physics phd no gre

Physics PhD Admission Requirements

Prospective phd applicants .

Applications are accepted for fall admission only. The application deadline for full consideration for fall admission is January 31 . Files completed after this date will be considered, but students should recognize that most of the financial resources will be committed by early spring.

To be eligible for admission to the Physics PhD program, applicants must:

• Have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in physics or a closely related area, from a regionally accredited institution.
• Have at least a 3.0 GPA
• International applicants must demonstrate English proficiency via the TOEFL, IELTS or PTE. More information regarding English proficiency and required scores can be found at: https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english-proficiency .

Test Scores

The Department of Physics no longer requires verbal, quantitative or analytical GRE scores. We  also do not require the Physics GRE. However, if you wish to supply these scores, you may supply them as part of your supplemental documentation. Although this change may not be reflected on all of ASU’s web pages it is effective immediately.

Application Fee Waiver - DEADLINE TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION FEE WAIVER REQUEST IS FRIDAY, JAN. 19, 2024 at 5pm (MST)

Applicants facing financial hardship may request a waiver for their application fee. Please complete the online application up to the fee payment page. To apply for an application fee waiver, please send the following materials to [email protected] :

• Your application ID number
• A brief essay (about 150 words) describing why paying the application fee is difficult in your situation
• The personal statement from your application
• Experimental biological and soft matter physics
• Theoretical biological and soft matter physics
• Experimental cosmology particle and astrophysics
• Theoretical cosmology particle and astrophysics
• Experimental nanoscale and materials physics
• Theoretical nanoscale and materials physics
• Your unofficial undergraduate and graduate (if available) transcripts.
• If you are not a native English speaker, please supply proof of English Proficiency (e.g., TOEFL, IELTS, etc).
• Please ensure that your application will be competitive according to the admission metrics shown below.
• Please list the upper division (third or fourth year) physics courses you've completed in these 4 subject areas: classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electricity and magnetism and statistical mechanics. Please include the course number and title as it is shown on your transcripts.

If you request is approved, we will let you know that you can submit your application without paying the fee. The Department of Physics has established a limited budget for these waivers. Requests will be considered as they are received until funds are depleted.

Application Information

Admission Metrics While we employ holistic admission criteria, which consider diversity, life and research experience, programmatic needs and overlap with faculty research interests, you must be adequately prepared for graduate study in physics. A strong indicator of this preparation is your performance in upper division (third and fourth year) physics coursework. Successful applicants should have performed at the 'A' or 'B' level in their upper division physics coursework. Additionally, the disparity in the number of applications to the different research emphases offered by our PhD program requires us to be more selective for admission of our applicants with interests in certain sub-disciplines. As a rough guide to determine whether your application will be competitive, average overall GPAs of applicants admitted to our PhD program since 2017 are shown below.

Domestic Average GPA

• Biological & Soft Matter Physics: 3.62
• Cosmology, Particle & Astrophysics: 3.73
• Nanoscale & Materials Physics: 3.57

International Average GPA

• Cosmology, Particle & Astrophysics: 3.64
• Nanoscale & Materials Physics: 3.36

The entire admission process is electronic and is coordinated through the ASU Graduate Admissions. The entry link for application is Graduate Education's admissions page . All application materials must be submitted online, do not mail any documents to the Department of Physics. All official documents, transcripts and test scores should be sent to Graduate Admissions.

• Basic application and fee: https://admission.asu.edu/graduate/apply .
• Statement of purpose. Be sure to include specific items that indicate your personal attributes of initiative, creativity, determination, flexibility, etc relating to research or personal interests. Applicants should also reference the names of faculty with whom they are interested in working or have already consulted.
• TOEFL (or equivalent) for non-native speakers. ASU requires international students to have minimum TOEFL scores of 515 (PBT), 213 (CBT), or 83 (iBT). At the department level, we look for scores about 15% above these minima, since language skills are critical for teaching assistant positions. For more information on how to meet English Proficiency, visit https://admission.asu.edu/international/graduate/english-proficiency .
• Complete transcripts of educational work, to date. Transcripts should include the fall semester or winter quarter grades, if possible. Official transcripts must be sent directly to ASU Admission Services from the issuing institution's records office either by mail or through a secured electronic transcript service. For more information about transcripts please visit https://admission.asu.edu/graduate/apply .  We will accept unofficial transcripts for review purposes but we cannot admit you into the program until official transcripts are received.
• Three letters of recommendation. You will be asked to enter the names and email addresses in the online application of three individuals who can recommend you to our graduate program. These letters should be written by faculty or professional colleagues who have supervised you for research or academic work. For international students, specific comments about ability with spoken English will be helpful.
• You may include an additional one page document containing information that not in your statement of purpose that will assist the admissions committee in formulating a decision. This information might include skills that will enable you to succeed in PhD research (e.g., computer programming/coding, designing and building experimental apparatus, machine shop experience, mechanical or electronic design, etc.), challenges or hardships you have overcome or how your background can enrich the diversity of physics as a discipline. You may also list any publications that list you as an author or co-author as well as any awards, honors or professional society memberships. Feel free to explain your short and long-term goals after obtaining your PhD in physics.

All official documents must be mailed to Graduate Admissions:

How do I submit my application materials?

All application materials for the PhD program are submitted online through the Graduate Admissions electronic application system. More information regarding the electronic admissions application can be found at: https://admission.asu.edu/graduate/apply .

Who should I have write letters of recommendation for my application?

Letters of recommendation should come from faculty members, instructors, research mentors or other individuals who have worked closely with the applicant and can comment on his/her potential for graduate study and research experience.

I missed the January 31st deadline. Can I still apply?

Yes.  Applications received after the deadline for fall admission may be reviewed and considered up to April 15th. However, we cannot guarantee that a late application will receive the same consideration as if it was sent on time. In addition, the applicant may not be eligible for some scholarships, fellowships or TA support. International students must consider important dates for the issuance of immigration documents. Please refer to the following website for this information:  https://students.asu.edu/international/immigration .

Should I contact faculty to see if they have available openings within their research group?

Yes, applicants are encouraged to communicate with faculty they are interested in working with and to list the names of prospective faculty advisors on their application. These connections will help determine if applicants will be a good fit for the faculty’s research group and whether or not research assistant support will be available in the future.

When will admission decisions be made?

The admissions committee will review applications after the deadline. Recommendations for admissions will begin in February. 

How can I check the status of my application?

Please check your MyASU portal, specifically your Priority Tasks for any required items that need to be submitted.

I’m an international applicant and I’m having trouble with receiving or submitting documents for the I-20? What should I do?

All information regarding the I-20 (how to request, what is needed, and tracking the status) may be found in the student’s MyASU student account. The Graduate College produces the I-20. If the student has questions that are unable to be answered through the MyASU student account or through a search on their website, ( http://graduate.asu.edu ), the student should contact Graduate College directly at 1-480-965-6113 or by email: [email protected] .

If I send my application information in an email, can I receive a pre-evaluation to see if I’m eligible to apply?

No. We do not have the resources to pre-screen applications.  We cannot formulate an admission decision without an official application on file. All application materials must be received before a final decision is made.

Do I need to submit official transcripts as part of my application?

Unofficial transcripts of your college and/or university work are sufficient for review purposes as long as they are clearly labeled with the institution name and indicate the date(s) that degrees were awarded.  You cannot be officially admitted into our PhD program until official transcripts of your college and/or university work are received by our admissions office

50 Best PhD Programs That Don’t Require GRE Scores [2024 Schools Guide]

Check out PhD Programs that don’t require GRE scores for admission. Compare PhD programs without the GRE (Campus & Online).

We’ve identified a number of accredited universities that don’t require the GRE as part of their PhD application process.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

List of Online PsyD Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list offer online psychology doctoral programs and either do not require the GRE or offer GRE waivers for qualified students.

Adler University

Founded in 1952, Adler strives to develop professionals and practitioners who will better their local communities and the world. Driven by the work of physician and psychotherapist Alfred Adler, the school values fairness, equality and civil rights and helps students learn to put these concepts into practice.

• Online Doctor of Psychology in Industrial & Organizational Psychology

Adler University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Alliant International University

Recognized as a top school for minorities by Diverse: Issues In Higher Education and for military veterans by College Factual, Alliant values diversity in the classroom and the workforce. Students are encouraged to have a global perspective, a desire for community service and a commitment to equality.

Believing that hands-on experiences are essential for a well-rounded education, the school connects students to the community throughout its degree programs.

• Online Doctor of Psychology

Alliant is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Antioch University

Equal rights, equal pay and equal educational opportunities for minorities and women have long been important at Antioch. In the 1800s, Antioch was one of the first institutions of higher education that admitted both whites and African-Americans, and the school’s list of famous alumni includes Coretta Scott King.

• Online Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Antioch University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

California Southern University

Since its beginnings in 1978, the mission of California Southern University has been centered around the idea of providing flexible educational experiences for adult learners.

Throughout the school’s 30 programs, there is a continual focus on establishing strong, supportive relationships between staff and students.

California Southern University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Capella University

Enrolling over 37,000 students each year, Capella University offers educational opportunities for working professionals. Through distance-learning programs, the university reaches students from every state and over 50 different countries. Of the school’s more than 1,500 faculty members and administrators, 88 percent hold doctoral degrees.

Capella University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Felician University

Since 1942, Felician University has been providing educational experiences based on the Catholic Franciscan values of service, compassion and respect. Over 2,000 students take classes from this school each year. The university has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1, and 73 percent of classes have fewer than 20 students.

• Online Doctoral Programs in Counseling Psychology

Felician University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Grand Canyon University

Founded in 1949, Grand Canyon University seeks to educate students from a Christian perspective so that they will become service-minded professionals whose faith permeates their lives and directs their work. The university enrolls over 19,000 on-campus students and more than 60,000 online students each year.

• Online Doctor of Performance Psychology

Grand Canyon University is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Meridian University

At Meridian University, the goal is for students to gain a transformative education. Through their schooling, students should grow personally and learn to affect change in their fields and in their communities. Approximately 91 percent of Meridian students complete their degree programs within the allotted time.

Meridian University is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Northwest University

Affiliated with the Assemblies of God denomination, Northwest University is a Christian school with a desire to engage students who are committed to both scholarship and service. Graduates go on to work in a variety of fields, including ministry, business, medical and educational settings.

Northwestern University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Pepperdine University

U.S. News has ranked Pepperdine University at No. 46 on its list of Best Value Schools, and Forbes has placed the school at No. 8 on its list of the Most Entrepreneurial Universities. The university opened in 1937, and the school’s alumni group today boasts over 100,000 members. 84 percent of Pepperdine students serve in internships or other hands-on experiences.

Pepperdine is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Saybrook University

Saybrook University was established in 1971 and offers a PhD in Clinical Psychology. The degree is designed for those students who are looking for a program that will equip them with the practical skills necessary to start their professional practice.

The program covers multi-cultural psychology, psychotherapy, child and adolescent psychology, and more.

• PhD in Clinical Psychology

Saybrook University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior College and University Commission.

Touro University Worldwide

Touro University Worldwide is the online branch of the Touro College and University System. Altogether, Touro schools include around 19,000 students and more than 95,000 alumni. Founded on Jewish principles and traditions, the group’s roots date back to 1970.

• Online Doctor of Psychology in Human & Organizational Psychology

Touro University Worldwide is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

University of Hartford

With over 6,500 enrolled students, the University of Hartford issues more than 1,500 diplomas each year. The student body is made up of people from nearly every state and over 40 different countries. Creativity, diversity, responsibility and integrity are some of the highest values of this school, which was founded in 1957.

University of Hartford is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of the Cumberlands

The Baptist roots of the University of the Cumberlands date back to 1888. The university reaches over 10,000 learners each year and has a 17:1 ratio of students to faculty. Hands-on learning is highly valued at this school, and all students engage in service opportunities while attaining their degrees.

