physics phd stipend

PhysStipendRankings: PhD Stipend Rankings

PhysStipendRankings is a stipend-based ranking of top-paying Physics departments in US. We may implement support for other countries and you are welcomed to contribute! For a real academic ranking, please refer to U.S.News , etc.

• Stipend is the annual, 12-month, pre-tax allowance graciously granted by the institution. Note that some departments do not have guaranteed summer funding , and we are currently working to collect such data. Departments with summer funding guarentee are tagged with a summer label. For now, the list is not complete.
• Fees are annual non-reimbursible tariffs (including health insurance) reclaimed by said institution.
• Living cost is calculated based on the MIT Living Wage Calculator for the institution's city.

We have received a lot of comments that the living cost calculated by the MIT Living Cost Calculator does not really reflect the real living cost in multiple areas. We are considering alternative metrics and data sources. If you are aware of something we can use, please feel free to submit issues or pull requests on GitHub.

This ranking is part informational and part satire, designed to democratize information on how PhD students in physics and related areas are paid for their labor – inadequately , in most cases.

Most of the frontend code of this website is from CSRankings , and we intentionally used the same template. The code of this website can be found at https://github.com/PhysStipendRankings/PhysStipendRankings , and the data presented can be found as a CSV file here .

Contributing: Everyone is welcomed to submit patches or report the stipend via pull requests . Another option to submit valuable datapoints is through this Google Form . Also, feel free to submit issues on GitHub .

• Gathering data for summer funding guarantees. We plan to incorporate a feature that allows users to exclude non-guaranteed funds when calculating the stipends.
• Highlighting universities that offer 100% appointments during the summer, e.g. UW, instead of the typical 50% appointments.
• Adding a verification system for stipends, where we can confirm the details of the stipend with an offer letter or paystub record, and displaying a checkmark in the "Stipend" column to indicate that the stipend is verified.
• Add alternative sources of living cost. In the future, users should have the ability to choose between different sources of living cost while ranking.
• Data is often unavailable for the precise district in which the university is located. In such cases, we use data for the county or wider metro area. This often skews the estimate lower. For instance, UC San Diego is located in La Jolla, one of the most expensive districts in the US, but we resort to using figures for the wider San Diego county. Same goes for Princeton vs. Mercer County, etc.
• The Calculator states that the estimates are what is required "to cover the costs of their family's basic needs where they live". However, how much one needs to sustain onself is subjective, and users have reported that they can live on much less.

PhysStipendRankings is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License . The frontend (i.e., CSS and HTML) of this website is based on CSRankings, a work at https://github.com/emeryberger/CSrankings . The copyright of CSRankings is owned by Emery Berger . The copyright of the non-CSRankings part of PhysStipendRankings is owned by its contributors .

College of Arts & Sciences

Financial Assistance for Ph.D. Students

Graduate Stipends

The Graduate School promises 5 years of full financial support for full-time Ph.D students who maintain satisfactory academic progress. Students in the 1 st 2 years of the physics program are typically supported by Teaching Assistantships from the Graduate School. Beyond the 2 nd year, students are usually supported through Research Assistantships with funds provided by a combination of fellowships, faculty research grants, and departmental funds. Students on the ILP track may also receive apprenticeship grants. The stipend for the academic year is set each year by the Graduate School. This stipend is paid bi-weekly from September through April.

For the 2021-22 academic year, the stipend is $33,150.

From May through August, the physics department provides full-time Ph.D. students a summer stipend. This stipend is paid biweekly. The summer stipend type and amount depends on how far along the student is in the program.

The summer stipend is significantly less than the stipend during the academic year, so students should plan accordingly.

• The summer following the first academic year, students receive a non-service fellowship in the amount of $5,500. During that first summer, all students are expected to prepare for the Comprehensive Exam and engage in research. Students on the ILP track should also take the required ILP-related summer courses.
• In subsequent summers, students receive a service stipend. The stipend amount is $5,500 for those who have not yet passed the qualifying exam. The stipend increases to $6,500 after a student passes the qualifying exam.

