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Graduate education in physics offers you exciting opportunities extending over a diverse range of subjects and departments. You will work in state-of-the-art facilities with renowned faculty and accomplished postdoctoral fellows. The interdisciplinary nature of the program provides you with the opportunity to select the path that most interests you. You will be guided by a robust academic advising team to ensure your success.

You will have access to Jefferson Laboratory, the oldest physics laboratory in the country, which today includes a wing designed specifically to facilitate the study and collaboration between you and other physics graduate students.

Students in the program are doing research in many areas, including atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, condensed-matter physics, computational physics, the physics of solids and fluids, biophysics, astrophysics, statistical mechanics, mathematical physics, high-energy particle physics, quantum field theory, string theory, relativity, and many others.

Graduates of the program have secured academic positions at institutions such as MIT, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. Others have gone into private industry at leading organizations such as Google, Facebook, and Apple. 

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Physics , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

Engineering and Physical Biology | Experimental Astrophysics | Experimental Physics | Theoretical Astrophysics | Theoretical Physics | Unspecified

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Physics .

Academic Background

Applicants should be well versed in undergraduate-level physics and mathematics. Typically, applicants will have devoted approximately half of their undergraduate work to physics and related subjects such as mathematics and chemistry. It is desirable for every applicant to have completed at least one year of introductory quantum mechanics classes. An applicant who has a marked interest in a particular branch of physics should include this information in the application. If possible, applicants should also indicate whether they are inclined toward experimental or theoretical (mathematical) research. This statement of preference will not be treated as a binding commitment to any course of study and research. In the Advanced Coursework section of the online application, prospective students must indicate the six most advanced courses (four in physics and two in mathematics) they completed or will complete at their undergraduate institution.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional GRE Subject Test: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Physics

See list of Physics faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

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 2024-25 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 2023-24 (2024-25 admissions cycle) is  11:59pm Pacific Standard Time, Friday, December 15, 2023 . 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 2024-25 application cycle (2023-24 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. If you are interested in attending a Q&A panel to hear from current graduate students about applying to graduate programs please fill out this form .

https://forms.gle/oY6y9L3dpHQe9XN47

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Graduate Admissions

Applying to UC Berkeley's Physics Graduate Program

The application deadline for Fall 2024 admission to the Berkeley Physics Ph.D. program is:

December 11 2023, at 8:59 PM (Pacific Standard Time)/11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Your application should be complete — meaning that all of your letters and supplemental materials should be uploaded — by this deadline. Application review commences immediately after the deadline; as such, we cannot guarantee that materials received after the deadline (including letters of recommendation) will be fully reviewed.

Apply for graduate admission online (click here to go to online application)

Updates for Fall 2024 graduate admissions

• Submission of a  Physics Subject GRE score is  OPTIONAL
• General GRE scores will  not be reviewed . Please do not submit your general GRE scores to Berkeley Physics.

At this time, no determination has been made if the GRE and/or Physics GRE scores will be required application materials for graduate admission in fall 2025 and beyond.

Our graduate admissions committee conducts a holistic evaluation of all applications, which takes into consideration recommendation letters, academic achievements, research experience, a record of leadership and outreach activities, efforts to promote diversity, personal history, and more.

We require a minimum of three letters of recommendation. You will invite your recommenders to submit their letters through the online application. All letters should be uploaded by the application deadline.

Please do NOT send updated transcripts, publications, etc. after the application deadline. Applications will not be updated after the December 11th deadline with transcripts showing fall grades. Letter writers are still able to upload letters of recommendation via the Slate submission links, but we cannot guarantee that the committee will have them available for review since the application deadline has passed.

Please read the application instructions thoroughly. All supporting materials, including your transcript(s), should be uploaded to your application. Your application will be reviewed with your unofficial transcripts. If you ultimately are admitted and enroll at Berkeley, you will submit official transcripts prior to matriculating.

You must submit a course and textbook list of all the third- and fourth-year physics, astrophysics, and mathematics courses that you have completed. Download our  "Course and Textbook List" form here  ( alternate link 1  /  alternate link 2 ). You may complete our form directly, or you may use our form as a template to create your own document; please save the completed document as a PDF and upload it to the Physics Program page in the online application.

We typically begin making offers of admission in mid-February. Our final offers of admission will be made no later than mid-March.

Please check our  frequently asked questions (FAQ) , compiled from inquiries by prospective graduate students. 

To contact our staff regarding graduate admissions, please email  [email protected] . 

William H. Miller III Department of Physics & Astronomy

• Admissions and Transfers

• Graduate Courses
• Degree Forms and Requirements
• Research and Advising
• Graduate Student Examination Guide
• Career Services for PhD Students
• Summer Support and Internships
• Graduate Program Statistics

The application deadline for students wishing to matriculate in September is the preceding December 15 . All applications must be submitted online through the Graduate Admissions portal .

A complete application will include:

• Statement of purpose. We look for a thoughtful, well-written statement that shows the ability to overcome challenges, dedication to attain chosen goals, a capacity for creativity, an understanding of physics and/or astronomy, and any other indication of potential for research.
• Three letters of recommendation. Recommendation letters should help us evaluate your capacity for research, the most important criterion for admission.
• Transcripts of all previous work. Transcripts submitted with the application may be unofficial transcripts. Successful applicants who accept the offer of admission must supply an official transcript before they can begin the PhD program at JHU. In the case of students in the final year of their bachelors program, the official transcript must show completion of all coursework required for the degree.
• TOEFL or IELTS for international students. A reproduction is acceptable. Johns Hopkins prefers a minimum score of 600 (paper-based) or 250 (computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
• $75 non-refundable application fee. The application fee may be waived .

Note: submission of General GRE and Physics GRE scores is optional.

Other useful information

• The University maintains an  interactive JHU PhD program statistics explorer .  To find our program, first select “School of Arts & Sciences — Natural Sciences” under the “Choose Division” drop-down menu, and then choose “Physics and Astronomy” under the “Choose Program” drop-down menu.
• As part of the program of study, all graduate students are appointed as teaching or research assistants, positions which provide tuition, living stipend, and benefits (health coverage, etc).
• Applicants are admitted only as full-time candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). There is no separate Masters Degree program and no provision for part-time students. However, a Masters degree is awarded as a stage of the PhD program.
• Applicants from HBCUs and other Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged to consider JHU’s Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative . Applications must be submitted by Dec. 1 to be considered.
• Offers of admission are made by early February with a decision deadline of April 15.
• Students who are accepted to PhD programs at JHU can apply to receive  a $1500 need-based grant  to offset the costs of relocating to JHU.

