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Admissions Information for Prospective Graduate Students

Thank you for considering the PhD program in Physics at MIT. Information regarding our graduate program and our application process can be found below and through the following webpages and other links on this page. If your questions are not answered after reviewing this information, please contact us at [email protected] .

Here are some links to pages relevant to prospective students:

• Material Required for a Complete Application , and information about When/How to Apply can be found below on this page.
• We have an FAQ which should help to answer many questions, and we provide Application Assistance from staff and students if you don’t find what you need in the FAQ.
• Additional Guidance about the application itself, along with examples, can be found on a separate page. The graduate application is available at https://apply.mit.edu/apply/ .
• General information about the graduate program and research areas in the physics department may also be of use.
• MSRP (MIT Summer Research Program) is designed to give underrepresented and underserved students access to an MIT research experience, pairing each student with a faculty member who will oversee the student conducting a research project at MIT.

Statement regarding COVID grading policies

MIT has adopted the following principle: MIT’s admissions committees and offices for graduate and professional schools will take the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant.

In particular, as we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students. We also expect that the individual experiences of applicants will richly inform applications and, as such, they will be considered with the entirety of a student’s record.

Ultimately, even in these challenging times, our goal remains to form graduate student cohorts that are collectively excellent and composed of outstanding individuals who will challenge and support one another.

Questions or concerns about this statement should be directed to the Physics Department ( [email protected] ).

Applying to the MIT Department of Physics

We know that the application process can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly. We are committed to reducing these barriers and to helping all applicants receive a full and fair assessment by our faculty reviewers. Help is available from the Physics Graduate Admissions Office at [email protected] and additional assistance from current students is offered during the admissions season. Further details are described at the end of this page in our Assistance for Prospective Applicants section.

The list below describes the important elements of a complete application. Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you have a concern or logistical difficulty that could prevent you from providing your strongest application.

Required for a Complete Application

1. online application and application fee.

• MIT Graduate Admissions Online Graduate Application
• Application Fee: $90

2. University Transcript(s)

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for our initial review, with final transcripts required as a condition of matriculation for successful applicants. Applicants should include a scan of their transcript(s) and, if a degree is in progress, should include a list of the class subjects being taken in the current semester. The portal will allow applicants to log back into the application after the deadline to add their Fall term grades when they are available.

Note: We will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students.

3. Standardized Test Results

• GRE Tests : The Physics GRE (PGRE) is recommended but not required for graduate applications. All applications will be given full consideration with or without GRE scores.
• TOEFL or IELTS Test or a waiver is required for non-native English speakers. MIT’s TOEFL school code is 3514; the code for the Department of Physics is 76. IELTS does not require a code. Eligibility for TOEFL/IELTS waivers is in our FAQ section .
• Self-reported scores are sufficient for our initial application screening, with official scores required for admitted students as a condition of their offer. Applicants should attach a scanned copy of their test score report.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Letters should include any individual work applicants have done and/or areas where they have special strengths. It is possible to submit up to 6 total letters, but 3 are sufficient for a complete application and committee members may evaluate applications based on the first three letters that they read.

5. Statement of Objectives

Research is central to graduate study in physics. The Statement of Objectives/Purpose should include descriptions of research projects, aptitude and achievements as completely as possible. This important part of the application provides an opportunity to describe any interests, skills, and background relative to the research areas selected on the application form. Applicants should share anything that prepares them for graduate studies and describe their proudest achievements.

Additional Application Materials

• Research, Teaching, and Community Engagement – Any special background or achievement that prepares the applicant for Physics graduate studies at MIT. This may include research at their undergraduate school as part of their Bachelor or Master degree, or summer research at another program or school.  We also value our student’s contributions to their community on a variety of scales (from institutional to societal) and we encourage applicants to tell us about their teaching and community engagement activities.  The “experience” questions are intended to provide a CV-like listing of achievements, some of which may be elaborated on in the “Statement of Objectives” and/or the optional “Personal Statement”.
• Publications, Talks, and Merit Based Recognition – Recognition of success in research, academics, and outreach can take many forms, including publications, talks, honors, prizes, awards, fellowships, etc.  This may include current nominations for scholarships or papers submitted for publication.
• Optional Personal Statement – Members of our community come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We welcome any personal information that will help us to evaluate applications holistically and will provide context for the applicant’s academic achievements. This statement may include extenuating circumstances, significant challenges that were overcome, a non-traditional educational background, description of any advocacy or values work, or other information that may be relevant.
• Detailed instructions for each application section, and many examples , can be found on the “ Additional Guidance ” page.  The detailed instructions are lengthy, and are intended to be read only “as needed” while you work on your application (i.e., you don’t need to go read the whole thing before you start).

When/How to Apply

When : Applications can be submitted between September 15 and December 15 by 11:59pm EST for the following year.

How : The application is online at https://apply.mit.edu/apply/

Application Assistance

Faculty, students, and staff have collaborated to provide extensive guidance to prospective applicants to our graduate degree program, which we detail below:

• Our website provides answers to many frequently asked admissions questions
• Admissions staff are available for questions at [email protected] . We encourage students to send their questions early in the application process, as staff become increasingly busy with requests as the application deadline approaches!
• The Physics Graduate Application Assistance Program ( PhysGAAP ) is run by current graduate students and offers online webinars, office hours, and one-on-one mentoring. Registration is now open for Fall 2024 , and more information is provided below.

Physics Graduate Application Assistance Program (PhysGAAP)

PhysGAAP is a program offering resources for students applying to graduate school, and it was first started to reduce the barriers for application to the MIT Physics PhD program and address the underrepresentation of students from historically excluded communities. Our services include annual webinars about the application process, office hours to answer questions, and a one-on-one mentoring program for students who would benefit from more in-depth, individual assistance. Visit the PhysGAAP website for more information! 

The Fall 2024 webinars will be held on October 16th at 9-10am and 4-5pm. Zoom and Slido information will be sent 1 week before the webinar to applicants who have registered for PhysGAAP using this form .

Recordings of past webinars can also be found on our website . Please note past webinars may contain outdated information about some topics, such as GRE requirements.

Office Hours

Our Office Hours are a space where you can briefly chat with an MIT Physics graduate student about questions you may have about applying to graduate school. For example, if you have questions about the specifics of applying to MIT Physics, what materials you need for your application, or other questions that only require a one-time meeting, office hours may be a good option for you.

Information about the Office Hours program will be sent out to those who register for PhysGAAP through this form .

1-on-1 Mentorship

1-on-1 mentoring is offered for students who would benefit from more in-depth individual assistance. Our capacity is limited, so we will give preferential consideration to PhysGAAP Mentorship applicants who would most benefit from the program and can demonstrate that they are a good fit. We therefore ask prospective applicants to start by asking their questions at our webinars and office hours program. 

If applicants want further assistance, they may apply to the PhysGAAP Mentorship Program, which pairs prospective graduate school applicants with current graduate students who can provide feedback on their application and insight into graduate school and the MIT Physics PhD program. 

Applications for the PhysGAAP Mentorship Program will open later in the Fall and are expected to close in early-mid November . To stay up to date on when the applications open, please register for PhysGAAP through this form .

Please note that participation in PhysGAAP is not considered during admissions review. It helps applicants put forward their strongest materials, but does not guarantee admission into our graduate program.

Admissions/Application FAQs

Our Frequently Asked Questions provide further information about degree requirements, funding, educational background, application deadlines, English language proficiency, program duration, start dates and deferrals, and fee waiver requests.

The MOST Frequently Asked Question…

What is included in a strong graduate application for physics at mit.

Applications are assessed holistically and many variables are considered in the application review process. The following four main factors are required for a complete application.

• the applicant’s statement of objectives or purpose,
• transcripts of past grades,
• score reports of any required standardized tests,
• three letters of reference.

In addition, any past research experience, publications, awards, and honors are extremely helpful, particularly if they are in the area(s) of the applicant’s interest(s). Applicants may also include a personal statement in their application to provide context as the materials are assessed.

Applications are routed to admission committee members and other faculty readers using the “areas of interest” and any faculty names selected from the menu as well as based on the research interests included in the statement of objectives. Please select the areas of interest that best reflect your goals.

Instructions are available in the application itself , with further guidance on our Additional Guidance page. The Physics Admissions Office will respond to questions sent to [email protected] .

General Questions Regarding the PhD Program in Physics

Must i have a degree in physics in order to apply to this graduate program.

Our successful applicants generally hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, or have taken many Physics classes if they have majored in another discipline. The most common other majors are astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and chemistry. Bachelor of Science degrees may be 3-year or 4-year degrees, depending on the education structure of the country in which they are earned.

What are the requirements to complete a PhD?

The requirements for a PhD in Physics at MIT are the doctoral examination, a few required subject classes, and a research-based thesis. The doctoral examination consists of a written and an oral examination. The written component may be satisfied either by passing the 4 subject exams or by passing designated classes related to each topic with a qualifying grade; the oral exam will be given in a student’s chosen research area. The Physics Department also requires that each student take two classes in the field of specialization and two physics-related courses in fields outside the specialty. Research for the thesis is conducted throughout the student’s time in the program, culminating in a thesis defense and submission of the final thesis.

Can I take courses at other schools nearby?

Yes. Cross-registration is available at Harvard University and Wellesley College.

How many years does it take to complete the PhD requirements?

From 3 to 7 years, averaging 5.6 years.

How will I pay for my studies?

Our students are fully supported financially throughout the duration of their program, provided that they make satisfactory progress. Funding is provided from Fellowships (internal and external) and/or Assistantships (research and teaching) and covers tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend. Read more about funding .

Note: For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit the Student Financial Services (SFS) website .

How many applications are submitted each year? How many students are accepted?

Although the number varies each year, the Department of Physics usually welcomes approximately 45 incoming graduate students each year. Last year we received more than 1,700 applications and extended fewer than 90 offers of admission.

What are the minimum grades and exam scores for admitted applicants?

