Applying to Columbia Physics Graduate Program

Three years of fundamental undergraduate physics courses, individual laboratories, and a working knowledge of ordinary differential equations are generally required for admission.

Columbia's Graduate School of Arts & Sciences provides an online teaching manual that is organized around the diverse teaching roles filled by graduate students and offers practical advice concerning issues that arise from instructing students. A manual for those serving as teaching assistants is available at the Teaching Program's Website.

The online application for the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can be found here. Applications for the Physics PhD are due by [2026 Date Pending]. When filing an application form, the student should specify the department or doctoral program subcommittee under which he or she wishes to study. In any given term, a student may apply for study under only one department or subcommittee. A nonrefundable fee of $120 must accompany the completed form.

A complete application includes transcripts of all previous post-secondary education, a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, scores from the GRE (if the applicant chooses to) and, if applicable, the TOEFL examination.

The Columbia Physics department does not oversee Physics Applications submissions. With questions or concerns about the admissions process, waivers, or admissions system troubleshooting please contact the Columbia Division of Graduate Arts and Sciences at (212) 854-6729 or [email protected].

Graduate students entering in the fall should plan on arrival before the last week of August, which is reserved for required Teaching Assistant training and other on-boarding activities.

Students denied admission may reapply in a subsequent year if further training or experience is presented to strengthen the application

The online application and deadlines for the Columbia Graduate School of Arts and Sciences can be found here.