University of the Cumberlands is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Walden University

Over 57,000 students are studying with Walden University at any given time. The faculty members are leaders in their areas of expertise, and almost 90 percent of them hold doctoral degrees. The university’s status as a certified B Corporation shows its commitment to operating ethically and motivating students to be positive change-makers in their communities.

Walden University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Western Kentucky University

U.S. News has ranked Western Kentucky University No. 24 in Best Colleges for Veterans and No. 34 in Best Regional Universities South. Both Sierra Club and Princeton Review have applauded this university for its environmental efforts. The school has over 20,000 students, and the average class has around 24 students in it.

Western Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges.

List of Online Doctor of Education (EdD) Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list either do not require the GRE or offer waivers for qualified students.

Baylor University

Baylor University holds fast to its Baptist roots while welcoming a diverse student body from many religious and geographic backgrounds. Founded in 1845, the school is committed to serious scholarship, community service, and the integration of faith and life. Baylor has over 17,000 students and a 14:1 student-faculty ratio.

• Online Doctorate of Education

Baylor University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

City University of Seattle

• Online Doctor of Education in Leadership

CityU is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Colorado State University

Founded in 1870, Colorado State University has awarded over 230,000 degrees. The school was involved in the establishment of the Peace Corps, and still today, many students choose to spend time serving through this organization. In addition to global service and responsibility, CSU values innovation, respect, diversity and academic excellence.

Colorado State is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Concordia University

Since 1805, Concordia University has been educating students in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, tradition.

Although based on Christian faith and principles, and university welcomes a diverse student body made up of people from many religious backgrounds. The school enrolls over 5,000 students each year and boasts a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

This is an online doctorate in education no GRE required.

• Online Doctor of Education

Concordia University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Creighton University

Considered U.S. News ’ No. 1 school in the Regional Universities Midwest category and the Best Colleges for Veterans category, Creighton University educates nearly 9,000 students yearly.

The school was founded in 1878 by Jesuit Catholics and many members of the Jesuit tradition still work at Creighton. Within six months of degree completion, 99 percent of graduates are successful at landing a job or a satisfactory next step.

Creighton University is accredited by Higher Learning Commission.

East Tennessee State University

Founded in 1911, East Tennessee State University today educates more than 14,500 students each year. The university values respect, diversity and academic excellence, and well-rounded student experiences are essential to an ETSU education. There are over 100 degree programs at this school, and the student-faculty ratio is approximately 16:1.

East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Florida State University

Florida State University offers over 300 degree programs, and the Carnegie Commission has bestowed on this school the distinction of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity. With over 41,000 members, the student body includes people from more than 130 countries around the world. Six Nobel Laureates have taught at this university.

Florida State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Johns Hopkins University

Since its beginnings 1876, Johns Hopkins has highly prized both teaching and research, and the school considers itself the first research university in the United States. Although particularly well-known for its School of Medicine, this university also awards degrees in public health, education, physics, business and other disciplines.

The programs listed above are online Doctor of Education no GRE required.

The Johns Hopkins University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Lamar University

A member of the Texas State University System, Lamar University has about 15,000 enrolled students and over 75,000 alumni. Approximately 30 percent of the university’s classes are taught online. The school was founded in 1923 and today employs over 1,200 people and offers more than 100 degree programs.

• Online Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

Lamar University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Liberty University

Since 1971, over 250,000 people have received an education from Liberty University. Currently, about 30 percent of the school’s students are active-duty members of the military or veterans. Liberty University has Baptist affiliations and seeks to develop students’ Christian worldview. Volunteerism is valued, and the student body puts about 500,000 hours into service each year.

Liberty University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Maryville University

Over 9,000 students take classes from Maryville University each year. The school has a 14:1 student-faculty ratio, and about 90 percent of the faculty members have received doctoral degrees. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Maryville was one of the top three fastest-growing universities in the United States.

Maryville University of Saint Louis is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

National University

Founded in 1971, National University is a network of nonprofit educational institutions dedicated to providing flexible, quality education to help students meet their educational and career goals. NU’s programs are taught by 100% doctoral professors.

National University has over 30,000 students enrolled and more that 220,000 alumni from around the world.

National University is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

Northwest Nazarene University

Although Northwest Nazarene University began as an elementary school in 1913, the school quickly expanded its educational offerings and awarded its first college degrees in 1917. Today, more than 8,000 students take NNU classes each year. Although the Church of the Nazarene sponsors the school, students come from a diverse mix of religious backgrounds.

Northwest Nazarene University is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

Oakland City University

U.S. News ranked Oakland City University at No. 7 on its list of Best Colleges for Veterans. The publication also grants it the No. 39 spot on its Regional Colleges Midwest list. Affiliated with the General Association of General Baptists, the college pursues both academic and spiritual development for students.

Oakland City University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Saint Leo University

Famous alumni of Saint Leo University include Desi Arnaz and Stephen Stills. U.S. News gives this university the No. 14 spot on its list of Best Value Schools. Founded in 1889, Saint Leo University is rooted in the Benedictine Catholic tradition and values excellence in academics, relationships, personal growth and integrity.

Saint Leo University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Samford University

According to U.S. News , Samford wins the No. 4 spot on the list of Regional Universities South. This school has graduated 8 state governors, 60 members of Congress and a number of other high-profile citizens. The university has been educating students since 1841 and currently enrolls over 5,500 learners each year and has a student-faculty ratio of 13:1.

Samford is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Texas A&M University

In 1876, Texas A&M University became the first public college in Texas. Over 70,000 students currently study with Texas A&M, which offers over 400 degree programs. The school values leadership in both its staff and its students and seeks to develop strong leaders who will make a difference in their communities.

Texas A&M University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission.

Texas Tech University

According to the Center for Measuring University Performance, Texas Tech University ranked in the top 50 public research schools in the United States. There are more than 38,000 students currently taking Texas Tech classes and over 1,700 faculty members. More than 8,000 students graduated from this university in 2018.

Texas Tech University is accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Trident University

Ranked No. 19 on the list of Best Colleges by The Military Times, Trident University has been the school of choice for over 27,000 students. The university’s goals for students include strong critical thinking skills, an understanding of how to gather and use information, the ability to communicate clearly, and a commitment to integrity.

Trident University accredited by WASC Senior College and University Commission.

Union University

At Union University, there’s a 10:1 student-faculty ratio for the more than 3,000 learners who study there. 85 percent of the faculty members hold terminal degrees. In the past year, Christian Universities Online gave this university the top spot on its Best Christian Colleges and Universities in the South list.

• Online Doctor of Education – Leadership in School Reform

Union University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

University of Arkansas

The Carnegie Foundation recognizes the University of Arkansas as one of the country’s top research universities, and the Chronicle of Higher Education has commended the school for having one of the country’s fastest-growing doctoral programs. With over 27,000 students and over 1,401 faculty members, there’s a student-faculty ratio of 19:1.

The U of A has been accredited by the Higher Learning Commission without interruption since 1924.

University of Findlay

Since 1882, the University of Findlay has been equipping students with academic knowledge and spiritual development. Hands-on experiences help students put their classroom learning into practice throughout their schooling. The university has ties to the Church of God, and College Factual has named it the denomination’s best school.

University of Kentucky

Founded in 1865, the University of Kentucky maintains a commitment to producing graduates who influence communities throughout the world. The school has more than 2,000 faculty members and over 29,000 students. Forbes has placed this university at No. 63 on its list of the best colleges in the southern United States.

The University of Kentucky is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

University of Massachusetts

As New England’s top public university, the University of Massachusetts values academics, research, and professional excellence. Reuters includes UMass on its list of the World’s Most Innovative Universities. Currently, the school has over 70,000 enrolled students, and more than 500,000 people have graduated from this university since its beginnings in 1863.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

University of New England

The University of New England, founded in 1939, has campuses in Biddeford and Portland, Maine and Tangier, Morocco. It’s a relatively small university, with a total of approximately 7,000 students, less than a third of which are doctoral students.

The EdD at UNE is a 51-credit course of study that can be completed entirely online and requires no GRE scores for acceptance. You can start in the Fall, Spring, or Summer and finish within 3 years.

The University of New England is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

University of Southern California

U.S. News gives the University of Southern California the No. 22 ranking on its list of National Universities. Over 47,000 students are enrolled at this college, and there are more than 4,000 faculty members. The school grants about 10,000 advanced degrees each year.

The University of Southern California isy accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

William Carey University

True to its Baptist heritage, William Carey University’s goal is to prepare students for professional work that is guided by faith-based principles. In the early 1900s, it was a college for women only, but coed instruction began in 1954. U.S. News has given William Carey the No. 3 spot on its list of Best Value Schools.

William Carey University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

List of Online DBA Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list either do not require the GRE or offer a GRE waiver for qualified students.

Baker College

Desiring to turn out leaders who excel in their fields, Baker College encourages critical thinking, effective communication, personal growth and hands-on experiences throughout all of its academic programs. The school traces its history back to 1888, and its Center for Graduate Studies awarded its first doctoral degree in 2011.

Baker College is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

• Online DBA in Accounting
• Online DBA in Global System and Supply Chain Management
• Online DBA in Human Resource Management
• Online DBA in Information Technology Management
• Online DBA in Intelligence
• Online DBA in Leadership
• Online DBA in Project Management
• Online DBA in Strategy and Innovation

Concordia University – Chicago

Since 1805, Concordia University has been educating students in the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, tradition. Although based on Christian faith and principles, and university welcomes a diverse student body made up of people from many religious backgrounds. The school enrolls over 5,000 students each year and boasts a 17:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Concordia University Chicago is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Drexel University

• Online Executive DBA

Drexel is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Florida International University

FIU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

• Online DBA – Management

Johnson & Wales University

JWU is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Since 1971, over 250,000 people have received an education from Liberty University. Currently, about 30 percent of the school’s students are active-duty members of the military or veterans.

Liberty University has Baptist affiliations and seeks to develop students’ Christian worldview. Volunteerism is valued, and the student body puts about 500,000 hours into service each year.

University of Dallas

UD is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Maryland

UM is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

University of Missouri – St. Louis

UMSL is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Phoenix

UOPX is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Wilmington University

Wilmington is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

List of Online Doctor of Social Work Programs No GRE

• Online Doctor of Social Work

Kutztown University

Kutztown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Millersville University

Millersville is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Southern Connecticut State University

SouthernCT is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Tulane University

Tulane is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Alabama

UA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Pennsylvania

• Online Doctorate in Clinical Social Work

Penn is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

The University of Southern California is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of St. Thomas

St. Thomas is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

List of Online Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs No GRE

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format. In addition, the universities included in this list either do not require the GRE or offer GRE waivers for qualified students.

Arkansas State University

• Online of Nursing Practice

Arkansas State University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission.

Barry University

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Anesthesiology

Barry is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

DePaul University

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice

DePaul is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Duke University

Duke is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Duquesne University

Duquesne is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Georgia College

GCSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Indiana State University

Indiana State is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

New Mexico State University

NMSU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Oklahoma City University

OKCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Pace University

Pace is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Palm Beach Atlantic University

PBA is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Penn State University

Penn State is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Saint Francis Medical Center

Saint Francis is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Texas Wesleyan University

• Online Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice

Texas Wesleyan is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Arizona

UA is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

University of California – Irvine

• Online Doctor of Nursing Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner

UCI is accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.

University of Central Arkansas

UCA is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Iowa

UI is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

UK is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Massachusetts – Boston

As New England’s top public university, the University of Massachusetts values academics, research and professional excellence. Reuters includes UMass on its list of the World’s Most Innovative Universities. Currently, the school has over 70,000 enrolled students, and more than 500,000 people have graduated from this university since its beginnings in 1863.