There are no minimum standards for overall grade point averages/GPAs. Grades from physics and other related classes will be carefully assessed. Under a special COVID-19 policy, MIT will accept transcripts with a variety of grading conventions, including any special grading given during the COVID-19 pandemic. PGREs (Physics subject GRE) is not required for graduate applications but is recommended.

Our program is conducted in English and all applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency. Non-native English speakers should review our policy carefully before waiving the TOEFL/IELTS requirements. We do not set a minimum requirement on TOEFL/IELTS scores; however, students who are admitted to our program typically score above the following values:

• IELTS – 7
• TOEFL (computer based) – 200
• TOEFL (iBT) – 100
• TOEFL (standard) – 600

The Application Process

When is the deadline for applying to the phd program in physics.

Applications for enrollment in the fall are due each year by 11:59pm EST on December 15 of the preceding year. There is no admission cycle for spring-term enrollment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for me to take tests in person. Can I still apply?

PGRE (Physics subject GRE) is not required for graduate applications but is recommended. Non-native English speakers who are not eligible for a test waiver should include their results from either an in-person or online version of the TOEFL or IELTS test.

Does the Department of Physics provide waivers for the English language exam (TOEFL/IELTS)?

An English language exam (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, or the C2 Cambridge English Proficiency exam) is required of all applicants who are from a country in which English is not the primary language. Exceptions to this policy will be considered for candidates who, at the start of their graduate studies in 2025, will have been in the US or in a country whose official language is English for three years or longer and who will have received a degree from a college or university in a country where the language of education instruction is English. An interview via telephone, Zoom, or Skype may be arranged at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. More information on a possible English Language Waiver Decision (PDF).

Does the Department of Physics provide application fee waivers?

Although we do not want the MIT application fee to be a barrier to admission, we cannot provide application fee waivers to all who request one.  The Department of Physics has a limited number of fee waivers to grant. Applicants should first investigate their eligibility for a fee waiver through the Office of Graduate Education . Those not eligible will be prompted to submit a departmental application. Fee waiver requests will only be considered *before* an applicant has submitted the application, but *after* they have completed all parts of the application, including transcript uploads and requests for letters of recommendation. Fee waiver requests for incomplete applications will not be considered. Fee waiver requests will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis, and not after December 1. Furthermore, applications lacking the paid fee or a fee waiver by 11:59pm EST on December 15 will not be reviewed or considered for admission.

Can I arrange a visit to the Physics Department or a specific research area?

We are not currently hosting or meeting with outside visitors in person, nor are we facilitating visits to our classrooms. Current graduate students and prospective applicants should direct any questions by email to [email protected] .

Applicants are invited to send specific questions to the Physics Admissions Office and some questions may be forwarded to current students for further information. Admitted students will be invited to attend an in-person open house.

Can I receive an update on the status of my application?

Candidates can check on the status of their application at apply.mit.edu/apply at any time. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all items are sent.

When will I be notified of a final decision?

Applicants will be notified via email of decisions by the end of February. If you have not heard from us by March 1, please send email to [email protected] .

We do not provide results by phone.

Can admitted students start in a term other than the next Fall semester?

Applications submitted between September 15 and December 15 by 11:59pm EST are assessed for the following Fall semester. We do not provide a separate admission review cycle for the Spring semester. Individual research supervisors may invite incoming students to start their research during the summer term a few months earlier than their studies would normally begin. All other incoming students start their studies in late August for the Fall term.

Once admitted, applicants may request a one-year deferral to attend a specific academic program or for another approved reason, with single semester deferrals for the following Spring term granted only rarely.

• Prospective Graduate Students

Program Eligibility

Bachelor Degree A Bachelor degree is required at the time of matriculation. Applicants can apply in the Fall of their senior year in college. A physics major is not required. International Students please refer to the International Degree Equivalences for eligibility.

Advanced Undergraduate Physics Coursework A Physics major is not required, however some of the advanced coursework we look for includes courses in analytical mechanics, statistical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism, optics and wave motion, and some advanced laboratory work in physics. Familiarity with ordinary and partial differential equations, vector calculus, Fourier analysis, and linear algebra is also expected, while some experience with computing is highly desirable.

Undergraduate Research Experience Successful applicants typically have significant undergraduate research experience, and recommendation letters from research supervisors form an important part of the application package. Research experience may be in Physics or a related field like Chemistry or Mathematics, and does not need to be in the same area as the proposed area of specialization in grad school.

GPA There is no GPA cutoff and all applications will be considered.  The typical GPA of applicants is >3.5 with A's in most Physics courses.

TOEFL/IELTS All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. The minimum IBT TOEFL scores required for consideration are: Writing: 20, Listening: 15, Reading: 20, Speaking: 23.  For the IELTS, an overall band score of 7.0 with a minimum speaking subscore of 7.0.

Applicants may be exempt from submitting TOEFL/IELTS scores if they meet one of the following standing exemptions outlined here . However, if offered admission, all international students will be expected to meet the oral proficiency outlines from ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) at the “Intermediate High” level. This test is administered at Cornell upon matriculation.

GRE The general GRE and the physics GRE will not be considered for applicants with interests in experimental physics, physics education research, or astrophysics theory. The physics GRE is required for applicants with interests in research in either theoretical elementary particle physics or theoretical condensed matter physics. In our admissions process for condensed matter theory students and elementary particle theory students the physics GRE score is used as one factor among many in evaluating applicants, and there is no cutoff score. Condensed matter theory and elementary particle theory applications without a physics GRE score cannot be considered for admission. Theory students who feel that their GRE score does not reflect their physics knowledge are encouraged to discuss the discrepancy in their personal statement.

Transfer Students A student who has begun a Ph.D. program at another university will only be admitted under unusual circumstances. Applicants who have completed or are finishing a terminal Master's degree program will be given full consideration.

Financial Support

The Physics Department admits only as many graduate students as it anticipates being able to support through the Ph.D.  Every effort is made to provide all graduate students in good academic standing full financial support for 6 years (or until they complete their advanced degree if earlier.) Continuation of financial support after each year is contingent upon satisfactory academic performance and satisfactory job performance in any teaching or research.

All yearly financial support packages provide :

• A 9-month academic year stipend as well as a 3-month summer stipend to cover living expenses
• Full cost of tuition
• 12-month health insurance coverage

Support is provided through the following financial sources:

Fellowships  Some students enter the program with fellowship support from Cornell or fellowships from an outside agency. Fellowship recipients may be able to augment their fellowship stipends by teaching part-time. Most fellowship recipients receive a full tuition waiver and university health insurance coverage for the duration of the fellowship award. The  Cornell Graduate School  has information about both university-sponsored and external fellowships for prospective and continuing graduate students. The school’s  Graduate Fellowship Database  is a searchable database of more than 500 external fellowships.

Teaching Assistantships 

The experience of teaching is a valuable part of graduate education and most first-year and many second-year students serve as teaching assistants for undergraduate courses. It allows you to relearn and reinforce fundamental concepts. It also encourages development of organization, communication, and the kinds of interpersonal skills that are a prerequisite for success in both graduate school and subsequent careers. In fact, teaching is considered so important that even graduate students who come to the university with a fellowship and do not have to teach are strongly encouraged to do so at some time during their graduate studies.

The typical teaching assistantship (TA) assignment includes an average of 15 hours per week and no more than 20 hours in any given week. In addition to classroom time, this includes time to prepare lessons, grade assignments, and hold office hours. While serving as a teaching assistant, students may enroll in up to three courses (and be considered a full-time student). Teaching assistants receive a stipend, full tuition waiver and university health insurance coverage for the duration of their assistantship.

To help students prepare for their teaching duties, the department holds a two-day TA training workshop in August. Exceptional teachers, both experienced graduate students and faculty, will guide new students through a course designed to help them become comfortable with teaching classes and supervising labs. Throughout the time teaching at Cornell, many experienced teachers are available for advice and support.

Research Assistantships  In the second or third year of study students will usually  move from teaching to research and become a faculty member’s research assistant. The appointment is always in an area relevant to your thesis topic. Research assistants receive a stipend, full tuition waiver, and university health-insurance coverage for the duration of their assistantship.

Summer Support Students are generally supported by graduate research assistants appointments during the summer, and first-year students are expected to actively seek and secure these appointments during the Spring semester.  If necessary, backstop funding is available from the department for one summer to work on teaching activities. Advanced graduate students receive stipends during the summer as fellows or research assistants to pursue their thesis research without interruption.

Application Requirements

All required application materials and supporting documents must be submitted online and received by Cornell no later than December 15 . The Physics Department will not accept materials, changes, or updates to the application after the deadline has passed. Please do not submit a document more than once or send a copy in the mail after you have submitted it online.

Please refer to the How To Apply section below for detailed descriptions of the required and optional materials.

Required Materials:

• Cornell Graduate School Application
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Academic Statement of Purpose
• Personal Statement
• Transcripts
• TOEFL/IELTS
• Physics Course Supplement
• Physics GRE score only for applicants with interests in research in either theoretical elementary particle physics or theoretical condensed matter physics (see instructions below)
• Video Response Question on Physics Research  

Optional Materials:

• Writing Sample

How to Apply

Application Deadline The 2025 application will open September 18 and all application materials must be received by Cornell no later than December 15. All supporting documents, including academic transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation, must be received by this date. The Physics Department will not accept changes or updates to the application after the deadline has passed. It is preferred that you submit all items online. Please do not submit a document more than once. If it has been submitted online, do not send another copy in the mail.

The following must be completed when applying:

Grad School Application Complete the Cornell Graduate School Application on-line ( Apply Here ). In the section on “Academic Information” indicate that your proposed field is “Physics.” For your major subject area/concentration, indicate either theory or experiment. Your choice is by no means binding. It merely gives some indication of the interests of prospective class members. As described in the Application Guidelines, the Graduate School also asks you to submit an Academic Statement of Purpose, a Personal Statement, transcripts, and letters of recommendation. Follow the physics-specific instructions below for these application materials. The application fee is $105.

