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Ph.D. Student Resources

Many questions can be answered by looking in the Ph.D. Student Handbook or online.

For procedural questions that a graduate student cannot easily address on their own, a good first contact is the graduate program administrative assistant .

The student’s CSD faculty advisor is the next contact to ask for help and support. 

In cases where the primary advisor is unable to or not sufficient to address a question, graduate students are encouraged to reach out to the graduate professor-in-charge and/or department head as the next step. 

When additional resources are needed after working with the grad PIC and/or department head, there are college, university level, and other resources as needed.

Ph.D. Student Handbook

The Ph.D. student handbook is a guide to the Ph.D. program for currently enrolled doctoral students in Communication Sciences and Disorders.

The guide is housed in Canvas and includes information on:

• Admission and retention
• Financial appointments and graduate assistantships
• Professional presentations
• Student teaching
• Degree requirements
• Dissertation and exam timelines
• Policies and procedures

Graduate students seeking to register for independent study or research credits in CSD should submit the appropriate request below. Your request will be reviewed and, if approved, the credits will be added by the department.

CSD 596 is an independent study course, which is a non-thesis research course. Students work closely with a faculty member on creative projects that fall outside the scope of a formal course. The number of credits is determined between the student and faculty member the student is working for, which is dependent on the amount of work that is expected of the student.

• Request registration in CSD 596

CSD 600 is a Thesis Research course, students registering for this course will work closely with a faculty member to develop their research. This course can be scheduled for 1-15 credits.

• Request registration in CSD 600

CSD 601 is available for full-time Ph.D. degree candidates who have passed the comprehensive examination; students taking this course have finished all required coursework, but are working on their dissertation. This course is 0 credits.

• Request registration in CSD 601

CSD 602 is designed to introduce graduate teaching assistants to the fundamentals of course design, development, delivery, assessment, and evaluation. This course can be scheduled for 1-3 credits.

• Request registration in CSD 602

Support Resources

Hhd office of research and graduate education.

The HHD Office of Research and Graduate Education can be contacted for unusual situations that can not be addressed at the departmental level and/or where College-level resources are needed.

HHD Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

The HHD Office for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is working to develop new resources at the College level to promote student community, resources, and well-being. If there are questions that cannot be addressed by the departmental DEI committee, including questions related to graduate student recruitment, this office may be a good resource.

Penn State Office of Graduate Student Life and Well-Being

The Penn State Office of Graduate Student Life and Well-Being enhances the Graduate School’s efforts to support Penn State graduate students’ health and well-being needs. This may be a particularly good resource when there are substantial and ongoing issues that can not be addressed at the departmental or College level.

This resource includes links to various campus and community services accessible to graduate students, including:

• Personal Well-Being, including physical and mental health
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Mental Health Crisis Intervention

If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or need immediate support:

• Call Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) , 814-863-0395 (Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.)
• Call the 24/7 Penn State Crisis Line at 1-877-229-6400
• Text the 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text “LIONS” to 741741

The Penn State Crisis Line can also be used for consultation if you know someone or are with someone who is experiencing a crisis.

Student Disability Resources (SDR)

If graduate students want to seek accommodation, including accommodation in classes or with graduate milestones, it is imperative that they go through the Student Disability Resources (SDR) office. Documentation from a health provider and/or other supporting evidence will be needed to receive accommodation.

It is recommended that a graduate student contact SDR as soon as possible if they anticipate needing any accommodation (even if they are not sure yet if they will request accommodation), as it can take some time to arrange. If an accommodation letter from SDR is provided, it will not go into detail about the issue (to preserve relevant confidentiality), but will suggest what accommodations might be warranted. If a graduate student decides to seek accommodation, this letter should then be shared in a timely fashion with the individuals(s) who will be involved in making accommodations (e.g., instructor, Grad PIC/advisor).

Faculty members who are given a letter from SDR will note that it includes an SDR specialist contact. If they have any questions about how to address the accommodation request, they are encouraged to reach out to SDR directly.