Policy for transfer applications for PhD students

Most PhD students coming into the JHU P&A graduate program follow the application process described above. However, in exceptional cases when the student is collaborating with a JHU P&A faculty member and their proposed or ongoing thesis work will take place with the JHU P&A faculty on the JHU campus, the department will consider a transfer application.

• Only students in good standing in another PhD program will be considered for a transfer.
• Only students with a long-standing (>=1 year) collaborative relationship with a full-time JHU P&A tenure-track or research-track faculty member will be considered for a transfer.
• The transfer application must include clearly stated academic and / or research reasons for the transfer request and why a visiting student status is insufficient.
• The transfer application must include the student’s CV, statement of research plans at JHU and what stage of the JHU program the student would like to transfer into ( see this page ), statement about previous research, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, application for waivers of any core graduate courses in the PhD program (including syllabi of the courses already taken that may qualify for the waiver), a recommendation letter from the prospective JHU advisor, and two additional recommendation letters.
• Transfer applications will be reviewed by the graduate program committee and by the admissions committee. Additional materials (such as standardized test scores from previous graduate applications) may be requested. Any requirements in 1-4 will be waived only in exceptional circumstances.
• The committee will not consider transfer for students within a year of graduation due to the Johns Hopkins University residency requirements .

Transfer applicants should expect the process to be rigorous, and they will be expected to satisfy the standards of both the admissions committee and the graduate program committee. If the transfer is recommended by both committees, the application is forwarded to the Department Chair for final approval.

Transfer applicants can apply at any time during the year by email directly to the academic programs coordinator Ms. Kelley Key ( [email protected] ) and arrange for the letters of recommendation to be sent directly to her as well. No materials (other than the recommendation letters) will be accepted from anybody other than the student applicant. Enrollment in the beginning of the fall, spring or summer terms is possible. Decisions can usually be made within 4-6 weeks after all the materials have been received, but additional time will be required for registration and visa.

All other students must apply through the standard application process.

Additional information

For additional information, please contact our Academic Program Administrator Kelley Key: Email:  [email protected] Telephone: 410-516-7344 Fax: 410-516-7239

Tips for Applying to Grad School

Before your senior year.

• Do research: For course credit, money, or on a completely voluntary basis. Look into the NSF REU Program. Research is important, as it helps you determine if graduate school is what you want to do. The most useful letters of recommendation typically come from research supervisors.
• Develop relationships with faculty members.
• Explore a range of physics courses.
• GRE general test and subject test possibly taken.  To schedule the Physics subject test visit:  https://www.ets.org/gre/subject/register/centers_dates/pdt_test_centers.

September — Senior Year

• Start studying for GRE Subject Test
• Schedule GRE General Test

October — Senior Year

• GRE Subject Test

November — Senior Year

• Request your letters of reference: give your letter writers a copy of your CV, your transcript, and your statement of purpose (if already written). Most faculty members will conduct a short interview with you. You should strive to have letter writers who can say something good about your ability to do physics and physics research. Anyone you do research with should write a letter — unless something disastrous happened. Letters from classroom instructors tend to be less valuable (but there are exceptions). Letters from non-scientists are rarely useful.
• November: NSF Fellowship applications due:  instructions
• Write your statement of purpose (see below for what should be in it)

December/January — Senior Year

• Applications Due: includes application form, statement of purpose, transcript, GRE Scores (Subject and General), at least 3 letters of reference, and an application fee. Although it is rarely said, you are free to have more letters of reference. Be aware: filling out the forms and sending these in takes time. Most schools will accept late applications, but late applicants are less likely to be accepted.

What are my options for graduate school?

With a degree in physics you can go into any number of directions for further education. In addition to graduate school in physics, one can pursue a higher degree in astronomy, chemistry, biology, engineering, medicine, business, law, or education. Cornell offers a 1 year masters degree in engineering, and a 1 year masters degree in teaching which includes certification. Similar programs can be found at other schools

What school should I go to to study XXX?

Good question. This you should discuss with several faculty members. If you happen to know what you want to study, then who you work with is more important than where they are. If you are more up-in-the-air, then location might be more important.

Some advice for choosing schools: If you have the opportunity, visit the schools you are interested in. If you can, talk to graduate students there. Find out about funding and teaching loads. Find out about average time to graduation, and on the success of their graduates.

What are graduate schools looking for? How do I get into the grad school I want?

The graduate admissions committee tries to figure out how you will perform in graduate school. To do so, they will look at several things:

• Letters of recommendation from faculty members
• Your record of research
• The courses you have taken and your grades in those courses
• Your GRE Scores
• Your Statement of purpose

Of these, probably the letters of recommendation are most important.

How do I get letters of recommendation?

To get good letters of recommendation, you must form a relationship with physics faculty members. The main (and most important) way of doing this is by performing research with them.

What should be in my statement of purpose?

Before beginning any writing project, you should think about who your audience is, and what you want to tell them. Your goal in the statement of purpose is to show the admissions committee that you have the experience, talent, and knowledge necessary to succeed at graduate school

The best way to convey this message is through facts. For example, you should list all of the research experience you had. If you took any graduate courses or unusual advanced courses, list them. If you have been to a conference, mention it. If you published a paper, make sure to discuss it. [There may be somewhere else in the application where they ask for information about research, but there is nothing wrong with repetition. The statement of purpose is the most visible place to put things which you want seen.] Was there a class project which particularly excited you? Did you do a summer job that involved science?

One should go into a little depth with your research experience — saying exactly what you did. The ability to explain a research project in a couple lines of text is an important skill, and there may be no other way for the committee to learn this information. Be explicit, and avoid jargon. [You will find that different research groups/communities will have their own internal “shorthand” which no other physicists will understand.] A description of research might include something like: “As part of a larger project, I updated the automated data acquisition system. This involved porting 400 lines of C++ into labview, and producing a visual interface. One of the graduate students, Bill Smith, helped me find new drivers for the analog-digital converter, but I did all of the labview programming on my own. The interface is working properly, and it now takes half the time to run an experiment. The science goals of the project was…”

You may wish to include any of the following as well:

• What area of physics are your interested in
• Why are you applying to that particular school
• Who do you want to work with
• Who you have talked with at that school
• Who you have talked to about your field of interest

Is the GRE important?