Financial Hardship: The Graduate Field of Physics is committed to creating opportunities for economically disadvantaged students.  In addition to offering generous funding to all admitted PhD students, we encourage applicants who are experiencing financial hardships to seek an application fee waiver if the cost of the application fee will be a barrier. 

Letters of Recommendation Select with care the three persons you ask to write letters of recommendation in support of your application. At least two must be professors of physics who are well acquainted with your preparation and fitness for graduate work. Recommendation letters discussing research experience carry more weight than letters regarding course performance. It is preferred that these letters are submitted online.

Academic Statement of Purpose Your statement should include a description of any previous research or teaching experience, indicating the nature of the work, the institution where the work was performed, and the name and title of the person directing it. Discuss both the overall physics research goals and your particular responsibilities. Also indicate any interest you have in particular areas of physics, specific research groups at Cornell and your professional aims after you receive your Ph.D.  If your academic record has areas of concern, please address them here.  Please do not discuss your early childhood. Your statement must not exceed 1,000 words.

Personal Statement Your Personal Statement should provide the admissions committee with a sense of you as a whole person, and you should use it to describe how your personal background and experiences influenced your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Additionally, it should provide insights into your potential to contribute to Cornell University’s core value to provide a community of inclusion, belonging, and respect where scholars representing diverse backgrounds, perspectives, abilities, and experiences can learn and work productively and positively together.

Transcripts Please scan and upload one PDF file for each school into the online application. Your transcript(s) should be an official one issued to you by your university and then scanned to make a PDF. It must be legible and provide a course title eg “Phys 4310 Advanced Mechanics“. Please do not send screenshots from an online database. Please do not email fall grades received after the application deadline, unless specifically requested. If you accept an offer of admission, you will be required to submit an official paper transcript prior to matriculation.

GRE The general GRE and the physics GRE will not be considered for applicants with interests in experimental physics, physics education research, or astrophysics theory. The physics GRE is required for applicants with interests in research in either theoretical elementary particle physics or theoretical condensed matter physics. In our admissions process for condensed matter theory students and elementary particle theory students the physics GRE score is used as one factor among many in evaluating applicants, and there is no cutoff score. Condensed matter theory and elementary particle theory applications without a physics GRE score cannot be considered for admission. Theory students who feel that their GRE score does not reflect their physics knowledge are encouraged to discuss the discrepancy in their personal statement.

TOEFL/IELTS All international applicants must demonstrate proficiency in the English language. International students demonstrate proficiency by submitting official test scores from TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). TOEFL scores must be sent electronically (e-delivery) by the Educational Testing Service to the Cornell University Graduate Admissions, Caldwell Hall e-download account School (Institution Code #2098, Department Code #76). E-delivery may also be referred to as an e-TRF by your test center.   Scores must arrive by the December 15 deadline. Note: If your name on the exam does not match your name on the application, please notify us of the discrepancy. Please note that the minimum IBT TOEFL scores required for consideration are: Writing: 20 Listening: 15 Reading: 20 Speaking: 23

The Graduate School requires an overall band score of a 7.0 or higher on the IELTS.The Physics Department requires a minimum speaking subscore of 7.0. Please contact your test center and request that your scores be sent to the following IELTS e-download account: Cornell University Graduate Admissions, 143 Caldwell Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853. We will not accept paper IELTS test report forms unless a test center is unable to transmit your scores electronically.

An applicant will automatically be granted a TOEFL/IELTS exemption if he or she meets one of the graduate school's standing exemptions as outlined here.

In addition, international students offered admission will also be expected to meet the oral proficiency outlines from ACTFL (American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages) at the “Intermediate High” level. This test will be administered at Cornell upon matriculation.

Physics Course Supplement Please list all of the college or university Physics and Mathematics courses you have taken to date, are now taking, and plan to take before graduation. Organize the courses by discipline and list in order taken from oldest to most recent. List each course individually. For “Primary Text”, list the author and title of the primary textbook used in each course. For “Semester Completed”, list the term and year (e.g. “Fall ’17”, “Winter ’19”, etc.) For “Grade”, enter your final grade in the course. If you audited the course without receiving a grade, enter “AUDIT”. All final grades provided here must ALSO be noted on your official transcript. If any of the requested information is not applicable in some situations (e.g. the grade for a course in progress, a course did not use a textbook, your university does not use course numbers, etc.), simply leave the corresponding box blank.

Please upload this completed form with your application. 

Writing Sample A writing sample is not required, though there is space for one in the application.

Video Response Question on Physics Research Please submit a short video recording of yourself discussing your contributions to research so far. Please also briefly discuss your research interests in graduate school. The application form will give your detailed instructions.

Admissions Decisions

What We Look For Successful applicants demonstrate the potential to master physics concepts at the graduate level, and show the creativity, initiative, attentiveness, and determination to succeed in research. Students with less preparation but demonstrated potential have the opportunity to fill knowledge gaps by taking one or more undergraduate level courses in their first year

Timeline All admissions decisions for applications for fall will be made by March. The majority of decisions will be made in February. We regret that due to the number of files received and reviewed by the Admissions Committee each year, we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications. All decisions of the Cornell Physics Admissions Committee are final.

Review Considering COVID-19 Disruptions In our review of applications for Fall 2023 admission, as well as future admissions cycles, we will respect decisions made by individual students and/or by their academic institutions with regard to the enrollment in or adoption of Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, Pass/No Record, Credit/No Credit, Pass/Fail and other similar grading options during the pandemic disruptions.  Applicants are invited to describe their individual experiences during the pandemic to provide context to inform the application review process.  We strive to form future graduate student cohorts composed of intellectually strong, diverse, and resilient individuals who will make the most of their graduate education opportunities at Cornell University.

Questions about this statement may be directed to the graduate school admissions office via the contact form linked here.

Recruiting & Admissions Events

We invite you to attend one of the following session where we will be available to discuss our Ph.D. program and help answer your questions:

Application Workshop Current graduate students will be hosting an application workshop on Tuesday, October 29th and Tuesday, November 19th at 6pm EST. The workshop will feature advice on the application process, tips for writing your statement of purpose, and the opportunity to be paired with a graduate student mentor to help review your application.

Questions regarding our Ph.D. program and application process may be directed to [email protected] . 

Casey Neville , Graduate Program Coordinator Matthias Liepe,  Director of Graduate Studies

Program Information

Do you offer a Master Degree in Physics?  We do not offer a Master’s program in Physics. All admitted students are enrolled in a doctoral program and most students are awarded a Master’s degree at the time of advancement to candidacy, as an in-progress degree.

What does a typical timeline for the PhD program look like?  Please visit https://physics.cornell.edu/about-graduate-program#route-to-the-ph.d .

Do you offer scholarships or funding for the PhD program?  Yes. We provide 6 years of full financial support for all graduate students in good academic standing. Please see https://physics.cornell.edu/prospective-graduate-students#financial-support for further details.

Program Qualifications

Can you tell me if my credentials are strong enough to apply to your program?  We are unable to review prospective student’s qualifications prior to applying to the program. We do encourage those students who meet the program eligibility requirements to apply. An application fee waiver can be requested in the event of financial hardship or extenuating circumstances.

What is the average GPA of successful applicants? There is no GPA cutoff and all applications will be considered.  The typical GPA of applicants is >3.5 with A's in most Physics courses.

Is research experience required to apply to the program?  Yes. Successful applicants typically have significant undergraduate research experience. Research experience may be in Physics or a related field like Chemistry or Mathematics, and does not need to be in the same area as the proposed area of specialization in grad school.

What level degree do I need to apply to the program?  A Bachelor degree or an equivalent International Degree . A physics major is not required, although students should complete advanced-undergraduate level Physics coursework before entering the Ph.D. program.

Am I exempt from the language exam if English was the language of instruction in my school? Please see the Graduate School website for information on whether you qualify for an exemption.

Do you accept transfer students into your program? A student who has begun a Ph.D. program at another university will only be admitted under unusual circumstances. Applicants who have completed or are finishing a terminal Master's degree program will be given full consideration.

Applying to the Program

How do I apply?  Apply online at https://gradschool.cornell.edu/admissions/apply/

When is the application deadline? All application materials must be received via the online application by December 15.

Can I apply to the Physics program and another program concurrently? No. In filling out your application you will need to select a first-choice program and have the option of indicating a second-choice program. Your application will be reviewed by the first choice program and if you are not offered admission you may contact one additional graduate field and ask to have your application reviewed. If the new field’s deadline has not passed and that field is willing to review your application, you can ask your original field to transfer your materials to the new field.

How do I request an application fee waiver?  Please review the criteria and the request process on the Graduate School’s Application Fees page.

Can I send updated or revised versions of my application materials?  We will not accept updated or revised application materials after the December 15 deadline.

What do you look for in applicants? Successful applicants demonstrate the potential to master physics concepts at the graduate level, and show the creativity, initiative, attentiveness, and determination to succeed in research. Students with less preparation but demonstrated potential have the opportunity to fill knowledge gaps by taking one or more undergraduate level courses in their first year.

What is your acceptance rate?  Since there are many determining factors, we do not provide statistical information on admissions to the program. However, in a typical year we receive close to 600 applications which results in an incoming cohort of approximately 26 students.

When will I be notified if I was accepted into the program?  All admissions decisions will be made no later than March 15th.

I wasn’t accepted into the program. Can you provide me feedback on my application?  We regret that due to the number of files received and reviewed by the Admissions Committee each year, we are unable to provide feedback on individual applications. All decisions of the Cornell Physics Admissions Committee are final.

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Graduate Admissions

The selection of the Ph.D. students admitted to the Department of Physics is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including (but not limited to) the student's academic record, the letters of recommendation, the statement of purpose, past accomplishments, and talent for research in physics. Applicants should keep in mind that attributes such as persistence, enthusiasm, and intellectual creativity can play a significant role in the evaluation of the aptitude of a candidate to graduate school. 