The University of Massachusetts Boston is accredited by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of Minnesota

UMN is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of Nevada – Las Vegas

UNLV is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

University of North Dakota

UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

University of South Alabama

South is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

University of Texas

UT is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

List of Online PhD Without GRE Requirements

Enrolling over 37,000 students each year, Capella University offers educational opportunities for working professionals.

Through distance-learning programs, the university reaches students from every state and over 50 different countries. Of the school’s more than 1,500 faculty members and administrators, 88 percent hold doctoral degrees.

Capella offers an Online PhD no GRE.

• Online PhD in Business Management
• Online PhD in Systems Engineering

Johnson University

• Online PhD in Leadership Studies

JU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Nova Southeastern University

PhD programs no GRE required.

• Online PhD in Computer Science
• Online PhD in Conflict Analysis & Resolution
• Online PhD in Criminal Justice
• Online PhD in Health Science
• Online PhD in Nursing – Nursing Education
• Online PhD in Occupational Therapy

NSU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Texas Woman’s University

Online PhD programs no GRE requirement.

• Online PhD in Nursing Science

TWU is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

• Online PhD in Business
• Online PhD in Information Technology

University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

This is a PhD no GRE required program.

• Online PhD in Nursing

UWM is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.

Over 57,000 students are studying with Walden University at any given time. The faculty members are leaders in their areas of expertise, and almost 90 percent of them hold doctoral degrees.

The university’s status as a certified B Corporation shows its commitment to operating ethically and motivating students to be positive change-makers in their communities.

• Online PhD in Management
• Online PhD in Public Health
• Online PhD in Social Work

PhD Programs that Don’t Require the GRE

The following doctoral programs do not require the GRE for admission:

• Business & Management
• Computer Science
• Criminal Justice
• Healthcare Administration
• Human Services
• Information Technology
• Occupational Therapy
• Public Administration
• Public Health
• Public Policy
• Theology & Ministry

A growing number of universities offering PhD programs or professional doctorates no longer require the GRE.

Doctor of Business Administration – DBA or PhD

A Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) is an applied doctorate or a professional doctorate.

Many students enroll in a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program because they are entrepreneurs, potential business owners, or current managers who want to move into executive leadership .

You will learn about business practices, economics, finance, accounting, entrepreneurship, management, and many other important topics within specialized business tracks. For example, you may choose a track in finance or marketing to complete your DBA studies .

With a PhD in Business Administration , students learn about a specific focus within business, choosing a specialized track within business to focus on while they study. They may develop new theories in public administration, economics, entrepreneurship, management, marketing, or other aspect. Most students go on to become professors, researchers, or business analysts.

With the PhD in Business , a dissertation may be required, but there are a growing number of doctorate degrees with no dissertation requirements.

Doctor of Computer Science – DCS

A Doctor of Computer Science program teaches students about data analytics, computer networking, programming, enterprise information systems, and information technology topics. Most programs can be customized so that you pick the track that most relates to your field of interest.

If you have strong science skills, you may want to pursue this applied doctorate in computer science that provides a scientific foundation for understanding technology. There are also computer science PhD programs online available for those who need flexibility in their studies.

Since many different industries rely on technology and computer science, graduates may find work in a wide variety of fields.

Criminal Justice Doctorate – PhD

Earning a PhD in Criminal Justice teaches students about law enforcement, laws, ethics, community leadership, and cyber security at the local, state, and federal level.

You will learn about improving safety through justice, as well as criminal investigation tactics through PhD criminal justice degree programs.

Doctor of Education – EdD or PhD

Want to become a thought leader in the field of education?

The Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) is an applied doctorate for those who work in the education field. Many graduates work in schools, but others serve in government agencies, nonprofit organizations and more.

A Doctor of Education is an interdisciplinary program that helps graduates learn about applied theories when it comes to teaching different subjects and helping students learn. You may want to specialize in different education topics to take your career to the next level, such as educational leadership , early childhood development, or special education.

If you are currently teaching in a K-12 school, an EdD may broaden your career options. Potential uses of this degree would be teaching at the university level or entering school administration.

Doctor of Healthcare Administration – PhD or DBA

For those who want to work in a leadership position in a healthcare organization , a doctoral program in healthcare administration or management can be a good choice.

This degree program is suited toward those who want to make business decisions for a hospital rather than practicing medicine. Graduates of these programs often work as hospital CEOs or Chief Financial Officers.

PhD in Human Services

Working in social services can be a rewarding career, especially if you want to be a community leader.

Earning a PhD in Human Services offers students the opportunity to work in criminal justice, education, social work , community leadership, and housing, among others with the goal of helping families and individuals in local and global communities.

Doctor of Information Technology – DIT, DBA, or PhD

The workforce is becoming increasingly dependent on technology, and obtaining a doctorate in information technology will help you stay up on the latest developments in this area. You will explore ways that information technology can benefit society.

This degree can also be quite useful in business settings. Graduates may lead IT departments or serve as tech consultants.

Doctor of Nursing Practice – DNP or PhD

Many people holding this degree serve as nurses in medical settings. It’s worth noting that the education provided in this type of program is quite different from the doctorate-level training that physicians receive.

Obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a PhD in Nursing will not qualify you to work as a physician. Graduating with a doctorate in Nursing is one way to achieve the highest level of nursing education and certification.

Doctor of Occupational Therapy – DOT or PhD

To take the test for licensure as an occupational therapist, you must earn either a master’s degree or a doctoral degree in this field.

A doctoral-level education may provide a greater variety of career or leadership options than a master’s-level education in occupational therapy.

An entry-level DOT program is designed to help you enter the occupational therapy field for the first time.

PhD in Psychology

Graduates with a PhD in psychology typically go on to own their own clinical counseling practices, helping others to work through mental illness, difficult traumatic experiences, and early childhood development problems.

Graduates may wish to attain a license to practice psychology, or they may pursue careers in sociology, education, and social work.

This degree program is often recommended for people who want to work directly with clients. It can be useful in a clinic, hospital or school setting, and it may be an essential step toward getting licensed in your state .

If you haven’t already completed a psychology graduate program , you can also earn your master’s in psychology online (no GRE required) .

Doctor of Public Administration – DPA

This professional doctorate equips you to serve in careers related to public affairs .

When you graduate with a doctorate in public administration, you may work in government settings or organizational leadership positions with non-profit entities.

The degree may be helpful for working in public administration , policy analysis, federal jobs, or as a local government leader.

Doctor of Public Health – DPH or PhD

Like a PhD in Healthcare Administration, a Doctor of Public Health degree is an applied doctorate for students with a desire to work in the healthcare sector. You may want to choose this particular option if your career plans involve crafting healthcare policies or working as an administrator.

The goal of this doctorate is often to help improve health at a large-scale level: for whole populations rather than individual people.

You may also be interested in a no-GRE online MPH .

PhD in Public Policy

Earning a PhD in Public Policy helps students move into careers at a high level within government agencies, business, political roles, and community leadership.

Whether you want to become a social work leader or you have international leadership in mind, you can customize a public policy program to suit your career interests.

Doctoral Programs in Ministry or Theology

A Doctor of Ministry or Theology program helps students learn advanced principles of ministry, theology, and leadership within the Church.

Most students are able to study on an independent project that is approved by their school.

Graduates go on to become professors, ministry leaders, and higher officials within the Church.

What are GRE Waivers?

Minimum undergraduate gpa.

Some universities allow GRE exemptions for students who demonstrated academic competency during their undergrad years. These schools may set a minimum GPA that students must have achieved during their earlier education to be considered for this type of academic waiver.

GPA requirements may vary among a school’s many programs. Waivers may be subject to approval on an individual basis.

Previously Earned Graduate Degree

The GRE is intended to demonstrate preparation for higher education. However, if you’ve already earned an advanced degree, the school’s admission department may consider that sufficient proof that you can handle the rigors of their PhD program.

For this waiver, some schools may require not only that you have an advanced degree but also that you achieved a particular GPA.

Professional Experience

Because extended employment in a field may demonstrate competency, some schools consider work experience in their area of focus just as valuable as high scores on the GRE.

If you have several years of relevant work experience, that may earn you a GRE waiver. Some schools specifically include relevant military service in their rules about qualifying for waivers.

Some Programs Have No GRE Requirement

If the program for which you are applying has no GRE requirement, then you won’t need a waiver. The school isn’t looking for test scores, so you won’t need to furnish them.

Just be sure to read all admission requirements closely. Some schools require GRE scores for only a few of their doctoral programs.

GMAT or GRE?

The GMAT, also known as the Graduate Management Admissions Test, is similar to the GRE but it has a more specific focus. The GMAT is an exam designed expressly for those entering business school.

Some business schools do accept GRE scores. However, if you are applying only to business programs, you should opt for the GMAT.

If GRE Scores are Optional, Should I Send Them?

To some faculty, GRE scores carry a lot of weight. Therefore, high marks on this test may elevate you in their eyes. In other words, even if the GRE is optional, furnishing a good score may be beneficial.

On the other hand, low scores may have the opposite effect. When the GRE is optional, rather than required, it may be best to keep your low marks under wraps so that your other merits take center stage.

If you’ve never taken the GRE, is it worth it to try, just so you can submit your results to a GRE-optional program? There’s no cut-and-dry answer to that question, but current program participants may be able to lend insight.

Should I Apply to PhD Without GRE Programs?

Your decision to apply to a PhD program should have nothing to do with whether or not they require the GRE. The main consideration should be the university’s accreditation.

Here are a few points to consider…

GRE is a Poor Predictor of Performance in Graduate School

If a doctoral program doesn’t require GRE scores, it’s an indication that the school understands the limitations of this exam.

The GRE won’t provide clear evidence about whether you will succeed in the classroom, get good grades, make it to graduation or be a leader in your professional field someday.

Accredited Universities Offer No GRE PhD Programs

Not having GRE requirements is not a sign that a program will be weak or substandard. Many respected, accredited programs don’t require that you take this test before you can be admitted.

Instead of using GRE requirements to evaluate a school’s strength, consider whether the program has received accreditation. Also, gather reviews from current or recent students, and get advice from the school’s graduate coordinator.

You Still Have to Meet Other Admissions Standards

All PhD programs are selective about their candidates. So, whether or not they require that you submit GRE scores, they all have admissions requirements that you must meet in order to get into the school.

Other factors considered for acceptance may include:

• Your resume
• Letters of recommendation from people familiar with your work
• Your transcripts from other higher education endeavors.
• A statement from you about your goals
• Your proficiency in the English language

Your Master’s Degree Might Be Enough

If you’ve already completed a master’s program , that shows that you’re able to perform at the graduate level.

Therefore, your school of choice may not require GRE scores as additional proof, especially if your degree is paired with a master’s thesis, a high GPA or years of professional experience.

GRE Scores: What They Tell Us, What They Don’t

GRE scores are not as helpful as you may have been led to believe. Let’s take a look at some recent studies on the reliability of GRE results.

GRE Scores Do Not Predict Classroom Performance

Creativity, interpersonal skills and internal motivation are just a few of the components that contribute to how well you do in the classroom.

However, the GRE measures none of those. It focuses only on your test-taking skills.

So, doing well on the test doesn’t guarantee classroom success.

GRE Scores Lose Impact over Time

Researchers have discovered that your scores on this test may give a school an idea of what kinds of grades you’ll achieve during the first year in their program.

However, your scores do nothing to predict your academic success after that first year.

The GRE Lacks Reliability in Predicting Final Outcomes

The GRE can’t determine whether a first-year doctoral student will end up completing the program.

Some high-scoring students may not possess enough tenacity to stick with school until graduation. On the other hand, some low-scoring students may have been the ones most likely to persevere.