Teaching Assistantships

Teaching experience is a valuable asset to any career: it strengthens practical understanding, inspires confidence and formulates planning skills. We offer teaching assistantships for undergraduate courses and lab sections in our students’ 1 st 2 years. Its value is so pronounced that students with their own financial support are even encouraged to participate.

Research Assistantships

Students are effectively paid to perform research. They begin research assistantships with a faculty mentor in their 2 nd or 3 rd year. Research assistants receive a stipend, a full tuition waiver, and health-insurance coverage during their assistantship. Often, students in the ILP track will continue to perform research in collaboration with the company that sponsored their apprenticeship.

Summer Support

The Physics Department supports its students during their 1 st summer in the program while they prepare and take the comprehensive exam. First years will also complete a lab rotation during this first summer. Students receive financial support in subsequent summers as part of their research group funding.

Financial Support

General | Rotation program | Fellowships | Knight-Hennessy Scholars | China Scholarship Council-Stanford-AZ Fund Fellowship | Other fellowship opportunities:

Ph.D. Program

Graduate students in the Applied Physics Ph.D. program are generally supported through Research Assistantships (RAs), which are typically funded by your Ph.D. research advisor through contracts and grants. The RAs provide a salary during the academic year (including Summer Quarter) and a tuition allowance for 10 units per quarter before Terminal Graduate Registration (TGR) status and for 0-3 units thereafter. In addition, PhD students receive a full health insurance subsidy. The Stanford RA salary table can be found  here . 

The Department of Applied Physics does not have a teaching requirement for the Ph.D. or M.S. programs. Students interested in teaching may seek teaching opportunities in Applied Physics, Physics, and other departments, subject to availability and eligibility. 

Master's Programs The Department does not provide funding for students enrolled in the terminal M.S. program. The Masters program is not a research-based program. However, students may be eligible for university or external fellowships to fund their degree.

Rotation program

We offer an  optional  rotation program for research assistantships (RA) for 1st-year Ph.D. students. The purpose of rotations is to acquaint first-year students with the research opportunities within different labs before making the final selection of a research group. We note, however, that rotations are  not required  and a student may mutually agree with a faculty member in the first rotation to join her/his group without rotating into any subsequent group. Most students settle on a Ph.D. advisor by the end of the winter quarter, and it is expected that students will have joined a lab before the end of the spring quarter of their first year.  

The Department funds the full cost of each student’s RA assistantship during the fall quarter of their first year. In the winter and spring quarters, the Department funds half of each first-year student’s RA and the supporting research lab funds the other half. After the spring quarter, the faculty member bears the burden of the full cost of the student’s RA and tuition. 

It is expected that a rotation lasts one academic quarter (10 weeks), and the details of the research projects and funding are arranged between the student and faculty member without Departmental involvement. For more details about the rotation program, see the  Ph.D. overview .  

Fellowships

Each year, Applied Physics is invited to nominate several top applicants for Stanford Graduate Fellowships in Science & Engineering . Students are usually notified shortly after they receive their initial offer letter. Additionally, there are many desirable fellowships available from institutions such as the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense and the Hertz Foundation. It is highly recommended that students apply for these prestigious fellowships.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding for three years to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including the Ph.D. in Applied Physics. To be considered, you must apply to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program by  their due date  and separately apply to the Applied Physics department with all the application materials completed by December 1, 2023.

China Scholarship Council-Stanford-AZ Fund Fellowship

Doctoral applicants from China are also encouraged to apply for a China Scholarship Council-Stanford-AZ Fund Fellowship following their admission to the Ph.D. program in Applied Physics. This Fellowship provides five years of financial support, round-trip international airfare, and visa application fees to selected students. To be considered, applicants must first be admitted to the Applied Physics Ph.D. program and then apply to the China Scholarship Council.

