The Department of Statistics at Rice University offers the following graduate degrees:
Once you have reviewed and met all admissions requirements, you are ready to Begin Your Application to Rice University.
Prerequisites
Prospective students applying to the Ph.D. in Statistics program generally have the following mathematics background. If you do not satisfy these prerequisites, we invite you to contact the Graduate and Undergraduate Program Administrator or chair of the Ph.D. admissions committee to seek advice.
- Single and multivariable calculus
- Linear or matrix algebra
- Probability and Statistics (Calculus-based)
Note: A background in non-calculus statistics is helpful, but it will not prepare you for the mathematical rigor in this program of study.
Typical Rice courses satisfying the prerequisites include:
- MATH 101/102 - Single Variable Calculus I/II
- MATH 211 - Ordinary Differential Equations and Linear Algebra
- MATH 212 - Multivariable Calculus
- CAAM 335 - Matrix Analysis
- CAAM 334 - Matrix Analysis for Data Science
- MATH 355 - Linear Algebra
- STAT 310 - Probability and Statistics
- STAT 311 - Honors Probability and Mathematical Statistics
- STAT 315 - Probability and Statistics for Data Science
Admissions Requirements
All graduate applicants to the Department of Statistics at Rice University must provide:
- Unofficial undergraduate transcripts (and graduate, if applicable)
- Three letters of recommendation
- TOEFL scores should also be included when appropriate, please view requirements here.
- GRE score report (see more details below)
- Application Fee, waivers are only available under the circumstances listed here.
The pandemic has made it difficult for some students to take the GRE. Rice Graduate Studies and the Department of Statistics is not requiring the GRE for Fall 2024 admission, but will provide students with the option of submitting those scores. Please note the requirements for each individual graduate program (MSTAT and PhD).
The General GRE for the MSTAT program is recommended, but it is not required. This means that although the GRE is not required, its use will aid in prioritization and ranking of prospective MSTAT applicants.
The General GRE for the PhD program is strongly recommended, but it is not required. If you have questions about submitting GRE scores, please contact Margaret Poon (poon@rice.edu).
All documents should be uploaded online with your application. It is not necessary to mail in any paper materials. Official transcripts are required only after admission to the program.
How to Apply and Application Deadline
After you've reviewed the program and application requirements, click here to APPLY to the PhD program. The Statistics PhD application will open on September 1. The priority deadline that begins reviews is December 1. The final submission deadline is December 31.
Contact Us
Inquiries about admissions to our graduate programs should be emailed to Margaret Poon, poon@rice.edu