Overview

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. Physics graduate students enjoy maximum curricular flexibility and the opportunity to make a well-informed choice of research field. Graduate students work closely with faculty in a wide variety of research, ranging from biophysics to particle physics, from microfluidics to radio astronomy to string theory. Two members of our 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 awarded a major grant from the National Science Foundation to establish a Materials Research Science and Engineering Center. Read more about our Physics programs on the department website. Application instructions can be found below.

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How to Apply

Application Deadlines

• PhD: January 15
• MS: Rolling through May 1; application review begins January 1. Please note that the application may be closed earlier if the desired cohort size is reached prior to May 1; questions can be emailed to scigradoffice@brandeis.edu. 

Application Requirements

To apply for the program, you need to submit:

• An online application

• An application fee

• Transcripts from all universities and colleges attended must be uploaded to your application; do not mail official transcripts to our office. For more information, visit Frequently Asked Questions.

• Two letters of recommendation, submitted online

• A curriculum vitae (CV) or resumé, which should include your educational history, employment experience, and other relevant information.

• A statement of purpose

  • For MS applicants: Please upload a statement of purpose in essay form. Your statement should address the following points in 800 words or less: (1) your preparation for the master's program and other relevant experience; (2) why you want to pursue an MS degree at Brandeis specifically; and (3) two or three careers you might be interested in pursuing after graduation and how a Brandeis MS degree will help you achieve those goals.

  • For PhD applicants: The Brandeis PhD in Physics develops skills in independent thinking, problem solving, quantitative modeling, writing, and presentation. Our students thus graduate well-prepared for a variety of career paths in academia, industry, government, and non-profit organizations. Please upload a statement of purpose in essay form that addresses the following points in 800 words or less: (1) your preparation for graduate study and other relevant experience; (2) why you want to pursue a Brandeis PhD and how your interests fit within the research landscape at Brandeis; and (3) two or three careers you might be interested in pursuing after graduation and how a Brandeis PhD will help you achieve those goals.

• Graduate Record Exam (GRE): We do not require GRE test scores for the General Test or the Physics Subject Test as part of the admissions process. However, applicants are encouraged to submit GRE scores if they feel those results will help their application. We conduct a holistic evaluation of each applicant taking into account all parts of the application, including GRE scores when available, to judge their promise as a scientist and fit within our graduate program. We do not use cutoffs or rankings based solely on GRE scores or GPA, and no candidate is granted or denied admission based on any single factor. If you would like to send your scores, please note that MyBest scores from ETS are not accepted. Our institution code for the GRE exam is 3092.

• Additional Requirements for International Applicants: Score report from one of the following English language proficiency exams: TOEFL iBT, TOEFL Revised Paper-delivered Test, TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic, or Duolingo English Test. You can arrange for the delivery of your TOEFL iBT or Revised Paper-delivered Test score report by providing ETS with our institution code, 3261 (no department code is necessary); please note that we do not accept TOEFL Essentials score reports or MyBest™ scores from ETS. Delivery of your TOEFL ITP Plus scores can be arranged via your Vericant account, delivery of your Duolingo scores can be arranged via your Duolingo account, and delivery of your PTE Academic scores can be arranged via your Pearson account. Further information about this requirement can be found on the International Students page.

For a more comprehensive description of application requirements, please visit Frequently Asked Questions.