Other Fellowship Opportunities

View Scholarships Taiwan Fellowships and Scholarships

Financial Support

Applicants interested in being considered for Fellowship and/or Assistantship opportunities for the Fall term, must have a complete online application with required supporting documents by no later than the priority application deadline of January 15th (or December 1st for international PhD applicants and applicants to the Planetary Sciences Track program). The Department of Physics does not generally offer assistantship opportunities for the Spring term.

Assistantship opportunities may be available as a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistant (GRA). As of Spring 2023, GTAs receive an annual stipend of $24,990.76. The annual stipends for current doctoral students that are hired as GRAs varies depending on advisor funds.  As of Fall 2024, the minimum annual stipend for a Physics PhD student hired as a full-time GRA is $30,000. GRA agreements for less than a year would be paid at this same rate, prorated for the duration of the agreement.  As of Fall 2024, the minimum annual stipend for a Planetary Sciences Track PhD student hired as a full-time GRA is $35,800.

The financial rewards of a GTA position are only part of the story. You’ll gain valuable experience in and out of the classroom and have the opportunity to interact closely with faculty members in your department. The relationships you develop with your professors are crucial to your future success. Therefore, working with them more closely, as colleagues of a sort, can help you to establish yourself and become better known within the department.

A teaching assistantship is no “free ride” of course. While the duties of a TA will vary, you can expect to be responsible for one or more of the following:

• teaching or assisting with one or more sections of a course
• running laboratory sessions
• grading undergraduate student papers and exams
• holding regular office hours and meeting with students
• conducting study and review sessions
• proctoring mid-term and/or final exams

If you plan to pursue an academic career, testing the waters as a GTA can prove to be an invaluable learning experience where you can gain some practical on-the-job skills. Even if your career path will take you beyond the ivory tower, the position can still be excellent way to pay your way through graduate school, develop leadership skills, and get some great experience.

The faculty in the Department of Physics offer several GRA positions. Some of these positions are filled with incoming students, but most students start in the Physics PhD program as GTAs. Typically, after a year as a GTA, students find an advisor who financially supports them through a GRA position that may (or may not) include tuition and fee coverage. As a GRA you are conducting research, which ultimately leads to a doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis.

We expect that students and their advisors present their research at conferences and publish in peer-reviewed journals. In addition, faculty in research centers like NSTC , AMPAC and CREOL often work with Physics students as GRAs.

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School of Physics

College of sciences, search form, financial support, i. basic financial support.

All Ph.D. students in the School of Physics receive a tuition waiver and financial support through teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), or fellowships. The current stipend for Ph.D. students is $35,504  per year. As mentioned, a tuition waiver is given to a student if they are working full-time towards their degree. However, students are responsible for various health and student activity fees that total approximately $1,400 per semester (details on the exact value of the fees can be found from the Bursar's Office ). Stipend levels are reviewed annually to be competitive with other universities. No financial support is available for students enrolled in the M.S. program. Additional information about Graduate Assistantships, fellowships, loans, and off-campus employment options is available on the Office of Graduate Studies site .

II. Top-up Awards

In addition to the basic support described above, high-achieving applicants may be offered a top-up award that provides added financial support. Available awards are:

• Georgia Tech Presidential Fellowships . This fellowship provides an additional $5,500 per year to the student for up to four years. Selection of Fellowship awardees is made by the School of Physics Graduate Committee while reviewing applications, and awardees are notified of the Fellowship in their offer letter. Only US citizens and permanent residents are eligible for the award. (Presidential Fellowship awardees can also be nominated for the Georgia Tech Institute Fellowship which provides an additional $2,000 per year over and above the Presidental Fellowship).
• Amelio Fellowships. The School of Physics provides these top-up awards to our top international applicants thanks to a generous donation from alumnus Gil Amelio. The amount and duration of the Fellowships is the same as the Presidential Fellowship ($5,500 per year for up to 4 years).
• The Goizueta Foundation Fellowship . This award is designed to increase the number of students of Hispanic/Latino origin who enroll at Georgia Tech to pursue their doctoral studies. The Fellowship provides an additional annual stipend to the student of $4,000 (disbursed in two payments) for 12 months of full-time enrollment, renewable up to two (and possibly 4) years. The School of Physics Graduate Committee nominates appropriate applicants to the Goizueta Foundation.

