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2022 Exam - Solutions: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4

2021 Exam - Solutions: Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4

2019 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1 ,  Part 2 ,  Part 3 , and  Part 4

2018 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1 ,  Part 2 ,  Part 3 , and  Part 4

2017 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2016 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2015 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2014 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2013 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2012 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2011 Exam - Solutions:  Part 1  and  Part 2

2010 Exam - Solutions: Part 1 and Part 2

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• General Exam Prep

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General exam preparation.

The general exam consists of two parts: written and oral . See the department webpage for more details. The Written Exam addresses four topics:

• Electricity & Magnetism (E&M),
• Classical Mechanics (CM),
• Statistical Mechanics (SM),
• Quantum Mechanics (QM).

Students take each topic as a separate 75-minute exam, selecting one of two presented written questions; their performance is evaluated separately for each section. Students may also meet any one of the topic requirements through classwork (for E&M, 8.311; for CM, 8.309; for SM, 8.333; and for QM, 8.321). Written Exams are administered and results are available prior to the fall and spring semesters each year.

Sample exams, with solutions, are available to help MIT Physics doctoral students study for the Written Exam. Prior to 2015 our Qualifying Exams were given in 3 parts: Parts I and II comprised the Written Exam, and the Oral Exam was known as Part III. [Note that faculty and students who experienced the exams in this format may still refer to the current Written Exam as "Part II" and the Oral Exam as "Part III".] Sample exams labeled "Part II" with the 4 sections presented as a 5-hour exam continue to be valuable for Written Exam study, if reviewed as separate 75-minute topics. The fall 2015 is the first exam that was administered in the current format.

MIT Physics GSC General Exam Report

In the spring of 2006, the MIT Physics GSC surveyed the Course 8 graduate student population on a series of topics relating to the Graduate General Exams. The results have been painstakingly compiled into a full report by the members of the PGSC. The PGSC has also prepared a report comparing MIT's general exams to those administered by other graduate physics programs in the US, and a collection of sample problems from exams at other universities. Many thanks to the MIT Physics GSC for this important service to the Course 8 graduate community!

• Survey Report
• Comparison Report
• Exam samples from other institutions
• Written Exam Study Guide

The following study guide was generously contributed by Alexander Leder in 2015 and most recently reviewed by the faculty exam committee in 2019. It provides some useful tips and a list of topics for each of the four subject areas.

[NEW!] The following resources on Quantum Mechanics were generously contributed by Alex Yelland in 2023. Inside this ZIP file, there is both the PDF and TEX versions of his notes (“Quantum_Mechanics_Notes”) , the study guide (“Quantum_Mechanics_Cheatsheet”) , and the written exams solutions (“Quantum_Mechanics_Written_Exams_Solutions”) , along with the individual exam problems broken out into separate projects/PDFs. Please note that these resources were kindly provided by the student and they are not official. Please feel free to contact Alex ( [email protected] ) or the PhysREFS ( [email protected] ) if you have any questions or concerns. 

• Study Resources on Quantum Mechanics

Sample Written Exams & Solutions

Below we have compiled exams and solution sets for as many back years as we can find. These are solutions generously provided by fellow students for past written exams; they are not official solutions. Please reach out to physREFS if you find any errors at [email protected] .  As you can see, not all exams have solution sets, and some of the posted solutions are messy or incomplete. If, in your preparation for the general exams, you work out a solution to a problem, please consider writing it up and sending us a copy. In addition to the warm, fuzzy sensation of knowing you helped out your fellow exam-takers, and the fame and prestige of having your insightful solution admired by future generations of Course 8 students, the really important thing is that every neatly typeset and correct solution to a complete written exam problem will be gratefully rewarded with a shiny physREFS water bottle . To qualify for the gift, the existing solution to the problem below must be either (1) missing, (2) handwritten, or (3) demonstrably incorrect (with the demonstrating to be done by you). Only submissions typeset in LaTeX will be accepted; you must send us both the PDF and LaTeX source versions of your solution. Send your submissions to [email protected] .

• 2021 Fall: Exam | Student contributions: Classical Mech. 1 & 2 by Rikab Gambhir and Daniel Mark, Statistical Mech. 1 & 2 by Yunchao Zhang, EM 1 & 2 by Yunchao Zhang, QM 1 & 2 by Zhaoyi Li
• 2021 Spring: Exam | Student contributions: Classical Mech. 1 & 2 by Daniel Mark, Statistical Mech. 1 & 2 by Kien Pham, EM 1 & 2  by Michael Reefe, QM 1 & 2 by Zhaoyi Li
• 2016 Spring : Exam | Solution
• 2015 Fall : Exam | Solution
• 2012 Fall : Exam | Solution  [Correction to E&M Q1c  by Abdelaziz Hussein]
• 2012 Spring : Exam | Solution
• 2002 Fall : Exam | Solution  [Correction to E&M Q1 by Wenzer Qin]
• 2002 Spring : Exam | Solution  [Student contributions: all problems by Istvan Cziegler; corrections to Stat Mech Problem 1 and Problem 2 by Anthony Grebe]
• 2001 Fall : Exam | Solution
• 2001 Spring : Exam | Solution
• 2000 Fall : Exam | Solution
• 2000 Spring : Exam | Solution   [Student contributions: CM 1 & 2 by  by Mingyu Charles Li]
• 1999 Fall : Exam | Solution
• 1999 Spring : Exam | Solution
• 1998 Fall : Exam | Solution  [Student contributions: QM 1 & 2 by Leo Stein; CM 1 by Koushik Balasubramanian; CM 2 by Vijay Kumar Sreenivasa Gopalan; E&M 1 by Eric Fitzgerald]
• 1998 Spring : Exam | Solution
• 1997 Fall : Exam | Solution

Oral Exam Study Guide

The MIT Physics GSC hosts a wiki site for topics and questions that appeared in past oral exams (known as "Part III" prior to 2015). In addition, Brian Ross has generously compiled a study guide in 2008 for biophysics. We welcome simlilar compilations for other divisions!

• Biophysics oral exam study guide

Gourav Vaid

My ph.d physics interview experience.

In this blog, I would like to share my Ph.D. physics interview experience with the Ph.D. aspiring candidates. I am giving a brief description about my academic achievements and the qualified National examination and its rank on the basis of which I got shortlisted in the Ph.D. interviews at various institute. How they begin the interview and proceed further?

I have cleared GATE-2021 with AIR-52 (Qualified gate 3 times) and on the basis of which I have applied to the various institute in India. First of all, you should be very clear about the research field in which you would like to pursue your work?

You can also look at CUET Exams

You can join the Interview Guidance Program by filling this form on the link below:

Notes are Available

Selected Students (Batch 2023)

Alankar Singh

Uttara Jagadeesan

Sai SreeLakshmi

Sudhir Upadhyaya

Soumya Jyoti

Ridhika Chhabra

Prembrata Manna

Gaurav pant

Dipali gupta

Bhupendra Yadav

Azhar Naseem

Aman Kumbhakar

Institutes where I have Applied

Various institutes, iisc bangalore.

In IISc Interview, they have shortlisted the top 100 Gate rankers and they will give you the choice to attend interviews in either theoretical or experimental physics or you can opt for both. So, I opt for both.

As my interview starts the first question was that Give a brief Introduction.

Second is what have you prepared?

Then they come to the physics part. There were some basic questions from quantum mechanics like from Simple harmonic oscillator problem and some solid state physics problem from topics like X-ray diffraction and superconductivity.

They create new problems i.e. the one which among which you never came across. They are checking your approach. The interview duration was around 20 minutes.

Interview Experience at Various IITs

There are certain ways in which your interview will be conducted. Suppose you choose Condensed matter physics at a particular IIT. Now in most of the IIT’s like Roorkee and Ropar they have the interview panel from that field only. So they are going to ask questions from Condensed Matter physics only. The interview duration was around 20 minutes.

At IIT Guwahati, they asked me questions from Condensed matter physics, Statistical physics, Quantum Mechanics and one or two questions from classical mechanics. The interview duration was 30 minutes.

At IIT Hyderabad there were very few (3-4) positions on the basis of GATE. They take most of the students who have qualified JRF exam. They also asked me to draw the curve. Some question from statistical physics and some from quantum mechanics.

At IIT BHU, the interview duration was about 15 minutes. They are always going to ask you questions from X-ray diffraction in condensed matter physics.

Written & Interview Procedure

Few of the IIT’s like IIT Kanpur and IIT Bombay, they take your interview once you qualify the written test. I have given the written test for both the institutes. The written test time duration for IIT-Bombay and IIT-Kanpur was 1 hour and 1 hour 30 minutes. The cutoff for IIT Bombay was quite high.

This year IIT Madras they have not taken any written test, but although they asked oral questions and they also have prepared few slides where they ask me to solve the problem on my rough sheet and send them. They ask problem from core subjects like Electromagnetism, Quantum Mechanics and Classical mechanics. This interview duration was around 45 minutes.

Interview Experience at various Research Institutes

At JNCASR, I have applied in the CPMU department where both chemistry and physics students work. The number of seats is not higher. They take from 5-8 students in physics.

They started the interview by asking me what you prepared in condensed matter physics. I tell them superconductivity and they ask me questions from superconductivity. The interview duration was about 20 minutes.

- IISER Bhopal

They started the interview by asking me to introduce and then they ask some questions from my project and then they ask more questions from Condensed matter physics and correlate it with Quantum mechanics. Interview duration was 20 minutes.

- TIFR Hyderabad

It is one of the best interviews that I faced so far. My interview was around 1 hour and 15 minutes. They are professional and decent. They started the interview in the same as the other institutes have done.

Furthermore they have asked some everyday life questions also.

- BARC-HBNI Mumbai

The interview was good. They started the interview from Statistical physics conceptual questions and then they go towards the electromagnetism. Then they go towards the condensed matter physics and one or two questions from nuclear physics. The interview duration was around 30 minutes.

- IISER TVM

They basically ask questions from my project and some basic questions from quantum mechanics also. The interview duration was around 20 minutes.

All the best to the Ph.D. aspiring candidates.

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• Common PhD Interview Questions
• Applying to a PhD

In this guide, we’ll share 11 common PhD interview questions and our suggestions on how to answer them.

A PhD interview is an essential step in securing a doctorate position. This is because it enables the prospective supervisor to get to know you better and determine whether you’d be a good fit for the project. Equally, it provides you with the opportunity to learn more about the project and what the university offers. Although being asked to attend an interview by the admissions committee can be daunting, it’s actually a positive sign. It means that based on your application and academic qualification, the academic department believes you have the potential to make a good PhD student for the position.

Whilst most questions you’ll be asked during your PhD interview will focus on your proposed research project, a handful of generic questions will almost certainly be asked. To give yourself the best chance of succeeding in the interview, we highly recommend that you prepare answers to these generic questions beforehand.

Without further delay, here are 11 common PhD interview questions and tips on how you should answer them.

1. Tell Us About Yourself

It comes at no surprise that this common ice-breaker question is at the top of our list. This question will likely be asked to help you calm your initial nerves and settle into your interview. As this is a warm-up question, aim to give the interviewer a general overview about yourself as opposed to a detailed breakdown. To achieve this, structure your answer into three sections:

• Academic History : start with a summary of your academic background – where and what have you studied? What grades did you achieve?
• Research Topic : go onto explain your research interest in your chosen topic – what do you like about it? Do you intend to pursue a career related to it upon obtaining your degree?
• Why a PhD : Finish with why you want to undertake a PhD – do you want to make a contribution to science? Do you want to get a job in academia?

2. Why Do You Want to Do A PhD?

Although you may have touched on this in your answer to the above, your interviews will want to know more of the detail if they ask this question as a direct followup.

Though it may appear obvious, the interviewer is specifically interested in discovering your personal motivations for undertaking a PhD . Too often, students answer this question by listing the benefits of a PhD. Not only will the interviewer already know the benefits of a PhD, but a generic answer also won’t help you stand out among the other applicants.

To answer this question and leave a lasting impact, try to include an academic or personal experience that has strengthened your passion for research. As well as this, outline what your career aspirations are and explain how the proposed PhD will help you achieve them. The key to selling yourself here is to let the interviewer know how passionate you are about the project without having to say it.

3. Why Did You Choose This Project?

This is your chance to show that you have researched the University, supervisor and project.

First, talk about the project. Is there a particular aspect that you’re interested in? If so, mention it. This will show that you’re engaged in the topic and already have a basic understanding of the field. Besides this, a great way to show that you’ve really looked into the research topic would be to discuss a certain part of the methodology the project could adopt.

Next, talk about the University – there may be several universities offering similar projects, but what makes this one stand out? Is it their resources? Is it the prospective supervisor’s research group? Is it their previous involvement in previous influential studies? Again, show that you’ve adequately researched the University and clearly understand what makes it unique.

Finally, you can mention if your decision to apply to their university has been influenced by the expertise of the proposed supervisor. Given that the supervisor will be highly knowledgeable in the research topic you’re applying to, it’s possible they may have contributed to some significant findings in it. If so, it’s acceptable to acknowledge this by mentioning how you would like the opportunity to work under their guidance. However, be careful not to overdo. Although you may be sincere in your answer, it can go against you if your supervisor feels like you’re trying to flatter him. To avoid giving this impression, focus on how his or her expertise will help you develop into a competent researcher.

4. Why Should We Choose You?

A very blunt question, but your PhD supervisor will want to make sure you’re the best candidate for the position. This is especially true given they’ll be responsible for supporting you over the next few years. Therefore, the primary aim of your answer will be to reassure them you have the skills and experience required to undertake a doctoral study. To achieve this, identify the critical knowledge and skills required for the project and discuss how you meet each of these. Follow up each justification with a short, relevant example to help give your answers more impact.

When asked this question, some students tend to just summarise their academic CV and cover letter . This isn’t an effective way to answer the question as you’re telling the supervisor information they already know about you. It’s fine to reiterate a few key points, however, try to delve deeper into what you can offer going forward as opposed to what you’ve achieved in the past. As part of your answer, identify the soft skills which will be imperative to the doctorate and state how you have each of these. These can include skills such as effective communication, great time management, problem-solving, adaptability and high work ethic.

5. How Did You Come up With This Project?

If you’ve developed your own research proposal , then expect to have to defend it as part of your interview. You should have a thorough understanding of what the current gaps in knowledge are surrounding your research topic and how these could limit the findings of your study. Besides this, you’ll want to show that you’re clear on what the key aims and objectives of your project are and appreciate how they could contribute to your field of research. This last point is essential in convincing the interviewers this project is a worthy pursuit. What makes your project groundbreaking and worth dedicating several years to?

The interviewer wants to know if you have thought out all aspects of your project and so will likely scrutinise the finer details of your proposal. Therefore, be ready to outline the literature you’ve read and discuss how you evaluated different methodologies before suggesting your current one.

If you want an edge over other students, you can also produce a high-level plan, similar to the one below (but with more detail), which outlines the different phases of your research project. This can include stages such as the literature review, undertaking experiments, producing your thesis and preparing for your viva voce. Although they won’t expect your plan to be fully accurate, especially given how dynamic research projects can be, it will show your positive attitude towards being imitative and taking responsibility for your project.

