How To Apply For Admission

Physics Undergraduate Admission Information

Prospective undergraduate students are invited to contact the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Physics for more information. Interested students are also invited to visit our department while on campus.

Incoming students who are ready to apply for admission should contact Undergraduate Admissions and complete an Oklahoma State Application for Admission and Scholarships.

Physics Graduate Student Admission Information

!! Please visit the Graduate College website for current information and to apply for admission. !!

For students interested in pursuing either a Masters (M.S.) or Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Physics.
All applicants apply to the Physics or Photonics Ph.D. programs.  Admitted students who do not already have the M.S. degree will earn one on the way to completing the Ph.D.  Students who want the M.S. only may stop at that point.

• How To Apply For Admission to the Physics Graduate Program
• Documents Required for Application
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How To Apply For Admission to the Physics Graduate Program

Prospective students must apply for admission review through the Graduate College. Teaching Assistantships will be offered to select candidates.

Please check our Research and Scholarly Activity website to learn more about the research opportunities at our Department.

When To Apply

• Only applications for Fall admission are accepted. Applications will be accepted starting October 1.
• Deadline: February 1.

How To Apply

The entire application, including recommendation letters, can now be completed online through the Graduate College. Applicants will be able to upload all required documents and recommenders will be contacted directly by the system. APPLY NOW!

A Few Hints For The Online Application

When filling an application, the system will try to validate the entries on each page. If there is a problem, there is no need to return to the first page. You can simply correct your entries and click "Submit these changes", or click "Go back" at the bottom of the page to revise your entries.

Note For Photonics Applicants

Photonics Applicants with Electrical Engineering undergraduate degrees must contact the OSU Electrical and Computer Engineering Department for application and assistantship information.

Documents Required for Application

A complete description of the documents required for the Graduate College application can be found on the Graduate College Application page.

The Physics Department may request additional documents with the purpose of selecting candidates for Teaching Assistantships.

As an overview, these are the main documents that will be required to submit to the Graduate College:

1. Transcripts: Original transcript from each college or university attended (all transcripts submitted to the Graduate College must be official with the college's or registrar's original seal and should show any degrees completed).
2. Resume/Vitae: Submit a Resume or Curriculum Vitae of your academic and professional backgrounds and experiences (1-2 pages).
3. "Statement of Purpose": Submit a statement, in your own words, of your background, academic preparation, reasons for pursuing a degree in Physics or Photonics, and career aspirations (1-2 pages).
4. Recommendations: Names and contact information of three (3) persons familiar with the applicant's academic preparation to pursue a degree in Physics or Photonics, and/or job-related skills in these fields.
5. English Proficiency (for International Students): All persons for whom English is a second language are required to present proof of English competency.
   • An official TOEFL score of at least 90 (internet based test) is required to be submitted. The TOEFL institution code for OSU is 6546.
   • Alternatively, an official IELTS, academic stream, overall band score of at least 7.0 may be submitted.
   • Another alternative is an official PTE score of at least 61.
   • The examination must have been taken within the last two years. Outstanding applicants with official TOEFL scores of 79-90, IELTS scores of 6.5-7.0, or PTE scores of 53-60 will also be considered for admission into the graduate programs.
   • Although the Graduate College does not require proof of English proficiency for an applicant who has or will have completed a baccalaureate or graduate degree from a college or university where English is the primary teaching language, and which is located in a country where English is a primary language, the applicant may still need to submit a TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score to the Physics Department for employment as a Teaching Assistant.
   • Please check the complete requirement description on the Graduate College English Proficiency page.
6. GRE: It is strongly recommended that applicants submit both general and subject test (Physics) GRE scores. These scores will help us to determine the distribution of assistantships with tuition waivers. We will review applications with self-reported scores, but applicants should be aware that official scores may be requested before admission is formally offered. There are no minimum score requirements. OSU's GRE institution code is 6546.
    

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Check also the Graduate College FAQ.

1. What is the minimum GRE score to be accepted?
   It is strongly recommended that applicants submit both general and subject test (Physics) GRE scores. These scores will help us to determine the distribution of assistantships with tuition waivers. We will review applications with self-reported scores, but applicants should be aware that official scores may be requested before admission is formally offered. There are no minimum score requirements. 
2. What is the minimum TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE score to be accepted?
   If English is not your first language, an official TOEFL score of 90 (internet based test), IELTS score of 7.0 (overall band score), or PTE score of 61 is needed to satisfy English proficiency requirements. Outstanding applicants with official TOEFL scores of 79-90, IELTS scores of 6.5-7.0, or PTE scores of 53-60 will also be considered for admission into the graduate programs.
3. Are you accepting applications for Spring admission?
   We will be accepting applications only for Fall (August) admission.
4. What is OSU's GRE institution code?
   OSU's GRE institution code is 6546. We recommend a department major field code of 0899 (Physics and Astronomy - Other).
5. What is OSU's TOEFL institution code?
   The TOEFL institution code for OSU is 6546. We recommend a department code of 76 (Physics).
6. Can previous graduate credit be transferred?
   The degree requirements specified on the following pages are for students entering with no previous graduate credit, or no previous graduate credit beyond the M.S. In other cases, some adjustment of the degree requirements may be possible; all adjustments are subject to approval by the Department and by the Graduate College.
   
   For example, a student may transfer up to 9 credit hours of coursework completed elsewhere, provided those courses did not count toward a previous graduate degree. Some other considerations are listed below.
   
   A Ph.D. student who has completed an approved M.S. degree elsewhere enters the 60-hour Ph.D. program; completion of the M.S. allows reduction of the credit hour requirement from 72 hours to 60. Ph.D. students in either the 72-hour or 60-hour program with previous graduate credit may be able to transfer more than 9 credit hours of the 30-hour coursework requirement, provided the courses were not counted toward a previous degree, and were taken in a department that offered the Ph.D. In general, however, coursework amounting to at least one-fourth of the program hours must be completed at Oklahoma State University (18 hours for the 72-hour Ph.D., 15 for the 60-hour Ph.D.). Some very special circumstances, such as students following their Ph.D. advisor to his/her new faculty position at OSU, might allow for further consideration, but in any case, a minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed at OSU.