Admission Requirements

Deadline for Admissions

Application Instructions

Admissions Requirements

Students entering the doctoral program are expected to have a strong undergraduate preparation in physics. Courses in electricity and magnetism, optics, mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics, quantum mechanics, mathematical physics, differential equations, and analysis are essential. Any deficiency in these areas may delay degree completion by as much as a year. (Students are expected to make up any deficiencies during the first year of graduate study.)

The Graduate Admissions Committee reviews all parts of the application, but to help guide student expectations regarding the probability of admissions to our department, we offer you approximate averages in recent years.

• Average size of entering class: 25
• Average number of Students offered admission: 100
• Average number of Student applications: 400
• Average Advance Physics GRE of admitted students: 810
• Average General GRE of admitted students: 80 percentile
• Average GPA of admitted students: 3.8

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Deadline for Submission of Application Materials

For expected entry to study in Autumn quarter, students must submit all application materials by January 15th. The GRE exam results from a December test date will arrive a little later than January 15th, but all other materials must arrive by January 15th.

The suggested deadline for International applicants is November 1st. This deadline will ensure that there is sufficient time to process the paperwork. We will accept applications after this date, but we strongly recommend that International applicants submit materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions by November 1st.

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Application Instructions

For general admissions information, including application instructions, please see General Admission Information

To begin the online application process, please see World-Wide-Web Application for Graduate Admission

1. Submit the following materials to the:

   Office of Graduate Admissions
   University of Washington
   P.O. Box 84808
   Room 301, Loew Hall
   Seattle, WA 98124-6108

   International applicants

   • Copy of Graduate School Application, signed (original signature) and dated
   • International transcripts with degree statement, including date of graduation and title of academic degree awarded. All coursework with grades issued for each year completed must be submitted for proper evaluation. Transcripts must be in the native language and accompanied by a certified English translation. International transcripts are considered official if they have been certified or attested, signed in ink by the proper school authority and carry the seal of the school. International transcripts should be sent in a sealed envelope if possible. In some circumstances, we will accept exact copies duly certified as such by the Registrar of an accredited institution in the United States previously attended by the applicant. Such copies must be sent directly from the U.S. institution in a sealed envelope.
   • Transcripts from the U.S. and Canada: You should ask the Registrar to mail official transcripts in a sealed envelope to this office.
   • Request Educational Testing Services, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541-6151 to forward your TOEFL score report using the institution code #4854. Score reports more than 2 years old (from the test date) are not valid.
   • Complete, sign, and return the University of Washington Statement of Financial Ability form. Please include official/original financial documentation. Any sponsor or family member providing financial support MUST ALSO sign this form. Students applying for Teaching or Research Assistantships MUST complete this form. An incomplete form will be returned to you. Information in the "Dependents Section" of this form is necessary for a complete and accurate visa application. Faxed, photocopied, or notarized copies ARE NOT acceptable. The University of Washington Statement of Financial Ability form is available online to individuals who have successfully submitted an application to the Graduate School via the World-Wide-Web.
   • International applicants currently residing in the U.S.: Send photocopies of all I-20 (Certificate of Eligibility Form) with the F-1 stamp, or DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility) with the J-1 stamp or any current visa status forms issued to you.
   • If you are requesting a DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility Form) for J-1 status, please provide the following information: City of Birth, legal permanent resident of what country, present position in that country (i.e. student/faculty, as well as the name of the institution, if employed by a company, name of employer, etc.). If you are currently holding the J-1 visa, please let this office know if you are planning to return home before coming to this University. This information is important in order to issue an accurate visa application form.
   
   

   U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and immigrants

   • You do not need to mail any materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions if you submit your application and pay the application fee online by credit card, unless you have earned a bachelor's or higher degree from an institution outside the United States. If so, then you must print a copy of the application and send it, together with an official copy of the transcript and degree statement.
   
   
2. Submit the following materials to the Physics Department in one envelope:

   Department of Physics
   University of Washington
   Box 351560
   Seattle, Washington 98195-1560
   Attn: Graduate Program Assistant

   International applicants, U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and immigrants

   • Copy of Graduate School Application, signed and dated
   • Copy of Physics Application, signed and dated
   • Statement of purpose: Please describe your reasons for pursuing a PhD in physics at the University of Washington. Include any research and/or work experience and other information pertinent to your application. Please limit your response to one page.
   • Curriculum vitae: Please list your awards, honors, employment, and research history.
   • Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
   • Three letters of recommendation: Please have your recommenders complete the department's cover form and attach it to their letters. You can download this "Recommendation Form" during the online application process, once you reach step 11 (the Physics department section) of the application.
   • Official GRE and Advanced Physics Subject Test Scores: Please submit unofficial scores if official scores are not yet available.(Our institution code is #4854. It is to your advantage to have scores sent in time for the January 15th deadline, but we will accept scores that arrive later.)

For additional information, please email your inquiries to the Graduate Program Assistant or call 206-543-2488.

For additional information about graduate study at the University of Washington, please visit the Graduate School Home Page.

The University of Washington reaffirms its policy of equal opportunity regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam era veteran in accordance with University policy and applicable federal and state statutes and regulations.