A suitable background for admission is a bachelor's degree with a double major in mathematics and a science, or a major in mathematics with a minor in a science, or a major in a science with a substantial mathematics component including some theoretical courses in analysis and algebra. Students may enter with a master's degree. Students should have a desire to apply mathematics to the solution of relevant scientific problems and should state their area of interest in their application.

Admission and financial decisions are based on Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores, courses taken, grade point average (GPA), academic goals, letters of recommendation, area of interest, and, for students for whom English is not their first language, Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. We usually expect GRE scores that are at least 450 verbal, 700 quantitative, and 3.5 in analytical writing. Please be sure to have your GRE scores sent to The University of Iowa by the testing agency. We require the GRE but not the GRE subject test in mathematics. We usually expect applicants to have a GPA that is at least a B+ (3.40 out of 4.00) in their previous course work. We are aware, however, that there are differences in grading systems and severity from school to school. We consider all the evidence available, consequently it is to your advantage to submit as complete an application as possible.

TOEFL iBT - Total score 81
TOEFL PBT - 550
IELTS - Overall score of 7 with no subscore less than 6