yale medical physics phd

• PhD/Master's Application Process

Who is Eligible to Apply? 

If you have completed your undergraduate degree (bachelor's or equivalent) or will have completed it prior to your intended matriculation date at Yale, you may apply to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS).

A Master's degree is not required to apply for a PhD at Yale, although some programs give preference to applicants with post-baccalaureate training. Consult your program of interest directly for information on how it evaluates applications.

We value diversity of all kinds at the Graduate School, and we encourage students from all backgrounds to apply if Yale is a good fit for your intellectual and professional goals. All are welcome to apply, without regard to citizenship or immigration status, socioeconomic level, race, religion, gender identification, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

Requirements for All PhD and Master's Degree Applicants

You will need to provide the following with your application for admission:

• A statement of academic purpose. You will find the prompt for the statement of purpose in our Application Question FAQs . 
• A list of all the prior colleges or universities you have attended, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. Unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with your application. Official or paper transcripts are not needed at this time. 
• Three letters of recommendation. Enter the names of your recommenders directly in the application and they will receive a link to upload a letter on your behalf. 
• $105 application fee or fee waiver. 
• Standardized tests . GRE requirements vary by program. TOEFL or IELTS are necessary for most non-native English speakers. 
• Resume/CV . 
• Some programs have additional requirements, such as a writing sample . You can find information about any specific requirements on the program's website. 

Where Do I Begin?

Decide whether you will apply for a PhD or a terminal Master’s (MA, MS) in one of the programs available at the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences . (Note that you will earn one or more Master's degrees en route to a PhD.) Learn about the program: its faculty, course offerings, and resources. Read the faculty's research publications. If you can identify and articulate why the program is a good fit for you and show how your preparation and interests align well with it, you will have a strong application.

A note to students applying to one of Yale’s professional schools or programs:

• If you are applying for a PhD in Architecture, Environment, Investigative Medicine, Law, Management, Music, Nursing, or Public Health; for an MS in Public Health; or for an MA in Music, be sure to use the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences PhD/Master's application.
• If you are applying for any other degree at one of the University’s professional schools (Art, Architecture, Divinity, Drama, Environment, Global Affairs, Law, Management, Medicine, Music, Nursing, and Public Health), visit that school’s website for further instructions. Those programs have separate admissions policies and processes that are administered by the professional schools, not GSAS.

Application deadlines vary by program, so please see Dates & Deadlines for information about your program of interest. 

All new students matriculate in the fall. The admissions process begins nearly a year in advance of matriculation.

Some PhD and Master’s degree programs require Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. Check your program's standardized testing requirement before you apply. 

In addition, applicants whose native language is not English may need to take an English Language test (TOEFL or IELTS).

The application for Fall 2025 entry is now available. 

Be sure to complete and submit the application before your program's application deadline. 

Your application fee or an approved fee waiver is due upon submission of your application. 

Your letters of recommendation do not need to be received before you will be able to submit your application. However, since programs begin reviewing applications shortly after the respective application deadline, please be sure that your letters of recommendation are submitted promptly.

What Happens After I Submit My Application?

The faculty admissions committee in each department and program begins reviewing applications shortly after their application deadline. Led by the director of graduate studies (DGS) or director of graduate admissions (DGA), the committee will recommend students for admission to the Graduate School. Once confirmed by the deans of the Graduate School, the admissions office will release final decisions to applicants.

Unlike undergraduate admissions, the admissions office and staff of the Graduate School maintain the application, the application process, and other administrative transactions, but the admissions staff does not review applications or make admissions decisions. That responsibility is handled by the faculty of each department or program.

Most admissions decisions are provided between February and early March. You will receive an email notification when your admissions decision is available.

If you are accepted for admission, you will need to decide if you wish to accept our offer by April 15. We abide by Council of Graduate School's April 15 Resolution , regarding graduate financial support. 

Ready to apply? Begin your application today.

PhD/Master's Applicants

• Why Choose Yale Graduate School?
• Dates and Deadlines
• Standardized Testing Requirements

Non-Degree Program Applicants

Looking for non-degree programs? In some cases, it is possible to enroll at the Graduate School as a non-degree student. Non-degree students receive a transcript and many of the benefits of being a Yale student, but do not earn a degree upon completion of their enrollment. We offer three types of non-degree programs.

