Physics

Program Overview

Quick Facts

Master of Science

Program Description

The MSc program is directed primarily to qualified students seeking a career in scientific research, with an emphasis on doctoral-stream studies. The MSc can be taken both with or without a thesis, the latter being the norm.

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Physics' additional admission requirements stated below.

• An appropriate bachelor's degree with a final-year average equivalent to at least a University of Toronto mid-B.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements.

Program Requirements

• Students normally complete program requirements in one of three ways:

  • ​​​Option 1: Coursework plus MSc Research Report:

    • graduate lecture courses (3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs]);

    • a Research Report, which consists of a 6000-series research course appropriate to the field of physics (1.0 FCE) and PHY 3400Y (1.0 FCE).

  • Option 2: Coursework plus MSc Research Project:

    • graduate lecture courses (2.0 FCEs);

    • a 6000-series research course appropriate to the field of physics (1.0 FCE);

    • a Research Project, which consists of a 7000-series seminar course appropriate to the field of physics (1.0 FCE) and PHY 3400Y (1.0 FCE).

  • Option 3: Coursework plus MSc Research Thesis:

    • graduate lecture courses (2.0 FCEs);

    • thesis;

    • selection of the program is made by the student and faculty advisor in consultation with the Associate Chair.

• MSc students are expected to attend the weekly general colloquium conducted by the department.

• The residence requirement is one year, whereby students must be on campus full-time and consequently in geographical proximity to be able to participate fully in the University activities associated with the program.

Program Length

3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: F/W/S)

Time Limit

3 years full-time

Doctor of Philosophy

Program Description

The Department of Physics offers excellent quality and breadth of research fields. Its internationally leading research teams, in both theory and experiment, operate across a broad spectrum of topics as well as collaborative specializations in interdisciplinary subjects. Graduates work in government, industry, and education around the world.

Applicants may enter the PhD program via one of two routes: 1) following completion of an appropriate master’s degree; 2) direct entry after completing a bachelor’s degree.

PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Physics' additional admission requirements stated below.

• An appropriate University of Toronto master's degree with an average of at least B+ or demonstrated comparable research competence.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements.

Program Requirements

• The core of the PhD program is an original investigation, the results of which are embodied in a thesis. Lecture courses constitute a subsidiary but important part of the program. Consult the department for details.

• Complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs): graduate lecture courses and a thesis. Course credit will normally be given towards the PhD for all graduate lecture courses taken during a master's program in this department. Students who have completed an appropriate MSc elsewhere and are entering the PhD program will generally be given a course credit of up to 2.0 FCEs in graduate lecture courses towards their PhD course requirement.

• Complete a qualifying oral examination. Students must complete the qualifying examination within eight months. Students who fail at the first attempt have the opportunity to take the examination again within a time period specified by the examination committee.

• Students are expected to attend the weekly general colloquium conducted by the department.

Program Length

4 years

Time Limit

6 years

PhD Program (Direct-Entry)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the Department of Physics' additional admission requirements stated below.

• Outstanding applicants may be considered directly from undergraduate programs. Normally, these applicants will have an undergraduate average of A or higher.

• Applicants whose primary language is not English and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction and examination was not English must demonstrate proficiency in English. See General Regulations section 4.3 for requirements.

Program Requirements

• The core of the PhD program is an original investigation, the results of which are embodied in a thesis. Lecture courses constitute a subsidiary but important part of the program. Consult the department for details.

• Complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs): graduate lecture courses and a thesis.

• Students must complete a qualifying oral examination within 20 months. Students who fail at the first attempt have the opportunity to take the examination again within a time period specified by the examination committee.

• Students are expected to attend the weekly general colloquium conducted by the department.

Program Length

5 years

Time Limit

7 years