6. What Challenges Are You Expecting to Encounter in This Project?

A common PhD interview question students struggle with is “What difficulties do you think you will face?” This purpose of this question is to check how much you’ve thought about the project. Students who provide a poor answer generally do so as they think admitting to any potential difficulties may make them seem incompetent. This couldn’t be any further from the truth.

Identifying potential difficulties shows the interviewers you’ve given serious thought to the project. This reassures the supervisor that should you run into difficulties during the research, you’re not only capable of identifying them but also mature enough to do so. Not highlighting potential difficulties, whether it’s due to a lack of confidence or understanding the project, suggests your project will be vulnerable to problems which could go amiss.

When answering this question, try to follow up on each potential difficulty with how you intend to address it. This can include measures such as making use of internal development opportunities, enrolling onto external training courses or signing up to specific research master classes.

7. What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?

This is a standard question for most interviews, and a PhD interview is no different.

Pick strengths that compliment your PhD programme. For example, if applying to a Physics or Engineering PhD, mentioning you have good attention to detail would be highly beneficial given the amount of data analysis involved. Try to support each of your claims with a relevant example. Using the above case as an example, you could discuss how as part of your Bachelor’s or Master’s dissertation project, your high attention to detail allowed you to streamline some of your experiments or identify potential problems with your data.

Likewise, try to discuss a weakness that won’t be detrimental to your research project. An example of something you would want to avoid would be “I have a tendency to put the hard tasks off until the end until I know I should really start working on them to not miss any deadlines“. Although this may seem like a harmless response, it will seriously concern the interview panel. This is because a model student will need to be consistent in their efforts to meet the challenging workload, even in times of difficulty. As before, follow up your weakness with a plan on how you intend to address it. For example, if you state your weakness as public speaking, a suitable follow up would be to discuss how you would like to work on it by presenting your research to undergraduate students and attending seminars.

Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.

8. Can You Describe a Time You Encountered a Problem or Challenge and How You Approached It?

A key trait of all successful researchers is the ability to overcome problems independently. Given that even a minor problem can derail a research project, it’s important for your project supervisor to know whether you can adequately address them.

Despite what your example may me, try to cover the below three aspects as part of your answer:

• Identification – How did you identify the problem? Was a check you had in place triggered or did you stumble upon it naturally?
• Deconstruction – How did you break the problem down? Did you identify any assumptions or limitations which could have been associated with it? If so, how?
• Overcoming – How did you identify the solution? If you had several solutions, how did you determine the most sensible one? What did you learn from it?

Your example doesn’t need to relate directly to the research programme you’re applying to, however, it should be kept academic if possible. For example, you could discuss a challenge you encountered during your undergraduate dissertation project, such as limited literature on your research topic or inaccurate experiment results.

The key point to remember here is that a supervisor is there to supervise, not to fix all your problems. Not only will they not have the time do to this, but it will directly go against the ethical requirement of ensuring your work is yours and yours alone.

9. What Are Your Career Aspirations?

Your interviewers will want to see that you’ve considered what you will do after completing your PhD. This is to help them determine what your motivations are and to confirm that you want to enrol onto a PhD for the right reasons. It’s clear that anyone who has thought through their decision will have a long-term plan in mind, even if it’s a handful of well-considered options.

Don’t feel like your answer needs to relate to academia. One of the many benefits of a PhD degree is that it can lead to a variety of career paths. By being open with your true intentions, they can better determine what support and training you’ll require from them.

Despite your long-term goals, research into this and know the route you’d like to take post-PhD. A good understanding of your career plans and how to get there will go a long way in conveying your commitment to the project.

10. How Will You Fund This Project?

The interviewing panel will ask about this if your project is self-funded or conditionally funded (e.g. competitive funding schemes where funding is not guaranteed).

You don’t need to provide a complete breakdown of your savings, nor would they expect you to. The primary concern the interviewers want to address is that you’re fully aware of the costs associated with undertaking a PhD . If you intend to apply for external funding or take on a part-time job, mention this. In doing so, make sure you stress that you will base your part-time work around your PhD and not the other way around. The interviewers want to reassure themselves that you will make your research your top priority throughout the course of your degree.

11. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?

This interview is not only for the supervisors to evaluate you but also for you to evaluate them, the PhD project and University.

Although you will have already researched the position at length, ensure you ask questions when offered to do so. Asking questions will show that you’re engaged and are an individual who likes to make informed decisions. Not asking questions, or not asking well thought-out ones, will send the wrong message.

If you’re wondering what makes a great question, a quick internet search for “What questions should I ask at a PhD Interview?” show’s you’re not alone. Some examples of great questions to ask in a PhD interview are:

• Are there any major developments or partnerships planned for the department? – Although this won’t always be the case, the department may be planning to upgrade its research facilities or partner with another leading institution. Asking about this shows you’re genuinely enthusiastic about undertaking influential research.
• What are the supervision arrangements? – This is a great way to find out if your expectations match that of your potential supervisors. This can include aspects such as how often the two of you will meet and what level of support they intend to provide.
• Will there be any opportunities for teaching within the department? – If you intend to pursue an academic career after completing your research, this will be a brilliant way to show them you’re committed to your long-term plans. Even if you plan on following a different career path, asking will let you know whether there is any opportunity to earn whilst you study.
• What opportunities will I have for presenting my research? – This shows you intend to be an active member within your research field. This won’t be great only for your development but will help the university increase its research network and reputation in the wider community.

Other PhD Interview Tips and Advice to Help You Prepare

• Format – The format of the PhD interview varies depending on the University. If you’re unsure of what format your upcoming interview will follow, get in touch with the department you will interview with. They should be able to give you an idea about what to expect and how long it will typically last. This knowledge will prove invaluable when preparing for a PhD interview.
• Video interview – Some interviews will be conducted as either a phone interview or a skype interview. This is especially true if you’re an international student still within your home country. If so, conduct your interview in a place with a reliable internet connection and a clean backdrop.
• Attendance – Usually, your interview will comprise the primary and secondary supervisor. However, sometimes your interview panel can comprise non-technical staff or the Head of Department.
• Presentation – You may be asked to prepare a PhD interview presentation if you’re proposing your own research topic . If you’re requested to do this, keep it brief, use at least 80% of the time they permit and base it around your research proposal.
• Paperwork – Bring two to three copies of your application form, and if applicable, your research proposal. Although in most cases your interviewers would have bought their own copy, it’s better to be on the safe side.
• Etiquette – If you’re unsure of what to wear to a PhD interview, a good general rule of thumb is to wear what you would to a formal job interview. In other words, keep it formal. Additionally, learn how to pronounce the names of the interviewers and any other staff members you may mention beforehand.
• Practice – There’s a lot of truth in the old saying ‘practice makes perfect’. You will want to practise as many PhD interview questions as you can. Don’t just limit yourself to the ones discussed on here. Find as many PhD questions as you can and prepare draft answers for all of them. In fact, you don’t even need to limit yourself to questions specifically for PhD students. There are many out there that, although written for generic academic interviews or the job market, will be applicable to you. If you find yourself short on resources, try searching for ‘tell us a time when you…’ in google as these will provide great scenario-based questions you can practise with.

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Graduate education in physics offers you exciting opportunities extending over a diverse range of subjects and departments. You will work in state-of-the-art facilities with renowned faculty and accomplished postdoctoral fellows. The interdisciplinary nature of the program provides you with the opportunity to select the path that most interests you. You will be guided by a robust academic advising team to ensure your success.

You will have access to Jefferson Laboratory, the oldest physics laboratory in the country, which today includes a wing designed specifically to facilitate the study and collaboration between you and other physics graduate students.

Students in the program are doing research in many areas, including atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics, condensed-matter physics, computational physics, the physics of solids and fluids, biophysics, astrophysics, statistical mechanics, mathematical physics, high-energy particle physics, quantum field theory, string theory, relativity, and many others.

Graduates of the program have secured academic positions at institutions such as MIT, Stanford University, California Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. Others have gone into private industry at leading organizations such as Google, Facebook, and Apple. 

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the Department of Physics , and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

Engineering and Physical Biology | Experimental Astrophysics | Experimental Physics | Theoretical Astrophysics | Theoretical Physics | Unspecified

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the Department of Physics .

Academic Background

Applicants should be well versed in undergraduate-level physics and mathematics. Typically, applicants will have devoted approximately half of their undergraduate work to physics and related subjects such as mathematics and chemistry. It is desirable for every applicant to have completed at least one year of introductory quantum mechanics classes. An applicant who has a marked interest in a particular branch of physics should include this information in the application. If possible, applicants should also indicate whether they are inclined toward experimental or theoretical (mathematical) research. This statement of preference will not be treated as a binding commitment to any course of study and research. In the Advanced Coursework section of the online application, prospective students must indicate the six most advanced courses (four in physics and two in mathematics) they completed or will complete at their undergraduate institution.

Standardized Tests

GRE General: Optional GRE Subject Test: Optional

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Physics

See list of Physics faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

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Advice for applying to graduate school.

Physics Grad School Advice/FAQ

Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about applying to grad school.  Please keep in mind that different people may give slightly different advice, and specific best answers may vary according to physics subfield, and might vary according to the particular schools and programs you are interested in.

You are encouraged to consult your mentors and get different opinions.

Questions about Applying to Grad School

When should I start thinking about grad school?  When and how should I prepare to apply to grad school?  

The most important factor for getting accepted to graduate school is, by far, research experience.  Typically undergraduates get involved in research in the summer after sophomore year; the usual time to start looking for mentors and positions would be January or February of sophomore year.  However some students start earlier, and some don't start until later.  Feel free to ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies for advice.

In your junior year, you will want to start thinking about the GRE (which must be taken by around October of senior year for grad school applications) and talking to mentors about specific schools and programs.  Applications are due around November or December for the following academic year.  (Although see note below about the GRE.)

Is it better to have a single research experience or several?

It can be fine either way.  You probably don't want to have very many short research experiences (gives the impression of lack of attention span, and it will be hard to accomplish anything of depth if you don't spend enough time in a given research group).  However having a couple of different experiences is fine, and will give you some breadth as well as more potential letter-writers.   A single research experience culminating in a major accomplishment can also be very good.  In general, don't worry too much about this when choosing research projects; focus on working on projects you are excited about.

How do I figure out which schools to apply to?

Talk to your research mentor(s)!  They can often give you very good advice about which schools have research programs you might be interested in, and which faculty members you might want to work with.

You can also look on the web, but often information found there is out of date.  Again, your research mentors will often know which information is reliable.

If for grad school you are interested in a different subfield than you are currently doing research in as an undergraduate, you can seek out faculty members working in your area of interest for the future.  The Director of Undergraduate Studies can help suggest people to talk to.

You also want to consider how likely it is you will be accepted at a given school, given your portfolio.  Again, discussion with your mentors will help.

How many schools should I apply to?

Since it costs effort and money to apply to a school, you usually won't want to apply to too many.    A typical number is five to ten.

You want to make sure you pick at least some schools you can be reasonably confident of being accepted by.  Keep in mind that there is randomness in the grad student selection process at any institution; sometimes some schools accept fewer or more than usual in a given year.

What is most important in a grad school application?

By far, the most important component of your grad school application is your letters of recommendation .   

See the next question for advice on letter-writers.  Give your letter-writers plenty of time (at least several weeks).  Also let them know ahead of time the list of schools you will be applying to and the due dates (a Google spreadsheet can be helpful).  It's also a good idea to share your CV and research statement with your letter-writers (you can ask for feedback on these at the same time, too).  

It is sometimes OK to have more than three letters-- if this is allowed, and you have more than three letter-writers, go ahead.

Good grades, good GRE scores, and your research statement also matter.  But a weakness in any of these areas can sometimes be compensated by strong letters of recommendation.  (Note that many schools are now no longer requiring GRE scores.)

How should I choose letter-writers?

It is especially important that at least one of your letters, and preferably all, come from a research mentor.  It is OK if some letters come from faculty members you have taken courses from, but letter-writers who can describe your research accomplishments are more valuable for your application than classroom instructors.    It is much better to have letters from instructors who have taught you physics, math, etc., rather than non-science or non-technical subjects.  In general, avoid letters from coaches, employers, etc. unless these people know you in the context of research work.  Ask your primary research advisor for advice on who else to ask for letters.  Sometimes if you are applying to a particular school and are interested in a particular research program, you may want to find letter-writers with connections to that school or program.

What if my research mentor was a postdoc or a graduate student?  Is it OK to ask them for a letter?

Letters from faculty members (or equivalent, like senior staff at a national laboratory) will usually carry more weight in an application.  However, if the person you worked with primarily is a more junior person, one thing you can do is to ask them to write a recommendation to be "embedded" in their supervisor's letter.  They can write some paragraphs that their more-senior supervisor can quote in a letter for you.

Is it important that I take advanced physics courses/graduate physics courses?

No.  It is better to do well in core undergraduate physics courses than to take advanced courses; overall GPA, and GPA in physics courses, are what admissions committees mostly look at.  If you take advanced courses and do well in them, that's good, but take these courses because you are interested in them, not because you want to impress graduate admissions committees.  In general you are better off putting your time and effort into research work than advanced courses.

Is the GRE important?  How should I prepare?

Different grad schools weigh the GRE differently, and the landscape is also changing.  Recently, based on research that suggests that GRE scores don't seem to have much correlation with success in grad school , and furthermore, that GRE requirements  limit access to underrepresented groups , many physics department no longer require the GRE for graduate admission.   In some cases, the dropping of GRE requirements is a temporary COVID-related change, but in other cases it will be longer-lasting.

When GRE is considered for admission, the physics subject test is usually more important than the general GRE, as most physics undergraduates do reasonably well on the general (but do spend at least some time practicing for general test anyway).  The importance of doing well on the physics subject test varies, however.  For some schools, a good physics subject score is quite important for admission, especially for students who want to do theoretical research.  If you are applying to schools requiring the GRE,  you should try to do as well on the GRE as you can.  Take practice tests, and learn strategies as well as material.  In general, good understanding of introductory physics material is more important than advanced topic knowledge.

However, if you don't do well on the physics GRE, do not interpret this to mean you will not do well in graduate school .  In my experience (as an experimentalist), I have seen examples of students with poor physics GRE scores who have been spectacularly successful, as well as students with excellent scores who haven't done well in grad school.  My experience is consistent with the results of the studies linked above; i.e., the correlation of physics GRE score with overall success in grad school is quite weak, if it's there at all. 

Is it necessary to have publications to have a chance of getting in to grad school?

No, it's not necessary.  Very many successful grad school applicants do not have publications.  If you have any, it's a plus.  How much of a plus it is depends on subfield, so consult with your advisors.  However, it is very important to have some research experience and letters from research mentors.

What should I put in my statement?

Most physics graduate schools require a short (few-page) research statement, or statement of purpose.  Here is what the admissions committee is looking for: ability to communicate clearly, information about research experience and research interests, and enthusiasm.   Describe research you have done so far and why you enjoyed it.  You should tailor your statements to the schools you are applying to-- mention a few topics existing at that institution and faculty members you might be interested in working with.    Admissions committees often use these statements to determine which faculty members should read your application.  Don't just write down a laundry list of research at that school from the web.  Make it clear why you are interested in that research and the specific school. 

