Admissions
Financing
Financing the PhD Degree
Rutgers University makes available a limited number of funding packages for exceptionally-qualified doctoral students. These packages provide funding for four years, with the first year as a fellowship and the following years as assistantships. Tuition, fees, and a generous stipend are provided. Continued support is contingent on satisfactory academic progress. Furthermore, the university has a limited number of highly-competitive presidential fellowships, and will provide guidance in applying for external support. Students who have been promised teaching assistantships should fill out the appropriate forms, and contact the department administrator to finish registration. Furthermore, students suppored on teaching assistantships generally earn tuition remission for the following summer. All such students are expected to make full use of these credits to finish their coursework.
Financing the MS Degree
Please consult the Graduate School New Brunswick Tuition and Fee schedules for tuition and fees. Please consult the Summer School tuition and fees page if you plan to take courses during the summer. Rutgers also offers a cost estimator.
The exact cost of the program depends on choices made by each student, but it will be less the cost of equivalent programs offered by private universities. Rutgers offers outstanding graduate programs of excellent value to its students.
Resources for Students without Rutgers Funding
Some students are able to obtain assistantships or lectureships in other departments. Those who have a grant or fellowship from an outside source are welcome to apply it toward the tuition cost of the program. United States citizens or permanent residents may be eligible to apply for various forms of student aid. Rutgers waives tuition for certain unemployed and laid off students.
Students who wish to obtain summer internships are responsible for making their own arrangements, although faculty may offer advice about such positions as they become aware of them. Internship opportunities are often available at institutions in New Jersey and New York.
Prerequisites
For the MS Degree
Applicants are expected to have completed 10 semester-hours of undergraduate calculus ( 640:151-152 and 640:251 if taken at Rutgers, or equivalent), a senior-level rigorous statistical methods course ( 960:401 or 960:484 if taken at Rutgers, or equivalent), and a course in linear algebra ( 640:250 if taken at Rutgers, or equivalent) . Students lacking these prerequisites may be asked to take additional courses that will not generally count toward the MS degree, except that at the discretion of the program director, credit for 960:484 or 960:495 may be counted among the thirty credits necessary for graduation.
Students finding themselves without such a course might see a sample pdf sample 484 syllabus (35 KB) , with readings. Students wishing to complete the Data Mining option should note that one of the courses required for this option but offered by Computer Science has as a prerequisite 198:344; this course in turn has as its prerequisites an undergraduate course in probability and an additional computer science course.
For the PhD Degree
Successful applicants to the PhD program generally have a significantly deeper math background than required for the MS degree; a course in real variables ( 640:411 if taken at Rutgers, or equivalent) is generally required prior to admission. Students who lack this background may be asked to take additional courses that will not generally count toward the PhD degree.
Coursework listed on transcripts submitted by students for admission often list successful coursework meeting the prerequisites of Rutgers courses. However, Rutgers' automated registration system doesn't have the capacity to recognize equivalents to Rutgers prerequisites taken at other universities, since copies of student non-Rutgers transcripts aren't parsed by the registrar's computer in a way that automates the process of matching other university's courses to Rutgers prerequisites. On request from a student, the graduate director will review these transcripts manually and request that the registrar consider prerequisites as having been met.
Cross-Registration
Cross-Registration Policies
Rutgers has arrangements with various other universities that allow their graduate students to take graduate courses at Rutgers. Conditions and procedures vary.
Students from Other Universities Wishing to take Rutgers Courses
- Princeton students may use the Rutgers Exchange Program.
- New Jersey Institute of Technology students should use the procedure commonly used for taking Rutgers-Newark courses.
- Students in the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey should use the Rutgers, NB/UMDNJ Cross Registration procedure. This policy does not apply to students in the joint Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy - School of Public Health at UMDNJ Master of Public Health program, who should follow a different policy.
Rutgers Students Wishing to take Courses at Other Universities
- Rutgers students wishing to take Rutgers Biological and Health Sciences courses should follow the general policy, or the policy specific to the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy program, as appropriate.
- The registrar provides instructions for other universities.
Graduate Work as an Undergraduate
Beginning work for the Master's Degree as an Undergraduate
Joint BS-MS Program
Rutgers Undergraduates showing exceptional promise may begin their MS work before obtaining their BS degree
In order to be counted towards the MS degree, courses taken by undergraduates must not be used to satisfy the BS requirements. Students must demonstrate that these courses have not been used for their undergraduate degree by obtaining a letter from the undergraduate registrar. These courses taken before matriculation as a graduate student must then be transferred to the graduate transcript according to the rules for the transfer of credits from other universities.
Undergraduates interested in pursuing this opportunity should consult with the directors of both the graduate and undergraduate program in Statistics and Biostatistics.