III. Additional Resources

Applicants to the School of Physics are encouraged to also apply for external Fellowships that will either support their graduate studies or provide additional financial resources. A list of potentially relevant Fellowships can be found here .

Depending on their situation, applicants may also be interested in exploring the resources and information provided by the Georgia Tech Office of Financial Aid .

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Admissions Information for Prospective Graduate Students

Thank you for considering the PhD program in Physics at MIT. Information regarding our graduate program and our application process can be found below and through the following webpages and other links on this page. If your questions are not answered after reviewing this information, please contact us at [email protected] .

Here are some links to pages relevant to prospective students:

• Material Required for a Complete Application , and information about When/How to Apply can be found below on this page.
• We have an FAQ which should help to answer many questions, and we provide Application Assistance from staff and students if you don’t find what you need in the FAQ.
• Additional Guidance about the application itself, along with examples, can be found on a separate page. The graduate application is available at https://apply.mit.edu/apply/ .
• General information about the graduate program and research areas in the physics department may also be of use.
• MSRP (MIT Summer Research Program) is designed to give underrepresented and underserved students access to an MIT research experience, pairing each student with a faculty member who will oversee the student conducting a research project at MIT.

Statement regarding admissions process during COVID Pandemic (Updated Summer 2023)

MIT has adopted the following principle: MIT’s admissions committees and offices for graduate and professional schools will take the significant disruptions of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 into account when reviewing students’ transcripts and other admissions materials as part of their regular practice of performing individualized, holistic reviews of each applicant.

In particular, as we review applications now and in the future, we will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students. We also expect that the individual experiences of applicants will richly inform applications and, as such, they will be considered with the entirety of a student’s record.

Ultimately, even in these challenging times, our goal remains to form graduate student cohorts that are collectively excellent and composed of outstanding individuals who will challenge and support one another.

Questions or concerns about this statement should be directed to the Physics Department ( [email protected] ).

Applying to the MIT Department of Physics

We know that the application process can be time-consuming, stressful, and costly. We are committed to reducing these barriers and to helping all applicants receive a full and fair assessment by our faculty reviewers. Help is available from the Physics Graduate Admissions Office at [email protected] and additional assistance from current students is offered during the admissions season. Further details are described at the end of this page in our Assistance for Prospective Applicants section.

The list below describes the important elements of a complete application. Please reach out to us at [email protected] if you have a concern or logistical difficulty that could prevent you from providing your strongest application.

Required for a Complete Application

1. online application and application fee.

• MIT Graduate Admissions Online Graduate Application
• Application Fee: $90

2. University Transcript(s)

Unofficial transcripts are sufficient for our initial review, with final transcripts required as a condition of matriculation for successful applicants. Applicants should include a scan of their transcript(s) and, if a degree is in progress, should include a list of the class subjects being taken in the current semester. The portal will allow applicants to log back into the application after the deadline to add their Fall term grades when they are available.

Note: We will respect decisions regarding the adoption of Pass/No Record (or Credit/No Credit or Pass/Fail) and other grading options during the unprecedented period of COVID-19 disruptions, whether those decisions were made by institutions or by individual students.

3. Standardized Test Results

• GRE Tests : The Physics GRE (PGRE) is recommended but not required for graduate applications. All applications will be given full consideration with or without GRE scores.
• TOEFL or IELTS Test or a waiver is required for non-native English speakers. MIT’s TOEFL school code is 3514; the code for the Department of Physics is 76. IELTS does not require a code. Eligibility for TOEFL/IELTS waivers is in our FAQ section .
• Self-reported scores are sufficient for our initial application screening, with official scores required for admitted students as a condition of their offer. Applicants should attach a scanned copy of their test score report.

4. Letters of Recommendation

Letters should include any individual work applicants have done and/or areas where they have special strengths. It is possible to submit up to 6 total letters, but 3 are sufficient for a complete application and committee members may evaluate applications based on the first three letters that they read.