Do not make excuses in your statement for any shortcomings in your portfolio.  If you had a personal or medical issue that seriously affected your performance or caused a gap, it is fine to mention this, but be straightforward and businesslike about it, and don't overemphasize it.  Here is a good example --- key advice from this article is, "Explain, but don't dwell".  Focus on your strengths and interests.

It's OK to have a little bit of material in the statement about what or who has inspired you, but this should not take up too much space, especially if space is limited.  It's better to emphasize what you have done and what you are interested in -- this kind of specific material is what will distinguish you from other applicants.

Be aware that some schools apply more stringent criteria for scores and grades to applicants who want to do theory (as opposed to experimental research).  You should always be honest about what you want to do, but unless you are completely sure that you are really  only interested in theoretical research, do not write that you want to do theory only.

Proofread carefully, and have your peers and (especially) your mentor(s) give you feedback.

Should I mention personal interests, hobbies, etc. in the statement?

Applying to grad school is different from applying to undergraduate school in that you are not especially trying to demonstrate breadth; you are primarily trying to convince the admissions committees that you will be successful in research.  While of course it is totally fine to have interests outside physics (everyone should have some!), in general you don't need to include these in your grad school statement.

Is it OK to mention experience and interest in teaching in the statement?

Yes, in general (most departments are happy to have good TAs!).  However a description of your research interests should be more prominent, since grad school is mostly about research.

Is it OK to take a gap year?

There is no single answer to this question; it really depends on your particular situation.  Some students benefit from a gap year.  If your portfolio is strong, then I would advise you to apply for grad school in the fall of your senior year, even if you think you want to take a gap year after getting your undergraduate degree.  If you are accepted, many (although not all) schools may accept a deferral for a year.  

If your portfolio is not strong in one or more aspects, you might be able to strengthen it before applying to grad school by excelling in a research-related position during a gap year.  It is best if you are doing some kind of physics research during the gap year.   Keep in mind that more than one or two years of gap will not likely strengthen your application.  

Should I contact potential advisors before applying?

Opinions vary about this, but my personal opinion is that it can be effective to send emails to potential advisors.    If faculty members are looking for grad students, then they may remember your name when looking at applications.   However, it is very important that your email be clearly personalized to the specific faculty member you are contacting, and that it indicate that you are actually interested in that faculty member's research.   Do not email everyone in a department; pick only research groups you think you really might be interested in and try to find something out about them.   The email should be polite, short and simple and not make complicated requests.  You don't need to include your CV; a brief summary of who you are, your research and interests (a few sentences), is fine. If you have heard about the faculty member's group via one of your mentors, mention that.  Don't ask generic or logistical questions about the program; these are best asked to the Director of Graduate Studies.  

For example: 

  Dear Professor X, 

  I'm an undergraduate at <college> and have been doing research on <short description> with Professor Y, who suggested your research group to me.  I am considering grad school at <university>.  I was wondering if you will be accepting new students into your research group next year.

Do not be too discouraged if you do not get a reply though (some people are not very good about responding to emails), but you can take it as a good sign if you do get a response.

Personally, I always respond to emails from prospective graduate students if it is clear they have genuine interest in my research group.  I delete emails that look as if they are mindless spams to everyone in the department, or show no awareness of my specific research activities.

I suggest that you don't ask directly for a phone or video interview.  Many potential advisors are already swamped with Zoom all day and such a request may make them less likely to respond.  However, potential advisors who are actively looking to recruit students might well be interested in having a conversation with you.  A statement like "I'm available for a Zoom call if you would like," is therefore more effective than "I'd like to request a Zoom interview with you."

A different approach is to contact the Director of Graduate Studies at the institution you are interested in.  You can mention your research interests, and ask them to forward your request to faculty members whose research matches them.  This can be helpful if you don't have information from a current mentor about likely research groups at the institution.  The DGS can also often answer general questions about grad school at the institution (course requirements, qualifiers, process for placing grad students into research groups, etc.)

General Questions about Grad School 

Do I have to pay to go to grad school in physics?

In the U.S. (and some other countries), you almost never have to pay to go to grad school in physics.    You are typically paid by a teaching assistantship for the first year or two, and sometimes longer.  In many cases, after one or two years, you join a research group and get paid a stipend for research from a faculty member's grant.    It's usually not lavish pay, but a reasonable living wage.  Grad schools vary considerably in how and when students TA and join research groups, so it's worth investigating the details when you are choosing a school.

There are also opportunities for fellowships.  If you get a fellowship, you usually do not TA (and your research mentor does not pay you out of their grant).  Fellowships are sometimes offered by grad schools at the time of acceptance.  For other fellowships, you apply at around the time of grad school application or in your first year (e.g., NSF fellowships) or sometimes later.  Some fellowships are available only for specific physics subfields or types of research; consult your research mentor to find out if there are opportunities to look out for.

Should I apply for a Master's degree in physics before a Ph.D.?

No, not in the U.S.  In physics in the U.S., it is usual to apply directly to a Ph.D. program.  At some schools you will pick up a Master's along the way to a Ph.D., or be awarded this degree if you do not finish the Ph.D. program.   Note that this is different in other fields, such as engineering (where terminal Master's degrees are more normal and common), and in other countries.

What about grad schools in other countries?

The physics grad school process and experience outside the U.S. can be quite different from grad school here, and it varies a lot in timing, application procedure, research group selection, funding, etc.  You can consult web resources or possibly consult directors of graduate studies at institutions abroad to find out more about a particular country.

If I am accepted to several grad schools, how do I choose which one to attend?

There are many factors in finding the best grad school for you: research options, department climate, quality of life, etc.  Most schools will invite accepted students to visit; take them up on this to get a sense of the place.  Often there will be an open house-type event over a few days which accepted students are invited to, but sometimes students visit individually.  If you can't attend the school's grad open house or visiting day, then ask the institution's DGS if you can visit at another time-- often this request will be accommodated.

Ask the institution's DGS about details of graduate school: will you TA?  How do students find a research group?  What are the course and qualifier requirements?  It's often best to have more than one research group possibility at the institution.  Ask your faculty mentors for advice about the research options.  Ask current graduate students at the institutions you are considering about quality of life.

Can one negotiate for salary or other perks when deciding where to go to grad school?

Sometimes this can work.  In many cases, salary will not be negotiable, but sometimes schools may offer teaching relief or fellowships if they are really trying to recruit you.  Sometimes faculty members are willing to support students with research assistantships right away when they arrive.  This kind of flexibility varies a good deal, but if you have more than one offer and are trying to decide between them, it does not hurt to ask.  Also, sometimes there is support available to start research in the summer before your first semester, so if that is of interest to you, ask about it.

If I have taken graduate courses at Duke, can I get transfer credit at my graduate institution?

Not usually, although you may be placed in graduate courses according to your experience, and you might be able to skip some coursework at your new institution if you have already taken advanced courses.  This will vary by institution, though, so you should find out how it works at a given place when you are deciding on graduate schools.

Kate Scholberg Updated October 2020

Some helpful slides about grad school by J. Cizewski

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Apply   |   Contact Us   |   Carol Davis Fund   Anonymous Feedback to the Physics Chair

Graduate studies, commencement 2019.

The Harvard Department of Physics offers students innovative educational and research opportunities with renowned faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, exploring fundamental problems involving physics at all scales. Our primary areas of experimental and theoretical research are atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics and cosmology, biophysics, chemical physics, computational physics, condensed-matter physics, materials science, mathematical physics, particle physics, quantum optics, quantum field theory, quantum information, string theory, and relativity.

Our talented and hardworking students participate in exciting discoveries and cutting-edge inventions such as the ATLAS experiment, which discovered the Higgs boson; building the first 51-cubit quantum computer; measuring entanglement entropy; discovering new phases of matter; and peering into the ‘soft hair’ of black holes.

Our students come from all over the world and from varied educational backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and attracting the widest possible range of talents.

We have a flexible and highly responsive advising structure for our PhD students that shepherds them through every stage of their education, providing assistance and counseling along the way, helping resolve problems and academic impasses, and making sure that everyone has the most enriching experience possible.The graduate advising team also sponsors alumni talks, panels, and advice sessions to help students along their academic and career paths in physics and beyond, such as “Getting Started in Research,” “Applying to Fellowships,” “Preparing for Qualifying Exams,” “Securing a Post-Doc Position,” and other career events (both academic and industry-related).

We offer many resources, services, and on-site facilities to the physics community, including our electronic instrument design lab and our fabrication machine shop. Our historic Jefferson Laboratory, the first physics laboratory of its kind in the nation and the heart of the physics department, has been redesigned and renovated to facilitate study and collaboration among our students.

Members of the Harvard Physics community participate in initiatives that bring together scientists from institutions across the world and from different fields of inquiry. For example, the Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms unites a community of scientists from both institutions to pursue research in the new fields opened up by the creation of ultracold atoms and quantum gases. The Center for Integrated Quantum Materials , a collaboration between Harvard University, Howard University, MIT, and the Museum of Science, Boston, is dedicated to the study of extraordinary new quantum materials that hold promise for transforming signal processing and computation. The Harvard Materials Science and Engineering Center is home to an interdisciplinary group of physicists, chemists, and researchers from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences working on fundamental questions in materials science and applications such as soft robotics and 3D printing.  The Black Hole Initiative , the first center worldwide to focus on the study of black holes, is an interdisciplinary collaboration between principal investigators from the fields of astronomy, physics, mathematics, and philosophy. The quantitative biology initiative https://quantbio.harvard.edu/  aims to bring together physicists, biologists, engineers, and applied mathematicians to understand life itself. And, most recently, the new program in  Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) , which lies at the interface of physics, chemistry, and engineering, will admit its first cohort of PhD students in Fall 2022.

We support and encourage interdisciplinary research and simultaneous applications to two departments is permissible. Prospective students may thus wish to apply to the following departments and programs in addition to Physics:

• Department of Astronomy
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• John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
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• Molecules, Cells and Organisms Program (MCO)

If you are a prospective graduate student and have questions for us, or if you’re interested in visiting our department, please contact  [email protected] .

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UCSD Physics PhD Qualifying Exams and Solutions

Here is a listing of the most up to date quals and solutions that I have. If you have an exam that I don’t — please contact me. Also, contact me with any errors that you find (in the links below or in the solutions).

The table below contains links to individual qualifying exams. If you want to grab a bunch of historical qualifying exams at once download the .tar.gz files linked in the table.

2013 Fall exam — Q3 solution (undergrad e&m) I believe that the denominators on equations 4 and 5 should be (in LaTeX) B^2*\ell^2, not B^2*L^2. — Sheena Patel

Here is a Google Sheet that categorizes a number of physics qualifying exam questions. If you find it helpful, please consider helping to edit and add to the document (just ask me for edit privileges).

Update 2019-06-29: Added 2019 Spring (thanks Sharmila).

Update 2018-08-14: Added 2018 Spring (thanks Sharmila).

Update 2018-03-19: Added 2017 Fall (thanks Sharmila).

Update 2017-03-15: Added 2016 Fall (thanks Sharmila).

Update 2016-04-27: Added 2016 Spring (thanks Sharmila).

Update 2016-02-23: Added Solutions to Spring 2013 qual; Added Fall 2015 qual (Thanks Sharmila Poddar); Added zipped pdf files.

Update 2015-08-24: Added 2015 Spring (thanks Leandra Boucheron).

Update 2014-09-09: Updated Spring/Fall 2014 (thanks Leandra Boucheron).

Update 2014-02-15: Updated Fall 2012, Spring, Fall 2013 quals (thanks Alex Mendez).

Update 2012-10-02: I have updated the Spring 2012 qual (with solutions).

Update 2012-07-10: I have updated the Fall 2011 qual to have the correct solution set. Thanks for notifying me of the error!

Update 2011-12-14: I have added the Fall 2011 qual.

Update 2011-08-29: I have updated the Spring 2010 qual with the correct exam. Thank you for notifying me!

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Graduate Admissions

The selection of the Ph.D. students admitted to the Department of Physics is based on an individualized, holistic review of each application, including (but not limited to) the student's academic record, the letters of recommendation, the statement of purpose, past accomplishments, and talent for research in physics. Applicants should keep in mind that attributes such as persistence, enthusiasm, and intellectual creativity can play a significant role in the evaluation of the aptitude of a candidate to graduate school. 

For the 2024-25 application cycle, the General GRE or Physics GRE scores will be accepted but are not a required part of a complete application.  

Applications must be submitted by the middle of December to be considered for the following Autumn Quarter. In January and February of each year, the Physics Department Graduate Admission Committee reviews each application. All applicants will be notified of their admission status by March 1st.

The Physics Department recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision. The Department does not offer a separate program for the M.S. degree, but this degree may be awarded for a portion of the Ph.D. degree work with approval from the Department. Graduate students have opportunities for research in theoretical physics, AMO physics, ultra-fast lasers, particle and nuclear physics, condensed matter physics, quantum information and control, cosmology, astrophysics, and gravitation. Opportunities for research are also available with the faculty at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in the areas of theoretical and experimental particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics, accelerator design, and photon science. In Applied Physics there are opportunities in the areas of theoretical and experimental condensed matter physics, materials research, quantum electronics, and novel imaging technology.

The application deadline for this academic year 2023-24 (2024-25 admissions cycle) is  11:59pm Pacific Standard Time, Friday, December 15, 2023 . The application submission deadline is a hard deadline and no late applications are accepted, no exceptions. We strongly suggest you do not wait until the last day to submit in case you encounter any difficulties.

• Three letters of recommendation, preferably including at least one from a research group.
• Upload one scanned version of your official transcript(s) in the online application (see File Upload Requirements ).   Official transcripts are preferred, however, if obtaining official transcripts is financially burdensome, we will accept unofficial transcripts at the time of application.  For those that are offered admission to our program, we will require submission of official transcripts for accepted students before matriculation.
• The TOEFL exam is required for applicants whose first language is not English. It must be taken within the last two years. The TOEFL is waived for applicants who have recently completed or will complete a Bachelor's degree, or a 2-year Master's program, in the U.S. or in another English-speaking country.  See the  Graduate Admissions GRE/TOEFL FAQ  for detailed information.
• The GRE General and Physics exam scores will be accepted but are not required in the 2024-25 application cycle (2023-24 academic year).

The Department of Physics welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. Review of applications is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, and admissions essays in order to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field.

The department is interested in understanding and mitigating barriers to access to all of our programs, including barriers based on citizenship status, accessibility, or financial or logistical challenges.  If you are interested in our graduate program but there are barriers that limit your ability to apply given our current procedures, we would appreciate hearing from you.  Please fill out this brief form .  

Not all students have equal access to information on the graduate admission process. The department is interested in helping those who may need additional guidance in applying to graduate programs in Physics. If you are interested in attending a Q&A panel to hear from current graduate students about applying to graduate programs please fill out this form .

https://forms.gle/oY6y9L3dpHQe9XN47

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS

Top 20 Physics Interview Questions and Answers (2024)

Here are Physics interview questions and answers for freshers as well as experienced candidates to get their dream job.