This depends on the school (and sometimes the faculty member evaluating the application). Some schools make an initial cut based on GRE scores. Some use the GRE as their principle metric. Others ignore it altogether. I would take the GRE very seriously. Study for it.

If you bomb the GRE, explain why in your statement of purpose (and tell your letter writers).

Is class ranking important?

Not particularly. In the application process you are being judged on an absolute scale: what are your accomplishments.

I didn’t take the honors courses, can I still get into physics graduate school?

Yes. We have many examples of students going on to graduate school from the non-honors classes. They typically do not go to the top few schools though.

Do physics graduate schools want to see a lot of extracurricular activities?

No. All they care about is physics. Notable exceptions are teaching and outreach.

Will participation in teaching and outreach activities help me get into grad school?

Yes. These are not weighted as heavily as research, but they are indicators that you can succeed in graduate school. They also provide another avenue for building relationships with faculty members (which helps you get good letters). The other things these can help with is getting NSF fellowships.

Can I send in more than 3 letters of recommendation?

Yes. Most students have to work to find 3 good letters, and those students should certainly not send in extra. On the other hand, some students do research in several groups and find they need more than 3 letters to give a full picture of them and their activities. If you fail to send in a letter from a research experience, the committee will probably assume that your research experience went poorly.

My grades are poor. Can I still go to graduate school in physics?

Poor grades will make it more difficult to get into graduate school. Doing poor in your freshman year is generally not a problem, but if you have low grades throughout your career, or if your grades drop over time, that will probably make the admissions committee nervous. Low grades can be compensated by a strong research effort and a good GRE score. You will find that different schools have different thresholds on grades.

Fellowship Opportunities

A comprehensive list of fellowships is maintained by Cornell’s Physics Graduate Society. Another good resource is  Cornell Career Services , which is where you will be able to find the Cornell Career Guide to Graduate School Applications.  In particular, you may wish to look into:

• NSF Graduate Fellowships
• National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
• DOE Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
• Hertz Foundation Fellowship

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Doctoral Program in Physics

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at UC Irvine offers a program of graduate study leading to a Ph.D. degree in Physics. Our graduate course curriculum provides a foundation in fundamental physics and elective courses in a broad range of topical areas. Graduate students carry out original research in diverse areas of experimental and theoretical physics and astrophysics , under the guidance of members of our departmental faculty .  We also offer a graduate program in Chemical and Materials Physics as a joint program with the UCI Department of Chemistry . Graduates of our Ph.D. program are well prepared for careers in scientific research, teaching, and industry. See the links below for detailed information about our program, the applications process, and campus resources for graduate students.

Graduate Program Open House for Prospective Applicants, November 19, 2022 (Click for link)

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Graduate admissions faqs.

General Information Our Department welcomes all applicants to its graduate degree program. If you are interested in applying, please examine the physics department  areas of research . You may also find it useful to examine the corresponding page for our School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). If you decide to apply to our graduate program, we urge you to review the GSAS information page for prospective students , especially the detailed application instructions and requirements , as well as the specific requirements of the physics program of study . Here is where you can find a full list of course offerings in the physics department , and course offerings from other departments at courses.my.harvard.edu . You may also find useful information at our department's web site . For specific questions for the physics department, please contact us at  [email protected] . For more general inquiries about the admissions process at Harvard’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS), please visit the GSAS admissions page .

APPLICATION QUESTIONS

• Does the physics department accept applications for a master’s (AM) degree?
• On the online application form, I found a place to upload a "writing sample." Are writing samples required by the physics department?
• Are there separate deadlines for online and paper materials?
• The application fee is a significant financial burden for me. Does Harvard offer a fee waiver?

SUBJECT AREAS

• Can I apply both to physics and another program at the same time?
• Will my application be harmed if I apply to two separate programs?
• My undergraduate background is in engineering, and most of my technical courses are in applied math, applied chemistry, and applied physics. Is Harvard’s physics department the right program for me?
• I’m hoping to do observational astronomy/astrophysics at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA). Should I be applying to the department of physics?
• I’m concerned about which department I should apply to.
• I know that applicants are allowed to apply to two departments simultaneously. I don’t see an "add second department" option -- do I need to open a second application?

ACCEPTANCE QUESTIONS

• Given my academic background, what are my odds of acceptance?

ENROLLMENT/FUNDING QUESTIONS

• Do I need to submit financial information with my application?
• How much funding do physics graduate students receive?
• How do graduate students without external fellowships secure summer funding at Harvard’s physics program?
• Are international PhD students guaranteed funding at Harvard’s physics department?
• Does the physics department permit part-time enrollment?

ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

• What courses are required for candidacy to the program?
• My undergraduate major is in a subject different from physics, and I did not take key physics classes like statistical physics and quantum mechanics, but I have strengths in other areas, such as high GRE scores. Am I precluded from applying?
• Can I still apply for the PhD program if I plan on graduating from my undergraduate institution during the summer before the first fall semester?
• What are the course requirements for obtaining a PhD?

ACADEMIC RECORD and TRANSCRIPT QUESTIONS

• The application asks for a list of relevant courses taken at my undergraduate institution. Do I still have to complete that part of the application if the courses are already listed on my uploaded official transcript?     or : I attended a university in another country, and the course names and textbook names are all in a foreign language. Do I still need to fill out the list of undergraduate courses on the application form?
• The physics department specifically requires that candidates submit additional documentation of their most advanced courses and textbooks used. Where do I submit that list?
• The application instructions ask students applying to the physics program to list the four most advanced physics/astronomy courses and the two most advanced math courses they have taken so far. May I list more than six total courses?
• As an undergraduate, I’ve taken several advanced theoretical courses that can’t easily be classified as either pure physics or pure math. In my list of advanced courses, should I classify these courses as physics or math?
• Do I need my undergraduate institution to mail in my transcripts for me, or can I mail them myself?
• If I spent a semester at another university under a study-abroad program, but all my grades are reported on my home institution’s transcript, do I need to send a redundant transcript from the study-abroad institution?
• I spent a few semesters at one undergraduate institution before transferring to another. Do I need to provide transcripts from both institutions?
• I am attending a one-year graduate program, and I do not yet have official grades or a transcript that I can include with my undergraduate transcript. Can I submit the graduate program’s transcript after the official application deadline?
• My university does not have an official policy of providing GPAs. Should I leave the GPA field blank on the application?
• I am an international student, and my undergraduate institution uses a numerical grading  system different from the standard American system. Should I enter my numerical grade values in the application form? Should I calculate a GPA?
• My transcript is in another language. Do I still need to submit it?
• My university does not provide transcripts, but does provide an official form with a list of my courses and grades. What should I upload in place of a transcript?
• My university does not produce official paper transcripts -- my university asks students to provide their academic records department with an  email address for sending out a secure link. Can applicants to Harvard’s physics program use this system rather than uploading an official transcript?
• I submitted my online application without attaching the required list of my six most advanced physics and math courses. How can I get the information to the admissions committee?