5. Statement of Objectives

Research is central to graduate study in physics. The Statement of Objectives/Purpose should include descriptions of research projects, aptitude and achievements as completely as possible. This important part of the application provides an opportunity to describe any interests, skills, and background relative to the research areas selected on the application form. Applicants should share anything that prepares them for graduate studies and describe their proudest achievements.

Additional Application Materials

• Research, Teaching, and Community Engagement – Any special background or achievement that prepares the applicant for Physics graduate studies at MIT. This may include research at their undergraduate school as part of their Bachelor or Master degree, or summer research at another program or school.  We also value our student’s contributions to their community on a variety of scales (from institutional to societal) and we encourage applicants to tell us about their teaching and community engagement activities.  The “experience” questions are intended to provide a CV-like listing of achievements, some of which may be elaborated on in the “Statement of Objectives” and/or the optional “Personal Statement”.
• Publications, Talks, and Merit Based Recognition – Recognition of success in research, academics, and outreach can take many forms, including publications, talks, honors, prizes, awards, fellowships, etc.  This may include current nominations for scholarships or papers submitted for publication.
• Optional Personal Statement – Members of our community come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. We welcome any personal information that will help us to evaluate applications holistically and will provide context for the applicant’s academic achievements. This statement may include extenuating circumstances, significant challenges that were overcome, a non-traditional educational background, description of any advocacy or values work, or other information that may be relevant.
• Detailed instructions for each application section, and many examples , can be found on the “ Additional Guidance ” page.  The detailed instructions are lengthy, and are intended to be read only “as needed” while you work on your application (i.e., you don’t need to go read the whole thing before you start).

When/How to Apply

When : Applications can be submitted between September 15 and December 15 by 11:59pm EST for the following year.

How : The application is online at https://apply.mit.edu/apply/

Application Assistance

Faculty, students, and staff have collaborated to provide extensive guidance to prospective applicants to our graduate degree program, which we detail below:

• Our website provides answers to many frequently asked admissions questions
• Admissions staff are available for questions at [email protected] . We encourage students to send their questions early in the application process, as staff become increasingly busy with requests as the application deadline approaches!
• The Physics Graduate Application Assistance Program ( PhysGAAP ) is run by current graduate students and offers online webinars, office hours, and one-on-one mentoring. Registration is now open for Fall 2024 , and more information is provided below.

Physics Graduate Application Assistance Program (PhysGAAP)

PhysGAAP is a program offering resources for students applying to graduate school, and it was first started to reduce the barriers for application to the MIT Physics PhD program and address the underrepresentation of students from historically excluded communities. Our services include annual webinars about the application process, office hours to answer questions, and a one-on-one mentoring program for students who would benefit from more in-depth, individual assistance. Visit the PhysGAAP website for more information! 

The Fall 2024 webinars will be held on October 16th at 9-10am and 4-5pm. Zoom and Slido information will be sent 1 week before the webinar to applicants who have registered for PhysGAAP using this form .

Recordings of past webinars can also be found on our website . Please note past webinars may contain outdated information about some topics, such as GRE requirements.

Office Hours

Our Office Hours are a space where you can briefly chat with an MIT Physics graduate student about questions you may have about applying to graduate school. For example, if you have questions about the specifics of applying to MIT Physics, what materials you need for your application, or other questions that only require a one-time meeting, office hours may be a good option for you.

Information about the Office Hours program will be sent out to those who register for PhysGAAP through this form .

1-on-1 Mentorship

1-on-1 mentoring is offered for students who would benefit from more in-depth individual assistance. Our capacity is limited, so we will give preferential consideration to PhysGAAP Mentorship applicants who would most benefit from the program and can demonstrate that they are a good fit. We therefore ask prospective applicants to start by asking their questions at our webinars and office hours program. 

If applicants want further assistance, they may apply to the PhysGAAP Mentorship Program, which pairs prospective graduate school applicants with current graduate students who can provide feedback on their application and insight into graduate school and the MIT Physics PhD program. 