1) Explain what is Quantum Physics?

The understanding of behaviour of matter and energy at the molecular, nuclear, atomic and even microscopic levels is referred as Quantum physics

Free PDF Download: Physics Interview Questions

2) Explain what is Quantum entanglement?

Quantum entanglement is one of the central principle of quantum physics, which means multiple particles are linked together in a way that the measurement of one particle quantum state determines the possible quantum of the other particles

3) Explain what is shearing stress?

Shearing stress is the ratio of the tangential force F to the area of the face BCGH over which it is applied.  The ratio shearing stress is divided by shearing strain is the shear module or co-efficient of rigidity, n

Shearing stress     =   const

Shearing strain

4) Mention what is the speed of light in space?

In the space, light travels at a speed of 186,282 miles per second and sunlight takes about 8 min and 19 sec to reach the surface of the earth.

5) What are the properties of fourth matter Plasma?

After Solid, liquid and gas there is one more matter that exists known as Plasma.  Properties of Plasma are

• Plasma has neither a definite shape nor a definite volume
• Plasma often seen in ionized gases, and heating produces it and ionizing a gas
• Free electrical charges which are not bound to atoms or ions can cause plasma to be electrically conductive
• Some of the examples of plasma are lightning, stars, inside fluorescent lights and neon signs

6) Define what is Thermal Conductivity?

The property of the material that relates to its ability to conduct heat is referred as Thermal Conductivity.

7) Explain what is Parallax and Distance Measurement?

To measure the distance to nearby stars, astronomers use an effect called Parallax.  Parallax is the apparent displacement of an object because of a change in observer’s point of view, for instance, when we look at object with one eye shut and then doing the same with other eye, there is a difference in the position of the object this is known as Parallax.

To measure the star position astronomer uses this technique. Once the star position is located after six month they will again calculate the apparent change in position.

8) Mention what is the unit to measure the heat resistance?

Ohm is the unit to measure the heat resistance.

9) What is the instrument used to know the scattering of light by particles suspended in a liquid?

Nephelometer is the instrument used to measure the scattering of light by particles suspended in a liquid

10) Explain what is dyne?

Dyne is a unit of force or also referred as C-G-S (centimetre – gram –-second).  It means that when a force is applied to mass of 1 gram, it gives acceleration of 1 centimetre per second.

11) Explain what is Wave-Particle duality?

When matter and light exhibits properties of both waves and particles, it is referred as Wave-Particle duality.  For instance, Light can behave like wave when it shines through narrow slits while, when exposed to some metal surface it will spray electrons acting as a particle. So under different conditions it will act.

12) Explain what is Quantum tunnelling?

Quantum tunnelling is the process where the particle passes through an obstruction or barrier to reach at another end.  It is referred as tunnelling as the particle as “dug” out the way through the potential barrier.

13) Explain what is Uncertainty principle?

Uncertainty principle tells that the momentum and position of a particle cannot be measured precisely.

14) Explain what is dark matter?

Dark matter is an invisible matter in the space that can hold the stars into the galaxy.  They have no effect of electromagnetic force on it, which means it does absorb, reflect or emit light that makes them practically invisible.

15) Explain what is a photon under the photon theory of light?

A discrete bundle of electromagnetic light or energy, which always remains in motion is referred as photon.

16) Mention what are the properties of Photon?

• It moves at a constant velocity
• It has zero mass and rest energy
• When exposed (absorbed/emitted) to radiation it can be destroyed or created
• With the electron and another particle it will show particle like interaction
• It carries energy and momentum

17) Explain what is Pascal law?

A Pascal law states that when you apply force at one point on liquid it will transmit equal force from one location to another within the liquid.

18) Explain what is Neutrino?

Neutrino is a small, tiny elementary particle which carries no electrical charge which means it is not affected by electro-magnetic forces, and travels almost the speed of light and passes through ordinary matter without making any interaction.

19) Mention the factors on which the velocity of sound depends?

Velocity of sound depends on velocity and density of the medium on which it travels.  It varies directly as the square root of elasticity and inversely as the square root of the density.

20) Define term “Convection”?

Convection is the process of transferring heat by movement of heated fluid such as water or air.  In this process, the heated fluid expands, and gravity pulls the denser masses under them thus forcing them into motion. One good example is a draft of lamps and stoves.

Bonus Question

21) Explain the term angular acceleration?

Angular acceleration is the rate of change of angular velocity or speed of a body moving along a circular path.

These interview questions will also help in your viva(orals)

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24 Comments

Sir , I’m bsc ( physics) student . I want to prepare the professor. How do?

Do Masters and then prepare for NET/SLET or do Ph.d for professor

yes i need this chance but economic barrier is obstacle please am looking for sponsor to do masters in physics

Do msc and qualify csir net PhD also

complete your postgraduate degree in physics then apply UGC-CSIR NET when u qualified jrf then do p.hd with fellowship then u become a Professor.

Thank you sir.

your explanation of pascal’s law (17) is wrong

Please provide the right explanation. Problems should be followed with solutions.

It should be pressure transmitted undiminished in all directions rather than force

Thank you sir

sir i am msc (physics) student. I want to be work in IT companies. How do?

D Law he stated is correct only that he omitted d condition of d associated fluid, which must be a confined incompressible fluid…. Echem.C Echem

Thank you very much! I hope it is going to help me.🙏🏻

Sir I am preparing so an interview based on M.sc physics so pls guide me sir how should I prepare?

Good work from you. Keep it up.

Are classical measuring tools harmful to quantum physics?

Wow nice article

IT HELPED ME A LOT… THANKS🌹❤

Sir iam completed msc bed i want to go higher secondary job

Velocity of sound depends on velocity and density … I guess velocity depends on elasticity and density.

how can prepare well for interview for physics??

After Ph.D or SET/NET be ready with 50-60 lakh Rs

These interviews question are so help full for basic learners and but some answers have words or correct explanation so kindly correct some answers.

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APPLIED PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM Joint PhD Program Between Weinberg College and Mccormick School of Engineering

• Apply to PhD

Frequently Asked Questions

Northwestern has two phd programs with 'physics' in the name. what's the difference.

The Department of Physics & Astronomy has an established record of distinguished fundamental and applied research in areas such as astronomy, condensed matter physics and high energy physics, with vigorous smaller programs in biological physics, complex systems, and quantum state manipulation. Graduate students in Physics & Astronomy join a community of scholars spanning many of the core areas and new directions of physics.

Applied Physics, on the other hand, is a young program with a deliberate focus on interdisciplinary applications. This program links physicists in relevant disciplines with biologists, chemists, electrical engineers, geologists, and materials scientists. The result is a community of scholars who have quite varied interests, but who "think like physicists" and participate in an extensive network of collaborations. Some, but not all, Physics & Astronomy faculty are members of the Applied Physics program, and vice versa.

Students in the two programs will take several core courses together, but the Physics & Astronomy and Applied Physics requirements are not identical. Consult the curricula for details.

What differentiates the Applied Physics program from other comparable programs?

The breadth of research opportunities provided- students can work with ~50 different faculty from 9 departments, and co-advising on collaborative projects is common. Students benefit from close connections due to the smaller size of the program, while being connected to many communities of researchers through the department affiliations of research groups.    

What types of jobs have been filled by recent Applied Physics graduates?

Applied Physics graduates work in industry as quantum computing researchers and hardware engineers in companies such as Intel, as postdocs at universities including Stanford and UCLA, as financial analysts, and as staff scientists at national laboratories such as Argonne National Laboratory and SLAC.  

My major is not in Physics. May I apply to the Graduate Program in Applied Physics?

Many well-known applied physicists were undergraduate majors in other areas of science and engineering. We do not require a major in Physics, and we encourage those who have majored in related areas to apply.

I am interested in doing research in [a specific area of physics]. Can I do this through the Graduate Program in Applied Physics?

Some active research areas are described on this website, but the list is not comprehensive and the interests of our faculty are constantly evolving. Moreover, there are many opportunities for students within other graduate departments and programs, in areas such as accelerator physics, geophysics, biophysics, chemical physics, engineering, etc. Please  write to us  for information and advice specific to your interests.

When and how do I select my advisor?

In the Northwestern University Applied Physics PhD program, you are not required to select your advisor before you start your studies. Incoming students have the opportunity to meet and research potential advisors during the Fall quarter of their first year (list of Applied Physics Faculty members https://appliedphysics.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/index.html ). Before the end of November, the student makes an agreement with an Applied Physics faculty member to become their advisee. We believe this allows students to get better acquainted with various research groups, and learn of research directions they might not have been aware of before, and thus find the right fit for their graduate studies..

Do you admit students seeking a Master's degree?

The Applied Physics Program does not offer a terminal Master's program, and only students who intend to pursue the PhD are admitted. However, PhD students who satisfactorily complete the first year of classes and pass a comprehensive examination are eligible to receive a Master of Science degree.

Can I apply to more than one department/program at NU?

Only one application may be under consideration at a time.

Are Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) required for admission?

Are there minimum score requirements for the general and physics gre to be accepted to the applied physics program.

There are no minimum value requirements for the general and physics tests.

Can you waive the application fee?

Are applied physics graduate students funded, is there anything else i should know about the program before applying.

Be sure to review the research areas available on the program website and on the webpages of participating faculty. The PhD is a research-based degree, so the admissions committee is looking for applicants with a strong interest in applying their physics knowledge in cutting edge areas. Be sure that your application essay communicates what you are most passionate about.  

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Guidelines for Physics Doctoral Candidates

The “Department of Physics Doctoral Guidelines” serves as the handbook of graduate policies and procedures. It contains academic information such as breadth and specialty requirements, General Exam information, time lines of satisfactory progress and thesis information. It also contains research information regarding funding, switching groups and other policies/procedures.

Fall 2024 Written Exam Schedule

• Physics Core Written Exam is scheduled in the week prior to the start of each fall and spring term.
• August 26 9am and 1pm
• August 28 9am and 1pm

Introduction

This document describes the doctoral program in the Physics Department. It supplements the MIT OGE Graduate Policies and Procedures , which outlines the general Institute requirements.

The primary goals of the graduate program in physics at MIT are to solidify and broaden your knowledge of physics and to teach you how to do research, how to identify important problems, and how to communicate scientific information effectively. In short, you will be trained to become a professional physicist and a productive member of the scientific community.

The major steps involved in your graduate career are described in the various sections here.

The Physics Graduate Program

The physics graduate program is under the direction of the Physics Education Committee, which includes members with the following graduate responsibilities:

• Prof. Lindley Winslow , Associate Department Head
• Prof. Matthew Evans , Graduate Admissions Officer
• Prof. Mehran Kardar , General Examination and Requirements Coordinator
• Prof. Christoph Paus , Graduate Appointments Coordinator
• Prof. William Detmold , Graduate Student Coordinator, Graduate Officer
• Ms. Shannon Larkin , Academic Administrator

The staff in Academic Programs, Room 4-315 , can direct you to committee members most appropriate to your specific questions or concerns. All graduate students and faculty are affiliated with one of the Department’s four research divisions. Each division is headed by a faculty member with responsibilities for aspects of the graduate program of that division’s students. The current Division Heads are:

• Prof. Raymond Ashoori , Atomic, Bio-, Condensed Matter, and Plasma Physics
• Prof. Anna Frebel , Astrophysics
• Prof. Gunther Roland , Experimental Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Prof. Iain Stewart , Theoretical Nuclear and Particle Physics

Professor Lindley Winslow serves as the advisor for student concerns about scientific misconduct issues including interactions with research supervisors, data integrity, and authorship. In addition, Physics REFS can provide mediation services between student peers and/or faculty members and Shannon Larkin , Academic Administrator, can be helpful in dealing with sensitive issues.

Every incoming student is assigned an academic advisor. Under most circumstances this faculty member will continue to advise the student until graduation. Later, when the student joins a research group, another faculty member will become his or her research supervisor. Thus, for most of their time in the Department, students have two separate faculty members to whom they can turn for help and advice. Throughout these guidelines, “advisor” refers to the academic advisor. The term “supervisor” is associated with the research or thesis supervisor, even though this person is often colloquially known as the “thesis advisor.”

Types of Financial Support

Note: For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit the Student Financial Services (SFS) website .

Students with a Research Assistantship (RA) or Teaching Assistantship (TA) are expected to spend full time on education and assigned duties and may not engage in any other activity for compensation without the specific approval of the Department Head. Graduate assistants are required to register for an academic load of 36-48 units (which may include Pre-Thesis Research, Thesis Research and/or Physics Teaching) during any term (including summer) in which they have any form of MIT or Departmental support. In addition to course work, students doing research should always register for Pre-Thesis Research (8.391 in the fall and 8.392 in the spring or summer) or, after turning in a thesis proposal, Thesis Research (8.THG). The number of units will vary between 12 and 48 according to the approximate number of hours per week spent on research. This gives students academic credit for their research work. Teaching assistants may register for 12-48 units of Physics Teaching (8.399). In this way, TAs also receive academic credit for teaching. Under most circumstances, the normal course load for graduate students with a full-time RA or TA who have not yet completed their qualifying exams is two academic subjects.

The current stipend rates for RAs and TAs are available through the Academic Programs Office. For both RAs and TAs, full tuition and health insurance is paid over and above the stipend. If a student loses RA support due to termination of a research contract, the Department will provide support for one additional term (in the form of a TA) and will make every effort to provide an alternative form of continuing support.

The periods for RA appointments are as follows:

• Fall: September 1 to January 15
• Spring: January 16 to May 31
• Summer: June 1 to August 31

Research Assistantships (RAs)

These appointments are generally for the academic year, plus the summer. The amount of time a student spends on RA duties depends on the amount of course work he or she needs and on the requirements of the group in which he or she works. For new graduate students taking classes and preparing for the general examination, research duties normally require 20 hours per week or less. After two to three years, research usually becomes full-time.

Teaching Assistantships (TAs)

Some TA appointments are available during the fall and spring terms. These appointments involve teaching sections in a course or lab, tutoring, or grading homework and exams. This work requires up to about 20 hours per week in addition to any research or class work the student is doing.

Very occasionally, first year graduate students are supported by a nine-month (fall and spring) TA appointment. Although the Department cannot guarantee employment during the subsequent summer for these students, in the past virtually all have been able to find summer RA appointments in a Physics Department research group or obtain a summer externship in industry or in a national laboratory. Students who have a TA in their first year normally join a research group and are supported by an RA in subsequent years.

TA appointments are typically made after the first year. These appointments are used to encourage students who wish to hone their teaching skills, to help alleviate funding pressures on the faculty, to facilitate a student’s transition to a different research group, or to support departmental teaching needs. Each of the four divisions in the department has been assigned a guaranteed number of TA positions. In the spring, each division compiles a list of students to be funded by TA appointments in the subsequent academic year. This list is submitted to the department for approval. Thus, students who desire TA support after the first year must inform their research supervisor, who will forward this information to the Division Head. If, after the divisions have submitted their TA lists to the Department, additional TAs are needed, the Department will solicit applications from the physics graduate student population as a whole.

