
Professors
Louigi Addario-Berry; Masoud Asgharian; Rustum Choksi; Henri Darmon; Christian Genest; Eyal Z. Goren; Pengfei Guan; Jacques C. Hurtubise; Dmitry Jakobson; Vojkan Jaksic; Joel Kamnitzer; Niky Kamran; Eric D. Kolaczyk; Jean-Philippe Lessard; Johanna Neslehova; Adam Oberman; Charles Roth; David A. Stephens; John A. Toth; Adrian Vetta; Daniel T. Wise
Associate Professors
Patrick Allen; Linan Chen; Tim Hoheisel; Antony R. Humphries; Abbas Khalili; Jessica Lin; Jean-Christophe Nave; Sergey Norin; Elliot Paquette; Mikael Pichot; Piotr Przytycki; Marcin Sabok; Russell Steele; Anush Tserunyan; Gantumur Tsogtgerel; Jérôme Vétois; Archer Yang
Assistant Professors
Medhi Dadoug;Courtney Paquette; Brent Pym
Associate Members
Simon Caron-Huot; Xiao-Wen Chang; Luc Devroye; Pierre R. L. Dutilleul; Leon Glass; James A. Hanley; Hamed Hatami; Anmar Khadra; Xue Liu; Michael Mackey; Erica E.M. Moodie; Prakash Panangaden; Robert W. Platt; Alexandra Schmidt; Kaleem Siddiqi; Christina Wolfson
Adjunct Professors
Syed E. Ahmed; Andrew Granville; Alexis Hannart; Adrian Iovita; Dimitris Koukoulopoulos; Michael Lipnowski; Ming Mei; Claude-Alain Pillet; Iosif Polterovich; Armen Shirikyan
Senior Faculty Lecturers
José A. Correa; Axel Hundemer; Armel Djivede Kelome
Faculty Lecturers
Rosalie Bélanger-Rioux; Jérôme Fortier; Kiwon Lee; Jens Kreitewolf, joint with Psychology; Jeremy Macdonald; Tharshanna Nadarajah; Alia Sajjad; Sidney Trudeau
Programs, Courses and University Regulations—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Mathematics and Statistics (Thesis) (45 credits)

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Mathematics and Statistics (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Mathematics and Statistics

The Ph.D. in Mathematics and Statistics focuses on research in the mathematical or statistical sciences, including the completion of original research publishable in mainstream refereed journals.

For more information, see Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Mathematics and Statistics.

Faculty of Science—2023-2024 (last updated Aug. 30, 2023) (disclaimer)
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