TOEFL/IELTS QUESTIONS

• What is the official code for reporting TOEFL/IELTS scores?
• Do I have to take (or retake) the TOEFL/IELTS? My circumstances make it inconvenient or difficult to do so, and my English is pretty good.
• My undergraduate university was not primarily English-speaking, but I later attended a master’s program at an English-speaking university. Do I still need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores?
• My undergraduate institution is in a non-English-speaking country, but English was the only language of instruction. Do I need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, and, if not, how do I prove that I did my undergraduate work in English?
• I have a professor of English Literature who is willing to write me a certificate regarding my English skills -- do I still need to take the TOEFL/IELTS?

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Does the Harvard physics program have a written qualifying exam? If I have extensive academic preparation, can I take it at the beginning of my first year?

FACULTY REQUESTS

• There is a professor on your faculty whose research area lines up with my my interests and abilities. Can I do anything when I apply to ensure that I’ll be able to work with this faculty member if I am accepted?

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

• I am having difficulty getting my scanned transcript under the 2MB upload limit. What should I do?
• I have made a serious error in my submitted application. Whom can I contact for help?

________________________________________________________________________________________  

Answers to APPLICATION QUESTIONS

• Does the physics department accept applications for a master’s (AM) degree? The Harvard physics program does not permit students to apply for a master's (AM) degree -- the program only accepts applications for a PhD, although many physics PhD students receive an AM degree along the way to completing their doctorate. However, the applied physics program at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) offers a master of science degree -- you can examine their areas of research at http://www.physics.harvard.edu/research/facresearch.html .  
• ts and Sciences (GSAS) require a writing sample, but the physics department does not. For information on the required materials for the application to the physics program, please see GSAS page for prospective physics students .
• Are there separate deadlines for online and paper materials? To ensure consideration of your application, please ensure that all your application materials meet the physics graduate program's deadline.  
• The application fee is a significant financial burden for me. Does Harvard offer a fee waiver? There is a fee waiver request embedded in the formal program application. While waivers are not guaranteed, Harvard University does its best to ensure applications are not cost-prohibitive to prospective students.  

Answers to SUBJECT AREAS

• Can I apply both to physics and another program at the same time? Prospective students are indeed permitted to apply simultaneously to two separate programs at Harvard. For example, students are free to apply both to the Department of Physics and SEAS. (By contrast, students may not apply to multiple departments within any single program, so you cannot apply to two different departments that are both contained within SEAS.) From the official application instructions : "Consideration by More than One Program — [...] The Graduate School does not recommend submission of more than one application. However, if you choose to submit multiple applications (up to a limit of two), the applications may not share any item. Each application must have its own transcripts, recommendations, financial data, test scores, [application fee], etc. All supplemental materials must be scanned, uploaded, and attached to your online application. It is Graduate School policy that an individual may submit only one application per program. It is Graduate School policy that an individual may submit no more than three applications during the course of his or her academic career."  
• Will my application be harmed if I apply to two separate programs? Your application will not be negatively affected.  
• My undergraduate background is in engineering, and most of my technical courses are in applied math, applied chemistry, and applied physics. Is Harvard’s physics department the right program for me? The physics department has had many students with an undergraduate engineering degree. Given your undergraduate major in mechanical engineering, and your previous courses in applied math, applied chemistry, and applied physics, you might also be interested in applying to one of the programs in Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) -- you may find it useful to examine their areas of research .  
• I’m hoping to do observational astronomy/astrophysics at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA). Should I be applying to the department of physics? Astrophysics is offered by both the Department of Astronomy and of Physics. If deemed appropriate, applications for Astrophysics may be transferred by the Physics committee to the Department of Astronomy for review. If you're interested in doing observational astronomy/astrophysics at the Center for Astrophysics (CfA), you might consider applying to Harvard’s Department of Astronomy instead of or in addition to the physics department. For more information about the astronomy department, please see http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/ast/ .  
• I’m concerned about which department I should apply to. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) permits candidates to apply to up to two programs at the same time, and up to three over a student's entire career. Furthermore, admissions committees sometimes share applications when they believe certain candidates have interests that suit other programs.  
• I know that applicants are allowed to apply to two departments simultaneously. I don’t see an "add second department" option -- do I need to open a second application? Students who are applying to two programs must submit two applications.  

Answers to ACCEPTANCE QUESTIONS

• Given my academic background, what are my odds of acceptance? The physics department's admissions committee reviews each candidate's entire application, including statement of purpose, transcript, experience, GRE scores if provided, and letters of recommendation -- the statement of purpose and letters of recommendation being especially important. Beyond that, the department cannot determine in advance the likelihood of success in any particular case.  

Answers to ENROLLMENT/FUNDING QUESTIONS

• Do I need to submit financial information with my application? Financial information is not required for applications to the physics department.  
• How much funding do physics graduate students receive? All Harvard physics graduate students are guaranteed funding providing they remain in good academic standing. The funding fully covers tuition and fees, the student's health insurance (family members can join the student's plan, but must fully pay their own share), and an annual salary of approximately $42k, a rate negotiated by the Harvard Graduate Student Union (HGSU-UAW).  
• How do graduate students without external fellowships secure summer funding at Harvard’s physics program? Students can obtain summer funding by obtaining a research appointment (RA) with a faculty member’s research group. Students who are unable to obtain a summer RA can instead secure funding by assistant-teaching summer classes, or by working in the library or machine shop.  
• Are international PhD students guaranteed funding at Harvard’s physics department? Many international students apply to and are accepted to our physics program; in past years, up to 40% of our students have been international. And all PhD students -- including international students -- are guaranteed funding. Please see our "Admissions and Financial Aid" page (in particular, the section under "Financial Aid") for detailed information about our program's funding structure for graduate students.  
• Does the physics department permit part-time enrollment? The department does not permit part-time enrollment. Full-time enrollment is considered to be 40 hours per week, although in practice most graduate students often work much longer hours -- the work consists mainly of research, but certain semesters also include assistant-teaching.  