For the 2025-26 application cycle, the General GRE or Physics GRE scores will be accepted but are not a required part of a complete application.  

Applications must be submitted by the middle of December to be considered for the following Autumn Quarter. In January and February of each year, the Physics Department Graduate Admission Committee reviews each application. All applicants will be notified of their admission status by March 1st.

The Physics Department recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision. The Department does not offer a separate program for the M.S. degree, but this degree may be awarded for a portion of the Ph.D. degree work with approval from the Department. Graduate students have opportunities for research in theoretical physics, AMO physics, ultra-fast lasers, particle and nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, quantum information and control, cosmology, astrophysics, and gravitation. Opportunities for research are also available with the faculty at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the areas of theoretical and experimental particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics, accelerator design, and photon science. In Applied Physics there are opportunities in the areas of theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics, materials research, quantum electronics, and novel imaging technology.

The application deadline for this academic year 2024-25 (2025-26 admissions cycle) is  11:59pm Pacific Standard Time, Monday, December 16, 2024 . The application submission deadline is a hard deadline and no late applications are accepted, no exceptions. We strongly suggest you do not wait until the last day to submit in case you encounter any difficulties.

• Three letters of recommendation, preferably including at least one from a research group.
• Upload one scanned version of your official transcript(s) in the online application (see File Upload Requirements ).   Official transcripts are preferred, however, if obtaining official transcripts is financially burdensome, we will accept unofficial transcripts at the time of application.  For those that are offered admission to our program, we will require submission of official transcripts for accepted students before matriculation.
• The TOEFL exam is required for applicants whose first language is not English. It must be taken within the last two years. The TOEFL is waived for applicants who have recently completed or will complete a Bachelor's degree, or a 2-year Master's program, in the U.S. or in another English-speaking country.  See the  Graduate Admissions GRE/TOEFL FAQ  for detailed information.
• The GRE General and Physics exam scores will be accepted but are not required in the 2025-26 application cycle (2024-25 academic year).

The Department of Physics welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

The department is interested in understanding and mitigating barriers to access to all of our programs, including barriers based on citizenship status, accessibility, or financial or logistical challenges.  If you are interested in our graduate program but there are barriers that limit your ability to apply given our current procedures, we would appreciate hearing from you.  Please fill out this brief form .  

Not all students have equal access to information on the graduate admission process. The department is interested in helping those who may need additional guidance in applying to graduate programs in Physics. 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

• Physical Sciences

• Frequently asked admissions questions
• Admission information
• Graduate fees
• Graduate financial support
• Physics: Earning the M.S. degree
• Astronomy: Earning the M.S. degree
• Graduate timeline
• Physics Graduate Council
• American Physical Society
• American Institute for Physics
• Americal Astronomical Society
• National Science Foundation
• AIP PhysicsToday Jobs
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THIS SECONDARY PAGE

IS FOR TESTING

Graduate admissions

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Physics: phd degree, astronomy: phd degree.

• Admissions FAQ

For students who are interested in a fee waiver please consult the Division of Graduate Education’s Admissions website for more information.

The Department only considers graduate applications for the fall quarter. Applications are evaluated only when all of the materials listed below are received.

What we require

• Online graduate admissions application .
• A statement of purpose.
• A personal statement.
• Three letters of recommendation: enter names & information of recommenders in the online application; they will receive an email with link to upload their letter.
• Transcripts: All applicants may upload unofficial copies of transcripts with the application for review purposes. If you are recommended for admission and decide to accept the offer, you must submit final, official copies of your transcript for final approval of your admission by The Division of Graduate Education’s Graduate Admissions Office.

Test scores

GRE Physics and GRE general scores for the Physics PhD:

• The selection of the Ph.D. students admitted to the Physics program is based on an individualized review of each application. Students who wish to apply for admission to our graduate program for the 2024-2025 academic year are not required to take the GRE or submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. However, students may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration. The applications with GRE scores will not be given greater weight than those that do not include scores.
• Students who are admitted and intend to enroll may send official reports to UCLA institution code 4837, major code 0808.
• We will accept GRE scores from tests taken within the last 5 years. If the test was taken multiple times, enter the most recent scores on the online application.

GRE Physics and GRE general scores for the Astronomy & Astrophysics PhD:

• GRE (updated for 2024 admissions): The selection of the Ph.D. students admitted to the Astronomy and Astrophysics program is based on an individualized review of each application. Students who wish to apply for admission to our graduate program for the 2024-2025 academic year are not required to take the GRE or submit a GRE score report as part of their application package. However, students may voluntarily submit GRE test scores and they will be reviewed as part of the holistic application consideration. The applications with GRE scores will not be given greater weight than those that do not include scores.
• Students who are admitted and intend to enroll may send official reports to UCLA institution code 4837, major code 0801.

TOEFL/IELTS scores (international)

• Request official report from ETS – the Physics department major code: 76 / the Astronomy department code: 61. We will accept TOEFL scores from tests taken within the last 2 years. Acceptable scores include: TOEFL: 570 (paper), 230 (computer), TOEFL IBT: 88, IELTS: 7.0. Send TOEFL e-scores to the department and IELTS scores to both the Department & Grad Division: UCLA Department of Physics & Astronomy, Graduate Office, 430 Portola Plaza, Box 951547, Los Angeles CA 90095-1547 UCLA Graduate Admissions Student & Academic Affairs, 1255 Murphy Hall Box 951428, Los Angeles CA 90095-1428.

Fellowship application

We encourage all U.S. citizens and permanent residents to submit the fellowship application.

For the Astronomy & Astrophysics PhD only

Graduate students from overseas in the Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD program are primarily funded by research grants and teaching assistant positions. Applicants from overseas interested in applying to the Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD program are urged to contact specific faculty members whose research is of interest to see whether research assistant positions are available. The average Astronomy and Astrophysics PhD program class size is 6 domestic and 1 international.

Deadline to submit application is December 15. Scores and letters should reach us by the first week in January. Note: only the required application items will be evaluated. Do not mail or upload any other supplemental documents or any duplicates of uploaded application items.

Questions? Contact us by email or phone 310-206-6994.

For a comprehensive description of the PhD in Physics, consult the program requirements .

Course Requirements

Students are required to complete 36 units. Students fulfill the 36-unit requirement by taking the six core courses (24 units), two required non-core courses (4 units) and two elective courses (8 units). No more than eight units may be chosen from Physics 596 and/or seminar courses. Physics 597 and 598 may not be applied toward course requirements for the M.S. degree.

Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 units each quarter and maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Written Comprehensive Examination

The written comprehensive examination consists of two four-hour sections given on consecutive days, and its scope is defined by the graduate physics material in the six core courses (Physics 210A, 210B, 215A, 220, 221A, and 221B).

The written comprehensive examination is offered once a year, in the week before the beginning of classes in Fall Quarter. Students entering the graduate program in Fall Quarter are expected to take the written comprehensive examination before their fourth quarter of residence.

Students are required to pass the written comprehensive examination at the PhD level. This level is determined by the Comprehensive Examination Committee for each examination session. If students fail to pass the examination at the PhD level, they may take it a second time the next session it is given.

The written comprehensive exam is described in the program requirements . For more information please contact the department's graduate affairs office.

Once a student has completed the required courses and passed the comprehensive exam at the MS level or above, they may file a petition to receive an M.S. degree. For a comprehensive description of the Master’s in Physics, consult the program requirements .

Doctoral Committee

Doctoral committees are arranged by the student before the oral qualifying examination. Students are encouraged to consult with their advisor for recommendations on committee members.

To nominate a doctoral committee, please consult the minimum standards for doctoral committees and complete the nomination of doctoral committee form . The doctoral committee must be approved by Graduate Division before the oral qualifying examination.

Oral Qualifying Examination

The oral qualifying examination is an oral presentation of the student’s proposed dissertation problem.

To schedule the oral qualifying exam, contact your advisor’s administrative assistant to book a room and time for the exam. After you have scheduled the exam, complete the preparation for oral qualifying exam link ( http://www.pa.ucla.edu/content/preparation-qualifying-or-final-exam ) at least two weeks prior to the date of the actual exam.

Upon the successful completion of their oral qualifying examination, students are advanced to candidacy. Full-time students are expected to advance to candidacy by their 9th quarter in residence.

General Guidelines for the Oral Qualifying Exam

The qualifying oral exam is an opportunity to demonstrate to your committee that you have acquired an adequate command of your field and resources to produce original and significant work. The time frame of the exam may vary between one to two hours depending on the discussion time for the committee. The presentation lasts about 30 minutes (about 15 slides, 2 minutes per slide). Expect interruptions from committee members in order to ask questions/clarify points and remember to leave time for questions at the end as well.

The presentation itself should cover the following key topics:

1. An introduction to the science of your topic (i.e., why should someone be interested in what you are about to say?)

2. What you've done so far. You will want to discuss background literature and preliminary results, if you have them. It is important to make clear what *you* did when you are giving the background information.

3. Next steps (i.e., what’s your plan for completing the project?). If there are any resources you are counting on (such as the repair or delivery of a big laser) you should talk about that and if there is a chance you won't get it, what is your Plan B?

4. Timeline for completion of project

It is highly recommended that the student consult closely with the advisor about the contents of the examination.

Other general advice:

1. Never have any words, phrases, or plots that you do not understand at least "one sentence deeper". Anything on your slides is fair game for someone to ask "What is xxx?" If you don't know at all, that does not look good.

2. Have nothing on the slides you do not need. They only distract and waste the time of the person in the audience trying to figure it out. So if for example you take a slide from a publication and it has four curves on it but you only want to talk about one, white-box over the lines or points you are not going to talk about.