Fellowships

Fellowships are full time positions, unless specifically exempted by the Department Head. A student entering the Department with a fellowship has a great deal of flexibility in planning his or her graduate program and in seeking out a research group. However, the fellowship recipient is responsible for finding a research group that will provide funding upon expiration of the fellowship support. Some information on fellowships for graduate students in physics is available through Academic Programs and the Office of the Dean for Graduate Education , Room 3-134.

Switching Groups

Many students continue through from their first RA to a thesis in the same group. Others, however, elect to change research groups. An RA who does not wish to continue research in his or her group, or who simply wishes to investigate other possibilities, should not hesitate to talk to other professors about different opportunities. However, students are responsible for notifying their current supervisor of their intention to leave a group. Students are expected to work in the research group as long as it is providing funding. In order to facilitate the transition from one research group to another, each student is guaranteed one semester of transitional funding in the form of a TA. Once the decision has been made and approved to switch groups, the student should complete a Research Supervision Form (PDF) or Research Co-Supervision Form (PDF) and submit it to Academic Programs as soon as possible.

Satisfactory Progress

Satisfactory progress involves both academic and research benchmarks. These include passing both the Written and Oral portions of the General Exam on time (see the timetable under  Academic Issues ), completing the subject requirements in the specialty area, and satisfying the breadth requirement.  The Department and/or the Vice Chancellor of MIT may issue academic warnings to graduate students who maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or lower or whose unit load for any given term is below 36 units.

In addition, a student must join the research group of a supervisor who will oversee the student’s doctoral thesis research.  It is expected that a student will join a group by the end of the first year in the program.  Any student who anticipates a possible delay in this schedule should confer with his or her academic advisor; Associate Head  Lindley Winslow ; or Academic Administrator Shannon Larkin before the end of the first spring term.

Many of our graduate students continue through to a Ph.D. in the group they first enter. Others change to another group that is a better match to their interests and abilities and complete their thesis in the new group. Only a very few students have difficulty finding the correct match. Several policies have been established to protect the interests of these students, and to help them make appropriate career decisions.

A student’s first period of work with any given faculty member is considered to be a “trial period” with no obligation by either party to continue the arrangement for a subsequent term. Of course the student may decide to change groups, or request a transitional TA, at the end of any term. If so, he or she must give four weeks notice to the group leader and the Division Head. Before deciding to discontinue funding after a trial period the faculty member must discuss any issues of concern with the student. The faculty member must notify the student of his or her intention to discontinue funding at least six weeks before the term ends. In special cases where a research area has made a prior written commitment to provide a full academic year of research support for an incoming student, the area will offer an alternative second semester RA to a student whose first semester RA has been terminated.

If, in any term beyond the first with a given group, a faculty member believes a student’s performance as an RA is unsatisfactory, he or she must write a warning letter to the student explaining clearly why the performance has been unsatisfactory and stating the conditions that must be met to avoid termination of support at the end of the term. The letter should be approved in advance by the Division Head and sent to both the student and the academic advisor. In order to give the student time to make the changes justifying continued support the following dates will apply.

• Warning delivered by October 1st
• Decision made by the last day of Fall classes

Spring Term

• Warning delivered by February 15th
• Decision made by the last day of Spring classes

Summer Term

• Warning delivered by June 1st
• Decision made by August 15th

In the event that a student whose funding has been terminated is not able to secure another research position prior to the start of the next semester, the Department will guarantee one term of support in the form of a transitional TA.  If the termination of an RA occurs at the end of the spring semester and the student is unable to find other support for the summer, the Department will make an effort to find summer support for the student. The one semester transitional TA would then be available in the fall, if needed. Students have a responsibility to continue working in their research group as instructed by their research advisor as long as they are being supported.  Questions about this process should be directed to the Academic Administrator.

If differences arise between the research supervisor and the student concerning the interpretation of “unsatisfactory performance,” the problem should be brought to the attention of the student’s academic advisor, the Division Head, or the Graduate Committee. Committee members are available to discuss, in private, problems encountered by either the student or the research supervisor before formal action takes place. Additional resources are listed on the front page of the Guidelines.

Academic Issues

Degree programs.

The normal degree program in the Department leads to a Ph.D. in Physics. Direct admission to a Master’s degree program in Physics is available only in special cases (e.g., US military officers).  On occasion, a student admitted for a Ph.D. may wish to earn a non-terminal Master’s degree en route to the Ph.D., or may decide not to follow the Ph.D. program through to completion, or may fail the General Exam.  In these cases the student may be able to satisfy the requirements for the Masters degree.

Advising and Registration

Each fall and spring term students must meet with their academic advisor to complete their registration.  Meetings are not required for summer registration, but each student must still take responsibility for registering on line for an appropriate number of units, either in 8.392 (Pre-Thesis Research) or 8.THG (Thesis).

To make a subject change after registration day, students should use the Institute’s electronic add/drop process, available through  WebSIS .  After a student has electronically requested a change, the advisor must approve it and the student must then submit the approved change. To avoid late charges and the need to petition a change through the Dean for Graduate Education, students should be sure to register before the Registrar’s deadlines.  The Add date is about five weeks into the term and the Drop date is about three weeks before the last day of classes.  Pre-registration for all terms is done on-line via  WebSIS .

Each fall, all graduate students are required to turn in a “Graduate Progress Evaluation Form” designed to facilitate a beginning-of-year conversations with their Academic Advisor.  The form consists of a few basic questions on the progress the student made in the preceding year as well as goals for the coming year, and should be turned in to the Academic Administrator some time shortly after Registration Day by the student after the advisor has signed it.

Requirements for the Ph.D.

The specific requirements for the Ph.D. are:

• Joining the group of a research advisor who will supervise the doctoral thesis
• Passing the General Doctoral Examination
• Specialty Requirements: two subjects (three for NUPAT and three for NUPAX students ( effective Fall 2023 ))
• Breadth Requirements: two subjects
• Written Thesis and Oral Defense

Timetable of Progress Toward a PhD

* Students who enter in February begin their timetable as if they entered in the following fall term (i.e., first attempt at Written Exam is in the second (fall) term. If delays or postponements are needed, contact the Graduate Student Coordinator for the Thesis Proposal or the General Exams Coordinator for the General Exams. See applicable sections in these Guidelines for detailed procedures.

Choosing First Year Subjects

The Department does not require PhD students to take any subjects other than those needed to satisfy the specialty and breadth requirements described below.  However, many students begin by taking some combination of graduate Quantum Mechanics ( 8.321  and  8.322 ), graduate Electricity and Magnetism ( 8.311 ), and graduate Statistical Mechanics ( 8.333 ). Not only have these subjects been proven to give students a broad view of basic physics, but each of them (with the exception of 8.322) may be used to satisfy the related part of the Written General Exam.  As of fall 2016, a new subject, 8.309 , will be offered and can be used to satisfy the Classical Mechanics portion of the Written Exam.

First-year students concerned with the level of their undergraduate preparation are encouraged to consider taking senior-level undergraduate subjects such as Electricity and Magnetism ( 8.07 ), Statistical Mechanics ( 8.08 ) and Classical Mechanics ( 8.09 ). Some first-year students may wish to sample basic graduate subjects in specialty areas: Atomic and Optical Physics ( 8.421  or  8.422 ), Solid State Physics ( 8.511 ), Systems Biology ( 8.591J ), Plasma Physics ( 8.613J ), Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics ( 8.701 ), and Astrophysics ( 8.901  or  8.902 ).  These subjects may later be counted towards one’s specialty or breadth requirements. While planning their first year program, students should keep in mind that the normal subject load for those with full time RAs is two academic subjects, or about 24 units. A student with an RA will also register for Pre-Thesis Research (8.391 in the fall; 8.392 in the spring and summer terms), for 12 or more units, depending on the rest of the course load.

Further reading: Information on NUPAX Graduate Course Requirements

Requirements for the Masters Degree

Masters candidates must complete 66 units of graduate subject credit.  A thesis is required; however, an oral thesis defense is not required.  The thesis will be assigned a grade by the research supervisor in consultation with the thesis committee.

Core Requirements and Oral Exam

The General Requirements assess doctoral students’ readiness to progress through the stages of the PhD program.  While the Department believes strongly that all students admitted to the program are capable of succeeding in it, it is important for each student to demonstrate their expertise at specified points during the program.  

There are two parts to the General Doctoral Requirements:

• a set of Physics Core requirements consisting of four sections: Classical Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Mechanics. Each section may be satisfied either through taking a designated course, or by passing a Written Exam that indicates whether a student already has sufficient mastery of a particular area.  These courses and exams are taken during the first two years of graduate study. Satisfying the Physics Core requirements demonstrates a student’s sufficient grasp of four basic areas of Physics which are the building blocks for future research.  The four sections of the Physics Core together constitute an important foundation required for all PhD students, regardless of the particular topic of their thesis research.
• an Oral Exam of approximately two hours.  The Oral Exam is given in the student’s area of research specialty in the second or third year of graduate study, and it is designed to assess the student’s deep understanding of central ideas in the specialty area. Passing the Oral Exam indicates the student’s readiness to move on to thesis research in the designated area.

All the courses that satisfy the Physics Core Requirements are offered annually.  The Physics Core Written Exams and the Oral Exam are each offered in both the Fall and Spring terms.

Core Requirements Information

The four courses that satisfy the Core Requirement sections are:

• Classical Mechanics ( 8.309 ) offered every fall
• Electricity and Magnetism ( 8.311 ) offered every spring
• Quantum Mechanics ( 8.321 ) offered every fall
• Statistical Mechanics ( 8.333 ) offered every fall

A student satisfies any section by completing the corresponding course with a grade of B+ or higher.

Alternatively, a student may choose to satisfy one or more sections of the Physics Core Requirements by taking an exam. The topics covered by the exam and the expected level are documented in this syllabus .  The Physics Core Written Exam is scheduled in the week prior to the start of each fall and spring term. Entering students must take the exam upon arrival. The Associate Head may approve exceptions due to extenuating circumstances such as Visa issues or the desire to take undergraduate coursework in one of the core areas.

After the first term, for any section of the Core Requirements not yet satisfied:

• the student is required to attempt all remaining sections of the next Core Written Exam;
• if there are remaining sections still to be completed at any time after the exam in the student’s first January, the student must enroll in the corresponding course the next time it is offered.

The deadline for satisfying all four sections of the Core Requirements is the end of a student’s second year.  This timeline allows a student two attempts to complete the Core Requirements by passing the corresponding courses with a B+ or better, as well as four opportunities to satisfy the requirements through the Core Written Exams (first August, first January, second August, second January).

Students experiencing unusual circumstances (e.g., serious health issues, family emergency), may request a delay of their deadline.  (See the section on Schedule Postponements in one of the accordions below.)

If a student has not passed all sections of the Physics Core Requirement by the appropriate deadline, an ad hoc committee will form to consider the student’s individual case.  This committee will report to the Associate Department Head and will consist of:

• the Faculty Graduate Program Coordinator
• the General Exam and Requirements Coordinator
• the chair of the Written Exam Committee
• the department’s Academic Administrator (ex officio)

The committee will receive input from the student’s academic and research advisors, and the student will have the opportunity to provide a written statement. The likely recommendation would be to switch the student to Master’s degree status and set a schedule for completing an SM thesis. However, in unusual cases, this committee may recommend that the student be allowed to do prescribed further study and/or to have one additional attempt to complete the outstanding section by course or exam at the next opportunity. The final decision would be made by the Associate Department Head.  No further extensions would be allowed.

Structure of the Written Exam

Note: The upcoming written exam schedule details are listed at the top of this page.

Each exam consists of two questions; the student selects one of the two questions to solve in a 75-minute period. The questions are prepared by a committee of four Physics faculty members, and are reviewed before the exam is finalized by additional faculty who are each assigned to grade one section of the exam.

There is no pre-determined or fixed percentage of students who pass, nor is there a fixed passing score. The difficulty of the examination may vary somewhat from year to year, and this is taken into account in determining the pass/fail line.

Exams with grades near the deciding line are reviewed in detail by all members of the Exam Committee and by the graders. If a student is repeating an exam, the earlier performance is also considered.

Exam results are communicated to students and their advisors individually by email in time for the results to be considered in the selection of classes for the upcoming term.

Sample Written Exams

Sample exams, with solutions, are available as study aids for the Written Exam. The current format of four 75-minutes sections was first administered in fall 2015. Prior to 2015 our Qualifying Exams were given in 3 parts: Parts I and II comprised the Written Exam, and the Oral Exam was known as Part III.

Pre-2015 sample exams labeled ‘Part II’ with the 4 sections presented as a single 5-hour exam continue to be useful for Written Exam study, if reviewed as separate 75-minute topics.

Study materials are available both below, the Physics REFS webpage, and our Physics Written Exam Study Guide .

NOTE: You may see the words “Part II” mentioned in the below PDFs. Labeling of the Written Exam was changed in 2015, when what was originally two written exams was restricted into one exam.

• Textbook Suggestions  (PDF)
• Fall 2000  (PDF)
• Spring 2001  (PDF)
• Fall 2001  (PDF)
• Spring 2002  (PDF)
• Fall 2002  (PDF)
• Fall 2012  (PDF)
• Spring 2012  (PDF)
• Fall 2015  (PDF)

Sample Written Exam Solutions

Oral Exam Information

The purpose of the oral portion of the general exam is to test students’ broad general knowledge within their field, which is the same as that of their research supervisor; only a minor portion of the exam will concern the student’s specific research topic.

The Oral Exam, taken in the second or third year, allows the student to demonstrate deep knowledge of a specialty area.

• Two attempts at the Oral Exam are allowed.
• The first attempt at the oral exam must be taken by the first term of the third year.
• If a second attempt is needed, it must be taken in the term immediately following the first attempt. (If a first, failed attempt was taken in the first term of the second year, or earlier, the student may postpone the second attempt until the beginning of the third year.)

Structure and Content of the Oral Exam

NOTE: Students planning on taking the Oral Exam in any term should file an exam application with the Academic Programs Office by September 15 for the fall term and February 15 for the spring term.

At the start of the academic year, each Division appoints one committee for each research field to examine all students in that field who will take the exam within the coming year. The oral exam committee consists of:

• the chairperson
• two other faculty members
• an alternate faculty member if the student’s research supervisor is a member of the standing exam committee

The Academic Programs Office notifies all students about the members of their committee; the student is then responsible for scheduling the exam with the committee and notifying Academic Programs of the exam day, time, and place. Exams are generally administered in the second half of the term.

The Committee Chair in each area should communicate exam expectations to the students taking the exam that term. Ideally, this should be done in a meeting of all examinees at the start of the term.

Currently, oral exam committees are formed in each of the following areas:

• Astrophysics Chair:  Claude Canizares
• Atomic and Optical Physics Chair:  Wolfgang Ketterle
• Biophysics Chair:  Jeff Gore
• Condensed Matter Experiment Chair:  Long Ju
• Condensed Matter Theory Chair:  Leonid Levitov
• Nuclear and Particle Experiment Chair:  Or Hen
• Nuclear and Particle Theory Chair:  Barton Zwiebach
• Quantum Information Chair: TBD
• Plasma Physics Chair:  Nuno Loureiro

Content of the exam:

• The first question should be in the student’s specific area. The Chair should have received this question from the supervisor and provided it to the student a week before the exam.
• The oral examination continues in the student’s general field.
• Discussion of a student’s research, when applicable, comprises no more than the final quarter of the examination.