Applying to Graduate School with No GRE Test Scores

There are some things that you should consider before specifically seeking out a no GRE required doctoral program:

• While some high-profile schools may admit you without this test, not taking the GRE will automatically close many prestigious schools to you.
• Some fields are more likely to require the test than others.
• Sometimes, it’s easier to find a no-GRE-required online program than an in-person one.

Consider your motivation for not submitting scores:

• Because you’ve already settled on a program that doesn’t require this test? Great!
• Because you’re too busy to study? Think hard about whether you have time for a doctoral program.
• Because you received a low score? According to an ETS survey, nearly 25 percent of test-takers improve their results second time around.

If one of your primary concerns is the amount of time required , you may be interested in our article discussing accelerated PhD programs online .

What is the GRE, and Who Needs to Take It?

The GRE is a test designed to show that you learned enough during your undergrad years to be ready for the rigors of grad school. The exam includes sections on verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. You may need to take it if you’re applying to graduate programs.

Is the GRE Test Required for Graduate School?

No, not always. There are some graduate schools that don’t require GRE or GMAT scores. Some offer alternative options, and others simply have no GRE (or other entrance exam) requirements. Some schools require that you submit exam scores for only some of their graduate programs.

Is the GRE Required for PhD Programs?

Many doctoral programs require applicants to take the GRE, but not all do. Others allow waivers or base their admissions decisions solely on other criteria. In particular, some of the best-ranked online PhD programs may allow you to enroll even if you’ve never taken the GRE.

What’s the Difference Between GRE vs. GMAT?

While the GRE is used for a variety of different graduate programs, the GMAT is designed specifically for admission to business schools. However, some business schools accept GRE scores as well. Even still, those who have their hearts set on business school would do best to take the GMAT.

Is There Any Reason to Take the GRE for a PhD Program?

If your top school choice requires GRE scores, then you should take the test. Also, if you are planning to apply to quite a few programs, then there’s a good chance that you’ll need to submit test scores with some of those applications.

What is a GRE Waiver?

Some schools require GRE scores for admission to their doctoral programs, but they will make an exception if you meet other qualifications.

These qualifications may include:

• High GPA scores during undergraduate studies
• Relevant work or military experience
• Related master’s degree

Which PhD Programs May Waive the GRE?

Online doctoral programs across a variety of fields may admit students without requiring GRE scores. Commonly, this may include programs related to education, healthcare, human services and technology, and you may have options for PhD or applied doctoral degrees.

Despite the name, a Doctor of Philosophy degree is not limited to the study of philosophy. You can earn a doctor of philosophy degree in many areas, including science, the humanities or education. Your coursework will involve completing a dissertation.

A PhD program is often recommended for students interested in pursuing research or teaching.

Can You Get Into a PhD Program Without GRE Scores?

There are quite a few universities that no longer require the GRE as part of the admissions process. Some don’t require it at all, while others offer GRE waivers if you have a decent GPA, previous graduate-level courses, and similar criteria.

Some PhD Programs Have No GRE Requirement

The Graduate Record Examinations have come to be recognized as synonymous with grad school acceptance. Despite that, there are many schools that will admit you to their doctoral programs even if you’ve never taken this test. In fact, the number of PhD programs that don’t require GRE scores is growing.

In particular, online PhD programs often base their admissions decisions on factors other than exam scores.

Therefore, you may want to start your school-selection process by identifying programs that do not include GRE scores as one of their admissions factors.

Some PhD Programs Offer GRE Waivers

High marks from your last educational endeavor — your master’s degree, for example — may be enough to get you into a PhD program without needing to provide GRE scores.

If you already have work history in your intended field of study, this may also serve as sufficient proof of your competency for the school’s PhD program.

Waiver requirements can vary between schools and may be determined on a case-by-case basis.

List of Doctoral Programs without the GRE

The following doctorate programs do not require the GRE at some universities.

• Doctor of Psychology
• Doctor of Education
• Doctor of Business Administration
• Doctor of Social Work
• Doctor of Nursing Practice
• Doctor of Philosophy

To provide a more comprehensive list, we’ve also included universities that offer GRE waivers.

Key Takeaways

You may be able to get a PhD or a professional doctorate without ever taking the GRE.

Options include:

• Choosing a program with no GRE requirements
• Qualifying for a waiver

Skipping GRE test prep may allow you to speed up the process of beginning a fulfilling and challenging doctoral education.

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PhD Program

A PhD degree in Physics is awarded in recognition of significant and novel research contributions, extending the boundaries of our knowledge of the physical universe. Selected applicants are admitted to the PhD program of the UW Department of Physics, not to a specific research group, and are encouraged to explore research opportunities throughout the Department.

Degree Requirements

Typical timeline, advising and mentoring, satisfactory progress, financial support, more information.

Applicants to the doctoral program are expected to have a strong undergraduate preparation in physics, including courses in electromagnetism, classical and quantum mechanics, statistical physics, optics, and mathematical methods of physics. Further study in condensed matter, atomic, and particle and nuclear physics is desirable. Limited deficiencies in core areas may be permissible, but may delay degree completion by as much as a year and are are expected to remedied during the first year of graduate study.

The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews all submitted applications and takes a holistic approach considering all aspects presented in the application materials. Application materials include:

• Resume or curriculum vitae, describing your current position or activities, educational and professional experience, and any honors awarded, special skills, publications or research presentations.
• Statement of purpose, one page describing your academic purpose and goals.
• Personal history statement (optional, two pages max), describing how your personal experiences and background (including family, cultural, or economic aspects) have influenced your intellectual development and interests.
• Three letters of recommendation: submit email addresses for your recommenders at least one month ahead of deadline to allow them sufficient time to respond.
• Transcripts (unofficial), from all prior relevant undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Admitted applicants must provide official transcripts.
• English language proficiency is required for graduate study at the University of Washington. Applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. The various options are specified at: https://grad.uw.edu/policies/3-2-graduate-school-english-language-proficiency-requirements/ Official test scores must be sent by ETS directly to the University of Washington (institution code 4854) and be received within two years of the test date.

For additional information see the UW Graduate School Home Page , Understanding the Application Process , and Memo 15 regarding teaching assistant eligibility for non-native English speakers.

The GRE Subject Test in Physics (P-GRE) is optional in our admissions process, and typically plays a relatively minor role.  Our admissions system is holistic, as we use all available information to evaluate each application. If you have taken the P-GRE and feel that providing your score will help address specific gaps or otherwise materially strengthen your application, you are welcome to submit your scores. We emphasize that every application will be given full consideration, regardless of whether or not scores are submitted.

Applications are accepted annually for autumn quarter admissions (only), and must be submitted online. Admission deadline: DECEMBER 15, 2024.

Department standards

Course requirements.

Students must plan a program of study in consultation with their faculty advisor (either first year advisor or later research advisor). To establish adequate breadth and depth of knowledge in the field, PhD students are required to pass a set of core courses, take appropriate advanced courses and special topics offerings related to their research area, attend relevant research seminars as well as the weekly department colloquium, and take at least two additional courses in Physics outside their area of speciality. Seeking broad knowledge in areas of physics outside your own research area is encouraged.

The required core courses are:

In addition, all students holding a teaching assistantship (TA) must complete Phys 501 / 502 / 503 , Tutorials in Teaching Physics.

Regularly offered courses which may, depending on research area and with the approval of the graduate program coordinator, be used to satisfy breadth requirements, include:

• Phys 506 Numerical Methods
• Phys 555 Cosmology & Particle Astrophysics
• Phys 507 Group Theory
• Phys 557 High Energy Physics
• Phys 511 Topics in Contemporary Physics
• Phys 560 Nuclear Theory
• Phys 520 Quantum Information
• Phys 564 General Relativity
• Phys 550 Atomic Physics
• Phys 567 Condensed Matter Physics
• Phys 554 Nuclear Astrophysics
• Phys 570 Quantum Field Theory

Graduate exams

Master's Review:   In addition to passing all core courses, adequate mastery of core material must be demonstrated by passing the Master's Review. This is composed of four Master's Review Exams (MREs) which serve as the final exams in Phys 524 (SM), Phys 514 (EM), Phys 518 (QM), and Phys 505 (CM). The standard for passing each MRE is demonstrated understanding and ability to solve multi-step problems; this judgment is independent of the overall course grade. Acceptable performance on each MRE is expected, but substantial engagement in research allows modestly sub-par performance on one exam to be waived. Students who pass the Master's Review are eligible to receive a Master's degree, provided the Graduate School course credit and grade point average requirements have also been satisfied.

General Exam:   Adequate mastery of material in one's area of research, together with demonstrated progress in research and a viable plan to complete a PhD dissertation, is assessed in the General Exam. This is taken after completing all course requirements, passing the Master's Review, and becoming well established in research. The General Exam consists of an oral presentation followed by an in-depth question period with one's dissertation committee.

Final Oral Exam:   Adequate completion of a PhD dissertation is assessed in the Final Oral, which is a public exam on one's completed dissertation research. The requirement of surmounting a final public oral exam is an ancient tradition for successful completion of a PhD degree.

Graduate school requirements

Common requirements for all doctoral degrees are given in the Graduate School Degree Requirements and Doctoral Degree Policies and Procedures pages. A summary of the key items, accurate as of late 2020, is as follows:

• A minimum of 90 completed credits, of which at least 60 must be completed at the University of Washington. A Master's degree from the UW or another institution in physics, or approved related field of study, may substitute for 30 credits of enrollment.
• At least 18 credits of UW course work at the 500 level completed prior to the General Examination.
• At least 18 numerically graded UW credits of 500 level courses and approved 400 level courses, completed prior to the General Examination.
• At least 60 credits completed prior to scheduling the General Examination. A Master's degree from the UW or another institution may substitute for 30 of these credits.
• A minimum of 27 dissertation (or Physics 800) credits, spread out over a period of at least three quarters, must be completed. At least one of those three quarters must come after passing the General Exam. Except for summer quarters, students are limited to a maximum of 10 dissertation credits per quarter.
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 must be maintained.
• The General Examination must be successfully completed.
• A thesis dissertation approved by the reading committee and submitted and accepted by the Graduate School.
• The Final Examination must be successfully completed. At least four members of the supervisory committee, including chair and graduate school representative, must be present.
• Registration as a full- or part-time graduate student at the University must be maintained, specifically including the quarter in which the examinations are completed and the quarter in which the degree is conferred. (Part-time means registered for at least 2 credits, but less than 10.)
• All work for the doctoral degree must be completed within ten years. This includes any time spend on leave, as well as time devoted to a Master's degree from the UW or elsewhere (if used to substitute for credits of enrollment).
• Pass the required core courses: Phys 513 , 517 , 524 & 528 autumn quarter, Phys 514 , 518 & 525 winter quarter, and Phys 515 , 519 & 505 spring quarter. When deemed appropriate, with approval of their faculty advisor and graduate program coordinator, students may elect to defer Phys 525 , 515 and/or 519 to the second year in order to take more credits of Phys 600 .
• Sign up for and complete one credit of Phys 600 with a faculty member of choice during winter and spring quarters.
• Pass the Master's Review by the end of spring quarter or, after demonstrating substantial research engagement, by the end of the summer.
• Work to identify one's research area and faculty research advisor. This begins with learning about diverse research areas in Phys 528 in the autumn, followed by Phys 600 independent study with selected faculty members during winter, spring, and summer.
• Pass the Master's Review (if not already done) by taking any deferred core courses or retaking MREs as needed. The Master's Review must be passed before the start of the third year.
• Settle in and become fully established with one's research group and advisor, possibly after doing independent study with multiple faculty members. Switching research areas during the first two years is not uncommon.
• Complete all required courses. Take breadth courses and more advanced graduate courses appropriate for one's area of research.
• Perform research.
• Establish a Supervisory Committee within one year after finding a compatible research advisor who agrees to supervise your dissertation work.
• Take breadth and special topics courses as appropriate.
• Take your General Exam in the third or fourth year of your graduate studies.
• Register for Phys 800 (Doctoral Thesis Research) instead of Phys 600 in the quarters during and after your general exam.
• Take special topics courses as appropriate.
• Perform research. When completion of a substantial body of research is is sight, and with concurrence of your faculty advisor, start writing a thesis dissertation.
• Establish a dissertation reading committee well in advance of scheduling the Final Examination.
• Schedule your Final Examination and submit your PhD dissertation draft to your reading committee at least several weeks before your Final Exam.
• Take your Final Oral Examination.
• After passing your Final Exam, submit your PhD dissertation, as approved by your reading committee, to the Graduate School, normally before the end of the same quarter.

