Applications are accepted for the fall semester only.

The application deadline for full consideration for the Fall semester is January 31. Files completed after this date will be considered, but students should recognize that most of the financial resources will be committed by early spring.

All application materials must be submitted online, do not mail any documents to the Department of Physics. All official documents transcripts and test scores should be sent to Graduate Admissions. For details, please visit https://students.asu.edu/graduate/how-and-when-apply-graduate-admission.

Below, we provide a clarification and elaboration of the various steps involved. Your application MUST have all 6 elements listed below.

  1. Complete and submit the online graduate application.
  2. Send complete official transcripts of educational work, to date from every college and university attended. Official transcripts should include the fall semester or winter quarter grades, if possible. Official transcripts MUST be submitted by mail to Graduate Admissions. Documents must be issued by the school with the official seal or stamp and an official signature. International academic records must be in the original language accompanied by an official English translation (including official certification of degrees and dates granted). Please visit the Graduate Admissions webpage for more information.
  3. Write a statement of purpose. Include specific items that indicate your personal attributes of initiative, creativity, determination, flexibility, etc relating to research or personal interests. In addition, upload a document that includes any publications; awards; accomplishments; explain your goals and detail any theoretical or experimental  expertise you believe will help you be successful during your PhD research.
  4. Submit the names of three referees. You will be asked to enter the names and email addresses in the online application of three individuals who can recommend you to our graduate program. Referees should be faculty or professional colleagues who have supervised you for research or academic work. For international students, specific comments about ability with spoken English will be helpful. Once you submit the application and pay the fee, your recommenders will receive an email with submission instructions.
  5. Submit general GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative and Analytic). Exam must be taken within the last five years.  If you cannot take the general GRE exam due to COVID 19, after submitting your application request a waiver by emailing Ms. Araceli Vizcarra at Araceli.Vizcarra@asu.edu.
  6. Submit TOEFL (or equivalent) for non-native speakers. ASU requires international students to have minimum TOEFL scores of 515 (PBT), 213 (CBT), or 83 (iBT). At the department level, we look for scores 15% above the university minima.

To submit official test scores, use ASU code 4007.