• Academics
• BRANDEIS HOME

Physics

About the Program

The Martin A. Fisher School of Physics at Brandeis University has an international reputation for excellence in research and is one of the highest-ranked of its size in the country. Graduate students in the department are engaged in a wide variety of research programs, ranging from biophysics to particle physics, from microfluidics to radio astronomy to string theory. Two members of its faculty have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and three are fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The department was recently awarded a major grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center.

Our low student-to-faculty ratio allows students to enjoy ample opportunity for personal interaction with instructors in the classroom and laboratory and with advisers to guide their research. There are also many postdoctoral research associates collaborating with the faculty and graduate students, thus providing further occasions for connections between graduate students and physicists active in research. We have built into the graduate program the maximum flexibility and opportunity to make a well-informed choice of research field.

The Boston area is one of the world's major centers of research in physics. During the academic year, there are several colloquia and specialized seminars daily at area universities, including Boston University, Harvard University, MIT, Northeastern University, and Tufts University.

Degree Options

•  Ph.D. in Physics (full-time)
•  M.S. in Physics (full- or part-time)

Courses and Completion Requirements

For the most updated course listing, course descriptions, and degree requirements, please click here.

Faculty

We encourage you to explore one of the department’s greatest assets through our faculty pages. Learn more about the people who will help guide you along your graduate school path here.

Additional Resources

Consortium: Our membership in the Boston consortium allows you to take courses at Tufts University, Boston University, and Boston College, thus enhancing your Brandeis experience and the spirit of collaboration which Brandeis embodies.
Student Services: At Brandeis, you will become part of a community that is strengthened by life both within and outside of the classroom and laboratory walls. Please visit Student Services to see the array of University resources, events, and programming for graduate students, including our Graduate Student Services Center, Off-Campus Housing, Health Insurance, English as a Second Language (ESL) program, Disability Resources, Counseling Center, Career Services, and the Graduate Student Association.

Admission Information

Admission Semester:

Fall only

Application Deadlines:

Ph.D.: Jan. 15
M.A.: Rolling until the class is filled, beginning Jan. 15

Admission Requirements:

To apply for the program, you need to submit:

• An application to the graduate school, which can be electronically submitted here;
• An application fee (please click here for instructions);
• Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended; applicants must provide a final transcript indicating successful completion of an undergraduate degree program before registration;
• Two letters of recommendation, which the admissions committee prefers to be submitted online (please click here for more information);
• A statement of purpose indicating your reasons for undertaking graduate study. In addition, please describe your qualifications for the academic program and your objectives in undertaking this program. Applicants to the doctoral program should clearly outline their research interests and how they would complement those of the faculty. Applicants to the master's program should discuss their academic and professional career plans and how the Graduate School could help them attain their goals.
• Standardized tests
  Graduate Record Exam (GRE) general test is required. The GRE subject test is recommended, but not required. Our ETS institution code is 3092.

International students:  For additional requirements for international applicants (non-U.S. citizens or non-permanent residents), minimum TOEFL and IELTS scores, and important information regarding visas, please click here.

For a more comprehensive description of application requirements, please click here.

Financial Aid

Generous financial aid is available; for more information please click here.