Undergradutes in Graduate Classes other than through the Joint BS-MS Program
Undergraduates may also, under certain conditions, take courses offered by the Graduate Programs in Statistics and Biostatistics, even when no arrangement for transition to the MS program has been made. Interested students should first obtain the form from the graduate school. Bring the form to the graduate director for approval. The graduate director will then contact the graduate school for the approvalof the Administrator for Student Services. This arrangement will generally only be approved for students whose mathematics and statistics course grades are all B+ or better. The Graduate School -- New Brunswick will routinely approve the use of no more than 6 credits taken as an undergraduate, and in any case no more than 9 credits taken as an undergraduate, for later use towards the MS degree, and these credits must be in excess of 120 credits taken towards the BS.
Applications by Current Rutgers Students
Procedures for Rutgers Graduate Students for Further Study in Statistics and Biostatistics
Master of Science in Statistics and Biostatistics as a Second Degree for Current Rutgers Graduate Degree Candidates
***At this time, this option is available only to current Rutgers Ph.D. students whose thesis research contains a substantial statistical component. Interested MS students from other Rutgers programs should apply through the ordinary channel.***
The Graduate School-New Brunswick regulations allow students who are current graduate degree candidates at Rutgers to earn an additional Master of Science Degree in another field. A new application is not required, but students interested in pursuing Statistics as a 2nd degree without submitting an application should first complete all three of 960:563, 960:582, and 960:586 with no grade lower than B+ and GPA of at least 3.65 in these three courses. (Note that fulfillment of these three course requirements is a minimal requirement to be considered for admission to Statistics as a 2nd degree. It does not guarantee admission to the program.) Students not fulfilling this minimum requirement will not be considered for the MS degree in Statistics.
Upon completing these courses the student must then obtain approval of their home department and the Graduate Director of statistics before being admitted to the MS as a second degree. At the time of inquiry the Graduate Director of Statistics will request additional information from the student, including a statement of purpose for graduate study in statistics, letter of recommendation from the home department, confirmation that the student is in good standing with the home program, and a completed version of the Graduate School - New Brunswick form. Furthermore, graduate students whose tuition is being paid as part of a research assistantship should make their intention to pursue an MS degree in statistics clear to the employer paying the tuition.
Students should keep in mind that no more than 12 credits of coursework may be counted towards two Rutgers graduate degrees.
Upon successful acceptance for transfer the student must complete of the two forms, depending on whether you plan to first complete your current program before starting the program in Statistics and Biostatistics, or not complete your current program.
Doctoral Study for Current or Former Rutgers Candidates for the MS Degree in Statistics and Biostatistics
Alumni of the Rutgers MS program must formally apply for the PhD program. Current students in the Rutgers MS program should speak with the Graduate Director about changing their program. To be considered as a transfer from the MS to PhD program, a student must have completed all requirements of first-year PhD study, including required courses and any additional requirements. Students with a competitive performance in required coursework will be permitted to sit for the PhD written qualifying exam. Students are permitted to take the qualifying exam at the discretion of the Graduate Director.
Study for Current Rutgers Graduate Students from Other Programs
M.S. students wishing to enter the graduate program in Statistics and Biostatistics, who are currently in other Rutgers graduate programs should submit an application for the MS degree through the usual process.
Visits by Prospective Students
Planning for a visit to the Rutgers Graduate Program in Statistics and Biostatistics
- Choosing the dates of your visit: Our department does not have one specific time for student visits. Students may visit a weekday of their choice between Monday and Friday. Students should avoid times when the university is not in session, such as spring break. Wednesdays work well for a visit, since our seminar series generally meets on that day, and so most of the faculty are in at the same time that day. Friday is the least-preferred choice, since fewer faculty are in that day.
- Planning your time here: We find that visits work best if the student is in charge of his or her own schedule (but we're happy to help with the planning.) The usual things our applicants do when they come are:
- Meet with the graduate program director. Usually, but not necessarily, this is done when you first arrive.
- Talk to a few other faculty members. Feel free to contact faculty members directly to schedule a meeting, suggest to the graduate director names of faculty and let us set up appointments, or ask us to pick faculty to talk to. This is more important for PhD applicants, and less important for MS applicants.
- Attend one or more classes.
- Attend a seminar if one is running during your visit. This is more important for PhD applicants, and less important for MS applicants.
- Meet with some graduate students. For many students, meeting the graduate students is the most important part of the visit because it gives you a chance to find out from them what it is like to be a student here.
- Take a campus tour.
- Student sometimes visit at short notice. We are happy to introduce students to the various faculty and set up more spontaneous schedules. The faculty and student body are large enough that it is not a problem to find some interesting people to talk to.
- Lodging while here: MS applicants usually spend only an hour or so visiting our program, and so we generally do not recommend an overnight stay. We can arrange for doctoral applicants to stay overnight at the home of some graduate students. Let us know if you want us to do this. The alternative to staying with graduate students is staying at a hotel. This can get rather expensive because of hotel costs. If you choose to stay in a hotel, we can generally arrange for a ride to campus, with sufficient advanced notice.