Applications for the PhysGAAP Mentorship Program will open later in the Fall and are expected to close in early-mid November . To stay up to date on when the applications open, please register for PhysGAAP through this form .

Please note that participation in PhysGAAP is not considered during admissions review. It helps applicants put forward their strongest materials, but does not guarantee admission into our graduate program.

Admissions/Application FAQs

Our Frequently Asked Questions provide further information about degree requirements, funding, educational background, application deadlines, English language proficiency, program duration, start dates and deferrals, and fee waiver requests.

The MOST Frequently Asked Question…

What is included in a strong graduate application for physics at mit.

Applications are assessed holistically and many variables are considered in the application review process. The following four main factors are required for a complete application.

• the applicant’s statement of objectives or purpose,
• transcripts of past grades,
• score reports of any required standardized tests,
• three letters of reference.

In addition, any past research experience, publications, awards, and honors are extremely helpful, particularly if they are in the area(s) of the applicant’s interest(s). Applicants may also include a personal statement in their application to provide context as the materials are assessed.

Applications are routed to admission committee members and other faculty readers using the “areas of interest” and any faculty names selected from the menu as well as based on the research interests included in the statement of objectives. Please select the areas of interest that best reflect your goals.

Instructions are available in the application itself , with further guidance on our Additional Guidance page. The Physics Admissions Office will respond to questions sent to [email protected] .

General Questions Regarding the PhD Program in Physics

Must i have a degree in physics in order to apply to this graduate program.

Our successful applicants generally hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics, or have taken many Physics classes if they have majored in another discipline. The most common other majors are astronomy, engineering, mathematics, and chemistry. Bachelor of Science degrees may be 3-year or 4-year degrees, depending on the education structure of the country in which they are earned.

What are the requirements to complete a PhD?

The requirements for a PhD in Physics at MIT are the doctoral examination, a few required subject classes, and a research-based thesis. The doctoral examination consists of a written and an oral examination. The written component may be satisfied either by passing the 4 subject exams or by passing designated classes related to each topic with a qualifying grade; the oral exam will be given in a student’s chosen research area. The Physics Department also requires that each student take two classes in the field of specialization and two physics-related courses in fields outside the specialty. Research for the thesis is conducted throughout the student’s time in the program, culminating in a thesis defense and submission of the final thesis.

Can I take courses at other schools nearby?

Yes. Cross-registration is available at Harvard University and Wellesley College.

How many years does it take to complete the PhD requirements?

From 3 to 7 years, averaging 5.6 years.

How will I pay for my studies?

Our students are fully supported financially throughout the duration of their program, provided that they make satisfactory progress. Funding is provided from Fellowships (internal and external) and/or Assistantships (research and teaching) and covers tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend. Read more about funding .

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 .

How many applications are submitted each year? How many students are accepted?

Although the number varies each year, the Department of Physics usually welcomes approximately 45 incoming graduate students each year. Last year we received more than 1,700 applications and extended fewer than 90 offers of admission.

What are the minimum grades and exam scores for admitted applicants?

There are no minimum standards for overall grade point averages/GPAs. Grades from physics and other related classes will be carefully assessed. Under a special COVID-19 policy, MIT will accept transcripts with a variety of grading conventions, including any special grading given during the COVID-19 pandemic. PGREs (Physics subject GRE) is not required for graduate applications but is recommended.

Our program is conducted in English and all applicants must demonstrate their English language proficiency. Non-native English speakers should review our policy carefully before waiving the TOEFL/IELTS requirements. We do not set a minimum requirement on TOEFL/IELTS scores; however, students who are admitted to our program typically score above the following values:

• IELTS – 7
• TOEFL (computer based) – 200
• TOEFL (iBT) – 100
• TOEFL (standard) – 600

The Application Process

When is the deadline for applying to the phd program in physics.

Applications for enrollment in the fall are due each year by 11:59pm EST on December 15 of the preceding year. There is no admission cycle for spring-term enrollment.

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it difficult for me to take tests in person. Can I still apply?