This typical timeline for competing the PhD applies to students entering the program with a solid undergraduate preparation, as described above under Admissions. Variant scenarios are possible with approval of the Graduate Program coordinator. Two such scenarios are the following:

• Students entering with insufficient undergraduate preparation often require more time. It is important to identify this early, and not feel that this reflects on innate abilities or future success. Discussion with one's faculty advisor, during orientation or shortly thereafter, may lead to deferring one or more of the first year required courses and corresponding Master's Review Exams. It can also involve taking selected 300 or 400 level undergraduate physics courses before taking the first year graduate level courses. This must be approved by the Graduate Program coordinator, but should not delay efforts to find a suitable research advisor. The final Master's Review decision still takes place no later than the start of the 3rd year and research engagement is an important component in this decision.
• Entering PhD students with advanced standing, for example with a prior Master's degree in Physics or transferring from another institution after completing one or more years in a Physics PhD program, may often graduate after 3 or 4 years in our program. After discussion with your faculty advisor and with approval of the Graduate Program coordinator, selected required classes may be waived (but typically not the corresponding Master's Review Exams), and credit from other institutions transferred.
• Each entering PhD student is assigned a first year faculty advisor, with whom they meet regularly to discuss course selection, general progress, and advice on research opportunities. The role of a student's primary faculty advisor switches to their research advisor after they become well established in research. Once their doctoral supervisory committee is formed, the entire committee, including a designated faculty mentor (other than the research advisor) is available to provide advice and mentoring.
• The department also has a peer mentoring program, in which first-year students are paired with more senior students who have volunteered as mentors. Peer mentors maintain contact with their first-year mentees throughout the year and aim to ease the transition to graduate study by sharing their experiences and providing support and advice. Quarterly "teas" are held to which all peer mentors and mentees are invited.
• While academic advising is primarily concerned with activities and requirements necessary to make progress toward a degree, mentoring focuses on the human relationships, commitments, and resources that can help a student find success and fulfillment in academic and professional pursuits. While research advisors play an essential role in graduate study, the department considers it inportant for every student to also have available additional individuals who take on an explicit mentoring role.
• Students are expected to meet regularly, at a minimum quarterly, with their faculty advisors (either first year advisor or research advisor).
• Starting in the winter of their first year, students are expected to be enrolled in Phys 600 .
• Every spring all students, together with their advisors, are required to complete an annual activities report.
• The doctoral supervisory committee needs to be established at least by the end of the fourth year.
• The General Exam is expected to take place during the third or fourth year.
• Students and their advisors are expected to aim for not more than 6 years between entry into the Physics PhD program and completion of the PhD. In recent years the median time is close to 6 years.

Absence of satisfactory progress can lead to a hierarchy of actions, as detailed in the Graduate School Memo 16: Academic Performance and Progress , and may jeopardize funding as a teaching assistant.

The Department aims to provide financial support for all full-time PhD students making satisfactory progress, and has been successful in doing so for many years. Most students are supported via a mix teaching assistantships (TAs) and research assistantships (RAs), although there are also various scholarships, fellowships, and awards that provide financial support. Teaching and research assistanships provide a stipend, a tuition waiver, and health insurance benefits. TAs are employed by the University to assist faculty in their teaching activities. Students from non-English-speaking countries must pass English proficiency requirements . RAs are employed by the Department to assist faculty with specified research projects, and are funded through research grants held by faculty members.

Most first-year students are provided full TA support during their first academic year as part of their admission offer. Support beyond the second year is typically in the form of an RA or a TA/RA combination. It is the responsibility of the student to find a research advisor and secure RA support. Students accepting TA or RA positions are required to register as full-time graduate students (a minimum of 10 credits during the academic year, and 2 credits in summer quarter) and devote 20 hours per week to their assistantship duties. Both TAs and RAs are classified as Academic Student Employees (ASE) . These positions are governed by a contract between the UW and the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), and its Local Union 4121 (UAW).

Physics PhD students are paid at the "Assistant" level (Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant) upon entry to the program. Students receive a promotion to "Associate I" (Predoctoral Teaching Associate I or Predoctoral Research Associate I) after passing the Master's Review, and a further promotion to "Associate II" (Predoctoral Teaching Associate II or Predoctoral Research Associate II) after passing their General Examination. (Summer quarter courses, and summer quarter TA employment, runs one month shorter than during the academic year. To compendate, summer quarter TA salaries are increased proportionately.)

• UW Physics Department fact sheet .
• MyPhys , UW Physics Department intranet with policies and information for enrolled students.
• UW Graduate School information for students and postdocs.
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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. 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

Department of Physics

Graduate Admissions

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in joining the Princeton Physics community. Here you will find a description of the application process for the graduate program. To learn what it’s like to be a Physics graduate student at Princeton, check out the Student Experience page . To apply, visit the Graduate School Admissions page .

Application deadline: December 15 - 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time

Admissions decisions announced: mid February-mid March

Offer acceptance deadline: mid April

Program start: August

In the evaluation of each applicant, we look primarily for the potential to perform forefront research in experiment, theory, or some combination. 

The Physics department is strongly committed to creating an inclusive, diverse graduate community whose members feel welcome and valued. However, we also recognize that the Physics community has much work to do towards improving diversity and we strongly encourage members of Historically Underrepresented Groups to apply. Click here to read our Statement of Solidarity with movements against systemic racism and to learn about our department’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Initiative.

The Admissions Process:

Each application is read by at least two faculty members. We take a holistic approach to admissions , carefully weighing all components of the application to make the best determination about which students will be a good fit in our department. Each year we receive more than 600 applications and send out admissions offers to roughly 50 – 60 applicants. The typical class size is 20 – 30 students, roughly half of whom are international students. Admitted students begin the following September -- they never begin the program in January. Because of the small number of students in each cohort, applicants are admitted only as candidates for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. There is no separate Master of Arts program and no provision for part-time students. However, an M.A. is awarded to those who desire it after they have passed their Generals requirements.

More details about each application component can be found below.

Other departments:

Students might want to explore physics research in the following departments: Astrophysical Sciences , Plasma Physics , Electrical Engineering, Chemistry , Molecular Biology , Chemical and Biological Engineering , Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences , Neuroscience , Quantitative and Computational Biology . Our research subpages list some associated faculty in other departments with official connections to the Physics department. Note, however, that you are only able to apply to one department at a time.

For questions regarding the application process, please reach out to Katherine Lamos, Graduate Program Administrator . For general info about the department culture and graduate life, feel free to reach out to the Physics Ambassador for your region. https://phy.princeton.edu/ambassadors-program . For information about Access, Diversity, and Inclusion (ADI) in Princeton’s Graduate School, please visit the ADI “ Prospective Students ” page.

Application Components:

The Statement of Academic Purpose is an opportunity to describe your past research experiences and future research interests. We look for a thoughtful statement that shows signs of creativity and a potential for research. The statement must be convincing and coherent, based on some familiarity with the proposed area of research. It is often helpful if you can relate your research and interests to the research of specific faculty and groups at Princeton. It is not necessary to describe how you became interested in physics. However, if your path to applying to the Princeton Department of Physics was unusual or compelling, please feel free to describe it. The admissions process is holistic, and we pay attention to how students have made use of the opportunities available to them. The bulk of your Statement should be about science, but if there are aspects of your application or experience that you would like to contextualize, please include that information. We are aware that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students may have dealt with unexpected difficulties while taking classes or may have taken many classes with unusual grading policies (eg, pass/fail). Additional relevant background information that will help put your transcript in context would be welcome.

A list of questions you might want to address are listed below. Feel free, however, to include additional information you consider relevant:

• What background in math, physics, or other sciences have you had that is beyond the usual curriculum of the physics major and that you think is important for us to know?
• What research experiences have you had? If you made important or original contributions, please explain what they are and, if relevant, how they have influenced your interest in physics.
• Are you planning to do experimental or theoretical physics, or are you undecided? If your physics courses or research experience have influenced you in this decision, explain how.
• What kinds of physics are you most interested in pursuing and why? What has influenced you in this decision? Why is Princeton the right fit for your research interests?
• The research program of our faculty is on the web . Give examples of groups and faculty with whom you might be interested in working.
• What special aspects of your personality, hobbies, interests and skills make you think that you will be a good physicist?
• The statement should not exceed 1,000 words and must be written in English. ( note the Graduate School's file upload requirements .)

The curriculum Vitae (C.V.) is an opportunity to share your history of employment, activities, community  service, education, academic or professional honors, and publications. Talks and conferences  attended should also be included. Please see the Graduate School website for details and also note the file upload requirements .

Three letters of recommendation are required. We pay close attention to letters from people who really know you and can provide relevant information about your potential for physics research. You should prioritize mentors when selecting people to provide letters on your behalf , especially those who have supervised your research. Recommendation letters should help us evaluate your capacity for research, which is the most important criterion for admission. It is useful for recommenders to familiarize themselves with our graduate program so their letter can reflect your potential at Princeton. Please follow the Graduate School's guidelines for submitting recommendation letters and give your recommenders the following letter offering guidelines: Letter for Recommenders .

The application fee is $75.00. Fee waivers are available based on financial hardship (for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only) or participation in certain programs (for all applicants). Visit the   Graduate School’s website   for application instructions and a list of programs. For example, membership in the NSBP, NSHP, or GRE Fee Reduction Program all qualify one for a fee waiver. We are unable to offer fee waivers for the GRE General or Physics Subject Tests. However, ETS offers a fee reduction program based on financial hardship and participation in certain programs. See the ETS website for details. 

We require a transcript at the time of application from all colleges or universities that you have attended. This transcript may be unofficial, but must include the name of the student, name of the issuing institution, name of courses taken, and the grades received in those courses, and the key from all attended colleges or universities. Additionally, if your transcript is not in English, we require an official English translation along with your transcript. You do not need to wait for fall semester grades to upload your transcript; those can be submitted separately if necessary.

Because this is an unofficial transcript and expected to be sent online, you may, for example, open a sealed copy of your transcript, scan it, and send it, or request an emailed official transcript to be sent to yourself, and upload that to the website. We will not accept screenshots of student portals as transcripts.

Note that grades, while an important component to admissions decisions, are certainly not the only one or the primary factor, and that we strongly encourage applicants to apply even if they feel their grades to be unexceptional. You will be required to submit an official transcript from every college or university from which you have earned a degree if you are accepted and wish to attend.

If you are currently a student at a university that provides fall semester grades, we require you to upload those grades once they become available. If your fall grades were available and are included in the transcript you submitted, you do not need to submit anything.  If not, once they are available, log back into the application checklist and upload them. Requirements about translation and screenshots are the same here as in the general transcript upload.

For the 2023/2024 admission cycle, both the General GRE and Physics Subject exams will be optional.

In addition to English language tests (described below), in most years we require both the GRE general test and the physics subject GRE test (only offered three times a year in September, October & April). These scores are due at the time of application. We emphasize that standardized test results are only one of the many components we take into consideration when evaluating applications, top scores are not a requirement.

