The Department of Physics requires that all applicants meet UCF minimum admission requirements. For information about UCF graduate admissions requirements that apply to all prospective students, please visit the College of Graduate Studies – Application Deadlines and Requirements webpage. All requested materials must be submitted by the established deadline(s).
The Department of Physics at UCF offers both Master’s and Doctoral programs. More information about each program is available on the Curriculum page.
Prospective students are invited to learn more about UCF at one of the College of Graduate Studies virtual information sessions or by attending a campus tour.
Applying
Applicants may apply to the Physics MS program or if interested in pursuing both an MS and PhD in Physics, applicants may apply directly to the PhD program. Applicants that are admitted to the Physics PhD program may request the option to receive a Master’s Along the Way upon completion of the MS degree requirements, which include a minimum of 30 credit hours beyond the Bachelor’s Degree (33 credit hours, if Planetary Sciences Track MS).
The admission process begins with the applicant completing the graduate online application here.
To apply for the UCF Physics Masters to PhD Bridge Program click here.
Doctoral and Master’s degree applicants
In addition, to the general UCF graduate admission requirements, applicants to this program must provide:
- Resume/Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of purpose (The final 1-2 paragraphs of each applicant’s personal statement should make explicitly clear which research areas and faculty they have interest in working with within our program)
- Three letters of recommendation
- Official transcripts from all universities and colleges attended (sent directly by the school, not by the applicant)
- The GRE is not required for admission to this program. However, applicants to this program who have attended a college/university outside the United States must provide a course-by-course credential evaluation with GPA calculation. Credential evaluations are accepted from World Education Services (WES) or Josef Silny and Associates, Inc. only.
- GRE Physics test score is optional
Students entering the Physics graduate program with regular status are normally expected to have completed course work generally required for a bachelor’s degree in physics, including mechanics, electricity and magnetism, thermal and statistical physics, and quantum mechanics. Expected coursework and minimum requirements for the planetary science track can be found at the planetary sciences PhD program page.
Meeting minimum UCF admission criteria does not guarantee program admission. Final admission is based on an evaluation of the applicant’s abilities, past performance, recommendations, match to the program and faculty expertise related to the applicant’s career/academic goals, as well as the applicant’s potential for completing the degree.
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, free health insurance and/or loans. For more information click on the financial support information tab or contact soto@ucf.edu.
Prospective students are urged to pre-apply before completing the online application by sending their CV, Essay, and Unofficial Transcripts to the committee by November 1st. Send these documents (as a PDF file) via e-mail to soto@ucf.edu. For many students, there are possibilities of fellowships, and submitting a pre-application directly to the department can be important for identifying those opportunities.
Application Deadlines
In order to receive consideration for admission to the program and consideration for financial support, the online application and supporting documents must be received at UCF’s College of Graduate Studies by the January 15th Fall Priority deadline. (* Note: The Fall Priority application deadline for international PhD applicants and applicants to the Planetary Sciences Track is December 1st).
Consideration for the UCF Physics Masters to PhD Bridge Program begins with an application to the American Physical Society (APS) Bridge Program, which opens in December and has a deadline in March. Refer to the APS Bridge Program website for the most current information about: APS Bridge Program eligibility and application process.
UCF Application Deadlines:
| Semester | International | International Transfer | Domestic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall Priority* | December 1 | December 1 | January 15 |
| Fall | December 1 | December 1 | July 1 |
| Spring | July 1 | July 1 | December 1 |