Graduate Writing Center

The Graduate Writing Center offers one-to-one consultations that are most useful to writers seeking ongoing support or consultations on shorter documents. Consultants commonly assist writers with theses, dissertations, seminar papers, proposals, personal statements, fellowship applications, CVs, letters of application, among many other genres.

Back to Ph.D. Program Home Page

Ph.D. Program Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders The Pennsylvania State University 308 Ford Building University Park, PA 16802

[email protected] 814-865-0971

Ph.D. Program

The training for a Ph.D. in Biology is focused on helping students achieve their goals of being a successful research scientist and teacher, at the highest level. Students work closely with an established advisor and meet regularly with a committee of faculty members to facilitate their progress. The Biology Ph.D. program is part of the larger Biosciences community at Stanford, which includes doctorate programs in the basic science departments at Stanford Medical School. 

There are two tracks within the Biology Ph.D. program:

• Cell, Molecular and Organismal Biology
• Ecology and Evolution

(Previously a part of the Department of Biology Hopkins Marine Station is now a part of the Oceans Department within  Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability )

All  tracks are focused on excellence in research and teaching in their respective areas; where there are differences between the tracks, they are indicated in the links below. 

Requirements & Forms

Dissertation defense, cellular and molecular biology training program, stanford biology ph.d. preview program, career development resources.

Graduate School

Ph.d. requirements.

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Brown University awards more than 200 doctor of philosophy degrees annually.

The Brown Ph.D. is primarily a research degree. Teaching is an important part of many doctoral programs, and many departments require candidates for the Ph.D. to have teaching experience.

Brown University offers substantial financial support to doctoral students. All incoming doctoral students are guaranteed five years of support, which includes a stipend, full tuition remission, health-services fee, and a health-insurance subsidy. Doctoral students in the Humanities and Social Sciences are guaranteed six years of support. All promises of student support are subject to students making satisfactory academic progress, as determined by their programs of study. Please see related links for additional details regarding the University's commitment to doctoral education.

Ph.D. Funding

Funding guarantee, four general requirements for the doctor of philosophy.

The candidate must be formally admitted to his or her degree program.

The normal residency requirement is the equivalent of three Academic Years of full-time study beyond the bachelor's degree. Students who enter a PhD program at Brown already holding a master’s degree in a related field have a residency requirement equivalent to two Academic Years of full-time study upon entering the PhD program at Brown. Use of a previously earned master’s degree to reduce PhD residency requirements is contingent upon approval of the program Director of Graduate Study. Graduate work done at other institutions and not used in fulfillment of the requirements for any doctoral degree elsewhere may, on the approval of the program Director of Graduate Study, be counted in fulfillment of up to, but not exceeding, one year of the residency requirement. A student who desires credit for work done elsewhere should file a timely application with the program Director of Graduate Study; transfer credit forms are available through the  Office of the Registrar .

A student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. when he or she has completed satisfactorily all the requirements, departmental and general, requisite to beginning work on the dissertation. Candidacy is determined by the department or program of study and certified by the Registrar. Most departments require a preliminary examination before advancing any student to candidacy. Most departments also require a final examination or defense. The examination is conducted by professors in the department and by such other members of the faculty as may be appointed.

The candidate must present a dissertation on a topic related to his or her area of specialization that presents the results of original research and gives evidence of excellent scholarship. The dissertation must be approved by the professor or committee under whose direction it is written and by the Graduate Council. All requirements for the Ph.D. must be completed within five years after advancement to candidacy.

Faculty Member Leaves Brown

If a faculty member working with a doctoral student leaves Brown for any reason before that student has completed his or her degree requirements, it may not always be possible for that faculty member to continue working with the student as an advisor. In such cases, departments will work with students to help them locate a new advisor.

Additional Requirements

Individual departments and programs may have additional requirements regarding the number of courses to be taken, proficiency in foreign languages, special examinations, and theses. The department should be consulted for specific information.

