Prospective Students & Applicants

The Application Cycle for Fall 2025 Enrollment is OPEN.

 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:

Graduate Program in Physics Webinar (December 2020)

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

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:

Important notice regarding the General and Physics GRE requirement for the 2024-2025 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.

A completed application consists of (1) an online application form (application portal), (2) an application fee ($90), and the following credentials:

  • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) General test: (waived for the 2024-2025 admission cycle)
  • GRE Physics Subject test: (waived for the 2024-2025 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)  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

  1. Achieve a Bachelor’s degree in Physics or a related field
  2. Maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 in an accredited undergraduate program
  3. Take the GRE (waived for the 2024-2025 admission cycle)
  4. Take the Physics Subject GRE (waived for the 2024-2025 admission cycle)
  5. Score a minimum of 600 (paper) or 100 (iBT) on the  TOEFL exam or 7.5 on 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 , 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. Ph.D. 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.

A limited number of application fee waivers are available for the January 15, 2025 application deadline. Please complete this form (Application Fee Waiver Request Form ) and submit it no later than December 15, 2024. 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 non-refundable. 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. 

Feel free to contact us with your questions at graduatehelp@physics.georgetown.edu or sign up through our Inquiry Form to receive additional information regarding our Graduate Program!

Physics Inquiry Form