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The diagram illustrates the local accuracy of the tangent line approximation to a smooth curve, or--otherwise stated--the closeness of the differential of a function to the difference of function values due to a small increment of the independent variable.

Admission Requirements

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Our primary criterion for admission is a strong knowledge of undergraduate mathematics (particularly multivariable calculus, some ODEs and linear algebra) and/or significant work experience in finance. For those who are admitted, but either do not have a strong mathematics background or may need a "refresher", we may request that you take our course sequence: FM 5001/FM 5002, "Preparation for Financial Mathematics". This preparatory course sequence assumes familiarity with a full year of freshman calculus (both differential and integral calculus), and proceeds, from that point, to give the necessary undergraduate background material for the program.
GPA: The preferred minimum standard for admission to our Graduate School is 3.0.
GRE: If you wish to be exempted from the preparatory course sequence (FM 5001/5002), then we require that you submit a GRE Mathematics Subject test score. Only the Mathematics Subject test needs to be taken. Note that, for students who take FM 5001/5002, the program is a minimum of two years in length.

If your undergraduate graduation date is after September 2002, then we require either a GRE Mathematics Subject score or a GRE General score. We would also be happy to see GRE Subject scores in other science related areas, but it is not required for admission.

If your undergraduate graduation date is during or before September 2002, you are not required to take the GRE. However, you may choose to do so, if you think it will enhance your application. If you do not, we will be making an evaluation based on your work experience and will be especially interested in your work activities related to finance.

WARNING: If you wish to take the GRE Mathematics Subject exam, then we recommend that you register during early summer, so that you can take the October or November exam, so that the score can be reported by the 28 February deadline for early decision. You could also take the April exam, but you would not hear about a decision about waiving the prep course until after the results are reported.

The GMAT is not a substitute for the GRE, and we do not require it.

Similarly, if you need to take TOEFL, you should register very early, probably in early summer, several months before applications are due.

For the institutional and departmental ETS codes, see below.

GRE website


TOEFL: Most foreign applicants must take the TOEFL, or some other accepted test to certify their English proficiency. See the Graduate School's TOEFL page for exact details.

We will follow all University of Minnesota Graduate School's requirements. Currently, for the iTOEFL, these requirements are:

  • A score of at least 213 on the computer based TOEFL (550 on the paper based TOEFL), 80 on the MELAB, or 6.5 on the IELTS. The TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English, except those who will have completed 24 quarter credits/16 semester credits (within the past 24 months) in residence as a full-time student at a recognized institution of higher learning in the United States before entering the University of Minnesota.
  • The Graduate School operational standard for admission on the new Internet-based TOEFL (IBT) is a minimum total score of 79, plus section scores of at least 21 on the writing section and 19 on the reading section.

For the institution and departmental ETS codes, see below.

TOEFL website


Institution and departmental ETS codes: For GRE, the University of Minnesota has instituion code 6874, the School of Mathematics has department code 0703 and the Graduate School has no department code. For TOEFL, the University of Minnesota has institution code 6874, the School of Mathematics has department code 72 and the Graduate School has no department code. For either GRE or TOEFL, please use both the institution code and the department code; that way a copy goes both to the department, and -- electronically -- to our Graduate School.
Three letters of recommendation: We recommend that even applicants who have been out of school for a while get at least one recommendation from a professor (preferably a math professor) who can attest to their mathematical abilities. All three letters should comment on the applicant's suitability for the MFM program. Please ask your recommenders to use the Graduate School's online letters system.
Transcripts: Official transcripts from each college or university you attended are required. They should be requested from the Office of the Registrar at each school and mailed directly by the Registrar to the Admissions Office. See the graduate school's requirements for submitting transcripts for more details.
Financial Mathematics
(612) 625-1306     mfmath@umn.edu
127 Vincent Hall
206 Church St. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
www.math.umn.edu/finmath/admission_requirements/index.shtml
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