Enrollment Requirements

Undergraduate Degree

The normal preparation by students admitted to graduate study in the department is a bachelor's or master's degree in physics. However, in the past, students with degrees in engineering, mathematics or other areas have been admitted. The general requirements and regulations pertaining to advanced degrees are given in the University's Graduate School Bulletin (www.umass.edu/gradschool/policies-forms), and the Graduate School Website.

Candidates planning to do graduate study in physics should have completed at least (preferably, more than) 15 semester credit hours in undergraduate physics beyond an introductory course (such as Physic 151, 152, 253) and also 6 credits of mathematics beyond college-level calculus.

Standardized Exams

The university requires scores for the general  Graduate Record Examination (GRE)  from all Ph.D. applicants, although there are no specific required minimum scores and the results are considered as only one part of the overall credentials of the applicant. The department requires that all Ph.D. applicants also take the advanced Graduate Record Examination in physics. The GRE exams are optional for M.S. applicants.

Note the requirement for GREs has been suspended during the pandemic.

International students must take the TOEFL exam.

For further information about the GRE and TOEFL, contact the Educational Testing Service.