We recognize that there is an ongoing debate about the usefulness of the GRE exam in graduate admissions decisions. One advantage is that it provides students from less traditional backgrounds an opportunity to stand out in the admissions process, and we evaluate applications with an understanding of the exam’s limitations in mind.

We recommend studying for the Physics GRE exam well in advance. ETS publishes a few old tests, which can be used to gauge what you need to work on, and there are published books which contain relevant study material.

Graduate students must be able to communicate in English to be successful at Princeton. We accept the TOEFL or the IELTS as measures of English proficiency. All students must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores unless their native language is English, or they have studied for at least three years towards a bachelor’s degree or Ph.D. in the US, UK, Ireland, Australia, or Anglophone Canada. If you are unsure if you need to submit a test, this page contains more detailed information. This page also contains details on the logistics of taking and sending scores, which must be official scores.

Physics, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences, admission requirements.

To obtain admission, a student is expected to submit evidence that they have a good chance to succeed. 

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.

Successful applicants applying in the last year of their Bachelor’s program will need to demonstrate the completion of their Bachelor’s degree program before they can begin the Ph.D. program at JHU.

Program Requirements

The Ph.D. program has strong emphasis on early and active involvement in graduate research. Thus, students are required to have a research advisor and file a research summary every semester they are enrolled in the program, starting with the first one. Furthermore, students must complete the required courses with a grade of B- or better; the coursework is typically done over the first two years. In the beginning of the second year, students complete the research examination, and in the beginning of the third year – the University’s Graduate Board Oral examination, both of which are based on completed or proposed research. During the first two years, students are typically involved in introductory research projects, which may or may not be related to their thesis work, and sometimes work with several different advisors, but they must identify (and have an agreement with) a thesis advisor no later than the beginning of their third year in the program, after which point students focus on their thesis research. The thesis is to be completed by no later than the end of the 6th year, ending with an oral presentation of the thesis to a faculty committee.

Course Requirements

Ph.d. in physics.

Students must complete the following courses:

Ph.D. in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Students in both programs must receive at least a B- in each required course, or they will be required to retake the specific course once more and pass it. Graduate courses may only be retaken once.

The department offers a wide range of graduate physics, astrophysics, mathematical methods and statistics classes, and while only five are required, the students are encouraged to use the flexibility of the graduate program and the available classes to design programs of study that best prepare them for their chosen area of research. In addition to the required courses listed above, below is the list of the graduate courses that have been taught in recent years:

Research and Advising

The principal goal of graduate study is to train the student to conduct original research. Therefore, physics and astronomy graduate students at Johns Hopkins are involved in research starting in their first semester in the program.

First and Second-Year Research Requirement

By the end of September, the student chooses their first research advisor among the professorial faculty and starts working on the first-semester research project. If the proposed research advisor does not hold a primary appointment as a tenure-track or research faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the form must be co-signed by a PHA faculty member, who will provide mentorship  (relevant department faculty members list) . This requirement holds for all semesters of research. The first-semester project continues through intersession in January. The spring-semester research project continues until the end of the spring semester. The summer semester lasts from June through August. Students may continue with one advisor through the entire first year, or they may choose to cycle through several different research advisers from one semester to the next.

This system of semester projects continues during the first two years of the program, when students also complete required coursework. The nature of these first- and second-year research projects varies from student to student, from advisor to advisor and from one sub-field of physics to another. Some may be self-contained research projects that lead to published scientific papers and may or may not be related to the thesis research in later years. Others may comprise reading or independent-study projects to develop background for subsequent research. In other cases, they may be first steps in a longer-term research project.

This system accommodates both the students who have chosen the direction of their thesis work before graduate school and those who would like to try a few different things before committing to a long-term project. As students get more familiar with the department and the research opportunities, they zero in on their thesis topic and find a thesis advisor. This may happen any time during the first two years, and students are required to find a thesis advisor by the beginning of the third year.

Thesis Research and Defense

Securing a mutual agreement with a thesis advisor is one of the most important milestones of our graduate program. Students must find a thesis advisor and submit the thesis advisor form before the first day of their 3rd year. The form represents a long-term commitment and serious efforts in planning and communication between the student and the advisor. If the proposed thesis advisor does not hold a primary appointment as a tenure-track or research faculty member in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, the form must be co-signed by a PHA faculty member, who will serve as the departmental advisor of record (relevant department faculty members list) . 

After the student chooses a thesis advisor, the student forms their Thesis Committee consisting of three faculty members in the Dept. of Physics and Astronomy (PHA). At least two should be tenure track faculty with primary appointments in PHA. An external advisor may be added as the fourth member of the committee. These committees function as extended advisory bodies; students have the opportunity to discuss their progress and problems with several faculty. They also conduct one formal annual review of each student’s progress.

Research leading to the dissertation can be carried out not only within the Department of Physics and Astronomy, but with appropriate arrangements, either partly or entirely at other locations if necessitated by the project goals. At the conclusion of thesis research, the student presents the written dissertation to the faculty committee and defends the thesis in an oral examination.

Requirements for the M.A. Degree

Although the department does not admit students who intend to pursue the master’s degree exclusively, students in the department’s Ph.D. program and students in other Ph.D. programs at Johns Hopkins may apply to fulfill the requirements for the M.A. degree in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. Students from other JHU departments must seek approval from their home department and from the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Before beginning their M.A. studies, students must have mastered the undergraduate physics material covered by the following courses:

Students must receive at least a B- in each required course, or they will be required to retake the specific course once more and pass it.  Graduate courses may only be retaken once.

Courses taken elsewhere may qualify at the discretion of the Graduate Program Committee (normally this requirement is satisfied by the Ph.D.-track students before they arrive at JHU as they have completed a B.A. or B.Sci. in Physics at another institution).

To qualify for the M.A. degree in Physics, students must complete eight one-semester 3-credit graduate-level courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and pass the departmental research exam. For the M.A. degree in Astronomy, students must complete eight one-semester 3-credit graduate-level courses in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, plus the seminar “Language of Astrophysics” and pass the departmental research exam. The student must receive a grade of B- or above in each of the courses; graduate courses can be retaken once in case of failure.

Of the eight one-semester courses, four must be the core courses listed above in the Ph.D. requirements and two must be Independent Graduate Research courses. The remaining two course requirements for the M.A. degree may be fulfilled either by 3-credit graduate electives or by additional Independent Graduate Research. The research courses must include an essay or a research report supervised and approved by a faculty member of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

Under most circumstances students pursuing their Ph.D. qualify for the M.A. degree by the end of their second year if they have taken all four core courses in their discipline at JHU, the “Language of Astrophysics” seminar (for M.A. in Astronomy), four semesters of Independent Graduate Research, and passed the research exam. Graduate courses taken at another institution or in another department at JHU in most cases do not count toward the M.A. requirements (therefore, students who are interested in the M.A. degree, but are planning to waive any graduate courses because they have passed a comparable graduate course at another institution, should discuss their eligibility for the M.A. degree with the Academic Program Administrator as soon as they arrive at JHU). Students should expect that no M.A. requirements can be waived; that the minimal research requirement is two semesters; and that at most one of the core courses can be substituted by another (non-research) graduate course in exceptional circumstances. Any requests for M.A. course substitutions must be made to the Graduate Program Committee at least a year before the expected M.A. degree so that the committee can recommend an appropriate substitution.

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PhD in USA Without GRE: Top Universities, Deadlines, Admission Process

Veda Burman

| Updated On - May 25, 2024

• Upcoming Deadlines: Application deadlines for PhD in USA without GRE are mostly between October and December 2024.
• Top Universities: A range of top US institutions like MIT, Northwestern University, Purdue University and others are offering GRE waiver or test optional admission to PhD programs.

Unaffected Employment Opportunities: PhD in USA without GRE is not related with job opportunities. After a PhD in USA without GRE, graduates secure high paying jobs with an average salary of 107,000 USD (89.06 lakhs INR) per annum.

PhD in USA is now available without a GRE score as a 3-6 years full time program in several institutes. Prospective students can demonstrate academic excellence and satisfactory supplementary documents for admission to US universities without GRE for PhD. International students planning to apply to PhD in USA without GRE score ideally require a GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (85%) in masters level. Universities in USA for PhD without GRE require the following supporting documents as a part of application:

• TOEFL iBT - 80 or above
• IELTS - 6.5 or above
• Essay explaining research work done
• Relevant professional experience

Top Universities for PhD in USA Without GRE

Currently, USA is home to a plethora of institutes offering PhD waiver, including top universities like MIT and Northwestern University. The top universities in USA without GRE for PhD or optional GRE requirement are as follows:

Some other universities offering PhD programs without GRE in USA are:

• Walden University
• California Southern University
• Smith College
• Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Andrews University
• Sacred Heart University

How To Apply For PhD in USA Without GRE

USA hosts a range of universities offering PhD without a GRE score. Some universities in USA offer test optional admission to international students. The significant factors to remember while applying for a USA PhD without GRE are:

• Look for universities that have completely waived off GRE requirements for admission into a PhD program.
• Try to strengthen your application profile by mentioning work experience, previous research work, letter of recommendation , where GRE is an optional requirement.
• You can consider applying for PhD in part-time or online mode, as a majority of these courses do not consider GRE as a mandatory requirement. However, on-campus programs are recommended over online programs, even while looking for PhD program in USA without GRE.

Eligibility Criteria for PhD in USA Without GRE

The admission requirements for a PhD in USA may vary across universities. While most of the university may consider applications with GRE scores, there are universities that either opted out of GRE requirements or offering waiver options on certain conditions. The general eligibility criteria and supporting document requirements for pursuing a PhD degree in USA without GRE are:

General Admission Requirements:

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree
• An overall GPA of 3.0/4.0 (85%) or above in Bachelor's
• TOEFL iBT - 80-90
• IELTS - 6.5–7.0
• An essay in at least 2000 or more words mentioning the research work done
• 2-3 letters of recommendation
• Statement of purpose
• Work experience

Top 10 Universities for PhD in USA Without GRE

1. massachusetts institute of technology (mit).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology offers PhD programs through the Sloan School of Management and the Center for computer science & engineering. MIT has waived GRE score requirements for several PhD programs in Fall 2024 admissions.

2. Northwestern University

Northwestern University PhD programs are offered in 20 areas of study. An overall GRE score of 320 or above is accepted for admission into a PhD program. However, GRE score submission is optional for various PhD courses in the current admission session.

3. Purdue University

Purdue University PhD programs are offered in engineering, agriculture, management, education, liberal arts, science, and pharmacy. The degrees are offered in the 3 campuses of the university and can be pursued on-site or online mode. Purdue University has opted for GRE as an optional requirement for admission into all the graduate level programs.

4. University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin PhD degrees are offered in disciplines like biomedical engineering, anthropology, business, operations management, and computer science. The programs can be pursued in online, on-site, accelerated, weekend and hybrid modes. There is no GRE score required for master's or doctoral programs.

5. Georgetown University

Georgetown University offers PhD degrees through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The PhD programs at Georgetown University are available in applied mathematics, biology, biostatistics, computer science, chemistry, nursing, and philosophy among others. There is no GRE score required for most PhD programs. However, GRE scores can be required for PhD in economics or PhD in Statistics degree.

6. Washington State University

Washington State University offers 63 PhD degrees in agricultural economics, anthropology, biology, biomedical sciences, business administration, computer science, economics, engineering, and more. The GRE scores are not required for admissions to PhD programs, except computer science and economics. Students applying for PhD in business administration may also be required to submit GRE in lieu of GMAT scores .

7. Oregon State University

PhD in Oregon State University is offered across 11 colleges and a graduate school. Completion of a PhD program from Oregon State University allows students to secure jobs in government or research industries. A minimum score of 150 or above is generally required for admission into PhD programs. However, the university has opted out of GRE requirements.