The research supervisor may observe the exam and may provide input only if solicited by committee members. The supervisor and student will be asked to leave the examination room when the final decision is discussed. The committee should inform them of the result as soon as a decision is reached.

CMT Oral Exam FAQs

• Am I responsible for contacting the committee to schedule the exam? Yes. Send a Doodle poll to all of your committee members (usually 3 of them) to pick the time for your exam; usually towards the end of the semester works best. Suggest many days as options, and on each day, make 2-hour slots, with 1-hour increments. Once the time of the exam is agreed upon, book one of the conference rooms for the exam, and email the time and place to your committee members. Also, just in case, send them a reminder email about two days prior to the exam. Ask Graduate Coordinator Sydney Miller to send you a grade sheet for the exam, print it out, and bring it with you to the exam.
• Will there be a question given to me to prepare in advance? Who will give it to me, and when will I receive it? Yes. Ask your research advisor to give you one prepared question, which the committee will use to start the exam. He or she needs to give you this question about a week before the exam. Please email the question to the committee members as soon as you have it.
• Will I be expected to talk about my own research? No, not beyond the research question from your advisor.
• Ashcroft & Mermin, Solid State Physics
• Kittel, Introduction to Solid State Physics
• Kerson Huang, Intro to Stat Mech. …is fair game for the exam. In addition, the student will start by giving a short presentation on a question prepared by their research advisor. The committee is allowed to ask questions on that also, but only assuming the knowledge of the material covered in 1, 2, and 3 above.
• Will I receive the results of the exam immediately? What kind of feedback will I receive if I don’t pass? You will receive the results of the exam immediately. The feedback will be given either immediately, or within the few days immediately after the exam.
• Solve the advance problem (from your adviser) in a number of different ways. Make sure that you can present and discuss the simple intuitive solutions.
• Be prepared to present your solution without notes (except for the problem statement from your research advisor, which you should print out for yourself and the exam committee).
• Make sure that you listen to the questions being asked during the examination. Sometimes it helps to rephrase the question in your own words. This helps to ensure that you understand the question and it also gives you more time to prepare your response.
• After giving an answer, confirm that you have addressed the question.
• It is ok if you don’t know all of the answers. It is better to say “I don’t know” than to say something that is not true. Even better would be to say, “I don’t know the answer to that question, but I could figure it out by doing…”

NUPAT Oral Exam Info

Nuclear and Particle Theory (NUPAT) students, like all students in the Physics Department, are required to pass an oral examination in their sub-field.The first attempt at the oral exam must be taken by the end of the first term of the third year. Two attempts are permitted, with the second attempt scheduled in the subsequent term. If the subsequent term precedes the third year, a student may postpone the second attempt until the beginning of the third year.

The exam is administered by the Oral Exam Committee, composed of three faculty members. Should the student’s research advisor be a member of that committee, another faculty member will be substituted in place of the advisor.

The exams are scheduled at the beginning of the Fall or Spring term and will take place in December and May, respectively. The NUPAT oral exam consists of two parts:

• A short exposition on a question or topic assigned to the student by the Head of the Oral Committee no later than two weeks before the exam.
• A set of questions on theoretical nuclear and particle physics posed by the committee.

Passing of the exam will depend on the student’s performance in the assigned question, as well as his or her proficiency in theoretical nuclear physics and theoretical particle physics . The topics and questions are drawn primarily from material covered in NUPAT graduate classes, with emphasis on 8.325 and Field Theory of the Standard Model. If you have a question about whether some particular material should be studied for the exam, then you should ask the current head of the NUPAT Oral Exam committee.

The exam is most often 120 minutes in duration and results are communicated to the student at the completion of the exam.

Furthermore, please note that more senior CTP students have a list of suggested books, material, and a shared Dropbox with previous questions that is helpful for studying. Additional suggestions:

• Students are encouraged to form study groups for the oral exam. It is an excellent way to learn.
• Students should talk to more senior graduate students about what the exam has covered in past years, and consult the above-mentioned documents.
• Talk to your committee before taking your exam to discuss your topic and any suggested material.
• Ask faculty if you have questions. If they have time, they are always happy to help.

Find more info on CTP Guidelines for Graduate Students .

NUPAX Oral Exam Info

NUPAX students, like all students in the Physics Department, are required to pass an oral examination in their subfield. The first attempt at the oral exam must be taken by the first term of the third year. Two attempts are permitted with the second attempt, if necessary, scheduled in the subsequent term. (If the subsequent term precedes the third year, a student may postpone the second attempt until the beginning of the third year.) The exam is administered by three faculty members who are members of the oral exam committee. Should the student’s research advisor be already a member of that committee, another faculty member will be substituted in place of the advisor.

The exams are scheduled at the beginning of the fall or spring term. The NUPAX oral exam consists of three parts: (a) a question prepared in advance based on a relevant topic in nuclear and particle physics, (b) a portion focusing on the student’s current research program, and (c) a broad set of questions in nuclear and particle physics. Passing of the exam will depend on the student’s performance in the assigned question, as well as their proficiency in nuclear physics , particle physic s, and detectors and experimental techniques . The topics and questions are drawn primarily from material covered in the NUPAX required graduate classes ( 8.701 , 8.711 , and 8.811 ).

The exam is a total of 90 minutes in duration and results are communicated to the student at the completion of the exam. Students should expect to devote between four and six weeks (integrated) in preparation of the oral exam.

QIS Oral Exam Info

Quantum Information (QI) students, like all students in the Physics Department, are required to pass an oral examination in their sub-field.The first attempt at the oral exam must be taken by the end of the first term of the third year. Two attempts are permitted, with the second attempt scheduled in the subsequent term. If the subsequent term precedes the third year, a student may postpone the second attempt until the beginning of the third year.

The exams are scheduled at the beginning of the Fall or Spring term and will take place in December and May, respectively. The QI oral exam consists of two parts:

• A set of questions on quantum computing and quantum information posed by the committee.

Passing of the exam will depend on the student’s performance in the assigned question, as well as his or her proficiency in quantum computing and quantum information. The topics and questions are drawn primarily from material covered in the textbook by Nielsen and Chuang.

The exam is up to 120 minutes in duration and results are communicated to the student at the completion of the exam. Additional suggestions for preparation:

• Students are encouraged to form study groups for the oral exam. During these groups, take turns acting as examiners and coming up with questions. It is an excellent way to study.
• Students should talk to more senior graduate students about what the exam has covered in past years.

Scheduling Postponements

Postponements for completing any part of the General Doctoral Requirements can be granted if a student is experiencing unusual circumstances. Requests for postponement of the Physics Core Requirement must be submitted at least one month prior to the start of the next term in which a Written Exam or corresponding course would be required. Requests for postponement of the Oral Exam must be submitted by September 30th for the fall term and by February 28th for the spring term. Any request for postponement must be made in writing (e-mail is acceptable) to the research supervisor. The request must include a clear justification. The research supervisor will add comments and forward the request to the General Examination and Requirements Coordinator. A student with no research supervisor should submit the request through his or her academic advisor. Appeals should be addressed to the Associate Department Head, who will consult with appropriate faculty members when reviewing the case.

Specialty and Breadth Subject Requirements

Specialty subjects.

Students are required to take two basic one-semester subjects in their research specialty (three in NUPAT and three in NUPAX ( effective Fall 2023 )).  These subjects are central to the research area and it is advantageous to complete them as early as possible.  The specialty subjects in the various fields are listed below and each must be passed with a “B-” or better.  Substituting for any of the following subjects requires a request in writing (or e-mail) to the appropriate Division Head.  After commenting, the Division Head will forward the request to the General Examination and Requirements Coordinator who will send notification of the decision.

ASTROPHYSICS 8.901, 8.902 Astrophysics I, II ATOMIC AND OPTICAL PHYSICS 8.421, 8.422 Atomic and Optical Physics I, II BIOPHYSICS 8.591 Systems Biology and one of the following: — 8.592 Statistical Physics in Biology — 8.593 Biological Physics CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS 8.511, 8.512 Theory of Solids I, II EXPERIMENTAL NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE 8.701 Intro to Nuclear and Particle Physics * Effective Fall 2023 8.711 Nuclear Physics 8.811 Particle Physics PLASMA PHYSICS 8.613J, 8.614J Introduction to Plasma Physics I, II

QUANTUM INFORMATION 8.371 Quantum Information Science and one of the following: — 8.322 Quantum Theory II — 8.323 Relativistic Quantum Field Theory I — 8.421 Atomic and Optical Physics I — 8.422 Atomic and Optical Physics II — 8.511 Theory of Solids I — 8.512 Theory of Solids II — 8.372 Quantum Information Science III THEORETICAL NUCLEAR AND PARTICLE 8.325 Relativistic Quantum Field Theory III and, as appropriate, two of the following — 8.334 Statistical Mechanics II — 8.962 General Relativity — 8.952 Particle Physics of the Early Universe — 8.821 String Theory — 8.831J Supersymmetric Quantum Field Theories — 8.841 Electroweak Interactions — 8.851 Effective Field Theory — 8.701 Intro to Nuclear and Particle Physics

Breadth Requirement Website Update

— as of august 4, 2023 —.

This applies to students entering in Fall 2023.  Students who started before Fall 2023 may follow this requirement or the old one listed in the accordion below.

To enrich knowledge about physics outside of one’s own research field, students must complete two breadth requirement subjects.  At least one of these must be from the list below.  Both must be passed with a grade of B- or better.

There are two types of breadth courses: primary breadths and secondary breadths. A student may satisfy the graduate breadth requirement by taking either: two primary breadth courses or one primary breadth course and one secondary breadth course. If two primary breadth courses are used to satisfy the requirement those must be from two different areas. A course cannot satisfy both the breadth and specialty requirement, so breadth courses cannot be from the student’s own area. A student’s area is determined by the Oral Exam they plan to take.

Primary Breadth Courses  

• 8.370 – Quantum Computation
• 8.371 – Quantum Information Science
• 8.372 – Quantum Information Science III
• 8.421 – Atomic and Optical Physics I
• 8.422 – Atomic and Optical Physics II
• 8.511 – Theory of Solids I
• 8.512 – Theory of Solids II
• 8.591 – Systems Biology
• 8.592 – Statistical Physics in Biology
• 8.613J – Introduction to Plasma Physics I
• 8.701 – Introduction to Nuclear and Particle Physics
• 8.711 – Nuclear Physics
• 8.811 – Particle Physics
• 8.821 – String Theory
• 8.901 – Astrophysics I
• 8.902 – Astrophysics II
• 8.942 – Cosmology

Secondary Breadth Courses

• 8.316 – Data Science in Physics
• 8.323 – Relativistic Quantum Field Theory I
• 8.324 – Relativistic Quantum Field Theory II
• 8.325 – Relativistic Quantum Field Theory III
• 8.962 – General Relativity
• Graduate Courses cross-listed with physics.

(The detailed table by area is here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4lrdq61hrg5l7pmfauk82/breadth_update-20230801.pdf?rlkey=uxfuo413cufzitp3m2oitzz04&dl=0 )

Internships

An internship can be used as a secondary breadth.  Internships need to be arranged ~6 months in advance in coordination with the department and the research advisor.  Internships may be scheduled during either summer or academic terms and the student will need to register for the correct units.

Harvard Courses

The Harvard equivalent of the above courses can be substituted. QFT is the most common case of this. Please confirm with the department that the Harvard course has the correct curriculum to substitute for the MIT course.

Substitutions

The current breadth requirement was crafted with care. If you believe a course should be part of the breadth requirement, the instructor will need to go through the procedure for the course to be cross-listed with physics.

Breadth Subject Requirements (pre Fall 2023)

To enrich knowledge about physics outside of one’s own research field, students must complete two breadth requirement subjects.  At least one of these must be from the list below.  Both must be passed with a grade of B- or better.

If only one breadth requirement is taken from this list, students may request approval of a second course that is not on the list if it genuinely satisfies the two stated objectives of the breadth requirement: 1) learning about physics and 2) being outside the student’s research field.

To request approval for a course, a student should write a short but clear email or letter explaining why the course satisfies these two objectives.  If the course is in another department, the message should tersely explain on the basis of the course description or curriculum, why it should be considered learning about physics. The student should also succinctly state his or her research specialty and thesis topic, and explain why the course should be considered as being outside this research area. A short paragraph is sufficient to convey the necessary information. Physics graduate students may wish to arrange an internship in an industrial or national laboratory at some time during their graduate career.  Internships may be scheduled during either summer or academic terms and can be used, with approval of the student’s academic advisor, to satisfy one of the Departmental breadth requirements, even if the internship is in the student’s research field; internships may not be used to satisfy the specialty requirement.  The Department recognizes that the demands of MIT research may make it difficult for students to consider this opportunity, but it also believes that the benefits can outweigh the possible conflicts. Students seeking internships should discuss the issue with their research supervisor and schedule the internship to minimize disruption of research. 

The student should send the request to his or her academic advisor and, if necessary, discuss and modify the content to obtain the advisor’s approval.  The advisor should then forward the request, with his or her approval, to the General Examination and Requirements Coordinator who will send notification of the decision.

Most graduate students are supported by Research Assistantships.  RAs become involved in a research project as soon as they begin their assistantship, and this often leads to a thesis topic.  TAs and Fellows should look for a research group during the first year.  Prior to thesis research, students get academic credit for their research by registering for Pre-Thesis Research ( 8.391  or  8.392 ), which is generally taken every semester that research is conducted until thesis research formally commences.  Starting with the semester  after a student passes the oral exam , registration changes from Pre-Thesis Research to Thesis ( 8.THG ). While many students stay with their first research group, some register for Pre-Thesis Research in two or more research areas before finding a research topic suitable for a thesis.  Pre-Thesis Research is graded on a Pass/Fail basis.

All graduate students conduct research that eventually leads to a thesis, but there are many different paths to gaining a research project.  Students are expected to register for thesis and be assigned a thesis committee by the first term of their fourth year of graduate school (see Thesis section below).

Research Supervision

Any person who holds a Faculty or Senior Research Scientist appointment in the Physics Department may serve as a research supervisor.  Under special circumstances, a faculty member outside the Department may supervise a student (this includes other MIT departments or Physics Departments at other institutions).  Prior to embarking on a research project with an outside supervisor, the student must obtain a Departmental co-supervisor.  In consultation with the research supervisor, the student should find a Faculty member in the Physics Department who agrees to be the co-supervisor. The co-supervisor will maintain close contact with the research as it progresses and must ultimately co-sign the thesis.  The student should submit a  Research Co-Supervision Form (PDF), which requires the signatures of the research supervisor and co-supervisor.  This form must be submitted to Academic Programs.  No funding will be administered by the Department of Physics until this form is submitted.

Research Internship

Physics graduate students may wish to arrange an internship in an industrial or national laboratory at some time during their graduate career.  Internships may be scheduled during either summer or academic terms and can be used, with approval of the student’s academic advisor, to satisfy one of the Departmental breadth requirements, even if the internship is in the student’s research field; internships may not be used to satisfy the specialty requirement.  The Department recognizes that the demands of MIT research may make it difficult for students to consider this opportunity, but it also believes that the benefits can outweigh the possible conflicts. Students seeking internships should discuss the issue with their research supervisor and schedule the internship to minimize disruption of research. 