3a. *ALL* text and plots on your slides should be clearly legible. If axes numbers cannot be read, you can white-box them over and rewrite your own large numbers. Or use arrows and big numbers for values. If an axis is labeled with a complicated formula but you only need to say something simple such as "emittance", replace it. If something is not legible and is not necessary, just remove it by cropping or white box. The person in the audience will be annoyed trying to read fonts that are too small. If they are totally unreadable that is a bit insulting to the audience. (The only exception to this rule is if your point is to show something is hopelessly complicated)

3b. The corollary to rule #3 is that you should only have at most two plots per slide, but keep to one. *Extra* plots can go into backup slides.

4. Slide area is valuable. Don't waste it with large repetitive designs etc. from the master. Make sure your plots use all available space even if it means dragging a corner 10% bigger. Legibility goes as the square of the plot area.

5. You need to give a practice talk at least twice. Preferably do it once with a friend and once with your advisor. If you advisor is asking basic questions about your slides and it becomes clear he or she has not seen them before, that will really annoy the other committee members.

Dissertation

Every doctoral degree program requires the completion of an approved dissertation that demonstrates the student's ability to perform original, independent research and constitutes a distinct contribution to knowledge in the principal field of study.

Final Oral Examination

A final oral examination (i.e. defense) is required for all students in the program. Full-time students are expected to defend and submit their Ph.D. dissertations by their 18th quarter in residence. To schedule your defense, consult and complete the preparation for final oral exam form .

Filing Your Dissertation

When you are ready to file your dissertation, please consult with Graduate Division for deadlines, formatting and other regulations.

For a comprehensive description of the PhD in Astronomy, consult the program requirements .

Students are required to take seven core courses (Astronomy 270, Astronomy 271, Astronomy 272, Astronomy 273, Astronomy 274, Astronomy 280, and Astronomy 281) and two elective courses from the following course options: Astronomy 275, Astronomy 276, Astronomy 282, Astronomy 283, and Astronomy 286. Students are also strongly encouraged to take Astronomy 284 in each of their first two years of the program. Students are required to enroll in a minimum of 12 units per quarter and maintain a 3.0 GPA.

Comprehensive Examination

The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to train students to perform research at the Ph.D. level and is designed to assess both research ability and general knowledge of astronomy and physics at the graduate level.

The comprehensive examination itself is comprised of a written component and an oral component. The written component is the culmination of the second-year research project. The oral component is the presentation of the second-year research project. During the oral presentation, students are expected to respond to questions on their research and to solve basic problems from all core areas of astrophysics. The oral presentation is conducted in the Spring quarter of students’ 2nd year by the comprehensive examination committee, appointed by the vice chair and consisting of three members.

Here is a detailed decription of the Astronomy comprehensive exam .

The oral qualifying examination, the main purpose of which is to discuss and evaluate the student’s proposed dissertation problem, consists of a written component and an oral component. The written component is a written proposal of a proposed dissertation topic. The oral component is the presentation of the written proposal.

To schedule the oral qualifying exam, contact your advisor’s administrative assistant to book a room and time for the exam. After you have scheduled the exam, complete the preparation for oral qualifying exam form at least two weeks prior to the date of the actual exam.

Upon the successful completion of their oral qualifying examination, students are advanced to candidacy. Full-time students are expected to advance to candidacy within 10 quarters.

Graduate FAQ (frequently asked questions)

What are the basic requirements to apply to the department.

An applicant for admission must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and must have the necessary academic preparation to participate successfully in graduate level courses.

Are there any required courses for admission to the program?

There are no specific course requirements for admission. However, prospective students interested in applying to the Physics program should demonstrate a solid background in undergraduate physics. Similarly, prospective students interested in applying to the Astronomy program should demonstrate a solid background in undergraduate astronomy.

Can I defer my application fee?

The application fee must be paid before an application can be considered. UCLA accepts Visa, Mastercard and Discover.

What is the admission timeline for Physics and Astronomy?

The Astronomy division and Physics division have separate admission committees. Both committees begin evaluating applications mid-January. Offers of admission are typically made in February and March.

What does the department look for when making admission decisions?

Both divisions look at undergraduate grades (official transcripts), GRE general and subject (physics) scores, letters of recommendation, and the statement of purpose.

Do I need to choose between the physics and astronomy divisions when I apply?

Yes. Although we are one department, each division has its own admission committee and its own curriculum.

What is the procedure to transfer to UCLA from another graduate program?

All applicants use the same application form. The department will recognize graduate level courses completed in other institutions if verified by an official transcript.

What is the department's application deadline?

We strongly suggest you submit your application form online by December 15 and scores & letters by the first week of January.

What application materials are required by the department?

• TOEFL or IELTS exam scores for applicants whose first language is not English. Please see The Division of Graduate Education’s admissions website for further details: English Requirements: https://grad.ucla.edu/admissions/english-requirements/ .
• One set of transcripts (an unofficial copy may be uploaded in the application for review purposes).
• Statement of purpose
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation

Do I need to submit all application materials before my application will be reviewed and evaluated?

Applications are not submitted to the committee until the application fee is paid and the department has received all application material.

Should I mail copies of forms I have already uploaded on the online application?

If you have already uploaded a form (for example, the statement of purpose) in the online application, please do not mail in a copy.

Can I upload or mail in my CV or resume and publications?

CVs, resumes, copies of awards and publications are not required documents and should not be uploaded or mailed to the department.

Who should author my letters of recommendation?

At least two of your letters of recommendation should be from academic references. If you have a Master of Science, we would like letters from both your Bachelor and Master of Science institutions.

What is necessary to qualify as a resident of California?

U.S. citizens or permanent residents can usually become California residents after living in the state for one year. If you are admitted to the graduate program, you should contact the Registrar's Office, Residence Classifications (1113 Murphy Hall) upon arrival at UCLA for complete details on establishing California Residency.

How will I know if I have been recommended for admission?

If you are recommended for admission, the department will inform you of its decision and financial package via email. Typically, all recommendations for admission are made by April 1. You may also check admission decision status online using your same email address and password as when you applied.

What type of financial support may I expect if I am recommended for admission?

Typically graduate students are awarded at least a Teaching Assistantship for up to 12 quarters. International students are eligible for a Teaching Assistantship after they pass the Test of Oral Proficiency (TOP) administered by UCLA's Office of Instructional Development.

What are your code numbers for test scores?

• Institution: 4837
• GRE Physics: 0808
• GRE Astronomy: 0802

What test dates are acceptable?

We will accept GRE scores from tests taken within the last 5 years and TOEFL scores within 2 years. If test taken multiple times, enter the most recent scores on the online application. If not taken yet, enter expected test date.

What test scores are acceptable?

• TOEFL: 570 (paper), 230 (computer)
• TOEFL IBT: 88

Are copies of scores acceptable?

Unofficial copies of scores are acceptable for review purposes but official copies from ETS are required for official admission to the university.

Who is exempt from the TOEFL and/or ESLPE requirement?

Applicants who hold a Bachelor or higher degree from a university located in the United States or in another country in which English is the spoken language and the medium of instruction, or who have completed at least two years of full-time study at such an institution, are exempted from both the TOEFL requirement and the ESLPE. Please be sure to include such information and transcripts in your application.

Ph.D. Degree Programs

The Guidelines presented here are meant to be highlights. Full rules and regulations of the Graduate School can be found in the Graduate Catalog, which is available at http://www.grad.msstate.edu .

Graduate School rules, procedures and forms are complex, change continuously, and many events have deadlines. There are deadlines for:

• Applying for graduation.
• Thesis/dissertation defense or non-thesis comprehensive exam.
• Dean’s signature on thesis/dissertation signature page.
• Initial submission of thesis/dissertation to the Library.
• Final (library-approved) thesis/dissertation to the Library.

Students should check the Graduate Academic Calendar on the Graduate School website. When in doubt about anything, a student should consult with the Physics and Astronomy Department Graduate Coordinator, Dr. Henk Arnoldus.

Dr. Henk F. Arnoldus Graduate Coordinator for Physics Phone:662-325-2919 E-mail: [email protected]

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree Programs Offered

We offer the following options for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree Program:

• in Physics (through the College of Arts and Sciences)
• in Engineering, concentration Applied Physics (through the Bagley College of Engineering)

Graduate School Degree Policy

The Graduate School awards the degree (not the Physics Department)

The Graduate School will not award a degree if:

• GPA lower than 3.00 on all graduate courses taken.
• GPA lower than 3.00 on courses on the Graduate Program of Study.
• D or F on Graduate Program of Study courses.
• More than two C or lower grades on all graduate courses taken while in the program.  This includes courses not on the Graduate Program of Study. A retake can be used to mitigate this condition.
• More than one D or F on all graduate courses taken while in the program.  This includes courses not on the Graduate Program of Study. A retake cannot be used to mitigate this condition.
• A grade I (Incomplete) in any course.

A student falls under the rules of the Graduate Catalog that was in effect at the time of her/his admission to the program.

Overall Requirements

At the time of entering the graduate program in Physics, all students are required to take placement examinations in classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics. The results of these examinations are used to determine whether the student has the appropriate background to take the 8000-level courses. If a student performs unsatisfactory on an exam, she/he will be required to take the corresponding 6000-level course(s).

Students are required to have a research advisor and begin research within one year after entering the program. Before that, the graduate coordinator is the academic advisor of the student. Once a student has a research advisor, she/he must form a Graduate Committee and formulate a Graduate Program of Study, both in a timely manner. If a student wishes to have an advisor from outside the Physics Department, the student needs permission from the Graduate Coordinator.

Required Courses are listed in a separate document.  If a student wishes to take a course outside the Physics Department, the student needs permission from her/his advisor.

Students who will have teaching assignments are required to attend and pass the Teaching Assistant Workshop.  International students who will have teaching assignments are also required to attend the International Teaching Assistant Workshop (Fall admission only).

Credits and Performance

Students must be enrolled in at least 9 and at most 13 graduate credit hours (courses numbered 6000 or higher) in Fall and Spring in order to hold an assistantship. This includes possible ESL classes.

