Displaced students

At the moment of writing (Fall 2022) the best way to apply for studies is using the regular process. However, given the hardship induced by the war, some universities may waive application fees and/or consider an application with incomplete documents.

Here is a general advice to potential graduate students who may consider studying in the US or Canada:

• If you are interested in a particular graduate program and one of our supporters is at the university you are considering, please don't hesitate to ask for advice or help with your application.

• Graduate school applications for the next academic year are typically due in December or January. An applicant is expected to finish a BS program before the start of graduate studies.

• PhD programs are better financially supported than MS programs. Typically, if accepted, a PhD program applicant is offered a Teaching Assistantship, which is sufficient to cover all living expenses and comes a tuition waiver.

• Most PhD programs in North America (unlike Europe) require only BS (not MS) to apply. A typical PhD program takes 4-5 years to complete and would be an equivalent of MS+PhD in Europe.

Unfortunately, there are very few opportunities with financial support for foreign undergraduate students.

--------------------- The information below refers to an old application advertised in Spring 2022 ------------------------------------------

We have created an application for students seeking an opportunity to continue their studies in North America in the academic year 2022-2023. All opportunities would come with financial support sufficient for all living expenses. This is intended for both undergraduate and graduate students, either already displaced or thinking of leaving Ukraine.

This mathprograms.org application is posted by the Georgia Institute of Technology, but we will share your files with many supporters from other institutions in the US and Canada: an invitation for EP, MS, or PhD may come from another place.
In response to the application you may be invited to

• [EP] a student exchange program for undergraduates (a one-year "visiting student" program --- you will remain officially affiliated with your home university),

• [MS] a Masters program (a one- or two-year program for those who are finishing their Bachelor's degree),

• [PhD] a PhD program (a four- or five-year program for those who are finishing their Bachelor's or Master's degree),

• [OP] a special online program (a remote program you could attend, while living in Ukraine or any country where you have moved to).

The application asks to submit basic documents:

• CV: Describe your education and employment (if there was any), skills, experience relevant to the program. Describe your level of English (this can be done informally; we don't necessarily expect English tests results).

• Unofficial transcript: If you can't obtain any transcript, please compose and submit the list of courses in mathematics that you have taken.

• Personal Statement: Please write a one-page statement with the description of your personal situation.

  • Include the last date you were physically in your college/university, and where you are located now.

  • Specify the types of programs you may want to pursue:

    • EP is targeting undergraduates; MS and PhD are for finishing undergraduates and graduate students.

    • Are you interested in OP (courses will be taught remotely)? If so, would you need financial support?

  • Express briefly your current interests in mathematics: what type of mathematics excited you in the past, and what you think would excite you in the future.

• Reference letters: These are optional, but we urge you to request letters from a person (even better, two people) who can judge your abilities and potential.

  • The application system emails the reference letter writers automatically: you just need to specify email addresses. Once you apply, it is a good idea to contact your letter writer(s) separately to make sure the automated message was received.

  • We understand that in these difficult times, it is hard to ask your professors and advisors to write lengthy detailed letters. The automated email message emphasizes that this is not necessary: a short letter is fine and could be written in the recommender's native language.

  • We will start considering your application even if the reference letters are not received.

• Deadline: We urge you to apply as soon as possible! (The posted deadline will be extended, but the number of opportunities is starting to decrease due to various schools' internal deadlines.)