Doctor of Philosophy in Education

Additional Information

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The Harvard Ph.D. in Education trains cutting-edge researchers who work across disciplines to generate knowledge and translate discoveries into transformative policy and practice.

Offered jointly by the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the Ph.D. in Education provides you with full access to the extraordinary resources of Harvard University and prepares you to assume meaningful roles as university faculty, researchers, senior-level education leaders, and policymakers.

As a Ph.D. candidate, you will collaborate with scholars across all Harvard graduate schools on original interdisciplinary research. In the process, you will help forge new fields of inquiry that will impact the way we teach and learn. The program’s required coursework will develop your knowledge of education and your expertise in a range of quantitative and qualitative methods needed to conduct high-quality research. Guided by the goal of making a transformative impact on education research, policy, and practice, you will focus on independent research in various domains, including human development, learning and teaching, policy analysis and evaluation, institutions and society, and instructional practice.   

Curriculum Information

The Ph.D. in Education requires five years of full-time study to complete. You will choose your individual coursework and design your original research in close consultation with your HGSE faculty adviser and dissertation committee. The requirements listed below include the three Ph.D. concentrations: Culture, Institutions, and Society; Education Policy and Program Evaluation; and Human Development, Learning and Teaching . 

We invite you to review an example course list, which is provided in two formats — one as the full list by course number and one by broad course category . These lists are subject to modification. 

Ph.D. Concentrations and Examples

Summary of Ph.D. Program

Doctoral Colloquia  In year one and two you are required to attend. The colloquia convenes weekly and features presentations of work-in-progress and completed work by Harvard faculty, faculty and researchers from outside Harvard, and Harvard doctoral students. Ph.D. students present once in the colloquia over the course of their career.

Research Apprenticeship The Research Apprenticeship is designed to provide ongoing training and mentoring to develop your research skills throughout the entire program.

Teaching Fellowships The Teaching Fellowship is an opportunity to enhance students' teaching skills, promote learning consolidation, and provide opportunities to collaborate with faculty on pedagogical development.

Comprehensive Exams  The Written Exam (year 2, spring) tests you on both general and concentration-specific knowledge. The Oral Exam (year 3, fall/winter) tests your command of your chosen field of study and your ability to design, develop, and implement an original research project.

Dissertation  Based on your original research, the dissertation process consists of three parts: the Dissertation Proposal, the writing, and an oral defense before the members of your dissertation committee.

Culture, Institutions, and Society (CIS) Concentration

In CIS, you will examine the broader cultural, institutional, organizational, and social contexts relevant to education across the lifespan. What is the value and purpose of education? How do cultural, institutional, and social factors shape educational processes and outcomes? How effective are social movements and community action in education reform? How do we measure stratification and institutional inequality? In CIS, your work will be informed by theories and methods from sociology, history, political science, organizational behavior and management, philosophy, and anthropology. You can examine contexts as diverse as classrooms, families, neighborhoods, schools, colleges and universities, religious institutions, nonprofits, government agencies, and more.

Education Policy and Program Evaluation (EPPE) Concentration

In EPPE, you will research the design, implementation, and evaluation of education policy affecting early childhood, K–12, and postsecondary education in the U.S. and internationally. You will evaluate and assess individual programs and policies related to critical issues like access to education, teacher effectiveness, school finance, testing and accountability systems, school choice, financial aid, college enrollment and persistence, and more. Your work will be informed by theories and methods from economics, political science, public policy, and sociology, history, philosophy, and statistics. This concentration shares some themes with CIS, but your work with EPPE will focus on public policy and large-scale reforms.

Human Development, Learning and Teaching (HDLT) Concentration

In HDLT, you will work to advance the role of scientific research in education policy, reform, and practice. New discoveries in the science of learning and development — the integration of biological, cognitive, and social processes; the relationships between technology and learning; or the factors that influence individual variations in learning — are transforming the practice of teaching and learning in both formal and informal settings. Whether studying behavioral, cognitive, or social-emotional development in children or the design of learning technologies to maximize understanding, you will gain a strong background in human development, the science of learning, and sociocultural factors that explain variation in learning and developmental pathways. Your research will be informed by theories and methods from psychology, cognitive science, sociology and linguistics, philosophy, the biological sciences and mathematics, and organizational behavior.