- Financial support for visits: Budgets vary over time. Please contact the graduate director for details. You should be careful about keeping receipts. For the plane flight we need a receipt showing that the reservation was actually paid for (submitting boarding passes would be good too).
Driving to and parking on campus: Rutgers provides directions to Hill Center, where the Graduate Program in Statistics and Biostatistics is housed. After arrival, please come to Room 501 or 504 to pick up a parking permit. - Keeping us informed of your plans, and particularly of any change in plans.
Application Procedure
Application Requirements
Applicants should visit Graduate Admissions for application information, forms, and instructions, including general graduate school application requirements, and should note deadlines and test requirements. Test scores should be sent directly from the testing organization to the Rutgers office of Graduate Admissions, using the code 2790.
The Graduate School -- New Brunswick generally expects successful applicants to have verbal and quantitative Graduate Record Exam scores of at least 500 and 600 respectively. Our requirements for the verbal score is somewhat flexible, but, particularly for PhD applicants, expect quantitative scores to be considerably higher. The Graduate School -- New Brunswick has instructions specific to international applicants, including rules determining who must submit a TOEFL score and minimal acceptable scores.
The application form must be submitted on-line. Please submit all supporting materials for your application on-line where possible and otherwise mailed in one envelope. Mail supporting materials (including the fee, unless paid on-line) in time to be received at the appropriate admissions office.
Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
56 College Avenue
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8541, U.S.A.
(732) 932-7711
Applicants who have submitted all required admissions materials will receive a response from the Graduate School-New Brunswick.
Applicants may check the status of their application on-line.
One may apply to multiple graduate programs at Rutgers. A separate fee must be paid for each program that one applies to. Please contact graduate admissions to arrange for your credentials to be shared with other programs.
Graduate students who wish to transfer to the Graduate Program in Statistics and Biostatistics to earn our master's degree instead of their current degree should consult with the graduate program director. Students from out side of the Graduate School-New Brunswick may need to do a complete new application.
Students who have been admitted to one of our programs, and who choose to accept our offer, should now read our offer acceptance and orientation material. We ask that students choosing not to accept our offer let us know as soon as possible.
Non-Degree Admissions
A student who is not already enrolled in a degree program at Rutgers and who does not wish to pursue the MS degree may apply to our program as a Non-Degree student. You do not need to submit GRE scores or letters of recommendation, but you do need to demonstrate that you have taken the prerequisites (at Rutgers or elsewhere) for any courses for which you wish to register. Students should discuss whether they have satisfied prerequisites for the various graduate courses with the graduate director. Non-degree students can take 12 credits of courses offered by Rutgers. This cap is cumulative across all programs, and so a student who has non-degree admission from multiple programs receives only one allotment of 12 credits. This cap also includes undergraduate courses. Students who have applied and been admitted as a non-degree student, and who later wish to apply for a Rutgers degree program, must pay another application fee. For non-degree admission, we require a transcript showing two semesters of calculus, or one senior level undergraduate statistics course, equivalent to Rutgers 640:151-2 or 960:401 respectively, or more. Application information is available from the Apply — Three Easy Steps page: please read the Non-degree Graduate Study paragraph under the heading Further Information. There is generally an application fee to apply for non-degree status. You will also need a special permission number from the Graduate Program in Statistics and Biostatistics, after applying to be a non-degree student, in order to register for one or more courses. This process should be completed in advance of the start of the desired semester and early application is advised.
Non-Matriculated Admissions
The Graduate Program in Statistics is no longer admitting non-matriculated students.
Students whose appropriateness for the graduate programs in statistics and biostatistics is not clear may, at the discretion of the admissions committee, be offered non-matriculated admission. A non-matriculated student can take 12 credits of courses offered by the Graduate Program in Statistics and Biostatistics. Under these circumstances, the admissions decision is reconsidered after the student has completed the first few courses in the program. On reconsideration, if the admissions committee decides that the student is appropriate for the program, the student should fill out the Status Change Form to change status to "Matriculated", and no further fee is assessed.
Applications for Transfer from non-Rutgers Programs
The admissions procedure is the same for transfer students as it is for students just starting their graduate study of Statistics and Biostatistics.
Students can apply to transfer credits for graduate courses with a grade of B or better, provided they replace appropriate courses offered by our program, and credit for such courses was not used to earn a previous undergraduate degree. Maximum numbers of credits that may be transferred is different for the MS and Ph.D. degrees. Permission to transfer credit is granted on a case-by-case basis and is not granted automatically. Please see the general Graduate School-New Brunswick rules for transfer of credit for full details. Students may not transfer any credits from another university until they have completed 12 credits as a matriculated student.
Starting Dates
Students may begin their studies during Fall, Spring, or Summer terms. Students who need F1 visas are allowed to start in Fall or Spring, but not Summer. PhD students are strongly urged to begin in the Fall, but other entry options are available.
Applications for Readmission
Students whose student status has lapsed due to a student's failure to maintain registration may apply for readmission, by submitting the proper form to the graduate school.