8. University of Oregon

University of Oregon offers PhD degrees in 52 different specializations. No GRE is required for admission into PhD programs, instead the university ask for higher GPA scores, statement of purpose and letters of recommendation.

9. University of Idaho

University of Idaho offers 31 PhD degrees in computer science, education, mechanical engineering, biological engineering, physics, natural sciences, neuroscience, food science and history. The university has completely waved off GRE requirements for admissions to PhD programs.

10. Nova Southeastern University

Nova Southeastern University offers PhD level courses in dental medicine, criminal justice, audiology, health sciences, law, nursing, psychology and more. The admission to PhD in Nova Southeastern is quite competitive, which means admission may not be guaranteed even if all the requirements are met. The University does not require GRE score for PhD admissions.

PhD in USA opens the opportunity of higher level research and teaching for international students. Now, many US universities have opted out of GRE score requirements or waiver options for both PhD and Masters level. Hence, USA is an ideal place for international students intending to pursue PhD courses without a GRE score, based on previous academic and professional achievements.

Ques. What are the top universities for PhD in USA without GRE?

Ans . Some top universities in USA offering PhD without requiring GRE score or requiring GRE as an optional prerequisite are:

• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Northwestern University
• Purdue University
• University of Wisconsin Madison
• Georgetown University
• Washington State University
• Oregon State University
• University of Oregon
• University of Idaho
• Nova Southeastern University

Ques. Is GRE necessary for PhD in USA?

Ans . No, GRE is a significant requirement for PhD programs in USA, but not all universities require it. International students can secure admission to the US universities even without a GRE score, if the university does not require it. The universities generally expect a minimum GPA of 3.0 out of 4.0 (85%) in previous academic degree for admission to PhD in USA along with competitive English proficiency score and supporting documents.

Ques. Can we do PhD without GRE in the USA?

Ans . Yes. Several US institutes including some top universities in USA like, MIT, Northwestern University, Purdue University among others offer PhD without GRE. For admission to PhD without GRE in USA, you will need to demonstrate the following documents:

• Essay mentioning research work done
• Relevant work experience

Ques. How long is a PhD in USA without GRE?

Ans . A PhD in USA without GRE has the same duration as a common PhD degree. You can estimate to spend between 3-6 years while pursuing a PhD in USA without GRE. However, the duration of your PhD might exceed 6 years in certain conditions.

Ques. Can I directly apply for PhD without GRE and without Masters in USA?

Ans . Yes, several US universities offer admission to PhD without a masters degree. This is because the universities usually award the PhD candidates with a master's degree in the initial days of the doctoral program.

Ques. When shall I apply for PhD in USA without GRE?

Ans . The application deadlines for PhD in USA across the universities offering test-optional admission or GRE waiver are as follows:

GRE score is not required for most PhD programs. However, GRE scores can be required for PhD in Economics or PhD in Statistics degree. GRE requirements are dependent on chosen university and course. 

If the university provides scholarships to PhD students then you can apply for financial aid. In the USA during your PhD, you will get a stipend for your research work. 

Many ranked universities in the USA require prospective students to take the GRE exam for admission in master’s programs. Some prestigious universities such as the University of Florida and the University of Boston offer certain MS programs that do not mandate GRE scores.

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News from Brown

Brown eliminates gre test requirement for 24 doctoral programs.

In enabling Ph.D. program leaders to drop the requirement to submit test scores, the Graduate School looks to attract talented, high-achieving students from an increasingly diverse pool of candidates.

Photo by David DelPoio / Brown University

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — For prospective graduate students applying to enroll in the 2020-21 academic year and beyond, Brown University will no longer require Graduate Records Examination (GRE) test scores for admission to 24 of its Ph.D. programs.

Eliminating the requirement will enable the programs to attract a wider pool of applicants, Graduate School leaders said. The move adds to a growing array of initiatives at Brown to reduce barriers that discourage some students from groups historically underrepresented in higher education and from low-income backgrounds from applying for admission.

“The future success of graduate education at Brown depends on the diverse, innovative and intellectually independent candidates we admit and the varied skill sets they bring to their disciplines,” said Dean of the Graduate School Andrew G. Campbell. “By removing the Graduate School’s GRE requirement and allowing programs to decide whether to require the exam, we will broaden the talent pool of students who apply to and have access to graduate education at Brown.”

A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that the GRE is not always an accurate predictor of success in graduate school, Campbell said. In considering prospective doctoral students, Brown evaluates a wide range of factors, from academic strength and intellectual curiosity to research experiences, through application components including transcripts, letters of recommendation, personal statements and in-person interviews.

“Twenty-four of our doctoral programs have decided that the GRE is not required for a holistic review of potential applicants to their disciplines,” Campbell added. “This, in conjunction with a new transitional stipend for newly matriculating doctoral students and our fully-funded Ph.D. and MFA programs, continues our work to ensure that a Brown education is accessible to students from all income groups and that all graduate students can thrive on campus.”

Brown faculty who direct individual Ph.D. programs evaluate applications from prospective students in consultation with leaders from the Graduate School. Already, GRE scores were considered as one among a wide variety of factors weighed as each applicant’s credentials are considered individually.

“We’re not just looking at scores — we’re looking at students,” said Marlina Duncan, associate dean of diversity initiatives at the Graduate School.

Financial considerations such as exam fees, GRE prep-course tuition or tutoring expenses — and logistical challenges such as finding transportation and taking time away from school or work to take the test — can discourage some prospective students, particularly from historically underrepresented groups or first-generation or low-income backgrounds, from applying.

Moreover, many academic leaders said the GRE does not capture a candidate’s predilection toward critical thinking, innovation and collaboration — three areas that are crucial to success in the Graduate School at Brown.

“We’re looking for the fire — we’re looking for the drive,” said Anita Zimmerman, graduate program director for Brown’s molecular pharmacology and physiology program. “We’re looking for the motivation from someone who isn’t daunted by obstacles and is willing to dive into research with creativity and an ability to solve difficult problems. Those kinds of indicators are not easy to put into numbers, but they’re much more useful and telling than a score on an exam that repeatedly has been shown to be a very poor predictor of student success.”

Zimmerman noted that in recent years, the program had already begun to decrease emphasis on GRE scores in lieu of recommendation letters, personal statements and interviews.

Ravit Reichman, director of graduate studies for the English program, agreed that test scores have been but one factor in the department’s evaluation of prospective students.

“Not once in my time at Brown have we had a substantive conversation about a candidate’s GRE scores,” Reichman said. “We’ve always focused more on a person’s curiosity and intellectual itinerary — that is, how they got to thinking about the ideas they think about, and how they express that on the page.”

The Graduate School’s decision to eliminate the overarching GRE requirement enables program leaders across Brown’s 51 doctoral programs to make individual choices about whether to continue to require scores. The 2020-21 application for admission is open now on the school’s website. The following academic programs will no longer require GRE scores:

• American Studies
• Biotechnology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Comparative Literature 
• Computational Biology
• Computer Science
• Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences
• Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
• French Studies
• German Studies
• Hispanic Studies
• Italian Studies
• Mathematics
• Modern Culture and Media
• Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and Biochemistry
• Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology
• Neuroscience
• Pathobiology
• Portuguese and Brazilian Studies
• Religious Studies
• Slavic Studies
• Theatre and Performance Studies

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This subreddit is for anyone who is going through the process of getting into graduate school, and for those who've been there and have advice to give.

is it worth taking the GRE for physics PhD programs ?

I was looking today on websites and emailed some Colleges and this is a small list I have compiles:

CORNELL (OPTIONAL)

boulder Colarado (OPTIONAL)

university of maryland (PHYSICS GRE OPTIONAL)

If it does not say optional next to it, then these schools do not even consider it.

I am very much considering to stop studying for the GRE and focus my efforts on other things. Thoughts?

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For Graduate Students

The MIT Department of Physics has a graduate population of between 260 and 290 students, with approximately 45 students starting and graduating each year. Almost all students are pursuing a PhD degree in Physics, typically studying for 5 to 7 years and with the following degree structure:

Elements of the Doctoral Degree in Physics:

This is a roadmap for the path through our doctoral program. Each category is an element needed to complete your degree. Further information is available by clicking the accordion and links.. Read our Doctoral Guidelines PDF for more complete information.

Core Requirements – Written Exams/Classes

Students demonstrate knowledge in 4 four areas. Each of the Core Requirements can be satisfied either by:

• passing a written exam ; or
• receiving a qualifying grade in a related class.

A B+ grade or above in the related subject satisfies the requirement in:

• Classical Mechanics ( 8.309 )
• Electricity & Magnetism ( 8.311 )
• Quantum Mechanics ( 8.321 )
• Statistical Mechanics ( 8.333 )

See the Written Examination section of the General Doctoral Examination page for more information and schedule for the upcoming written examination .

Required Classes – Specialty & Breadth

In addition to the demonstrated proficiency in the 4 subject in the Written Exams, graduate students must take 4-5 additional subject classes in Physics Specialty and Breadth areas .

• The Specialty Area builds proficiency related to the student’s research area, with 2 subject classes required (3 in NUPAT and 3 in NUPAX ( effective Fall 2023 )) from the pre-approved Specialty Area chart.
• The Breadth Area extends the student’s knowledge beyond their research area with 2 subject classes in different areas of Physics. The pre-approved Breadth Area chart lists many options.
• Oral Exams are given in each Research Areas
• Team of 3 faculty examiners
• Research Supervision Form
• Research Co-Supervision Form
• Starting research work with the Supervisor’s Group
• After completing the Oral Exam
• Forming a Committee and Submitting a Thesis Proposal

Thesis Committee and Proposal

• Generally by the beginning of third year, after completing Oral Exam
• Submitting a Thesis Committee Proposal
• Completing the Committee
• Holding the first meeting
• Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet
• PHD Thesis Proposal Form
• SM Thesis Proposal Form

Preparing to Complete the Degree – Final Year

• Submitting any necessary requests for any subject substitutions, if needed.
• Consulting with Thesis Supervisor about scheduling the Thesis Defense
• International Students – Consulting International Students Office with post-completion plans
• Writing up Research in final Thesis document

Defense of Thesis Research

Student defends Thesis Research to Committee Members

Written Thesis

• Formatting Thesis

Thesis Submission and Degree Completion

• Submission of Written Thesis for MIT Archives
• Fill out the  Degree Application  through the student section of  WebSIS . Petitioning to be on the degree list for a particular commencement is required. Note that it is easier to be removed from the degree list to be added, so students are encouraged to apply for the degree list if there is any reasonable chance they will complete the PhD in the coming term.
• Full Guidelines and Policies for the MIT Physics PhD program
• Progress Benchmarks and Nominal Timetable (found under Academic Issues section)
• Written General Exam Samples and Study Materials
• Catalog of Class Subject Descriptions
• In-depth information for Prospective Applicants
• Graduate cost of attendance

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 SFS website .

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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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Department of Physics

You are here, graduate studies.

2024 Application Announcement

Submission of the General GRE and Physics GRE scores are Optional for PhD applications received by the December 15, 2023. For more information on applying to our program, please s ee here .

Prospective Student Page        Past Informational Webinars  

The study of physics has revealed a world remarkably united around a small set of fundamental laws and basic forces of nature. These laws govern phenomena as varied as the behavior of subatomic particles and the motion of galaxies, making the study of physics a basic foundation for all the physical and life sciences.

At Yale, theorists and experimentalists explore and test the physical laws of nature, searching for new phenomena that will provide evidence for more comprehensive and unified theories. Yale’s Department of Physics is recognized for its experimental and theoretical work on nuclear, atomic, solid state, and high-energy particle physics. We also work very closely with other departments to bridge the gaps between sciences.

Our PhD program helps students acquire a general foundational knowledge of physics, and learn to communicate and educate others on that knowledge. Our students are involved in a wide range of research , expanding the world’s understanding of the laws of physics. More information on the graduate program can be found on our Program Details page .