Program Faculty

The most remarkable thing about the Ph.D. in Education is open access to faculty from all Harvard graduate and professional schools, including the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, the Harvard Kennedy School, the Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard School of Public Health. Learn about the full Ph.D. Faculty.

Jarvis R. Givens

Jarvis Givens studies the history of American education, African American history, and the relationship between race and power in schools.

Paul L. Harris

Paul Harris is interested in the early development of cognition, emotion, and imagination in children.

Meira Levinson

Meira Levinson is a normative political philosopher who works at the intersection of civic education, youth empowerment, racial justice, and educational ethics. 

Luke W. Miratrix

Luke Miratrix is a statistician who explores how to best use modern statistical methods in applied social science contexts.

Eric Taylor

Eric Taylor studies the economics of education, with a particular interest in employer-employee interactions between schools and teachers — hiring and firing decisions, job design, training, and performance evaluation.

Paola Uccelli

Paola Ucelli studies socio-cultural and individual differences in the language development of multilingual and monolingual students.

View Ph.D. Faculty

Dissertations.

The following is a complete listing of successful Ph.D. in Education dissertations to-date. Dissertations from November 2014 onward are publicly available in the Digital Access to Scholarship at Harvard (DASH) , the online repository for Harvard scholarship.

• 2022 Graduate Dissertations (265 KB pdf)
• 2021 Graduate Dissertations (177 KB pdf)
• 2020 Graduate Dissertations (121 KB pdf)
• 2019 Graduate Dissertations (68.3 KB pdf)

Student Directory

An opt-in listing of current Ph.D. students with information about their interests, research, personal web pages, and contact information:

Doctor of Philosophy in Education Student Directory

Introduce Yourself

Tell us about yourself so that we can tailor our communication to best fit your interests and provide you with relevant information about our programs, events, and other opportunities to connect with us.

Program Highlights

Explore examples of the Doctor of Philosophy in Education experience and the impact its community is making on the field:

Improving the Teacher Workforce

With her research work, doctoral marshal Mary Laski, Ph.D.'24, is trying to make teaching in K–12 schools more sustainable and attractive

Building The ‘Bridge’ Between Research and Practice

Marshal Doug Mosher, Ph.D.'24, reflects on his journey to the Ed. School and the lessons — musical and teaching — learned along the way

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The Ph.D. in Statistics is flexible and allows students to pursue a variety of directions, ranging from statistical methodology and interdisciplinary research to theoretical statistics and probability theory. Students typically start the Ph.D. program by taking courses and gradually transition to research that will ultimately lead to their dissertation, the most important component of the Ph.D. program.

These requirements apply to students admitted for Fall 2020 and after. Students admitted in Fall 2019 and earlier should consult the Previous Program Requirements page .

PhD Coursework:

The core PhD curriculum is divided into five areas: 

Methods — STATS 600 and 601

Practice — STATS 604

Statistical Theory — STATS 511, 610, 611

Probability — STATS 510, 620, 621

Computing — STATS 507, 606, 608 

All doctoral students must complete the following in their first three semesters in the program and before advancing to candidacy: 

Take all methods and practice courses (600, 601, 604)

Take at least two courses in the combined areas of statistical theory and probability,  including at least one course in statistical theory and at least one 600-level course 

Take at least one computing course

Achieve a 3.5 average grade (on the 4.0 scale used by Rackham) in 600, 601, 604, and one 600-level statistical theory or probability course

Not completing requirements 1-4 by the end of the third semester will trigger probation which, if not resolved by the end of the fourth semester, may lead to dismissal from the program.  For more details, see the link below. 

