Graduate Application Process

Note: Although the priority deadline has passed, we are still accepting qualified domestic applications. For full consideration of fellowships, fill out the on-line application as soon as possible and arrange for all of your supplemental materials to arrive as soon as possible.

All Ph.D. applicants that apply to the Fall quarter will be considered for financial support in the form of fellowships and teaching assistantships. However, for full consideration of fellowship stipends, apply before the January 5th deadline and provide all of your application materials by mid-January (this applies to both domestic and international applicants). After January 5th, files will be considered for fellowship stipends based on available funding. [Notes: (a) we are primarily a Ph.D. granting program, and generally cannot offer support for M.S. students unless T.A. positions happen to be available; (b) only in exceptional cases do we admit students for Winter or Spirng quarter, and financial support is generally not available].

Domestic students who have a GPA > 3.25 and General GRE > 1100 can request the application fee to be waived by the department. [GPA should be for last two years of study and General GRE = Verbal + Quantitative]. If you qualify, send an e-mail to us asking for the application fee waiver, submit the grad division electronic application, and arrange for all of your supplemental material to be sent to the physics department.

International applications will not be considered for admission until the application fee has been received. This is a requirement of the Graduate Division and absolutely no exceptions can be granted.

All students are required to take the general GRE and Physics Subject GRE. No exceptions can be made. Our ETS codes are R4839 (UCR) and 0808 (Physics).

International students whose native language is not English are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The test must be taken within two years of matriculation (i.e. September 2007 for Fall 2009 admission), and the minimum scores for admission are: 550 (paper based), 213 (computer based), 80 (iBT). For those international students, preference for admission and fellowships will be give to those taking the TAST (i.e. the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT). Those international students with a score of 17 or higher on the TAST (i.e. the speaking portion of the TOEFL iBT) will be eligible for additional money by serving as a part time teaching assistant and will be given preference for admission and fellowship. Note that a TAST score of 17-22 is considered a conditional pass and students can teach but must take a free English class and retake at the quarter, while 23-30 is a considered clear pass.

In making recommendation to our Graduate Division complete files are evaluated, including research experience, institution attended, GPA, and GRE scores. Research experience and letters or recommendation are given substantial weight in addition to solid GPA and GRE scores. The Graduate Division gives us the following guidelines for grades and GRE score (if close, lower scores in some areas can be overcome with strong performances in other areas.) Students with a Junior/Senior year GPA (or MA GPA) of 3.25 and General GRE score above 1100 are considered qualified for a Teaching Assistantship. Students with a Junior/Senior year GPA of 3.5 and General GRE score above 1200 are considered for our highest fellowship stipends. The Physics GRE, quality of institution, letters of recommendation, and demonstrated ability to conduct independent research are all strongly taken into consideration.(except for the application fee). [Notes: (a) if you have take the GRE multiple times, we will consider your highest score; (b) we mostly consider your GPA for your last two years of study. (c) undergraduate physics core classes are required including upper division quantum mechanics, electricity & magnetism, and mechanics].

We aim to recruit ~24 Ph.D. students for Fall 2009, including 8-10 international students. We typically receive 90-100 domestic and 150 international Ph.D. applications. The vast majority of students Ph.D. we admit receive fellowship packages and are fully supported.

PhD students are admitted without preference for their advisers or field. First year students take Physics 288, which introduces them to the research being performed in the department. Students are then asked to find an initial adviser before the beginning of their third quarter and an official adviser before the end of their second year of study. [Note: there are three quarter terms in an academic year at UCR.]

Application Checklist (domestic students)

1. Complete Graduate Division On-line Application [Paper applications are no longer accepted.]
2. From the Graduate Division web site, print the Disclaimer, Statement of Goals and Qualifications, and Supplementary Fellowship Information forms. Complete these forms and mail to the address below. Files will not be considered complete until the $70 application fee is received unless you qualify for and request an application fee waiver (see above).
3. Have one copy of your transcripts and degree certificates (if applicable) sent from all Colleges and Universities attended. The Graduate Division web site provides Transcript Request Labels for you to print and use. (must be in sealed envelopes) Transcripts and degree certificates (if applicable) should be sent directly to the Department of Physics & Astronomy.
4. Print the Letter of Recommendation Form and request that three letters be sent to the address below (must be on university or company letterhead and be in sealed envelopes).
5. Request ETS to send your GRE scores to our campus. Both the GRE general exam and Physics subject exam are required. (self-reported unacceptable). Our ETS codes are: R4839 (UCR) and 0808 (Physics).

Application Checklist (international students)

1. Complete Graduate Division On-line Application [Paper applications are no longer accepted.]
2. From the Graduate Division web site, print the Disclaimer, Statement of Goals and Qualifications, and Supplementary Fellowship Information forms. Complete these forms and mail to the address below. Files will not be considered for admission until the $85 application fee is received. No exceptions can be made.
3. Have one copy of your transcripts sent from all Colleges and Universities attended including any degree certificates. The Graduate Division web site provides Transcript Request Labels for you to print and use. (must be in sealed envelopes). Original transcripts and degree certificates (if applicable) are needed for initial evaluation. Transcripts and degree certificates should be sent directly to the Department of Physics & Astronomy.
4. Print the Letter of Recommendation Form and request that three letters be sent to the address below. (must be on university or company letterhead and be in sealed envelopes)
5. Request ETS to send your GRE scores to our campus. Both the GRE general exam and Physics subject exam are required. (self-reported unacceptable). Copies OK for initial evaluation. Our ETS codes are: R4839 (UCR) and 0808 (Physics).
6. Official TOEFL score. (no older than 2 years from matriculation - i.e. September 2007 for admission for Fall 2009) (self-reported unacceptable). Copies OK for initial evaluation.
7. The Graduate Division also requires a financial statement for international applicants. It is OK to put $0 in personal funds and/or sponsors if applicable.

Note that while the receiving will be closed over the holidays (starting on Dec 22nd), there is no reason to postpone sending applicaiton materials as all deliveries will be held and delivered on January 5th, 2009.

Send Application Materials to:

Student Affairs Office
Department of Physics & Astronomy
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521

Telephone: (951) 827-5332    FAX: (951) 827-4529
Email: derek.beving@ucr.edu