Student must be continuously enrolled for at least one credit hour in the Fall and one in the following Spring or Summer until all degree requirements are met.

If the only thing left is graduation, then no enrollment required.

In order to maximize the number of Physics credit hours, the Department strongly encourages students to enroll in 13 credit hours per semester. Students should normally not take more than 9 credit hours of lecture courses per semester. The additional credit hours should be Research, PH 8000 (MS) or PH 9000 (PhD).

Continuing financial support is contingent upon the student maintaining at least a 3.00 GPA and making satisfactory progress towards the degree, and for students with teaching assignments, maintaining a satisfactory teaching performance.

Unsatisfactory performance may lead to probation or dismissal. The details of such procedures are given in the document ‘Physics Policy on Probation and Dismissal’.

If a student continues in a PhD program, after receiving the MS in Physics degree from MSU, courses taken while in the MS program may be used to fulfill requirements for the PhD program.  However, courses with a grade of D or F may not be used, and no more than two courses with a C may be used.  Used courses with a C will count towards the ‘C rule’ of the Graduate School: A student cannot have more than two courses with a C or lower grade while in the program.  If a student receives a third C or lower grade while in the PhD program, the student must be put on probation, and repeat one of the three courses, and earn an A or B.  If a student receives a fourth grade of C or lower, the student must be dismissed.  This Physics rule is stricter than the Graduate School rule.

Course Retake Policy

A student may retake a course if her/his ‘Request to Retake a Course’ is approved. Only one course can be repeated. A record of both courses taken will remain on the transcript, and both grades will be included in the computation of the GPA. No additional credit hours are generated from a repeated course. The higher grade will count for the above rules.

Examinations

Written preliminary examinations on classical mechanics, mathematical physics, electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics are required for non-thesis MS students and PhD students. The subjects of these examinations are covered in the courses:

• PH 8213 Mechanics
• PH 8233 Methods of Theoretical Physics I
• PH 8243 Methods of Theoretical Physics II
• PH 8313 Electromagnetic Theory I
• PH 6333 Electromagnetic Fields II
• PH 8743 Quantum Mechanics I
• PH 8753 Quantum Mechanics II

The examinations on classical mechanics and quantum mechanics are offered just before the start of the Fall semester, and the examinations on mathematical physics and electromagnetic theory are offered just before the start of the Spring semester. If a student fails an exam, she/he is required to take it again the following year. Each exam can only be attempted twice.

Theses and Dissertations

Theses and dissertations must be approved by the Library before graduation. For details, see http://lib.msstate.edu/thesis/ . The signature page must be approved by the Library before the defense. At least two weeks before the defense, a copy of the thesis or dissertation should be given to the members of the Graduate Committee. The thesis or dissertation should be sent to the Library after the defense, so that comments by the Graduate Committee can be included.

Students who pass the thesis/dissertation defense in a semester, but did not meet the deadlines for submission of the thesis/dissertation to the Library will the next semester need to enroll in GRD 9010 01 (zero credit and only $100 fee), and meet the Library deadlines for that semester.

PhD Guidelines

PhD students are strongly encouraged to dual enroll in the MS program, and receive a non-thesis MS in Physics along the way.  The Graduate Committee has at least four graduate faculty with the major professor (from Physics) as chair.  In addition, in the Physics PhD program, an external graduate faculty from MSU must be included, and for the Engineering PhD program a graduate faculty from the Bagley College of Engineering must be included. 

Students are required to attempt all four written preliminary examinations within two and a half years after entering the program.  If a student does not pass the four written preliminary examinations, she/he will be encouraged to complete the MS-Thesis-Option program. 

After passing the written preliminary examination (the pass date is the date of passing the fourth exam) the student has to take the oral comprehensive examination (known as ‘Proposal Defense’) within a reasonable period of time.  During this exam, the student gives a presentation to the Graduate Committee of the proposed PhD research project.  A summary of this presentation should be given to the members of the Graduate Committee at least two weeks prior to the exam.  A student may attempt the oral comprehensive exam at most twice.  After passing the exam, the student will be admitted to candidacy.  A student should consult with the Graduate Coordinator about procedures and forms at least one month before the planned exam.

Students must take the oral comprehensive examination before:

• June 1 for December graduation,
• November 1 for May graduation,
• February 1 for August graduation.

The student must graduate within 5 years after passing the oral comprehensive exam (hard rule by the Graduate School).

Required forms for the oral comprehensive examination:

• Declaration of Examination/Defense
• Committee Request
• CAPP Graduate Program of Study
• Report of Examination Results
• Admission to Candidacy
• Physics PhD Comprehensive Examination Evaluation Form (Physics PhD only)
• Comprehensive Examination Evaluation Form (Engineering PhD only)

After passing the oral comprehensive examination, the student can defend the dissertation at any time.  This includes a presentation of the research results by the student to her/his Graduate Committee.  A student should consult with the Graduate Coordinator about procedures and forms at least one month before the defense.

Required forms for the dissertation defense:

• Announcement Flyer
• Physics PhD Dissertation Defense Evaluation Form (Physics PhD only)
• Dissertation Defense Evaluation Form (Engineering PhD only)

In addition, two copies of the Library-approved signature page must be signed.

Before initial submission of the dissertation to the Library, the student must complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates.  Go to: https://sed.norc.org/ .

Engineering PhD: Complete the Bagley College of Engineering Graduate Exit Survey: http://www.bagley.msstate.edu/grad/ , link on the left.  Print copy and ask major professor to sign it.  Bring to the Dean, together with the signature pages.

• Find Department of Physics and Astronomy on Facebook

What GPA do I need for a PhD in physics?

The typical GPA of applicants is >3.5 with A’s in most Physics courses . Is research experience required to apply to the program? Yes. Successful applicants typically have significant undergraduate research experience.

Table of Contents

What is the acceptance rate for Columbia Graduate School?

Acceptance rate for masters is 25.2% and for PhD is 10.1% respectively. The tuition fees for Columbia University is $48246 and $21855 should cover your living expenses.

What GPA do you need to get into Columbia grad school?

In general, the admission requirement for full admission to Columbia College graduate programs is a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0, for students’ entire academic career. Students with a cumulative GPA lower than 3.0 may be eligible for conditional admission, as described in the individual program sections.

Is Columbia a good school for physics?

Popularity of Physics at Columbia During the 2020-2021 academic year, Columbia University in the City of New York handed out 18 bachelor’s degrees in physics. Due to this, the school was ranked #68 in popularity out of all colleges and universities that offer this degree.

Is a 3.5 GPA good for PhD?

With GPA, it is recommended that students have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and around a 3.5 discipline-specific GPA to remain competitive for Ph. D.

How do I get into Stanford physics PhD?

What is the hardest Ivy League school to get into?

1. Harvard University — 3.19% With a record-low admission rate of just 3.19% for the class of 2026, Harvard currently ranks as the most difficult school to get into. This rate reflects admission into Harvard College, the Ivy League university’s undergraduate school.

What GRE score do I need for Columbia?

The average GRE scores of admitted applicants at Columbia range from 154 to 167 for Verbal Reasoning and 156 to 170 for Quantitative Reasoning . Many graduate programs prefer to see Verbal and Quant scores in at least the 160s, or the top 5-20%.

Is Columbia prestigious?

Columbia University is one of the most prestigious universities in the world, ranked 7th overall in the US. It is located on an amazing campus in New York, NY, with extremely selective admissions. It is a middle sized university with full-time enrollment of 7,971 undergraduate students.

Is NYU or Columbia better?

Both NYU and Columbia are well known and prestigious. Columbia is part of the Ivy League which is considered very prestigious in the US and abroad. Because Columbia has a lower admission rate than NYU, there is a general perception that Columbia is more prestigious than NYU.

Does Columbia University require GRE for PhD?

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for the 2022 admission cycle. This includes Spring 2023 and Fall 2023. If you have taken the exam and would like to provide your scores, you may, but it is not required.

What major is Columbia University known for?

The most popular majors at Columbia are engineering, economics, and political science. After completing the Core Curriculum requirements, engineering students enroll in “technical Core” classes such as chemistry, physics, and calculus.

Which University has the best physics program in the world?

• Harvard University.
• University of California–Berkeley.
• California Institute of Technology.
• University of Chicago.
• University of Tokyo.
• Princeton University.
• Tsinghua University.
• Universite Paris Saclay .

Is NYU good for physics?

NYU Physics Rankings NYU was ranked #24 on College Factual’s most recent list of the best schools for physics majors. This puts the bachelor’s program at the school solidly in the top 15% of all colleges and universities in the country. It is also ranked #4 in New York.

Is 3.4 A good GPA for PhD?

Although actual requirements vary, most graduate admissions committees typically expect applicants to have GPAs from 3.0–3.3 for master’s programs and from 3.3–3.5 for doctoral programs.

Is 3.3 A good GPA for PhD?

Yes, your undergraduate GPA is taken into account when you apply to graduate programs. Most colleges like to see at least a 2.5 or a 3.0 from master’s program applicants. Some programs set their minimums at 3.3 or higher. The minimum GPA for a doctoral program may start at 3.3.

Does PhD look at Masters GPA?

Do PhD Programs Look at Masters GPA or Undergrad GPA? Most PhD programs look at both your graduate school GPA and your undergraduate GPA. With most programs you need a masters to get a PhD, so your masters GPA will likely be regarded as the more important of the two in the admissions process.

How much does a physics PhD make?

PhD Physics has a job scope in the private sector as well. The salary after PhD Physics in India in the private sector is around INR 3.5 – 5 LPA [Source: Glassdoor].

How can I do PhD physics at Harvard?

• Admissions Policies.
• Completing Your Application. English Proficiency. GRE. Letters of Recommendation. Statement of Purpose and Writing Sample. Transcripts.
• After Applying.

What GPA do you need to get into physics grad school?