By the end of the PhD program, all students must take at least 30 credits of graduate statistics courses.    All courses from the core areas count towards this total, as well as all 600-level, 700-level, and selected additional  500-level courses with approval of the PhD Program Director. Seminars and independent study courses do not count. At least 21 credits must be at the 600 level or higher. The Rackham Graduate School requires PhD students to maintain an overall GPA of at least 3.0 to remain in good standing.   

In addition, all doctoral  students must take 3 credits of cognate courses as required by the Rackham graduate school, and two professional development seminar courses. Cognate courses are 400- and higher-level courses from outside Statistics and not cross-listed with Statistics. All cognate course selections must be approved by the PhD Program Director. The professional development courses are 

STATS 810, research ethics and introduction to research tools, in the first semester in the program.

STATS 811, technical writing in statistics. Students are strongly advised to complete this course in their second or third year.

Typical Course Schedules:

Our Ph.D. program admits students with diverse academic backgrounds. All PhD students take STATS 600/601  in their first year. Students are strongly encouraged to take STATS 604 in their second year (Stats 600 is a prerequisite).  

Students with less mathematical preparation typically take STATS 510/511 (the Master’s level probability and statistical theory) in their first year and 600-level probability and/or statistical theory courses in their second year.    

Advanced students, for example those with a Master’s degree, typically do not need to take 510/511, and in some cases may skip 610 and 621. Students who wish to take 600-level probability and statistical theory courses in their first year must take a placement test just before the fall semester of their first year to get approved. The PhD Program Director will help each student choose their individual path towards completing the requirements.  

Some typical sample schedules are listed below. In most cases, we do not recommend taking more than three full-load courses per semester (not counting seminars).

Sample schedule 1:

Sample schedule 2:

Advancing to Candidacy:

Students are expected to find a faculty advisor and start research leading to their dissertation proposal no later than the summer after their first year. The PhD Program Director and the faculty mentor assigned to each first year student can assist with finding a faculty advisor. Students are expected to submit a dissertation proposal and advance to candidacy some time during their second or third year in the program.   

Requirements for advancing to candidacy are:

Satisfying Requirements 1-4

Completing at least 3 credit hours of cognate courses

Writing a dissertation proposal and passing the oral preliminary exam, which consists of presenting the proposal to the student's preliminary thesis committee

A dissertation proposal should identify an interesting research problem, provide motivation for studying it, review the relevant literature, propose an approach for solving the problem​, and present at least some preliminary results​. The written proposal must be submitted to the preliminary thesis committee and the graduate coordinator a​head of time (one week minimum, two weeks recommended)​ and then presented in the oral preliminary exam. The preliminary thesis committee is chaired by the faculty advisor and must include at least two more faculty members, at least one of them from Statistics. ​​The faculty on the preliminary thesis committee typically continue t​o serve ​on ​the doctoral thesis committee​​, but changes are allowed.  Please see Rackham rules on thesis committees for more information.  

At the oral preliminary exam, the committee will ask questions about the proposal and the relevant background and either elect to accept the proposal as both substantial and feasible, ask for specific revisions, or decline the proposal. The unanimous approval of the proposal by the committee is necessary for the student to advance to candidacy.

Additional Information:

Students are encouraged to complete the bulk of their coursework beyond Requirements 1-4 in the first two years of study.  Candidates are allowed to take only one course per semester without an increase in tuition.

All PhD students are expected to register for Stats 808/809  (Department Seminar) every semester unless restricted by candidacy, and attend the seminar regularly regardless of whether they are registered.  

Exceptions to the PhD program requirements may be granted by the PhD Program Director.

Annual Report:

Each candidate is required to meet with the members of their thesis committee annually. This could be in the form of either giving a short presentation on their research progress to the thesis committee as a group, or meeting with committee members individually.

Each committee member should complete a Thesis Committee Member Report and return it to the student. The student should share the completed Thesis Committee Member Reports with both the PhD Program Coordinator and their advisor.

All meetings with the committee members should take place by April 15.