Answers to ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS

• What courses are required for candidacy to the program? There are no specific, mandatory course requirements for candidacy. However, prospective students should be well-versed in intermediate physics and mathematics. Typically, applicants will have devoted between 50 and 60 credit hours -- approximately half of their undergraduate work -- to physics, mathematics, and chemistry. It is desirable for every applicant to have completed at least one year of introductory quantum mechanics classes.  
• My undergraduate major is in a subject different from physics, and I did not take key physics classes like statistical physics and quantum mechanics, but I have strengths in other areas, such as high GRE scores. Am I precluded from applying? Everyone is entitled to apply to the physics program. Weaker course background can sometimes be balanced out by stronger areas on a prospective student's application for admission, such as GRE scores, but the department cannot determine in advance the likelihood of success in any particular case.  
• Can I still apply for the PhD program if I plan on graduating from my undergraduate institution during the summer before the first fall semester? The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) requires only that incoming students have graduated by their intended date of matriculation, so graduating during the summer before the first fall semester is generally acceptable.  
• What are the course requirements for obtaining a PhD? Course requirements for physics PhD students consist of:    - 2 semesters of graduate-level quantum mechanics (at the level of Merzbacher or Gottfried/Yan),    - 1 semester of graduate-level statistical mechanics (at the level of Pathria),    - 1 semester of graduate-level electromagnetism (at the level of Jackson),    - 4 semesters of elective courses at the graduate level, with no more than 2 in any single subject area    - 1 semester of the graduate-level experimental laboratory course (for theorists) Some of these requirements may be waived if the student has taken equivalent courses previously, depending on the discretion of the physics department's Committee on Higher Degrees. For more details, please see our official page on course requirements, as well as our page on petitioning the Committee on Higher Degrees for course credit. You can find a full list of course offerings in the physics department here and course offerings from other departments by visiting courses.my.harvard.edu .  

Answers to ACADEMIC RECORD and TRANSCRIPT QUESTIONS

• The application asks for a list of relevant courses taken at my undergraduate institution. Do I still have to complete that part of the application if the courses are already listed on my uploaded official transcript?     or : I attended a university in another country, and the course names and textbook names are all in a foreign language. Do I still need to fill out the list of undergraduate courses on the application form? To ensure that your application is processed correctly and considered by the admissions committee, please fill out all forms completely, even if you believe some of the information is already on your academic transcript or are uncertain that the information will be useful and necessary.   
• The physics department specifically requires that candidates submit additional documentation of their most advanced courses and textbooks used. Where do I submit that list? In addition to filling out the course abstract in the main application, you should submit your list of advanced courses and textbooks used in the Additional Academic information/materials section of the online application.  
• The application instructions ask students applying to the physics program to list the four most advanced physics/astronomy courses and the two most advanced math courses they have taken so far. May I list more than six total courses? Yes -- applicants are permitted to list additional advanced courses in relevant subjects if they wish.  
• As an undergraduate, I’ve taken several advanced theoretical courses that can’t easily be classified as either pure physics or pure math. In my list of advanced courses, should I classify these courses as physics or math? In filling out your list of advanced coursework, the admissions committee asks that you please use your best judgment in deciding how to classify your courses.  
• Do I need my undergraduate institution to mail in my transcripts for me, or can I mail them myself? Candidates do not need to ask their undergraduate institutions to mail in student transcripts. The Graduate School requires that you upload a copy of your transcript from each college/university attended with your online application. Foreign transcripts---records of all courses, seminars, and examinations, including grades, scores, grading scales, and conferrals of degrees---must be in English. If records are not available in English, original records must be uploaded with certified English translations. All translations must be literal and complete versions of the original records. The University reserves the right to request additional academic documents.   
• If I spent a semester at another university under a study-abroad program, but all my grades are reported on my home institution’s transcript, do I need to send a redundant transcript from the study-abroad institution? As long as grades for all your courses are reported on your home institution's transcript, there is no need to submit a redundant transcript from your study-abroad institution.   
• I spent a few semesters at one undergraduate institution before transferring to another. Do I need to provide transcripts from both institutions? The department requires that transfer students submit official transcripts from all undergraduate institutions that they have attended -- every undergraduate class taken by a student at any institution should appear on an official transcript.   
• I am attending a one-year graduate program, and I do not yet have official grades or a transcript that I can include with my undergraduate transcript. Can I submit the graduate program’s transcript after the official application deadline? If your current institution does not yet have a transcript or official grades available for you, then the Harvard physics department will accept your application without that information. You can mention your graduate work in your statement of purpose, and, if you'd like, mail a hard-copy of your transcript to GSAS admissions once it becomes available -- the mailing address is the same as for your undergraduate transcript.  
• My university does not have an official policy of providing GPAs. Should I leave the GPA field blank on the application? Please compute a GPA as best you can from your course grades, and enter it into the application form.   
• I am an international student, and my undergraduate institution uses a numerical grading  system different from the standard American system. Should I enter my numerical grade values in the application form? Should I calculate a GPA? The members of our admissions committee have a good understanding of a wide variety of international grading systems, so there's no need to convert your grades. Please just use the numerical values you have, and compute a GPA from them as best you can.  
• My transcript is in another language. Do I still need to submit it? The departments requires all students to submit a transcript or equivalent official academic record with a student’s undergraduate grades. If the transcript is in another language, then the candidate should also submit a certified translation.   
• My university does not provide transcripts, but does provide an official form with a list of my courses and grades. What should I upload in place of a transcript? The admissions committee recognizes that some institutions do not produce transcripts, but instead provide other official records of undergraduate work and grades received. In that case, please submit those official records in place of a transcript.   
• My university does not produce official paper transcripts -- my university asks students to provide their academic records department with an  email address for sending out a secure link. Can applicants to Harvard’s physics program use this system rather than uploading an official transcript? Unfortunately, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) does not accept transcripts electronically except through their official online application. Please ask your university to send you the transcript, and then upload it manually through the GSAS online application.  
• I submitted my online application without attaching the required list of my six most advanced physics and math courses. How can I get the information to the admissions committee? Please include a hard-copy of the list of advanced courses when you mail your original transcript to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) admissions office.  