• Non-Degree Programs

• Bioimaging Sciences
• Bioimaging Sciences Division
• Clinical Trials Office
• TIMC & Imaging Support Services
• Interventional Oncology Research Lab
• Health Care Research
• Publications
• Imaging Informatics
• Abdominal Imaging
• Breast Imaging
• Cardiac Imaging
• Emergency Radiology
• Interventional Radiology
• Medical Physics
• Musculoskeletal Radiology
• Neuroradiology
• Nuclear Cardiology
• Nuclear Medicine
• Pediatric Radiology
• Thoracic Imaging
• VA Services
• Clinical Locations
• CDS Presentation
• EPIC Decision Support FAQ
• Non-EPIC users FAQ
• CMS - CDS – Appropriate Use Criteria
• To Reach Radiology
• Contact for Various Services
• Questions about Contrast
• Difficult to Order Studies
• Protocolling
• Yale Health
• Further Resources
• Official Interpretations on Outside Imaging Exams
• Practice Guidelines
• For Patients
• Premedication Policy
• Oral Contrast Policies
• CT Policy Regarding a Patient with a Single Kidney
• CT Policy Regarding Contrast-Associated Acute Kidney Injury
• For Diabetic Patients on Glucophage
• Gadolinium Based Contrast Agents
• Gonadal shielding policy for and X-ray/CT
• Policy for Power Injection
• Breastfeeding Policies
• Low-Osmolar Iodinated Contrast and Myasthenia Gravis
• CT intraosseous needle iodinated contrast injection
• Policy Regarding Testing for Pregnancy
• YDR Oral Contrast Policy for Abdominal CT in ED Patients
• YDR Policy for Suspected Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy
• Insulin Pumps and Glucose Monitors
• Critical Result Guidelines
• Q & A on "Change order" button for CT and MRI protocols
• EpiPen How to & Safety
• Thoracic Radiology
• West Haven VA
• Emeritus Faculty
• Secondary Faculty Listing
• Voluntary Faculty Listing
• Guidelines for Appointment
• Voluntary Guidelines Clarification
• Application Requirements & Process
• Vol. Faculty Contact Info & Conference Scheduling
• Visiting IR Scholarships for Women and URiM
• Neuroimaging Sciences Training Program
• Why Yale Radiology?
• Applicant Information
• Selection Procedure
• EEO Statement
• Interview Information
• Resident Schedule
• Clinical Curriculum
• Being Well @Yale
• Contact Information & Useful Links
• IR Integrated Application Info
• IR Independent Application Info
• Meet the IR Faculty
• Meet the IR Trainees
• YDMPR Program Overview
• Program Statistics
• Applying to the Program
• YDMPR Eligibility
• Current Physics Residents
• Graduated Residents
• Meet the Faculty
• Residents Wellbeing Policy
• Breast Imaging Fellowship
• Body Imaging Fellowship
• Cardiothoracic Imaging Fellowship
• The ED Fellow Experience
• How to Apply
• Virtual Tour for Applicants
• Current ED Fellows
• Meet the ED Faculty
• Applying to the Fellowship
• Fellowship Origins
• Program Director
• Current Fellows
• Howie's OpEd
• Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellowship
• Neuroradiology Fellowship
• Nuclear Radiology Fellowship
• Pediatric Radiology Fellowship
• Tanzania IR Initiative
• Opportunities for Yale Residents
• Medical School Curriculum
• Elective in Diagnostic Radiology
• Elective Case Presentations
• Visiting Students
• Physician Assistant (PA) Radiology Course
• Radiology Educational Videos
• Anatomy Presentations
• Visiting IR Scholarships
• Information Technology
• Graduate Students
• Yale-New Haven Hospital School of Diagnostic Ultrasound
• Radiologic Technology Opportunities
• Educational Resources
• CME & Conferences
• The Boroff-Forman Lecture Series
• Grand Rounds Schedule
• Yale Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Global Outreach Program Tanzania
• Quality and Safety

INFORMATION FOR

• Residents & Fellows
• Researchers

Radiology & Biomedical Imaging Physics Mentoring Faculty

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Director, Yale Diagnostic Medical Physics Residency Program, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Chief of Diagnostic Radiology Physics, Radiology and Biomedical Imaging

Assistant Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging

Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging; Director of Cardiac MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Atrial Fibrillation
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• Imaging, Three-Dimensional

• Contact Us!