Most Ph. D. programs in physics, astronomy, or other related fields have a minimum acceptance GPA of around 3.0. It is difficult to get into most programs with a GPA that is lower than this.

What is the easiest Ivy to get in?

Cornell Admission Statistics Cornell is considered the “easiest” Ivy League to get into because it has the highest Ivy League acceptance rate.

Which is the easiest Ivy League to get into?

While all Ivy League schools are incredibly difficult to get into, Cornell University would likely be considered the easiest since it has the highest acceptance rate of all Ivies. As of fall 2021, Cornell’s acceptance rate for first-year applicants was 9%. Most other Ivies have acceptance rates of around 4-6%.

Is 315 a good GRE score?

For most top-50 schools, a good GRE score is in the mid-to-high 150s on both sections. Based on this data, an overall GRE score of 310 to 315 is a good GRE score for MBA applicants, while a score of 325 is excellent.

Is 329 a good GRE score?

Generally, a 75th percentile is a pretty good GRE score, and a 90th percentile is an excellent one. Thus, we can say that a score of 318 and above is good, whereas a score of 329 is an excellent one. A score of 300+ is considered average, and a 292 score is considered below average.

What is average GRE score for Harvard?

On average, admitted applicants to Harvard University have a score of 155 to 166 for Verbal and 155 to 170 for the Quant section. Analytical Writing is seen as the least important of the three GRE sections, and the average is 4.5 to 5.

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Notifications

Admissions Requirements

• Hold (or, at the end of the current academic year, be a candidate for) a baccalaureate degree in physics or a related field from an accredited college or university in the United States or from an approved institution of higher learning abroad.
• Have a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 on a scale of A = 4.0, computed for the last 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate work and a minimum GPA of 3.5 for previous graduate degree work, as required by the Graduate College. For applicants who are currently in the final year of a bachelor's degree program, the department's graduate admissions committee will consider both the overall GPA and the GPA computed for intermediate and advanced physics courses.
• Be on track to complete 20 semester hours of intermediate and advanced college-level physics courses, not counting introductory courses in general physics, prior to graduation from the undergraduate program. Required courses include Intermediate Electricity and Magnetism, Intermediate Mechanics, and one or (preferably) two semesters of undergraduate Quantum Mechanics. Mathematics through (at least) advanced calculus and differential equations is required. Courses in light and in thermodynamics are highly recommended. Students who lack some prerequisite courses will still be considered for admission. If admitted, these students must take the prerequisite courses at Illinois as a graduate student.
• Both the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Tests (Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical) and the GRE Physics Subject Test are optional this year. If you decide to submit GRE scores, please fill in your GRE registration number and test scores on the online application form AND have your official GRE Score Report sent directly from ETS to the Department of Physics by the application deadline.
• Complete the online admissions application to the University of Illinois Graduate College. The online application requires a statement of purpose that describes your demonstrated potential for success in advanced physics research. Upon completion of the application, you will use the online application portal to invite three referees (prior physics instructors or research supervisors) to submit letters of reference on your behalf.
• Submit the application fee using the online application portal. The fee is US$70 for domestic applicants and US$90 for international applicants.
• If required, English proficiency test scores must be less than two years old from the first day of classes to be valid.
• Naturalized citizens, permanent resident aliens, and immigrants from non-English-speaking countries may be required to furnish TOEFL or IELTS scores, depending on their countries of origin, their length of residency in the U.S., or the locations and media of instruction for previous institutions they have attended.
• Applicants may be exempt from providing a TOEFL or IELTS score if one of the two following criteria is met: (1) completion of at least two years of post-secondary full-time study, as defined by the home institution, in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary medium of instruction, within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; OR, (2) completion of a graduate degree in a country where English is the primary language and at an institution where English is the primary language of instruction, within five years of the proposed term of initial enrollment.
• Most students to whom we offer admission are also offered a Teaching Assistantship for financial support. In order to be financially supported as a Teaching Assistant, an applicant must provide evidence of spoken English language proficiency; this may be required even if the applicant's country of origin is exempt from language proficiency tests for admissions purposes. This requirement can be satisfied by providing an acceptable score on the speaking section of the internet based TOEFL, an acceptable score on the speaking section of the IELTS academic exam, or a score of at least 50 on the Test of Spoken English (TSE). Follow this link for further information .
• Questions about TOEFL or IELTS requirements for U.S. citizens, permanent resident aliens, and legal immigrants should be directed to the Graduate and Professional Admissions Unit .

Graduate Admissions Contact

Lance Cooper Associate Head for Graduate Programs 227 Loomis Laboratory (217) 333-3645 [email protected]

Have questions about the admission process? Read through the Admissions pages or contact us.

Apply Online

Department of Physics and Astronomy

Ph.D. in Physics Requirements Guide

Course Requirements | Qualifying Examination | Ph.D. Dissertation

 Course Requirements

The Graduate School requires a total of 72 hours of credit (formal coursework plus registered research hours) prior to receiving the Ph.D. Within these 72 hours, the Ph.D. program in physics requires 28 hours of formal coursework 1 including:

• Six core courses covering the foundations of physics, as detailed below, totaling 16 credit hours;
• One graduate-level course totaling 3 or more hours in the Department of Physics and Astronomy but outside the student’s field of specialization (a “breadth course”);
• Additional graduate-level courses to make a total of 28 semester hours in any subject relevant to the student’s overall program of graduate study and research;
• Six semesters of Physics Colloquium, three of which should be taken before the qualifying exam; and,
• A minimum of two semesters of Teaching Practicum are to be taken at any time before the thesis defense.

A student must earn a grade of B or higher in each course counted towards these 28 hours. Satisfactory grades (“S”) have to be obtained in PHYS 8001: Physics Colloquium, and PHYS 8003:Teaching Practicum.

Core courses provide the foundation for deeper connections to elective coursework and research. There are two ways to satisfy each core course requirement:

• Take and pass the course with a grade of B or higher; or
• Take and pass an alternate written exam on the material covered by that particular course with a score equivalent to a grade of B or higher.

Students are not permitted to retake core courses. Instead, a student who receives a B- or lower grade in any core course has a second chance to meet the course requirement by taking and passing the corresponding alternate written exam. These students who fail to satisfy any one of the core course requirements due to a low course grade and failure on the alternate written exam may be dropped from the Ph.D. program at the discretion of the Graduate Program Committee.

Transfer Credit

Students who have taken graduate courses elsewhere may petition the Graduate Program Committee to have those courses evaluated for transfer credit to avoid unnecessary duplication and speed up the student’s entry into research. In order to transfer any number of core courses for credit, transfer students must take any one of the core courses offered at Vanderbilt and earn a grade of A- or better.

Core Course Requirements

Students concentrating in physics must complete the following courses in the first two years of graduate study:

• Physics 8000: Research Seminar
• Physics 8010: Particle and Continuum Mechanics
• Physics 8020: Advanced Electrodynamics I
• Physics 8030: Quantum Mechanics I
• Physics 8040: Statistical Mechanics
• One of the following courses:  
• Physics 8021: Advanced Electrodynamics II
• Physics 8031: Quantum Mechanics II
• Physics 8152: Quantum Mechanics of Solids
• CPBP 8306: Introduction to Chemical and Physical Biology

Breadth Courses and Electives

One “breadth course” is required of all students. These are advanced graduate-level courses (typically 8XXX level) from physics or related fields outside the student’s field of specialization. The elective courses may be filled from any graduate-level courses that are appropriate for the student’s program; DGS approval is needed for courses offered outside the Department of Physics and Astronomy. The chart in Appendix A shows breadth and elective courses available in the department.

The Departmental Colloquium is another required course aimed to provide breadth in the student’s education. The colloquium course PHYS 8001 has to be passed with a satisfactory grade three times before the qualifying exam, and six times before the thesis defense.

Teaching Requirement

Teaching experience is important for the student’s learning and future career. The Teaching Practicum: PHYS 8003  is required of all students for a minimum of two semesters. Typically, the graduate students in the department would teach for five to six semesters.

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The Qualifying Examination

The doctoral degree in physics requires students to write and defend a dissertation that presents the results of independent research. To progress to that point, each student must first pass the Qualifying Examination to become a doctoral candidate. 2 According to the Graduate School Catalog , “the purpose of the Qualifying Examination is to test the student’s knowledge of the field of specialization, to assess familiarity with the published research in the field, and to determine whether the student possesses those critical and analytical skills needed for a scholarly career.” In the physics Ph.D. program, the Qualifying Examination requires each student to independently write and orally defend a research proposal. The topic is of the student’s choosing, and may be the same as their current research. The Qualifying Examination is administered by the student’s Ph.D. committee, and only the committee members and the student are present. Passing the Qualifying Examination marks the student’s formal entry into dissertation research under the supervision of the thesis adviser and the Ph.D. committee. The Qualifying Exam should not be seen as a hurdle, but as an important part of one’s training to become an independent scientist.

Ph.D. Committee

The Ph.D. Committee administers the Qualifying Examination and subsequently monitors the student’s progress toward the completion of the thesis. The committee comprises at least four members of the graduate faculty. To ensure consistency among Qualifying Examinations, at least one member of the committee should be a current or recent member of the Graduate Program Committee; and by Graduate School rule, at least one member of the committee must be from outside the department or program in which the student plans to do the dissertation research. The composition of the committee is proposed by the adviser in consultation with the student and must be approved in writing by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) to ensure breadth and level of expertise.

Preparing for the Qualifying Examination

The Qualifying Examination in the department is taken during the fourth semester (under exceptional circumstances, a student may petition the Graduate Program Committee to delay the Qualifying Exam until the fifth semester 3 ). By Graduate School rules, students taking the Qualifying Exam must have completed all requirements for formal coursework (Section 1) with a GPA of 3.0 or better in all courses taken for credit. The steps needed to prepare for the Qualifying Examination are detailed in the table and the corresponding notes.