Answers to TOEFL/IELTS QUESTIONS

• What is the official code for reporting TOEFL/IELTS scores? When requesting official TOEFL score reports, please indicate the receiving institution as Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Code 3451.  For sending IELTS scores, designate Harvard University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a recipient of your test results. The GSAS  address, for the record only, to identify us in the IELTS system, is 1350 Massachusetts Ave. Smith Campus Center 350, Cambridge, MA 02138. Paper test report forms will not be accepted at this address.  
• Do I have to take (or retake) the TOEFL/IELTS? My circumstances make it inconvenient or difficult to do so, and my English is pretty good. The department apologizes for any inconvenience, but Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) requires TOEFL/IELTS scores for all applicants who have not received a BA from an English-speaking undergraduate institution, with exemptions granted only in extreme circumstances. If you believe that your case may qualify, please visit the contact page for the GSAS Office of Admissions .  
• My undergraduate university was not primarily English-speaking, but I later attended a master’s program at an English-speaking university. Do I still need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores? Harvard's Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) requires TOEFL or IELTS scores for all applicants who have not received a BA from an English-speaking undergraduate institution, with exemptions granted only in extreme circumstances -- if you believe that your case may qualify, please visit the contact page for the  GSAS Office of Admissions .   
• My undergraduate institution is in a non-English-speaking country, but English was the only language of instruction. Do I need to submit TOEFL/IELTS scores, and, if not, how do I prove that I did my undergraduate work in English? The members of the physics department's admissions committee are familiar with most undergraduate institutions around the world, so there's no need to provide specific proof on your application that your institution is English-speaking -- please just check the appropriate box on the online application form. Later on, if any concerns arise during the course of your application process, you will be contacted with further instructions.   
• I have a professor of English Literature who is willing to write me a certificate regarding my English skills -- do I still need to take the TOEFL/IELTS? The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) requires TOEFL or IELTS scores of all non-native-English students who have not attended an English-speaking undergraduate institution. GSAS does not accept alternative forms of verification, such as a letter from a faculty member at a student’s undergraduate institution.  

Answers to DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

• Does the Harvard physics program have a written qualifying exam? If I have extensive academic preparation, can I take it at the beginning of my first year? Harvard's physics program does not have written qualifying examinations, but instead has a variety of course requirements and an oral examination. The oral examination is intended to demonstrate a graduate student’s command of his or her subject area, formalize the student’s relationship with a research advisor, and provide the department with a snapshot of the student's academic and research progress. As such, students often take the oral exam toward the end of their second year, and are usually required by the department to take it by the end of their third year. For more information about the oral exam, please see the relevant section of the physics degree programs.  

Answers to FACULTY REQUESTS

• There is a professor on your faculty whose research area lines up with my my interests and abilities. Can I do anything when I apply to ensure that I’ll be able to work with this faculty member if I am accepted? Everyone is welcome to apply to the physics program at Harvard, but the department cannot guarantee in advance that any accepted student will be able to work with a particular faculty member.  

Answers to TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

• I am having difficulty getting my scanned transcript under the 2MB upload limit. What should I do? The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) recommends trying to save the scanned transcript as a PDF, since that usually leads to reduced file sizes compared to raw image formats. As a last resort, you can try saving the first and second halves of your transcript and uploading them separately, provided you clearly note on the uploaded document that there are multiple parts.  
• I have made a serious error in my submitted application. Whom can I contact for help? Please contact the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) admissions information office. You can reach the office by phone at 617-496-6100 (2:00pm - 5:00pm EST) or by email at [email protected] . If you choose to contact the admissions information office by email, please send your message from the same email address you used to register your online application, and put the words ADMISSIONS QUESTION (all capital letters) in your email subject.
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How to Apply to the Graduate Program

Our Graduate Recruitment Committee (GRC) conducts a holistic review of all application materials for indicators that the applicant possesses the essential qualities that will contribute to the successful completion of our degree program. No single factor leads to either accepting or excluding an applicant from admission. Our admissions review process considers each applicant’s academic performance to date, the potential for meaningful research contributions, and persistence in and commitment to educational success.

Please note, the Department of Physics at The University of Texas at Austin no longer requires the General GRE and the GRE Subject Test in Physics (pGRE) is now optional.

Should you choose to submit the pGRE—then the personal statement section of your Statement of Purpose must also make explicit your reasons for doing so (including the ways in which you believe these scores are essential to the success of your application as a whole). If you submit such scores and you do not include this information in your Statement of Purpose, then your scores will not be considered in our review of your application.

Your Undergraduate Degree

Prior to matriculation into the Physics graduate program, the University requires all applicants to have completed a bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. college or university or an international degree equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree in both length and rigor. International applicants should refer to this GIAC site to ensure that their educational credentials meet The Graduate School's requirements. 

No minimum undergraduate GPA is required to apply, however, in order to receive funding, the University requires a minimum of a 3.00 GPA in all upper-division or advanced course work undertaken at the undergraduate level.

No specific course work is required prior to the application for admission. Although , the educational grounding necessary for the program is the equivalent of a full undergraduate major in physics. This should include solid courses at the intermediate-level or beyond in: classical mechanics, electromagnetism, waves, thermal and statistical physics, and quantum mechanics, as well as some study of applications in the context of modern physics. If you majored in something other than physics as an undergraduate and would like help evaluating whether your background is sufficient, please see our page on this subject for more information. Additionally, research experience is not a requirement, but it is an undeniable asset.

Application (required)

Please, note that the State of Texas maintains a unified application system for all public institutions of higher education in the state at: ApplyTexas.org . All application materials are processed by GIAC prior to being referred to the Department for review. This site allows you to save your work and complete the application at your own pace.

To be considered, all applications and their accompanying materials must be submitted before the yearly application deadlines of:

• 11:59 p.m. CDT on 1 October for Spring admission
• 11:59 p.m. CST on 1 December for Fall admission.

We allow a grace period of precisely one (1) calendar week following each of the deadlines for the uploading of Letters of Recommendation by your recommenders.

The application fee must be paid as instructed by the GIAC website. The fee is $65 for United States citizens or permanent residents, and $90 for non-U.S. citizens. The Graduate School provides fee waivers to applicants who meet certain criteria, more information on these waivers is available here . The Department is not involved in either the fee payment or fee waiver processes.