Following the meetings, the student and the advisor should complete the Annual PhD Candidate Self-Evaluation and Feedback Form . The advisor should review the committee members’ Thesis Committee Member Reports and take them into account when completing the advisor’s portion. The completed Annual PhD Candidate Self-Evaluation and Advisor Feedback Form must be submitted to the PhD Program Coordinator by May 31. The completed form will be saved with the department, and a copy will be shared with the student.

Dissertation and Defense:

Each doctoral student is expected to write a dissertation that makes a substantial and original contribution to statistics or a closely related field. This is the most important element of the doctoral program. After advancing to candidacy, students are expected to focus on their thesis research under the supervision of the thesis advisor and the doctoral committee. The composition of the doctoral committee must follow the Rackham's  guidelines for dissertation committee service . The written dissertation is submitted to the committee for evaluation and presented in an oral defense open to the public.

Rackham Requirements:

The Rackham Graduate School imposes some additional requirements concerning residency, fees, and time limits. Students are expected to know and comply with these requirements.

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What Is A PhD Student? A Definition

Find your perfect postgrad program search our database of 30,000 courses.

All PhD students are conducting some sort of research and many of them will be also teaching and assisting in their departments. Very few PhDs are completed on a  part-time  basis, so most PhD students are studying on a full-time basis. PhD students have often been getting ready to embark on their doctoral studies  for a very long time. While many of them may have taken up paid research positions, but this is not always the case so searching for funding is an on going activity for some PhD students. 

Here we take a look at many of the factors that make up what a PhD student actually is...

They're quite mature...

PhD students are all mature students , as they have already completed undergraduate and postgraduate degrees already. Most PhD students will have done a masters in preparation for starting a PhD , this is often an MPhil or a Masters by Research . All of this previous study means that PhD students have strong study skills and have spent time building academic qualifications in the lead up to their PhD. Many students go straight through an undergraduate and masters level to a PhD, but many other students have already started working, and their PhD is a way to grow an already established career. 

Our PhD bursary winner & funding opportunity

Mohammad Abdollahi is a 35-year-old Iranian student studying a PhD in Operational Research at the University of Essex. He was delighted when he found out he’d been awarded a Postgrad Solutions Study Bursary worth £500. As an international student coming to the UK with his wife and two children, it has proved to be an invaluable funding resource as he explains. “It was good news and exciting – I was overwhelmed with joy!”

PhD students are always researching

PhDs are all research degrees and most students who are embarking on a PhD have already completed some form of research. The research comes in many forms, such as scientific, sociological, archaeological, medical or historical and this research guided by their PhD supervisor . This is one of the most important relationships during a PhD as it is their guidance that shapes a PhD student's thesis . 

Many PhD students are teaching

Many PhD students will supplement their income by teaching or working as assistants in their department or work at the university. In some institutions it is expected that PhD students will do this and in other universities it is an optional extra that is not required. Teaching responsibilities may include assisting with lectures or tutorials and helping with undergraduate supervision. 

They are mostly full-time students 

This can be one of the big attractions for some undergraduates when they see PhD students still living a student lifestyle. However, most PhD students would not think that their lifestyles are something to aim for and the academic work they need to do does take up most of their time. The vast majority of PhD students are full-time and  part-time PhD students  find it difficult to maintain their studies over the six to eight years it may take to complete their research. They are, however, often very passionate about their studies. 

Some of them are getting paid to study

PhD students select their topic for research in one of two ways. They might decide on their research topic and then find a PhD supervisor or they may apply for one of the many advertised research positions. Searching for a supervisor can be a difficult route, especially if you change institutions between your masters and your PhD. Using the network of contacts you have built up during your previous studies or career is the key to finding a supervisor. The advantage of the second route is that the funding for the research is already in place and the student will receive a stipend as well. 

PhD students do worry about funding

Getting funding in place is a major worry for a large proportion of PhD students and it is often the case that many students start their PhDs without full funding in place. This is often why students might start on a part-time basis. PhD funding can come from a huge range of sources including the  government , grants and scholarships and most students  begin their search  with their university department.

