The Department of Physics offers graduate programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees in physics. The Department is located in the 78,000 sq. ft. Physics building (built in 1999), which contains numerous research and teaching labs, offices, classrooms, a machine shop, and a physics library. Research in the UMBC Physics Department is centered in 4 main areas: condensed matter physics, quantum optics and quantum information science, astrophysics, and atmospheric physics. Faculty members are engaged in both theoretical and experimental research in these areas.

The Physics Department typically has a total of about 50 graduate students, with roughly 2/3 in the Physics PhD program and 1/3 in the Atmospheric Physics PhD program. Graduate students in the Physics PhD program typically come with undergraduate degrees in physics or engineering, while students in the Atmospheric Physics program typically come with undergraduate degrees in physics, engineering, or atmospheric science.

For information on How to Apply to these PhD programs, click here. Note that all of our PhD students earn an MS degree en-route to the PhD. Students specifically interested in a terminal-MS degree should contact the relevant Graduate Program Director for more information.

According to the rules of the Graduate School, any applicant with a TOEFL score below 80 or an IETLS score below 6.5 is automatically rejected. Although the department does not have a strict limit of its own, our experience shows that a student should have a TOEFL score above or very close to 95, or an IETLS score above or very close to 7.0, to function effectively in her/his courses and as a teaching assistant. For Fall 2022 applications, UMBC will also be accepting DuoLingo scores. The minimum required score is 105, and the recommended score for admission to the department is 120.

The department is composed of 20 tenure-track faculty, and 19 research faculty. There are approximately 150 undergraduate physics majors and 50 graduate students in the Physics and Atmospheric Physics PhD programs. The Physics Department also hosts several large multi-institutional research centers.

UMBC has roughly 11,000 undergraduate and 3,000 graduate students. The University has 24 different PhD programs.  UMBC has a reputation as a top mid-sized research university that combines the advantages of a larger research university with the intimate atmosphere of a liberal arts college.

Application Requirements

The first step of the admissions process is submitting your application. An applicant must meet certain verifiable criteria to be considered for the admission process. This criteria, outlined below, includes minimum grade point average (GPA) and language proficiency requirements.

Questions asked on the application help our review committees and support staff determine whether a candidate is viable for an admission recommendation. Please remember to answer all application questions truthfully and to the fullest extent. It is the responsibility of the applicant to follow-up with support documentation that was not submitted with the application. Email any additional documentation to gradschool@umbc.edu and include your full name and Transaction ID if available.

In all cases, UMBC administers its admissions, educational services, and supporting services in a manner that does not discriminate by race, religion, age, national origin, sexual orientation, or handicap.

Go to:

 GPA & Transcripts  –  Standardized Tests (GRE)  –  Language Test  –  Transfer Credits  

 Other Requirements  –  Defer Admission  –  New Application Exemptions 

GPA & Transcripts

The Graduate School recommends applicants have at least a 3.0 GPA or “B” average when applying. For transcripts from schools abroad, the UMBC Graduate School will accept official WES (World Education Services) ICAP Course-by-Course evaluations but note that these evaluations are not required.

Students who are unable to meet the minimum GPA standards may still be admitted to graduate study by demonstrating outstanding performance on one or more of the graduate aptitude tests or by providing letters of recommendation from evaluators who can speak to the applicant’s performance as a student or in a professional capacity.

Standards for admission to a doctoral program are generally higher than those for admission to a master’s program. The terms of this admission are based on specific recommendations made by the applicant’s department in conjunction with the Graduate School.

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Standardized Tests (GRE)

Many programs require the submission of GRE (Graduate Record Examination) Aptitude test scores (verbal, quantitative and analytical writing). Some programs further require GRE Advanced (subject-specific) scores, or scores from other standardized tests. Required tests are listed on each program’s page.

GRE waivers are occasionally granted by the department for applicants in certain situations. For example, a mid-career student whose undergraduate experience is not recent or is different from the graduate field of interest. Contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for your program of interest to inquire about a waiver.

For more information on these standardized tests including practice tests, test dates, and test registration contact Graduate Record Examinations, Educational Testing Service, 1-866-473-4373 (citizens of United States and Canada) or 1-609-771-7670 (all other countries) or visit the Web site at www.gre.org.

Our ETS institution code is 5835.

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Language Requirements

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take an English Language Test outlined on our International Admissions page.

SOP:

The Statement of Purpose should explain why you want to pursue a Ph.D. degree in physics at UMBC and why you’re qualified for the Ph.D. program. There is no set length requirement, but most effective Statements of Purpose are 1 – 3 pages long. A successful SOP will include your motivation for pursuing a physics Ph.D.; a description of the type of research you’re interested in pursuing and why you want to pursue it in the UMBC Department of Physics; an explanation of relevant research experience or other preparation to conduct research; and demonstration of your resilience, adaptability, perseverance.

All of our full-time PhD students are fully financially supported through Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, and/or fellowships. These include free tuition, health insurance, and stipends typically ranging from $26K to $31K per year. For more information about financial support for our graduate students, click here.

The Physics Department is large enough to offer a wealth of research opportunities to PhD students, while being small enough to promote a collegial and inclusive environment. The grad students have created a “work hard, play hard” culture, with seminars and various social events coordinated by the Physics Graduate Student Association (PGSA).

Tuition fee-2 years$50,000

Total fee-2 years$80,000