Statement of Purpose (required)

The Statement of Purpose is not wholly equivalent to a ‘Personal Statement’ and should be no more than two pages in length. Instead, your Statement of Purpose may begin with a  brief  personal statement that amounts to  no more than one-third (1/3)  of your Statement as a whole.  Please address any information that you believe your application would be incomplete without and that sheds more light on your unique potential to succeed in Physics and contribute to the University community and the field or profession.

Following, the brief personal statement, you should plan to answer—to some degree—the majority of the following questions:

• What are your current goals and expectations for graduate school? For your future career?
• What is your past research experience? What are your research interests? With whom might you plan to do your research at UT Physics?
• How have your educational, research, and/or professional experiences prepared you for pursuing a graduate degree in physics?

Should you choose to submit the GRE Subject Test in Physics (pGRE) scores—then the personal statement section of your Statement of Purpose must also make explicit your reasons for doing so (including the ways in which you believe these scores are essential to the success of your application as a whole). If you submit such scores and you do not include this information in your Statement of Purpose, then your scores will not be considered in our review of your application.

Letters of Recommendation (required)

Three (3) Letters of Recommendation must be submitted via ApplyTexas. The Graduate Recruitment Committee will not review more than three (3) letters. Thus, it is essential that you choose your recommenders with the utmost care. All of your recommenders should be able to speak to your knowledge, skills, or achievements in some combination of the following broad areas: course work, research, background, and personal qualities. It is also wise to choose recommenders who have a degree of knowledge regarding your development toward graduate school over time.

The ApplyTexas application will prompt you to provide contact information for each of your recommenders as part of the “Academic References” section. Once you have submitted your application and paid the application fee, the system will then send an email to each of your recommenders containing an individualized link to an online portal where they must upload their Letter of Recommendation.

If your recommenders are unable to submit their letters through the online application, please contact GIAC at: [email protected] . Letters of Recommendation that are mailed or emailed directly to the program will not be considered.

Transcripts (required)

Official transcripts must be submitted and reviewed by GIAC. After satisfying the application fee, you must provide an official transcript from every senior college you have attended. Even if courses taken at one institution are recorded on another college's transcript, transcripts must be submitted from the institution at which the courses were taken. Failure to list all colleges on the application and provide those transcripts will be considered an intentional omission and may lead to the cancellation of your application for admission or withdrawal of your offer of admission.

Official transcripts bear the facsimile signature of the registrar and the seal of the issuing institution. Transcripts from U.S. colleges or universities must have been produced within the last calendar year and should include the award of degree printed on the transcript unless coursework is still in progress. Transcripts written in a language other than English must be accompanied by a translation. We do not accept outside evaluations of foreign transcripts. Each transcript (mark sheet) should contain a complete record of studies at the institution from which it is issued (i.e., the subjects taken and grades [marks] earned in each subject).

Please note the department is not involved in the transcript process prior to application review. For submission options based on the sending institution please review this GIAC site . Questions regarding transcripts should be directed to   [email protected]  (Please do not send transcripts to this address).

Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Test Scores

The General Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is  not  required and  will not  be considered as part of your application if submitted.

The GRE Subject Test in Physics (pGRE) is optional; if you choose to submit a pGRE score you must make a clear case (in your required Statement of Purpose) for why you believe it is integral to your application, otherwise, it will not be considered, as described above under “The Statement of Purpose”.

We only accept scores officially and electronically reported to The University of Texas at Austin by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), our institution code is 6882.

English Proficiency Exams (required of international applicants only)

In addition to completing the prescribed graduate admissions process, international students applying to The University of Texas at Austin must submit either an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score report demonstrating an adequate knowledge of English. The Institutional TOEFL (ITP) and the IELTS General Training, and alternatives ( ex: Duolingo ) are not accepted.

Scores must be sent to the university by the testing agency (self-reported scores are not accepted). The Educational Testing Service (ETS) institution code for UT Austin is 6882. There is no institutional code for the IELTS examination. To fulfill the requirement with scores from the IELTS, please use the IELTS electronic score delivery service to send your scores to the “University of Texas at Austin” account.

The minimum scores considered acceptable for admission by the Graduate School are TOEFL: 79 on the Internet-based test (iBT); IELTS: An overall band of 6.5 on the Academic Examination. Do not be discouraged from submitting an application if you do not meet these minimum scores.

International applicants who are from a  qualifying country  are exempt from this requirement. Additionally, applicants are exempt from the requirement if they possess a bachelor’s degree from a U.S. institution or a  qualifying country .  The requirement is not waived for applicants who have earned a master's—but not a bachelor's—degree from a similar institution. For more information, please visit this GIAC site .

MyStatus Website (for everyone)

The University of Texas at Austin utilizes the online MyStatus site as your hub for the remainder of your application after ApplyTexas submission. This process is electronic and centralized, as such, please do not send any application materials directly to the department.

In an effort to increase security, multi-factor authentication (Duo) will be required to access most online services that require a UT EID login. Please make sure to  set up Duo  prior to attempting to log in to MyStatus . Once logged on, your application will have one of the following statuses:

• Incomplete – review list of missing application items, must be completed by the deadline!
• In Review – application received by the department; you are now on the waitlist!
• Admitted – have been offered admission!
• Denied – have been denied admission.

After 1 May of every year, all remaining applications with Incomplete and In Review status begin to be closed out by the department. For more information, please email [email protected] .

Where to Find More Information (for everyone)

For more detailed information on our various research groups, please see Explore Our Graduate Program page. For additional information regarding our program as a whole, please consult the same website (including the FAQ page).

UT Application Process Overview:

• this site provides introductory information regarding UT Austin programs and degrees offered, cost of attendance, admissions and enrollment statistics, and eligibility for admission.
• this site helps you decide which type of application is for you and provides logistical details such as application fees & official score submission procedures.
• use this site to start your application before the deadline.
• this site is your portal for all application documents & status updates during the admissions process  after  your ApplyTexas submission. 

Please note: Admitted Master’s applicants are not awarded financial support regardless of semester.

Following your circuit through the above websites, if you then have additional questions concerning our department, its research entities, and/or the admissions process, we would be more than happy to answer them, please contact us directly at: [email protected] . In our effort to provide you with the best possible experience, when corresponding with our office always include your full name and either your Applicant ID (before submitting your application) or your EID (which you will receive after ApplyTexas submission)—the EID is always preferred.