Ph.D. Thesis

Schedule of upcoming physics PhD Thesis Defenses . If you are defending this term and do not see your information listed, please contact Sydney Miller .

Students must register for thesis and be assigned a thesis committee no later than the first term of their fourth year of graduate school.  It is strongly recommended that students register for thesis in a term earlier than this final deadline.  The first step is for the student and research supervisor to agree on a thesis topic. An initial  Graduate Thesis Proposal Form (PDF) must be submitted to Academic Programs by the second week of the term.  The form requires an initial thesis title, the name and signature of the research supervisor and the name of one reader for the thesis committee agreed upon by the student and supervisor. The student should register for 8.THG (reminder: the minimum number of combined units for all subjects in any particular semester should equal 36) beginning with the term the Proposal Form is submitted.  A third reader from the Physics faculty, who is not in the same research area, but whose interests, background, or special knowledge make him or her an appropriate member of the committee, will be assigned by the Graduate Student Coordinator.  Thus, in general, a thesis committee has three members (supervisor, selected reader, assigned reader).  If there is also a co-supervisor (see above), the thesis committee will consist of four people.  When the departmentally-assigned reader has been selected, it is the student’s responsibility to convene an initial thesis committee meeting no later than four weeks before the last day of classes.

At that meeting the student makes an oral presentation to the thesis committee of a detailed proposal for a research program that would subsequently become the Ph.D. thesis. The student should demonstrate a thorough knowledge of relevant literature, explain the significance of the research to progress in the field, and present a well-thought-out program of research, including contingency plans. After that meeting, and based on the discussion, the student will develop a written proposal consisting of a one- or two-page description of the body of work that is to comprise the thesis.  This proposal is submitted to Academic Programs, approximately two weeks before the end of the term (a specific date will be determined each semester).

Subsequent changes in title, scope, supervisor(s), or readers may be made with the written approval of the Graduate Student Coordinator.

In some cases, the thesis research may be in a borderline field between physics and some other field of science or engineering.  In these cases, a joint committee, including members of another department may be formed.  This requires approval by the  Dean for Graduate Education .

Students who have not registered for thesis research or submitted a thesis proposal by the first term of their fourth year must provide the Graduate Student Coordinator a written explanation of the circumstances leading to the delay.  This procedure must be followed in any subsequent term the student is still not registered for thesis.  Graduate appointments will be renewed only for students who meet the thesis registration and proposal requirements unless the Graduate Student Coordinator approves an extension based on the circumstances described in the student’s communications.

After the initial oral presentation to the thesis committee, each student must make at least one substantial oral presentation of progress to the thesis committee every 12 months.  The scheduling of this presentation is arranged by the student.

Master’s Thesis

Students pursuing a Master’s degree are required to submit a written thesis.  No oral defense is necessary.  When work on the thesis commences, each student must submit a  Master’s Thesis Proposal Form (PDF) with the proposed title of the thesis and the signature of the research supervisor to Academic Programs, 4-315.  The student should begin registering for 8.THG immediately.  A second reader will be assigned by the Graduate Student Coordinator and the student will be subsequently notified.  Upon completion of the thesis, the research supervisor will submit a letter grade for the work to Academic Programs.

MIT Degree List

A student may be recommended for his or her degree in any term.  A student must submit an  Application for Advanced Degree  at the beginning of the term in which he or she plans to graduate, and  must be registered in residence during that term .  Only the names on the degree list will be considered for degrees for that term.  Those on the September and February degree lists may participate in commencement the following June. Reminder: as an advanced degree candidate, a student should register for thesis as long as he or she is doing thesis research,   including the summer terms.  No specified number of research units is required, although the combined number of registered units each term should not be fewer than 36.

Thesis Oral Defense

The thesis defense is primarily an oral presentation of the thesis research.  In order that suggestions for revision from the thesis committee can be incorporated into the final version of your thesis, the defense should take place at least three weeks before the date posted by the Institute for approval of degrees by academic departments. This oral presentation is based on an acceptable written draft of the thesis, which is provided to the thesis committee at least two weeks prior to the defense.  What constitutes an acceptable draft should be discussed carefully with the thesis committee.  The student is responsible for scheduling the thesis defense and arranging for the room in which it is to be held.  The student should then notify the Graduate Assistant in Academic Programs of the day, time, and place of the defense; the Graduate Assistant will send notice to the Physics community, including to all faculty members.  The defense is public and all members of the MIT community may attend.  Immediately following the public presentation there will be a mandatory private session involving only the student and the thesis committee.

Thesis Copies

After passing the thesis defense and incorporating the suggested changes, students must submit to Academic Programs:

• two original copies on thesis archival paper with original signatures and
• the completed form from the  Specifications for Thesis Preparation , with an abstract and title page attached.

Details of the required thesis, abstract, and title page formats are provided in  Specifications for Thesis Preparation . Care should be taken to follow the presented format.  The student should determine whether or not the supervisor, fellowship sponsor, etc. require additional copies.  For advanced degrees submitted to the Physics Department, copyright is usually granted to MIT instead of retained by the student. The “Chairman” signature line on the thesis cover page should be that of Professor  Lindley Winslow , Associate Department Head.  This signature is obtained by the Academic Programs Office after the student submits the thesis.

Students should also be aware that a thesis archival fee will be charged to their student account.  The Institute requires that this, and all outstanding charges, be paid before the final degree is approved.

Career Counseling

Although the MIT Physics graduate program is primarily focused on training students for careers in physics research, the pursuit of an advanced degree in physics is an excellent preparation for a variety of careers, both in physics and in other fields.  If you have questions, or if you need someone to talk to about your career, there are many people available and willing to help.  Every incoming student is assigned an academic advisor with whom they can discuss their course schedule and professional plans.  Students in research groups have excellent resources in their research supervisor and other graduate students, and teaching assistants can talk to the professors for whom they are teaching.  Students can also get advice from their course instructors. The MIT Career Advising and Professional Development (CAPD, E17-294) has a variety of resources for graduate students.  Finally, the Physics Department sponsors occasional lectures and presentations by alumni in non-academic fields, and also maintains a mail list,  [email protected] , to which employment opportunities of interest to physics graduate students are posted on a regular basis.

Department of Physics & Astronomy

College of Natural & Agricultural Sciences

Graduate Program

Uc riverside graduate physics and astronomy program.

Welcome to the graduate program at the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of California at Riverside.

We invite you to apply to our PhD program or find out more information about applying: 

Apply to our Program         General Graduate Admissions Information

The Department has a very active research program with 44 faculty and 132 graduate students. We have theoretical and experimental research programs in Astrophysics, Biophysics, Condensed Matter Physics, Cosmology, Fundamental Precision Measurements, High Energy Physics, Relativistic Heavy Ion and Nucleon Spin Physics, and Surface Physics. We use facilities located on the campus at UCR as well as at major national and international laboratories.

As UC Riverside has rapidly expanded, we have taken advantage of this opportunity to grow into an elite physics department while maintaining our supportive mentoring tradition. The graduate program is a top priority of the campus, allowing us to offer competitive financial support. All of our incoming graduate students are fully supported through fellowship and TA packages.

The city of Riverside (population ~325,000) is located 50 miles east of Los Angeles in Southern California. The San Bernardino and San Jacinto mountains close by offer hiking and skiing. Several of the Southern California beach communities are only 50 miles to the west, and Palm Springs and the high desert (Joshua Tree National Park) are 60 miles to the east. The university campus occupies a spacious park-like, 1,200-acre site on the outskirts of Riverside, near the Box Springs Mountains. We are within 30 miles of many other tourist attractions such as Disneyland.

Reasons to get a PhD at UC Riverside  

Distinguished faculty, junior faculty awards.

• 5 National Science Foundation Career Awards
• 2 Sloan Research Fellow
• 2 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Awards
• 3 Department of Energy Outstanding Junior Investigator Awards
• 1 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PCASE)

Full Professor Honors

• 1 Nobel Prize in physics
• 1 APS Panofsky Prize (High Energy Physics)
• 1 Bardeen Prize (Condensed Matter Physics)
• 1 Humboldt Fellowship
• 1 Guggenheim Fellowship
• 10 APS Fellows
• 1 AVS Fellow
• 6 AAAS Fellows

Growing Graduate Program

• Graduate enrollment has grown from 89 to 132 in the last 10 years
• Entering class ~34 students, ~12 international, ~13 domestic provides critical mass for student cohort, student breadth, national and international diversity, and full graduate curriculum

PhD in Physics with emphasis in 7 tracks  

• Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Condensed Matter, Surface, Optical Physics and Biophysics
• Astrophysics
• Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics
• Materials and Nanoscale Physics
• Astronomy  (New PhD Program in Astronomy expect to begin Fall 2023)

Research Infrastructure/Activities

• ~$12.3M extramural grants/year
• Support for 16 postdoctoral researchers, 10 Research Scientists giving students access to 40 faculty and 26 additional PhD's for mentoring and training.
• condensed matter
• nanoscale science and engineering
• astronomy/astrophysics
• high energy

Graduate Program Highlights

• For Condensed Matter with the Center for Nano-scale Electronics, Phenomena, and Technology (CONSEPT), the Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) with faculty from Chemistry and the College of Engineering college, and the Spin and Heat in Nanoscale Electronic Systems (SHINES) Energy Frontier Research Center. 
•  For Biophysics with UCR's Biochemistry/Molecular Biology and Bioengineering
• High Energy and Relativistic Heavy Ion and Nucleon Spin physics programs highly leveraged with international collaborations at LHC, RHIC, and Fermilab
• For Astronomy with the NASA Big Data Training and Research Center and program well-leveraged with UC telescopes (Keck and future TMT), Southern California astronomy infrastructure, and access to SpARCS and COSMOS survey data

We look forward to hearing any questions about our department or application procedure.

Prof. Laura Sales,  Chair of the Graduate Admissions Committee  Prof. Vivek Aji,  Chair of the Graduate Advisors Committee

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College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Phd qualifying exam, what is the qualifying examination heading link copy link.

All Ph.D. students must take and pass a written qualifying examination in order to advance to doctoral candidacy. The qualifying exam is at the level of advanced undergraduate courses and many resources are available to students to aid in preparing for the exams, including previous years’ exams.

Please note all students, regardless of their academic standing, are eligible to take the qualifying exam.

Get More Info Heading link Copy link

• Document icon UIC Graduate Student Handbook
• Document icon Dept. of Physics Graduate Handbook
• Edit icon Past exam questions and solutions

Examination schedule Heading link Copy link

Please note: heading link copy link, all exams will be held in sel 2294. note that sel doors will be locked during this week. sel building access will be added to your i-card when you register for the exams with james nell., additional background and preparation materials heading link copy link.

The following list of textbooks should give you an indication of the minimum level at which you should prepare yourself for the qualifying exam. Remember that qualifying problems are typically at the level of the more difficult homework problems of our 400-level courses offered at UIC. To be successful at the qualifying exam both a solid understanding of the material and analytical skills are necessary. The latter requires basic mathematics and practicing problem solving.

• Fowles, Analytical Mechanics
• Marion and Thornton, Classical Dynamics and Systems
• R. Becker, Introduction to Theoretical Mechanics

Electromagnetism

• Griffiths, Introduction to Electrodynamics
• Reitz, Milford and Christie, Foundations of Electromagnetic Theory

Quantum Mechanics

• Griffiths, Introduction to Quantum Mechanics
• Amit Goswami, Quantum Mechanics
• Stephen Gasiorowicz, Quantum Physics
• N. Zettili, Quantum Mechanics
• Liboff, Introductory Quantum Mechanics

Thermodynamics, Statistical Mechanics

• Adkins, Equilibrium Thermodynamics
• Daniel Schroeder, An Introduction to Thermal Physics
• Reif, Statistical Mechanics
• Kroemer and Kittel, Thermal Physics

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Workshop on “Collaborative Teaching-Learning Pro...

30 April, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

Inauguration of the HSS Media Lab.

20 April, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

BITS Pilani – RMIT PhD Recruitments

17 April, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

An International Conference on Sustainable Urban W...

6 April, 2024 | Hyderabad

Ph.D. Admission Open for Second Semester, Academic...

5 April, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

National Symposium on Current Trends in Pharmac...

1 April, 2024 | Hyderabad

Research Methodology Workshop Series on Conducting...

22 March, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

Ph.D. Admission open for 2024-25

21 March, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

Research Methodology Workshop Series on Action Res...

17 March, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

Research Methodology Workshop Series on Ethnograph...

International women’s day celebrations ̵....

6 March, 2024 | Hyderabad

Admission to the Ph.D Programme (Full-time and Par...

4 March, 2024 | Pilani

BITSAT-2024

29 February, 2024 | Pilani

Celebration of Founder’s Day with great enthusia...

27 February, 2024 | Pilani

International conference on Wit, Humour, and the C...

13 February, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

Research Methodology Workshop Series Topic – Dat...

6 February, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

Research Methodology Workshop Series Topic –...

27 January, 2024 | K K Birla Goa

HSS Research Forum invites you for Research Method...

15 January, 2024 | Hyderabad

2024 Batch Reunion for Batches of 2012 & 2013

11 January, 2024 | Hyderabad

IUCN CEM Forest Ecosystem Specialist Group, CEM So...

11 December, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

An international workshop on: Depth, Surface and M...

1 December, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

Overseas Student Doctoral Programme Academic Year ...

30 November, 2023 | Pilani

One – day International Workshop as part of...

14 November, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

Indian-European Advanced Research Network & De...

7 November, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

 Beaux Arts and the Second Empire

26 September, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

JOINT PH.D. SCHOLARSHIP – BITS PILANI AND RMIT U...

18 September, 2023 | Pilani

16 September, 2023 | Pilani

12 September, 2023 | Pilani

BITS RMIT PhD Admission | Sem-II 2023-24

7 September, 2023 | Pilani

BITS Pilani launches PhD Program to create Deep Te...

18 August, 2023 | Pilani

Independence Day was celebrated at BITS Pilani, Pi...

15 August, 2023 | Pilani

Convocation 2023 held at BITS Pilani, Pilani campu...

Class coordinators for fd and hd programs.

