For Math PhD students: Both the doctoral committee and the Executive Committee have voted in favor of eliminating the foreign language requirement. The next and final step is that this change will go to Rackham for approval. So while we still currently have this requirement, my advice would be to stop worrying about it until further notice. There is a good chance the requirement will be gone by the beginning of next semester.
Further Update: As of February 20, 2020, our Math PhD requirements are now officially approved by Rackham and updated. A foreign language exam is no longer required for the degree of PhD in mathematics from the University of Michigan.
Spend your new-found free time learning Python, Sage, Macaulay, Maple, Matlab, or another machine language you might be able to use in your mathematical work!