Physics Department Contacts

Graduate Admissions Coordinator [email protected]  

Physics Graduate Recruitment Committee Dierdre Shoemaker, Professor of Physics [email protected]

Graduate Advisor Richard Fitzpatrick, Professor of Physics [email protected] PMA 11.226 • (512) 560-7295  

Graduate Program Coordinator Matt Ervin [email protected] PMA 7.326 • (512) 471-1664  

Physics Graduate Representatives [email protected]  

Diversity & Inclusion Committee Alejandro De Lozanne, Professor of Physics [email protected]

Department of Physics 2515 Speedway, C1600 Austin, TX 78712-1192

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Graduate Program

• Global Ph.D.

Thank you for your interest in the New York University Department of Physics graduate program. To the right are web links that you can follow for an overview of our graduate program and department.

Physicists come in many forms. Some love tinkering and may be natural experimentalists, some are drawn to elegant theories, some delight in writing computer codes, some have a special talent for communicating science to others, etc. And physicists do many different things in their lives, from public education, to academic research, to industry and tech, to public service and beyond. The goal of the NYU Graduate Program in Physics is to provide outstanding training to a student body which reflects the diversity of backgrounds, talents and skills of the next generation of aspiring physicists, astrophysicists and biophysicists. We want every member of the Department to flourish and find their own path. Our graduate admissions process aims to bring in a capable and committed group of students who are well-positioned to benefit from the training we can provide. No single metric gives a valid and accurate gauge for every person. To that end, admissions decisions are based on the full scope of information in the application dockets, and any individual component is considered in relation to its relevance for the student’s aims.

Applications for admission to the Masters and Doctoral programs in Physics should be submitted to the Graduate School of Arts and Science . We encourage all applicants to review our Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page for answers to the most commonly asked questions, including How Funding Works in the PhD Program .

The application submission deadline for fall 2024 admission is December 30, 5 PM EST.

The GRE general and subject test reports are optional for fall 2024 admission. 

If after reading our FAQ , you still have any questions, please feel free to e-mail the Program Administrator .

Core Information

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Jeong Min Park earns 2024 Schmidt Science Fellowship

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Physics graduate student Jeong Min (Jane) Park is among the 32 exceptional early-career scientists worldwide chosen to receive the prestigious 2024  Schmidt Science Fellows award.  

As a 2024 Schmidt Science Fellow, Park’s postdoctoral work will seek to directly detect phases that could host new particles by employing an instrument that can visualize subatomic-scale phenomena.  

With her advisor, Pablo Jarillo-Herrero, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics, Park’s research at MIT focuses on discovering novel quantum phases of matter.

“When there are many electrons in a material, their interactions can lead to collective behaviors that are not expected from individual particles, known as emergent phenomena,” explains Park. “One example is superconductivity, where interacting electrons combine together as a pair at low temperatures to conduct electricity without energy loss.”

During her PhD studies, she has investigated novel types of superconductivity by designing new materials with targeted interactions and topology. In particular, she used graphene, atomically thin two-dimensional layers of graphite, the same material as pencil lead, and turned it into a “magic” material. This so-called magic-angle twisted trilayer graphene provided an extraordinarily strong form of superconductivity that is robust under high magnetic fields . Later, she found a whole “magic family” of these materials, elucidating the key mechanisms behind superconductivity and interaction-driven phenomena. These results have provided a new platform to study emergent phenomena in two dimensions, which can lead to innovations in electronics and quantum technology.

Park says she is looking forward to her postdoctoral studies with Princeton University physics professor Ali Yazdani's lab.

“I’m excited about the idea of discovering and studying new quantum phenomena that could further the understanding of fundamental physics,” says Park. “Having explored interaction-driven phenomena through the design of new materials, I’m now aiming to broaden my perspective and expertise to address a different kind of question, by combining my background in material design with the sophisticated local-scale measurements that I will adopt during my postdoc.”

She explains that elementary particles are classified as either bosons or fermions, with contrasting behaviors upon interchanging two identical particles, referred to as exchange statistics; bosons remain unchanged, while fermions acquire a minus sign in their quantum wavefunction.

Theories predict the existence of fundamentally different particles known as non-abelian anyons, whose wavefunctions braid upon particle exchange. Such a braiding process can be used to encode and store information, potentially opening the door to fault-tolerant quantum computing in the future.

Since 2018, this prestigious postdoctoral program has sought to break down silos among scientific fields to solve the world’s biggest challenges and support future leaders in STEM.

Schmidt Science Fellows, an initiative of Schmidt Sciences, delivered in partnership with the Rhodes Trust, identifies, develops, and amplifies the next generation of science leaders, by building a community of scientists and supporters of interdisciplinary science and leveraging this network to drive sector-wide change. The 2024 fellows consist of 17 nationalities across North America, Europe, and Asia.   

Nominated candidates undergo a rigorous selection process that includes a paper-based academic review with panels of experts in their home disciplines and final interviews with panels, including senior representatives from across many scientific disciplines and different business sectors.  

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Delhi University Issues Guidelines For PhD Admission 2024, Details Here

Delhi university phd admission 2024: the weightage will be 70% for net marks and 30% for interview marks..

The Delhi University has decided to use the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET) scores for admission to PhD programs for the academic session 2024-25. The NET marks of candidates in Categories 2 and 3 will be valid for one year for admission to PhD programmes.

For admission to PhD programs, the weightage will be 70% for NET marks and 30% for interview marks.

Delhi University PhD admission 2024-2025: Check guidelines

Based on their NET scores, candidates will be eligible in three categories - JRF (Junior Research Fellowship), Assistant Professor, PhD Admission.

Category-1: Award of JRF and appointment as Assistant Professor - NET qualified candidates are eligible for all three - JRF, Assistant Professor, and PhD Admission. 

Category-2: Appointment as Assistant Professor and admission to PhD - NET-qualified candidates are eligible for Assistant Professor and PhD Admission but not JRF. 

Category-3: Admission to PhD only - NET-qualified candidates are eligible for PhD Admission, not JRF or Assistant Professor. 

Admission under JRF Category will be done as per UGC Notification dated November 7, 2022. 

The University may hold entrance examinations for those PhD programs where NET examinations in the concerned subjects/disciplines are not conducted by UGC, such as in Portuguese, Italian, Engineering, etc.

The University of Delhi informed that the detailed PhD information bulletin 2024 will be released on the official website - admission.uod.ac.in .

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