11 August, 2023 | Pilani

List of Electives (1st SEM)

Farewell to phd scholar saurabh mundra., admissions 2017, iccd3 2-4 march 2017- some glimpses, department of pharmacy at bits pilani, pilani camp..., applications are invited from the eligible candida..., jrf position in dst-rajasthan project (dr. anupama..., jrf position in industry sponsored project on “n..., phd admission in i sem 2018-19, bits m. pharm-2018 advertisement, applications are invited from suitable candidates ..., dr anil jindal conferred with eudragit award 2017 ..., mr. ginson george (ph.d. scholar working with dr. ..., bits admission test – 2019 “bitsat-2019..., phd short listing criteria, phd admission in i sem 2019-20, jrf positions under dr. deepak chitkara and dr. an..., jrf for “the office of principal scientific advi..., dst inspire fellowship to mr. prashant auti (phd r..., dr. p.d. sethi memorial national award 2019 confer..., call for research position (jrf / srf) in indo-aus..., ph.d admission in first semester 2021-22, world pharmacist day celebrated on 25th september ..., applications are invited from interested and motiv..., mr. arihant kumar singh, phd scholar working with ..., mr. s n c sridhar (ph.d research scholar working w..., phd admission in ii sem 2018-19, jrf position in an icmr sponsored project under dr..., dr. atish t. paul conferred the “best professor ..., guest lecture delivered by dr. sanyog jain, associ..., miss arisha mahmood (m.pharm, ii semester ) won th..., jrf position under dr. anupama mittal in icmr spon..., jrf position under dr. paul atish tulshiram in dst..., jrf position under prof. ranendra n. saha (pi) &am..., mr. kishan s italiya (ph.d. research scholar) work..., a two day workshop on pharmacokinetic & pharma..., ph.d admission in first semester 2020-21, pharmacist day celebrated at department of pharmac..., international virtual conference on drug discovery..., 03 phd scholars (department of pharmacy) selected ..., virtual conference on regulatory aspects and intel..., prof. rajeev taliyan conferred the nams membership..., miss violina kakoty, phd scholar working with prof..., ms. paramita saha (ph.d. scholar working under dr...., virtual conference on pharmacy: always trusted for..., deepak kumar sahel, phd scholar with prof. deepak ..., deepak kumar sahel, ph.d. student working with pro..., ms. shreeya p shah (b. pharm. 2ndyear) working wit..., disso research presentations india (drpi) 2022, department of pharmacy, bits pilani has organised ..., dr. raj kumar gupta visited raman research instit....

10 August, 2023 | Pilani

Dr. Manjula Devi visited IISC Bangalore for a coll...

“fp7-people-irses msnano network”, which is be..., recently department of physics has started its own..., international project on msnano of european commis..., international workshop on data analytics & app....

3 August, 2023 | Pilani

INDO – CHILE Workshop on BIG Data

Workshop on blockchain technology and applications, congratulations to dr. mamta devi sharma for her s....

1 August, 2023 | Pilani

Congratulations to Dr. Bintu Kumar for his success...

Welcome dr. nitika grover in the department of che..., congratulations to dr. jyothi yadav for her succes..., congratulations to dr. chikkagundagal k. mahesha f..., congratulations to dr. amol prakash pawar for his ..., heartiest congratulation to manisha for receiving ..., congratulation to prof. indresh kumar for receivin..., one jrf/project associate-i position is available ..., applications are invited from highly motivated and..., chemistry department seminar are held on every thu..., aspects of effective teaching.

22 July, 2023 | Hyderabad

20 July, 2023 | Hyderabad

The Indian Mathematical Society (IMS)-2023

19 July, 2023 | Hyderabad

13 June, 2023 | Pilani

Learn more about BITS-RMIT Higher Education Academ...

9 June, 2023 | Pilani

BITS Pilani invites applications to register for P...

11 May, 2023 | Pilani

Admission to Ph.D Programmes

2 May, 2023 | Hyderabad

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

20 April, 2023 | Pilani

President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Bhushan, In...

28 March, 2023 | President Droupadi Murmu confers Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award, to our Chancellor Dr. Kumar Mangalam Birla at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

BITS Law School, Mumbai Campus

9 March, 2023 | Mumbai

26 January, 2023 | Pilani

74th Republic Day Celebrations at BITS Pilani K K ...

26 January, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

Floral Tribute to Shri G D Birlaji on 71st Founder...

National startup investor day celebrated by bits p....

18 January, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

“9th International Conference on Mathematics �...

9 January, 2023 | K K Birla Goa

National Symposium on Convergence of Chemistry �...

3 January, 2023 | Hyderabad

2 Day National Workshop on Challenges in Welding a...

Chancellor’s medal winners 2022.

2 January, 2023 | Dubai

International conference on ‘Aggregation-Induced...

24 December, 2022 | K K Birla Goa

BPDC Wins The BEST ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY – ...

19 December, 2022 | Dubai

Heartiest congratulation to sumit for receiving th...

16 December, 2022 | Pilani

BPDC’s Wall Street Club Secures the Top Posi...

16 December, 2022 | Dubai

Utilizing microbiome science to improve host healt...

26 November, 2022 | Pilani

AUTO Ltd. SCHOLARSHIP Announcement

24 November, 2022 | Pilani

FDP on Sustainability in Civil Engineering begins ...

21 November, 2022 | Pilani

Programmable DNA nanodevices to instruct biologica...

19 November, 2022 | Pilani

SPARKS 2022

31 October, 2022 | Dubai

Identifying risk predictors for Cardiovascular Dis...

31 October, 2022 | Pilani

GANDHI JAYANTI

28 October, 2022 | Dubai

Studying the mechanisms underlying anti-inflammati...

26 October, 2022 | Pilani

Chemistry department has organized DST-STUTI works...

15 October, 2022 | Pilani

Innate immune recognition of bacterial toxins

14 October, 2022 | Pilani

Cell Counting As A Part Of The Animal Cell Technol...

27 September, 2022 | Pilani

5 September, 2022 | Pilani

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

30 August, 2022 | Pilani

ICON-BITS-2023

25 August, 2022 | Pilani

22 August, 2022 | Pilani

Convocation 2022, Pilani Campus

Independence day celebration- 2022.

15 August, 2022 | Pilani

Drosophila eye model to study patterning and dise...

2 May, 2022 | Pilani

Informatics-Driven Advances in Biological Sciences

2 March, 2022 | Pilani

Lung cancer and Lung cancer screening

8 February, 2022 | Pilani

Sleep modulation by glial transporters in Drosophi...

23 October, 2021 | Pilani

Applications of Synthetic Biology in Metabolic Eng...

Engineering analysis of living systems.

15 June, 2021 | Pilani

Genesis issue

24 April, 2021 | Pilani

The joys and sorrows of any life in science

6 March, 2021 | Pilani

Deeper exploration of cellular heterogeneity with ...

22 February, 2021 | Pilani

Biomolecular interactions measurement using Thermo...

12 February, 2021 | Pilani

A Demo on ‘FPLC’

29 January, 2021 | Pilani

Indian Workshop on Applied Deep Learning (IWADL201...

15 December, 2019 | Pilani

One day Workshop on Blockchain Technology and Appl...

10 November, 2019 | Pilani

International conference on Intelligent Human Comp...

12 December, 2016 | Pilani

Department of Physics, BITS Pilani has successfull...

5 November, 2015 | Pilani

“International Conference on Soft Materials&...

6 October, 2014 | Pilani

Indo-Chile Workshop on Big Data 2014 (ICWBD)

4 June, 2014 | Pilani

The Department of Physics, BITS Pilani, Pilani Cam...

23 March, 2014 | Pilani

Department of Physics, BITS Pilani organized a wor...

7 March, 2014 | Pilani

“Proton acceleration by circularly polarized...

8 July, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Tapomoy Guha Sarkar taught a course on General...

1 July, 2013 | Pilani

“Thermal studies on materials: A case study...

20 June, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Tapomoy Guha Sarkar visited the Department of ...

10 June, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Navin Singh has delivered an invited lecture o...

30 March, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Anshuman Dalvi has delivered an invited lectu...

Research paper titled “conformational and or....

25 March, 2013 | Pilani

26 February, 2013 | Pilani

“Program on CP Violation in elementary parti...

19 February, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Jayendra N Bandyopadhyay has delivered Colloqu...

Dr. jayendra n bandyopadhyay has delivered prestig....

18 February, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Jayendra N Bandyopadhyay has delivered an ivi...

25 January, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Madhukar Mishra has recently given a talk on &...

18 January, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Jayendra N Bandyopadhyay has delivered an invi...

6 January, 2013 | Pilani

Dr Subhashis Gangopadhyay presented a paper title...

3 January, 2013 | Pilani

Dr. Tapomoy Guha Sarkar participated in the ASTRON...

19 December, 2012 | Pilani

Workshop on Introduction to Graphs and Geometric A...

22 January, 2009 | Pilani

Pilani, K K Birla Goa, Hyderabad

Department of Physics, consisting of 20 faculty members, is actively involved in the advanced research area and teaching programs (M.Sc. (Physics, PhD and Minor in Physics) of the institute.

Research Areas

The Department lays special emphasis on research work in various areas of specialization that include:

• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Astronomy and Cosmology
• Statistical Physics and Complex Systems
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nuclear and Particle Physics
• Optical and Plasma Physics 
• M.Sc. (Physics) or Equivalent Degree with a minimum of 60% marks.
• Shortlisted Candidates will be called for a written test which will be followed by an interview.
• Candidates who have cleared the CSIR-JRF will be exempted from the written test.
• Candidates working in reputed Govt. and Private organizations can apply for a part time PhD program.
• Monthly Institute Fellowship of Rs. 28,000 (if M.Sc. or EquivalentDegree) will be provided initially to the full-time PhD students which will be enhanced from time to time subject to performance.
• Hyderabad Campus: Click here to view the Poster
• Full-time PhD students admitted into the PhD program are eligible to be considered for an Institute fellowship of Rs. 28,000 or Rs. 31,000 per month in the first year based on their qualifications at the time of admission.
• Students admitted with M.E./M.Tech./M.Pharm./MBA/M.Phil. or an equivalent Degree are eligible to receive an Institute fellowship of Rs. 31,000/-.
• Students admitted with M.Sc./B.E./B.Pharm. or an equivalent degree are eligible to receive an Institute fellowship of Rs. 28,000/-. These students on successful completion of coursework will receive Rs. 31,000/- from the Semester following the one in which the course work was completed.
• Higher fellowship may be made available in subsequent years. Consideration for Institute fellowship will be as per Institute norms. It will be obligatory on the part of every admitted Full time student to undertake 8 to 10 hours (per week) of work as assigned to him/her by the institute.

To learn more about the Ph.D admissions process at BITS Pilani, please visit the website https://www.bitsadmission.com

Anshuman Dalvi

Professor, Department of Physics, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Condensed Matter

Aritra Banerjee

Assistant Professor, Department of Physics

Mathematical Physics, Theoretical High Energy Physics

Assistant Professor

Condensed Matter Physics (Experiment)

Arun Venkatesh Kulkarni

Theoretical Physics, Nuclear Physics, Numerical E and M, Physics Teaching

Bhavesh Chauhan

Assistant Professor , Department of Physics. BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Neutrino Phenomenology, High Energy Phyiscs, Dark Matter

Biswanath Layek

Associate Professor, Department of Physics, BITS Pilani, Pilani Campus

Particle Physics

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One yale student’s love languages: mandarin, greek, and particle physics.

Zemenu presented his research at the American Physical Society division of nuclear physics meeting in New Orleans in 2022. (Credit: Shelly Lesher)

The imperceptible forces that push, pull, and pass through the universe have clearly tugged at Barkotel Zemenu a time or two. Or 10.

Four years ago, Zemenu entered the vortex of Yale undergraduate life with a passion to study history. Perhaps he might teach it someday, he thought. Instead, he emerges this spring as a promising particle physicist who has already contributed to cutting-edge research and interned at an international physics project in Germany and at a premiere astrophysics institute in Israel.

Zemenu has gone from crabbing about the undergraduate foreign language requirement to enthusiastically developing a knowledge of Hebrew, Arabic, Mandarin, and Greek, in addition to English and Amharic, his native language; he’s traveled across the United States to academic conferences, giving high-level physics presentations on neutrinoless beta double decay; he’s even found the time to co-teach a class for middle schoolers on the meaning of life.

Not bad for a guy who spent his first year as a Yalie doing middle-of-the-night Zoom classes from a hotel lobby — where the wifi was stronger than at his parents’ house — in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

“ So many of these things were unexpected, but I’m grateful for all the pivots,” he said, basking in the afternoon sun from a bench outside Pauli Murray College, a frequent stopping place between his physics home base at Wright Lab and his dorm room at Hopper College. “I had not expected college to be a place where I pivoted so much.”

Zemenu picked Yale after participating in Yale Young Global Scholars, a summer program that brings American and international high school students together and introduces them to the Yale campus. But then came Zemenu’s first pivot.

He spent his first year of college living in Ethiopia with his parents, after the COVID-19 pandemic led Yale to make all classes remote as a public safety measure. In those early days, Zemenu would set an alarm for the middle of the night, take a cab to a nearby hotel with a strong wifi connection, and dial into his online classes from the hotel lobby. He became such a frequent visitor that the hotel’s employees would recognize him and leave him alone to work undisturbed.

“ It was just business as usual,” he said. “Now, any time I find myself complaining about the walk up Science Hill, I remind myself what a luxury it is to be here, in person.”

Once Zemenu got to New Haven, the pivots began to pile up. He leaned into physics, particularly the unseen world of dark matter and neutrinoless double beta decay — a theoretical nuclear process that, if proven, could shake up the Standard Model of Physics.

He also delved into the writings of revered 20 th century physicist Richard Feynman, and a biography of 19 th century Scottish physicist James Clerk Maxwell. Zemenu came to the notion that it would be valuable to have one area of deep expertise that is informed by a broad range of studies. He chose physics as his deep dive.

“ We’ve been lucky to have Barkotel as a member of our research group over the past three years, where he’s been studying detector technologies aimed at figuring out why there is matter, rather than antimatter, in the universe,” said David Moore, an associate professor of physics in Yale’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences. “In addition to his packed academic schedule and leadership activities in the department, Barkotel has been a key contributor to our research.

“ While we are sad to see him go, we are looking forward to seeing his many accomplishments in the future.”

Zemenu spent part of a summer at the Weizmann Institute of Science, near Tel Aviv, where he wrote a 20-page white paper on his research developing a novel program to automate the identification of variable stars from a telescope image. He spent part of another summer in Germany, at the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, where he studied quantum gravity. He’s also attended science conferences in New Orleans, Honolulu, Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis.

Meanwhile, his list of honors grew along with his frequent flier miles: the Jocelyn Bell Outstanding Leadership Scholarship, the Sigma Pi Sigma Leadership Scholarship, a Rosenfeld Science Scholar award, an American Physical Society Top Presenter award.

“ I remain extremely interested in this idea of dark matter and dark energy,” he said. “We don’t know what the majority of the matter in the universe is actually made of. We’ve quantified it, but we don’t know what it is. That’s a question I’d like to see answered in our lifetime.”

While open to pivoting yet again, Zemenu intends to pursue that question after leaving Yale and entering graduate school at Stanford. He’ll also pursue a more recent passion: accessing the deeper, more meaningful interactions that emerge when you communicate with people in their native language.

Much to his surprise, he discovered at Yale that he has a great facility for reading, writing, and speaking other languages. He’s written poetry in Hebrew, for instance, and shared a laugh with a family member of a friend by explaining, in Chinese, that his preferred level of spice is “scared of not-spicy food.”

“ Speaking to someone in their own language opens a different door to aspects of themselves that you won’t learn about otherwise,” Zemenu said. “That was the part about languages I hadn’t realized. It isn’t purely academic. It’s about relationships.”

That may be his biggest pivot of all, he said.

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