PGRE (Physics subject GRE) is not required for graduate applications but is recommended. Non-native English speakers who are not eligible for a test waiver should include their results from either an in-person or online version of the TOEFL or IELTS test.

Does the Department of Physics provide waivers for the English language exam (TOEFL/IELTS)?

An English language exam (IELTS, TOEFL, TOEFL iBT, or the C2 Cambridge English Proficiency exam) is required of all applicants who are from a country in which English is not the primary language. Exceptions to this policy will be considered for candidates who, at the start of their graduate studies in 2025, will have been in the US or in a country whose official language is English for three years or longer and who will have received a degree from a college or university in a country where the language of education instruction is English. An interview via telephone, Zoom, or Skype may be arranged at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. More information on a possible English Language Waiver Decision (PDF).

Does the Department of Physics provide application fee waivers?

Although we do not want the MIT application fee to be a barrier to admission, we cannot provide application fee waivers to all who request one.  The Department of Physics has a limited number of fee waivers to grant. Applicants should first investigate their eligibility for a fee waiver through the Office of Graduate Education . Those not eligible will be prompted to submit a departmental application. Fee waiver requests will only be considered *before* an applicant has submitted the application, but *after* they have completed all parts of the application, including transcript uploads and requests for letters of recommendation. Fee waiver requests for incomplete applications will not be considered. Fee waiver requests will be considered on a first-come-first-served basis, and not after December 1. Furthermore, applications lacking the paid fee or a fee waiver by 11:59pm EST on December 15 will not be reviewed or considered for admission.

Can I arrange a visit to the Physics Department or a specific research area?

We are not currently hosting or meeting with outside visitors in person, nor are we facilitating visits to our classrooms. Current graduate students and prospective applicants should direct any questions by email to [email protected] .

Applicants are invited to send specific questions to the Physics Admissions Office and some questions may be forwarded to current students for further information. Admitted students will be invited to attend an in-person open house.

Can I receive an update on the status of my application?

Candidates can check on the status of their application at apply.mit.edu/apply at any time. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all items are sent.

When will I be notified of a final decision?

Applicants will be notified via email of decisions by the end of February. If you have not heard from us by March 1, please send email to [email protected] .

We do not provide results by phone.

Can admitted students start in a term other than the next Fall semester?

Applications submitted between September 15 and December 15 by 11:59pm EST are assessed for the following Fall semester. We do not provide a separate admission review cycle for the Spring semester. Individual research supervisors may invite incoming students to start their research during the summer term a few months earlier than their studies would normally begin. All other incoming students start their studies in late August for the Fall term.

Once admitted, applicants may request a one-year deferral to attend a specific academic program or for another approved reason, with single semester deferrals for the following Spring term granted only rarely.

Financial Aid

The anticipated total compensation package for a first year (non-resident of Massachusetts) doctoral student is in excess of $50,000. In 2022–2023 this includes a teaching assistant stipend of $25,034 (20 hours/week for 38 weeks), a tuition waiver, 95% exemption of the individual health insurance fee costs (90% for the family plan), and dental, vision, wellness and childcare benefits. You will remain responsible for other mandatory fees, the cost of which is approximately $1110.50 per semester, plus a one-time only graduate entering fee of approximately $507.00, which is due the first semester. For up-to-date information regarding fees, please see  http://www.umass.edu/bursar/fee-explanation .

In addition, many students receive a summer salary through a Research Assistantship (RA); a few summer Teaching Assistant (TA) positions are also available. A summer RA salary pays up to an estimated $9882 and a summer TA stipend pays between $1,300 and $3,000. If you negotiate RA support for the entire summer with a research group, you can receive a stipend of up to $34,916 for the first year.

Through a combination of RAs, TAs, and fellowships, students in good standing are typically supported from matriculation to graduation. In recent years, all students in good standing have been fully funded.

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Main Office: Department of Physics 1126 Lederle Graduate Research Tower (LGRT) University of Massachusetts 710 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01003-9337 USA

Phone:  (413) 545-2545 Fax:  (413) 545-0648