Department of Physics

You are here, prospective phd student information.

2025 Application period is now open

General GRE and Physics GRE scores are OPTIONAL for 2025 PhD program applications. See more on applying here .

Informational Webinars

Each year we hold joint webinars with the Yale Applied Physics and Astronomy Departments.

2023 Webinars -

Physics Only Webinar Watch Recording Here , Slides

Physics & Astronomy - Joint Webinar Watch Recording Here , Physics Slides , Astro Slides

Physics & Applied Physics - Joint Webinar Watch Recording Here , Physics Slides , Applied Physics Slides

Prior webinars can be found on our media page.

Research & Discovery

The Department of Physics offers studies in a wide range of fields and encourages cross-disciplinary studies between various Yale departments as well. The Department has a diverse faculty pool with the majority of professors having their primary appointment in the Physics Department. The specific interests of the Department’s faculty members fall into several areas of research which are detailed on the Department’s Research Page . 

Community & Belonging

We continue to value and encourage diversity in our program. We actively promote the shared values of respect, commitment to students’ well-being, an environment of inclusivity and community, and integrity in all our work as laid out in our Statement of Principles. Our graduate students to have an active voice in shaping the future direction of our program and are very active in our Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) and other program and policy planning committees.

Education & Legacy

Graduate students spend their first four semesters taking both core courses and getting involved in research, with full time research starting in the summer of their second year. The average graduate takes approximately six years to complete the program as described in our PhD timeline . Our alumni go to prestigious positions in academia and industry. You can check out more about the exciting work previous students have completed on our Alumni page .

Getting off on the right foot

Students who are accepted into our program are invited to join our Early Start program and our Physics Fundamentals Bootcamp .

The Early Start program is geared towards students who want to start their research with a particular faculty member before the start of their first fall semester. Early Start students can begin their paid research anytime between June 1st – August 1st by contacting a faculty member and requesting to join their lab. Applications for the Early Start Program become available in early May and can be requested from the Physics Registrar, Stacey Watts .

Incoming students who would like a refresher on the fundamentals of classical and quantum mechanics before jumping into classes, are invited to join our yearly Physics Fundamentals Bootcamp. This two-week program starts in early August and is a great way to ease into first-year core courses, meet other incoming class members, and form study groups. Students interested should contact Rona Ramos , our Graduate Program Coordinator.

Supporting our Students

Each of our students receive a generous stipend , free health insurance for themselves, and fully subsidized tuition . Physics students are expected to serve as teaching fellows , for four terms, learning the fundamentals of teaching as part of their professional development in the program.  D epending on the level of support available to individual laboratories, some students may teach more than others. Many students choose to continue teaching past their requirements for the experience and extra funds.

Extracurriculars, Outreach, & Leisure

During their free time, many of our students enjoy participating in our departmental student organizations and university cultural centers , student groups and activities .  New Haven, and its surrounding towns, have many restaurants, art & cultural events, and recreational activities to enjoy . Yale is situated 90 minutes from New York and 2 ½ hours from Boston with convenient transportation options offered. 

Department Statistics

Historical Department Matriculation, Graduation, and Employment Data

Still wondering “Why Yale” ?

More information about our program can be found in our graduate program handbook and on the Graduate School of Arts and Science Program and Policies website . To find out more about our program, register here .  

Feel free to reach out with any questions to our Graduate Program Team, listed below. We are happy to hear from you.

Helen Caines , Director of Graduate Admissions , helen.caines@yale.edu Daisuke Nagai , Director of Graduate Studies , daisuke.nagai@yale.edu Rona Ramos , Graduate Program Coordinator , rona.ramos@yale.edu Stacey Watts , Graduate Registrar , stacey.watts@yale.edu Karsten Heeger , Department Chair , karsten.heeger@yale.edu