QE 1: Ph.D. Committee Formation

The student should get involved in research as soon as possible certainly no later than the summer after the first year of study. During the first two years of study, a student may explore research opportunities in several groups, but the faculty Ph.D. adviser must be selected at least one semester before an anticipated Qualifying Examination date.

The student and the adviser agree on the other members of the Ph.D. Committee. The student then contacts members of the committee to ascertain their willingness to serve. Once the composition of the Ph.D. Committee is decided and all the proposed committee members have agreed to serve, the student completes the Request to Appoint Committee form, and submits it to the DGS for approval and notification of the Graduate School. During the annual exam cycle, the committee membership should be finalized and the form submitted by February 1.

QE 2: Proposal Abstract

The student prepares a one-page abstract that outlines the proposal’s research topic, hypothesis, and specific aims and presents it to the Ph.D. adviser for review and critique. The student would then revise the abstract as needed in order to arrive at an abstract suitable for submission to the full Ph.D. Committee. After the abstract is approved by the Ph.D. adviser, the student will submit the abstract electronically (pdf preferred) to the Ph.D. Committee and the DGS by February 15. The abstract will be reviewed by the student’s Ph.D. Committee, focusing on the following questions:

• Is the research topic appropriate?
• Is the hypothesis well-formed and testable?
• Is the scope sufficiently focused (doable during a typical graduate career of three to four years)?
• Is the hypothesis consistent with the research plan?

The Ph.D. Committee chair will collect comments from the Ph.D. Committee and will provide the student with written feedback on the appropriateness of the proposal in approximately one week. The student will take the input into consideration in preparing the full eight-page proposal.

QE 3: Scheduling the Qualifying Exam

The student should contact all committee members to set a date for the oral part of the Qualifying Examination. Once a date is agreed upon, the student fills out a Request to Schedule Qualifying Exam form after obtaining the approval of the adviser and the DGS and no later than three weeks before the proposed date. The deadline to submit the form for approval to the DGS is March 1 in the spring semester of the exam. Note that the Graduate School issues the notice of the examination at least two weeks in advance.

QE 4: Research Proposal

After receiving the written comments on the proposal abstract, the student will proceed to prepare a full proposal. The written proposal must not exceed eight pages (single-spaced, 12-pt font). Within this space, the proposal should have four sections:

• Rationale or Background – This section provides background information and justification for the proposal. An important part of preparing the proposal is a thorough review of the current literature. This review should be concisely summarized here.
• Description of the specific hypothesis to be tested (about one paragraph).
• Specific Aims or Research Objectives. This section will largely follow the previously approved abstract, but the student can make changes as the proposal gets more fully developed.
• Research – This section should detail the experimental/theoretical plan to meet the specific aims. The student is advised to number the specific aims and use the same numbering scheme for subsections of the Research Plan. This section should describe the experimental/theoretical strategies and design, but it should not provide the sort of detailed Materials & Methods section one would find in a journal article. This section should sketch anticipated outcomes and some discussion of how the plan might be adjusted with different outcomes.

The written proposal should certainly cite the relevant literature and include a bibliography. The bibliography itself does not count against the eight-page limit. The student may include figures and tables in the text, but these do count against the page limit. As with the abstract, the written proposal must be the student’s independent work, but they are encouraged to seek advice from the Ph.D. adviser and other experts. The student may also seek assistance with grammar/English usage so long as these critiques are disclosed in a footnote or endnote. The student will submit the proposal to the Ph.D. Committee and the DGS by April 1. The student may seek critique from the full Ph.D. Committee for further revisions of the proposal before the oral examination.

During the oral Qualifying Examination, the student defends the research proposal. The exam is limited to a maximum of two hours. The student is allotted a maximum of 15 minutes to provide an overview of the proposal. This is a strict limit, so committee members are asked to restrict questions to points of clarification during the student’s presentation. The remainder of the two hours is reserved for the committee to ask questions in which the student should be prepared to discuss the general background of the proposal and its significance; to discuss relevant experimental approaches, including their theoretical bases and limitations; to outline anticipated results; and to interpret the meaning of these results. The student should be particularly prepared to discuss the interpretation of alternative results proposed by the committee. Although the primary focus of the questions will be on the research proposal, the committee may and likely will probe into the student’s core knowledge of physics and astronomy.

Students are strongly encouraged to prepare for the oral examination by gathering student peers for mock oral exams.

Copies of the student’s prepared slides must be made available to the committee members at least one working day before the examination. By rule of the Graduate School, attendance at the Qualifying Examination is limited to only the Ph.D. Committee members and the student.

The Ph.D. Committee will decide within one day whether or not the student has passed the Qualifying Examination. Within one week, the committee will provide a written report to the student and to the GPC describing the student’s performance on the examination. Even if the student was judged to have passed the examination, the report should address any deficiencies in preparation that were evident during the examination. If the student was judged to have failed the examination, the report should note the serious deficiencies that caused this failure; the committee may also offer their judgment on whether retaking the examination would be in the best interest of the student. A second attempt at passing the Qualifying Examination must be completed before the beginning of the subsequent fall semester. By Graduate School rule, only two attempts are allowed to pass the Qualifying Examination.

The Ph.D. Dissertation

Proposal for the ph.d. dissertation.

After passing the Qualifying Examination, the student is officially admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. and will develop a topical focus for the Ph.D. dissertation grounded in the subfield chosen for that examination. The dissertation topic should be an original research proposition that advances the frontiers of science in the field of specialization. While consultation with the adviser will be crucial to this process, it is to be emphasized that the proposal for the dissertation is the responsibility of the student . Within two semesters of passing the Qualifying Examination, the student will present a specific proposal to the Ph.D. Committee. This proposal can be, and likely should be, based on the proposal that the student successfully defended during the Qualifying Examination. At this stage, the proposal should contain at the minimum a chapter-by-chapter outline of the dissertation, a report on the research already carried out, and a specific plan for completing the remainder. As a general rule, students should plan to complete the dissertation within three years of passing the Qualifying Examination, so that the dissertation can be submitted five to six years after entering the Graduate School. By Graduate School rule, all requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must be completed within four years of passing the Qualifying Examination.

Annual Meetings of the Ph.D. Committee

After the dissertation topic is approved, the student will meet with the Ph.D. Committee at least annually to report on research completed to date, publications planned or in progress, and an estimate of the time, resources, and analysis required to complete the dissertation project. The committee members may ask questions, critique the work presented by the student, or make suggestions about the project. The Chair of the Ph.D. Committee (usually the Ph.D. adviser) is responsible for preparing a brief written report of the meeting that will be sent to the candidate and to the Director of Graduate Studies. This report may also be reviewed by the Graduate Program Committee as it monitors student progress.

Publication Requirements

The research in any dissertation project is expected to contribute measurably to scientific progress in the field of specialization; thus, publication in peer-reviewed journals is an essential component of the Ph.D. research program. While the venue, number, and timing of publications vary according to the subfield, students should expect to play a major role in a first paper no later than the end of the third year of graduate study. By the time the dissertation is completed, the student must present to the Ph.D. Committee at least one paper that has been accepted in a peer-reviewed journal. The Ph.D. Committee may make an exception when the student is a member of a large collaboration that has long lead times for publication. In such cases, the student must present a manuscript that has been approved by the appropriate review committee for submission to a refereed journal. The Ph.D. Committee is responsible for verifying that the number and quality of the student’s publication record are appropriate for the field of specialization.

Completion of the Dissertation and the Ph.D. Defense

The Graduate School website gives essential information about the format of the Ph.D. dissertation and the defense. The defense is a public examination, and should be characterized by a spirited scientific debate on the strengths and weaknesses of the thesis presented by the student. In addition, the department stipulates the following:

• The Ph.D. adviser will inform the Dean of the Graduate School at least two weeks in advance of the date and place of the defense so that the event can be published in the Vanderbilt University electronic calendar. The department administrative staff will advertise the dissertation title, date, and place of the defense in order to promote attendance by faculty, research staff, and other students.
• The Ph. D. candidate must present a complete copy of the thesis to the committee members at least two weeks before the defense. This is both a departmental and Graduate School requirement.
• At the defense, the candidate will present the critical points of the dissertation for no more than 45 minutes; during this presentation, questioning will be generally restricted to matters of clarification. After the presentation is finished, questioning by attendees other than the Ph.D. Committee will be permitted for about half an hour.
• After the public questioning is concluded, the committee will continue the questioning of the candidate in an executive session for up to an hour. The Ph.D. Committee will then caucus in private to evaluate the defense and assign a grade.

The possible grade outcomes for the defense are:

• Pass conditional upon changes made to the dissertation recommended by members of the committee, or

In case two, the committee may grant discretion to the principal adviser to enforce the changes to be made to the thesis recommended by the committee. The members may sign the paperwork certifying completion of a passing dissertation, but the adviser will submit the committee’s report to the Graduate School only after the changes made are satisfactory in the opinion of the adviser.

Below are the core, elective, and breadth courses offered in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

1 The Graduate School requires only 24 semester hours of formal coursework. The departmental requirement is higher because of the number and breadth of courses required to properly prepare for a career in physics. Additional coursework may be recommended by individual advisers. Exams are offered annually just before the start of the fall and spring semesters for material covered in courses offered during the fall or spring semesters. The students taking the exam are required to sign up by notifying the DGS by August 1/December 20 for the fall/spring exams, respectively. Note that exceptionally well-prepared incoming students may take and pass one or more of the alternate written exams to place out of the corresponding core course(s). A failure to pass the exam before the respective course is taken is not going to count against the two chances to satisfy the course requirement. Return to text

2 Advancing to candidacy makes one eligible to register for dissertation research credits (PHYS 9999). Return to text

3 The Graduate School requirement is that the Qualifying Examination must be passed by the end of the eighth semester. Postponing it beyond this time does not allow for the completion of an acceptable dissertation project in the desired degree time frame of approximately five years. Return to text