Prospective Students & Applicants
Application Cycle for Fall 2023 Enrollment is CLOSED.
Please check back soon for information regarding Fall 2024 applications.
Important notice regarding the General and Physics GRE requirement for the 2022-2023 application cycle
The Georgetown University Physics Department recognizes the ongoing difficulties and disruptions of scheduling standardized testing during the COVID-19 pandemic; therefore, GRE scores will NOT be required this year, and their absence will not be used to count against any applicant.
Additionally, the Admissions Committee understands and respects decisions made by individual applicants and/or their academic institutions to adopt alternative grading policies (e.g. Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory, Pass/No Record, Credit/No Credit, Pass/Fail) and other similar grading options during the disruption during the pandemic.
Please take a moment to learn about the Georgetown University Graduate Program in Physics by viewing our
Graduate Admissions Info flyer or Webinar Recording Below:
Application Process and Requirements
Our application deadline is January 15th.
All applications to the Graduate Physics Program should be submitted electronically through the Georgetown University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences application portal (new window)
The Graduate School Physics page includes the most current information on deadlines and requirements.
Note: The Graduate School will not accept any credentials via email or fax.
Application Requirements:
A completed application consists of (1) an online application form (application portal), the (2) application fee ($90), and the following credentials:
- Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General test: (waived for the 2022-2023 admission cycle)
- GRE Physics Subject test: (waived for the 2022-2023 admission cycle)
- Transcripts – Applicants are required to upload to the application system copies of official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended. Visit our How to Apply (new window) (new window) page for additional details and FAQs.
- Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
- 3 letters of recommendation
- Academic statement of purpose
- TOEFL or IELTS score
Our Requirements
- Achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Physics or a related field
- Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in an accredited undergraduate program
- Take the GRE (waived for the 2022-2023 admission cycle)
- Take the Physics Subject GRE (waived for the 2022-2023 admission cycle)
- Score a minimum of 600 (paper) or 100 (iBT) on the TOEFL exam or 7.5 for the IELTS exam**
- For applicants from non-English speaking countries only
Note: TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years from the date of the test.
**Duolingo English Test: Georgetown University has discontinued the use of the Duolingo English Test for Graduate Admissions, effective July 2021
Statement of Purpose
The statement of purpose should be one to two pages long. It should describe your background as it relates to your interest in pursuing graduate studies in the physics program at Georgetown. For example, you could mention academics, research and work experience, and community contributions. Your statement should also cover your academic and professional goals, how the physics program will help you achieve those goals, your talents and abilities, and the reason why you want to pursue an advanced degree. If your academic record has areas of concern, please address them here.
If you are interested in being considered for the GU IMSD program (new window), please discuss in a few sentences why you are interested in the IMSD program and what you hope to both gain from and contribute to the program. PhD program directors will nominate IMSD fellows for consideration. Interviews for the IMSD will take place in the late winter/early spring of 2023.
For more information, please see the Graduate Fellowship section.
Letters of Recommendation
It is important to carefully select the people who will write your letters of recommendation; grades and scores do not reflect the totality of the applicant. Choose individuals who will accurately assess your capacity for research and have known you for an extended period, such as your academic Advisor or Research Mentor. Recommendation letters should directly address your preparedness for graduate studies in physics and should attest to your research experience and potential for success at Georgetown.
International Students
For applicants whose native language is not English, certification of English language proficiency is required via TOEFL or IELTS.
- The minimum TOEFL score is 600 for the paper version or 100 for the internet version
- The minimum IELTS score is 7.5.
Note: these requirements are stricter than those of the graduate school.
Transfer Students
We welcome applications for the Ph.D. degree from students who already hold Master’s degrees. Applications from transfer students will be determined on a case-by-case basis.
Application Fee Waiver Requests
A limited number of application fee waivers are available for the January 15, 2023 application deadline. Please complete this form (Application Fee Waiver Request Form (new window)) and submit no later than December 15, 2022. Forms received after this date will not be considered. Fee waivers are approved on a case-by-case basis and not all fee waiver requests will be granted.
Please note that application fees are nonrefundable. If you pay your application fee prior to receiving approval for a waiver, your fee payment cannot be refunded. If you are waiting on an application fee waiver approval, please wait to submit your final application. Decisions regarding your fee waiver have no bearing on your final admissions decision.