Applications for Admission and Financial Aid are made to the UConn Graduate School. Applicants are encouraged to apply to the PhD program for the Fall admission cycle due to course offerings as MS admissions are very rare.
Apply online:
- UConn Graduate School online application
- graduate school admission FAQ
- graduate school admission requirements
GRE scores are not required for admission consideration for the Fall 2026 cycle. Three letters of recommendation and a personal statement should be submitted with the application. A personal statement can provide biographical background information, describe the applicant’s motivation for pursuing graduate studies in Physics, or recount any research experience the applicant may have. Any other information that helps the Admissions Committee to get to know the applicant is also welcome.
International applicants from non-English speaking countries should also include evidence of proficiency in the English language for admission. You may submit results from the following as the UConn Graduate School admission requirements:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- The test administered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
- Pearson PTE Academic or PTE Academic Online test
- Duolingo test
First year graduate students are typically offered a Graduate Assistantship (which comes with a stipend, benefits, and a tuition waiver with the enrollment of at least 6 credits) for their first academic year in the form of a Teaching Assistantship) based on budgetary allowances. Please review the English Proficiency requirement to hold a Teaching Assistantship. Please note that the English proficiency requirements for admission are different from the English proficiency requirement to hold a Teaching Assistantship.
Please note that in order to be eligible for testing for English proficiency to hold a Teaching Assistantship, a minimum score of 22 (TOEFL), 7.0 (IELTS), or 59 (PTE) on the speaking portion of these exams is required. If you are eligible for a Waiver of Language Proficiency Examinations for admission (Duolingo score of at least 110, English instruction of post-secondary institution outside of the U.S., or completion of one year or more of full-time coursework at a post-secondary institution within the U.S.), you must still complete and pass an ITA Proficiency Assessment to hold a Teaching Assistantship.
Applicants are advised to have their application complete by January 10 for admission in the following Fall semester. Although applications are accepted year-round, practically all decisions concerning admission and financial aid are made early in the spring semester.
In exceptional cases, the application fee may be waived, depending on available funds and the discretion of the Department Head and Graduate Admissions Committee. Requests for a fee waiver for the Fall 2026 admission cycle can be submitted here.
Graduate admissions questions: grad.admissions.physics@uconn.edu