Applied Mathematics Admissions

Find applied mathematics admissions requirements and general application information.


Student looks at microscope in applied math lab

Undergraduate preparation for admission

Applied mathematics at UCSC is interdisciplinary and accepts students from a variety of backgrounds:

  • Mathematics
  • Engineering
  • Physics

Incoming students are expected to have knowledge of the following subjects in order to be successful in the graduate curriculum:

  • Basic computer programming in one or more of these formal languages: Fortran, C/C++, Python
  • Mathematical linear algebra
  • Ordinary differential equations
  • Four quarters of calculus
  • Some partial differential equations
  • Working knowledge of MATLAB
2023 incoming first year class photo with Sammy the Slug

Ready to become a banana slug?

Requirements and instructions for applying to the applied mathematics department fee waiver:

  1. You must have, at minimum, completed, uploaded, and submitted the following items to your application: statement of purpose, personal history statement, statement of financial need, and your resume/CV
  2. You must have graduated from a UC or CSU with a minimum of a 3.5 out of 4.0 GPA
  3. You must have not yet paid for your application to the university and must have requested a fee waiver from the Graduate Division and received a denial email
  4. To request the fee waiver: if you received a denial email from the Graduate Division, please contact am-gradadvising@ucsc.edu and attach a PDF of the denied email, stating why you are requesting a fee waiver

NOTE: The department is unlikely to grant a fee waiver to individuals for more than one application cycle.

Last modified: Feb 14, 2025