Department of Physics - University of Texas at Austin

Official information regarding admission to graduate programs UT Austin can be obtained from the Graduate and International Admissions Center. All applications are online through ApplyTexas and we recommend utilizing the websites below in the order listed during the application process. Frequently asked questions (FAQs) about this process are addressed here.

Due to the ongoing impact of the pandemic on prospective applicants for graduate study, the Department of Physics has made the following alterations to its graduate application requirements for the Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 admissions cycle only: the General GRE has been waived and the GRE Physics Subject Test (pGRE) made optional. If you choose to submit a pGRE score you must make a clear case (in your required Statement of Purpose) for why you believe it is integral to your application, otherwise, it will not be considered.

Admission Process Overview

Priority admission deadlines are as follows:

December 1st for Fall admission

All Fall applicants to the Ph.D. program are considered for financial support and are typically awarded a Teaching Assistantship.

October 1st for Spring admission

Spring Ph.D. applicants are typically not offered financial support. Preference for entry to the graduate program for all applicants is given to Fall admission.

UT Application Process:

https://gradschool.utexas.edu/admissions/where-to-begin
- this site provides introductory information regarding: UT Austin programs and degrees offered, cost of attendance, admissions and enrollment statistics, and eligibility for admission.
https://gradschool.utexas.edu/how-to-apply
- this site helps you decide which type of application is for you and provides logistical details such as application fees & official score submission procedures.
ApplyTexas
- use this site to submit your application by the deadline.
MyStatus
- this site is your portal for all application documents & status updates during the admissions process after your ApplyTexas application.

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

Application Requirements

Graduate and International Admissions Center (GIAC) Requires:

Online Application for Admission
Three Letters of Recommendation
- the online application allows your referees to submit their letters of recommendation online. You need to enter your referees’ email addresses in the application and they will be sent an email with directions on how to securely submit a recommendation letter for you. Paper letters of recommendation are not accepted.
Statement of Purpose
- The online MyStatus portal allows you to enter your Statement of Purpose for upload. Please note that this is not a Personal Statement and should be composed accordingly. Paper statements of purpose are not accepted.
Official GRE General Test Scores are Sent electronically by the Educational Testing Service
- ETS code for the University of Texas at Austin is 6882.
- Please be sure to include your Physics Subject Test score.
Official Transcripts
- Official transcripts from all universities or colleges attended are now uploaded through MyStatus. Review the GIAC site here for more information on transcript submission procedures for your institution. If your transcripts were deemed unofficial during the initial phase of applying, you are required to submit official transcripts once admitted to the program.
TOEFL or IELTS Scores. (International Applicants Only)

Department of Physics Requires:

A CV [curriculum vitae] or professional résumé.
- Upload using the Application Status Check page.
Official GRE Physics Subject Test Scores. Be sure to have these sent directly to GIAC with your other scores (or separately, if necessary); our ETS Code is 6882.

Degrees Offered

The graduate program in Physics offers two degrees: Master of Arts in Physics and Ph.D. in Physics. Each graduate student must be enrolled for nine (9) credit hours in each of the Fall and Spring semesters. Official degree requirements and courses for our program are maintained within the Graduate School Catalog.

Master of Arts in Physics

The M.A. degree requires 30 credit hours comprised of six (6) hours of thesis, 18 credit hours of graduate course work that must be in the Physics Department, and six (6) credit hours must be in Supporting Work outside of the Physics Department. Supporting work courses can be upper division undergraduate courses. All requirements must be completed within one six-year period. The M.A. degree is not required to advance to the Ph.D. program.

Doctor of Philosophy in Physics

There are several steps in the program leading to the Ph.D. degree, the most important of which is the last, the preparation and defense of a dissertation based on original research.

Prior to being admitted to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree the student must:

Take four core courses—Quantum Mechanics, Electromagnetic Theory, Classical Mechanics, and Statistical Mechanics—with a grade-point average of B+ (3.33);
Show evidence of exposure to modern methods of experimental physics through a senior-level course, participation in an experimental research program, or by taking the graduate course in experimental physics.
Present a seminar on a proposed research topic followed by an oral examination.

After satisfying the three requirements above, the student prepares a Program of Work for the Ph.D. degree which must be approved by the Graduate Advisor in the Physics Department. The student then produces a preliminary abstract for their dissertation and selects, with the help of their supervisor, a dissertation committee all of which must be approved by the Graduate Advisor, GSC Chair, and Dean of The Graduate School. Following this approval, the student is admitted to Candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.

The last step in the process is the preparation of a dissertation based on original research. Research leading to the dissertation is done under the supervision of a faculty committee chaired by the student’s dissertation director. This is certainly the most rewarding—and most time-consuming—part of the degree program. Approval of dissertation follows the dissertation defense covering the dissertation and related topics in physics.

Still have questions?

Please read over the FAQ page for answers to the most frequently asked questions. FAQs are updated annually to address common issues that arise each year.

For additional information about the Graduate Program in Physics, contact the Physics Graduate Office at: admissions@physics.utexas.edu

Additional information about the faculty and research programs of the Department can be found in the Research section of the Physics Department website here.