Research areas

Research areas include atomic physics and quantum optics; nuclear physics; particle physics; astrophysics and cosmology; condensed matter; quantum information physics; applied physics; and other areas in collaboration with the School of Engineering and Applied Science, Applied Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry, Geology and Geophysics, Astronomy, and Yale’s Integrated Graduate Program in Physical and Engineering Biology (PEB). Please see our Research pages for further information.

Course Requirements

Over the course of the first and second years, students are required to complete six foundational courses, one advanced elective, two research seminars, and one special investigation. Our foundational courses cover classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, mathematical methods, quantum mechanics, and statistical physics. Students may choose from a wide range of classes as their advanced elective(s). During the first year, students are given the option of taking pass-out exams for each of the foundational courses. Students who successfully pass an exam are exempt from taking the course and can choose an advanced elective to take in place of the foundation course. More information regarding course requirements, waivers, and pass-out exams can be found on our Academic Requirements page .

Prospective students

Prospective students interested in learning more about our PhD program, please see our prospective student pages . Application season is August to December for the following academic year. All students start in the fall.

Karsten Heeger , Department Chair , 203-432-3650, karsten.heeger@yale.edu Daisuke Nagai , Director of Graduate Studies , 203-909-4266, daisuke.nagai@yale.edu Helen Caines , Director of Graduate Admissions , 203-432-5831, helen.caines@yale.edu Rona Ramos , Graduate Program Coordinator , 203-432-3655, rona.ramos@yale.edu Stacey Watts , Graduate Registrar , 203-432-3605, stacey.watts@yale.edu

APPLIED PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM Joint PhD Program Between Weinberg College and Mccormick School of Engineering

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Frequently Asked Questions

Northwestern has two phd programs with 'physics' in the name. what's the difference.

The Department of Physics & Astronomy has an established record of distinguished fundamental and applied research in areas such as astronomy, condensed matter physics and high energy physics, with vigorous smaller programs in biological physics, complex systems, and quantum state manipulation. Graduate students in Physics & Astronomy join a community of scholars spanning many of the core areas and new directions of physics.

Applied Physics, on the other hand, is a young program with a deliberate focus on interdisciplinary applications. This program links physicists in relevant disciplines with biologists, chemists, electrical engineers, geologists, and materials scientists. The result is a community of scholars who have quite varied interests, but who "think like physicists" and participate in an extensive network of collaborations. Some, but not all, Physics & Astronomy faculty are members of the Applied Physics program, and vice versa.

Students in the two programs will take several core courses together, but the Physics & Astronomy and Applied Physics requirements are not identical. Consult the curricula for details.

What differentiates the Applied Physics program from other comparable programs?

The breadth of research opportunities provided- students can work with ~50 different faculty from 9 departments, and co-advising on collaborative projects is common. Students benefit from close connections due to the smaller size of the program, while being connected to many communities of researchers through the department affiliations of research groups.    

What types of jobs have been filled by recent Applied Physics graduates?

Applied Physics graduates work in industry as quantum computing researchers and hardware engineers in companies such as Intel, as postdocs at universities including Stanford and UCLA, as financial analysts, and as staff scientists at national laboratories such as Argonne National Laboratory and SLAC.  

My major is not in Physics. May I apply to the Graduate Program in Applied Physics?

Many well-known applied physicists were undergraduate majors in other areas of science and engineering. We do not require a major in Physics, and we encourage those who have majored in related areas to apply.

I am interested in doing research in [a specific area of physics]. Can I do this through the Graduate Program in Applied Physics?

Some active research areas are described on this website, but the list is not comprehensive and the interests of our faculty are constantly evolving. Moreover, there are many opportunities for students within other graduate departments and programs, in areas such as accelerator physics, geophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, engineering, etc. Please  write to us  for information and advice specific to your interests.

When and how do I select my advisor?

In the Northwestern University Applied Physics PhD program, you are not required to select your advisor before you start your studies. Incoming students have the opportunity to meet and research potential advisors during the Fall quarter of their first year (list of Applied Physics Faculty members https://appliedphysics.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/index.html ). Before the end of November, the student makes an agreement with an Applied Physics faculty member to become their advisee. We believe this allows students to get better acquainted with various research groups, and learn of research directions they might not have been aware of before, and thus find the right fit for their graduate studies..

Do you admit students seeking a Master's degree?

The Applied Physics Program does not offer a terminal Master's program, and only students who intend to pursue the PhD are admitted. However, PhD students who satisfactorily complete the first year of classes and pass a comprehensive examination are eligible to receive a Master of Science degree.

Can I apply to more than one department/program at NU?

Only one application may be under consideration at a time.

Are Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) required for admission?

Should i submit my gre scores.

Please do so if you believe it will strengthen significantly your application (for ex: if you don’t have a Physics background, submit strong GRE Physics scores)

Are there minimum score requirements for the general and physics GRE to be accepted to the Applied Physics Program?

There are no minimum value requirements for the general and physics tests.

Can you waive the application fee?

Are applied physics graduate students funded, is there anything else i should know about the program before applying.

Be sure to review the research areas available on the program website and on the webpages of participating faculty. The PhD is a research-based degree, so the admissions committee is looking for applicants with a strong interest in applying their physics knowledge in cutting edge areas. Be sure that your application essay communicates what you are most passionate about.  

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 Not required, but see details below.

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

Optional Materials:

• GRE (see instructions below)
• Writing Sample

How to Apply

Application Deadline The 2023 application will open on September 15, 2023 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 or physics education research. The physics GRE is recommended for applicants with interests in research in either theoretical elementary particle physics or theoretical condensed matter physics.

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.

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  [email protected] .

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 November 2nd and December 4th. 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.

Sign-up for the November 2nd workshop here

Sign-up for the December 4th workshop here

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.

The Physics Department offers a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics with specializations in different subfields that reflect the forefront research activities of the department, including astrophysics, biological physics, condensed matter physics, elementary particle physics, nanomedicine, nanophysics, and network science.

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The program for the PhD degree consists of required coursework, a qualifying examination, a preliminary research seminar, the completion of a dissertation based upon original research performed by the student, and a dissertation defense upon completion of the dissertation. Based on these measures, students are expected to obtain a graduate-level understanding of basic physics concepts and demonstrate the ability to formulate a research plan, orally communicate a research plan, and conduct and present independent research.

The PhD dissertation will be based on new and original research in one of the current theoretical or experimental research programs in the department, under direct supervision of an advisor from the Physics Department. Alternatively, the dissertation research can be in a recognized interdisciplinary field involving another research area of the University, under the direct supervision of a faculty member in that field. Another option is to work in an area of applied research in one of the industrial or high-technology laboratories associated with the department’s industrial PhD program. In that case, the direct supervisor is associated with the institution where the research is performed.

The Department of Physics offers stipended graduate assistantships (teaching and research), full tuition toward degree requirements as well as coverage in NU’s student health plan (NUSHP).

• 90 percent of department faculty have major research grants
• Over 100 papers published annually
• Approximately 100 enrolled PhD students
• Highly competitive fellowships available to applicants
• Associated institutes and centers include the Nanomedicine Innovation Center, Center for Complex Network Research (CCNR), Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Complex Systems (CIRCS) and the Quantum Materials Science Institute (QMSI). In addition, Physics faculty are an integral part of the Network Science Institute
• The department is home to the Center for Theoretical Biological Physics (CTBP), which is one of nine National Science Foundation Physics Frontiers Centers. CTBP partner institutions include Northeastern, Rice University, Baylor College of Medicine and University of Houston.
• Faculty are leading members of the National Science Foundation’s newly established Institute for Artificial Intelligence and Fundamental Interactions, which is a joint institute that spans MIT, Harvard, Tufts and Northeastern.

Our graduates pursue careers within academia and beyond.

• National Institutes of Health
• Los Alamos National Laboratory
• Capital One
• Houston Rockets
• Reactive Innovations, LLC
• Athena Health
• Smoothies Technologies Inc.
• Gamelan Labs Inc.
• Boston University
• Institut Langrange de Paris
• SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory
• University of California, San Diego
• King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
• Instituto de Telecomunicacoes
• Massachussets Institute of Technology
• JDS Uniphse
• Monash University
• Ecole Normale Supzrieure, International Center for Fundamental Physics and its Interfaces, Paris, France
• IBM TJ Watson Research Center

Application Materials

Application.

• Application fee – US $100
• Unofficial transcripts for all institutions attended (Official transcripts required upon acceptance of admission offer)
• Personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• GRE General – recommended, but not required
• GRE Physics – recommended, but not required
• Proof of English Proficiency for all applicants

Priority deadline for completed applications: December 1 st

Rolling admissions until March 15th. Check with department to see if there is any availability.

• Program Website

Request Information for PhD in Physics

The GRE ® Tests

Completing your view of applicant strengths

Select any step to learn more about how the GRE ® tests can help your institution.

The GRE Subject Tests

The GRE Subject Tests in Mathematics, Physics and Psychology measure undergraduate achievement in a particular field of study and help departments evaluate applicants' readiness for graduate school.

Carefully developed by committees of examiners with expertise in particular disciplines, each GRE Subject Test measures content taught in undergraduate programs that is important for graduate study in that discipline. The tests are intended for individuals who have an undergraduate major or extensive background in the field. These computer-delivered tests are offered each year on multiple dates in September, October and April.

Test content

Mathematics test.

The test consists of approximately 66 multiple-choice questions drawn from Calculus, Algebra and additional topics.

• Download the Fact Sheet to view test specifications (PDF)
• Download the GRE ® Mathematics Practice Book to view content of the test (PDF)

Physics test

The test consists of approximately 70 multiple-choice questions covering Classical Mechanics, Electromagnetism, Atomic Physics, Optics and Wave Phenomena, Quantum Mechanics, Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics, Special Relativity, Laboratory Methods and Specialized Topics.

• Download the GRE ®  Physics Practice Book to view content of the test (PDF)

Psychology test

The test consists of approximately 144 multiple-choice questions that are drawn from the core of knowledge most commonly encountered in courses offered at the undergraduate level within the broadly defined field of psychology. A question may require recalling factual information, analyzing relationships, applying principles, drawing conclusions from data and/or evaluating a research design.

• Download the GRE ® Psychology Practice Book to view content of the test (PDF)

Scoring and score reporting

Score reporting.

The GRE Subject Tests report one total score on a 200–990 score scale, in 10-point increments, although the score range for any particular Subject Test is usually smaller.

Physics and Psychology tests

For tests taken beginning in September 2023, percent correct scores will be reported for the Physics and Psychology Tests on a range of 0–100. Percent correct scores from one test edition cannot be compared with percent correct scores on other test editions because these scores are not equated. For example, a percent correct score of 80 on Classical Mechanics from one Physics Test edition is not equivalent to a percent correct score of 80 on Classical Mechanics from another Physics Test edition.

For tests taken prior to September 2023, subscores are reported for the Physics and Psychology Tests on a 20–99 score scale, in 1-point increments. The subscore scales for each of these tests occupy only a portion of the 20 to 99 score range.

The ScoreSelect ® option

With the ScoreSelect ®  option, test takers who retake a GRE Subject Test can decide which GRE scores from the last 5 years to send to designated institutions. Institutions receive score reports that show the scores that test takers selected to send to them. There are no special notations to indicate whether other GRE tests have been taken.

Receiving scores

Scores on the GRE Subject Tests will be reported on the following dates and are reportable for 5 years following the individual’s test date.

The fastest way to receive scores is through the ETS ® Data Manager, a secure web-based system that provides fast, convenient score report viewing/printing capabilities. It is updated twice per week and scores are available in the system for as long as scores are valid.

How the tests are scored

For a detailed look at how the GRE Subject Tests are scored, download the GRE ® Guide to the Use of Scores (PDF) .