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Related articles

How To  Get A PhD

What Is A Masters Student? A Definition

What Is A Mature Student? A Definition

What Is A Postgraduate Student? A Definition

What Is An MPhil Student? A Definition

How To Find A PhD

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About the Chemistry Ph.D. Program

Ph.d. in chemistry faq's.

The Chemistry PhD program is designed towards developing within each student the ability to do creative scientific research. Accordingly, the single most important facet of the curriculum for an individual is their own research project. In keeping with the goal of fostering an atmosphere of scholarly, independent study, formal course requirements are minimal and vary among disciplines; advisor's tailor course requirements to best prepare the student for the chosen research field.

The Doctoral program includes the following concentrations, each of which has specific degree requirements:

• Physical Chemistry : In general, the Physical Chemistry Graduate Program encompasses analytical, nuclear, biophysical, and theoretical chemistry.
• Synthetic Chemistry : The Synthetic Chemistry Graduate Program includes emphases in either organic or inorganic chemistry
• Chemical Biology : The Chemical Biology Graduate Program covers a range of research areas at the interface of Chemistry and Biology.

Research. A graduate student spends a good deal of time during the first week of the first semester at Berkeley talking to various faculty members about possible research projects, studying pertinent literature references, and choosing an individual project. New graduate students meet shortly after their arrival with a faculty adviser. From the faculty adviser the student obtains a list of faculty members whose research may interest the student. After visiting these and additional faculty, if necessary, the student chooses a research director, with the consent of the faculty member and the graduate adviser. By the end of the first semester most students have made a choice and are full-fledged members of research group. Students in the Chemical Biology Graduate Program will select their thesis advisor after completion of three-ten week rotations. Thereafter, all students become involved in library research on their projects and many begin actual experimental or theoretical work.

Independent Study. A student who chooses to specialize in physical chemistry is normally expected to take two courses per semester during the first year and one or two additional semesters of coursework sometimes during the second year. These may include topics such Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Mechanics, Group Theory, Interactions of Radiation with Matter, and many more. At the other extreme, a student specializing in inorganic chemistry will concentrate more heavily on special topics seminars and take fewer courses. The course offerings in the University are varied so that individual students have the opportunity to take other courses which serve their own needs. Such as, a student working on nuclear chemistry will probably elect additional graduate physics courses, while a student working on biophysical or bio-organic problems may take courses offered by the Biochemistry Department. Students in the Chemical Biology program will take courses from both Chemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology departments.

Seminars. Because of the size and diversity of the Berkeley faculty, there are many seminars on a variety of topics which students may choose to attend. There are regular weekly seminars in several major areas, including biophysical, physical, nuclear, organic, theoretical, solid state, and inorganic chemistry. These seminars are presented by members of the Berkeley faculty, as well as distinguished visitors to the campus. These seminars allow the students to become aware of the most important current research going on in the field. In addition to these regular seminars, there are several regular department seminars devoted to presentations by graduate students. One of the doctoral program requirements is that each student delivers a departmental seminar known as a graduate research conference during the second year. Individual research groups also hold regular research seminars. The format of these small, informal seminars varies. In some cases, graduate students discuss their own current research before the other members of the research group. On other occasions, the group seminars may be devoted to group discussions of recent papers which are of interest to the particular research group. In any event, small group seminars are one of the most important ways in which students learn by organizing and interpreting their own results before their peers.

Qualifying Exam. Sometime during the second year of graduate work at Berkeley, each student takes a qualifying examination. The examining board, a committee of four faculty members, is appointed to examine the student for general competence in the area of interest. The qualifying examination is centered around the defense of the individual research project. Upon satisfactory completion of the oral qualifying examination, the student is advanced to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree. After advancement, the student completes an original, scholarly contribution to science and writes a dissertation on the subject. Most students complete their work and received their degree within five years.

Teaching. An integral part of the graduate education at Berkeley is teaching. The department requires that each doctoral candidate assist in the instructional program of the department as a teaching assistant for two semesters during their graduate careers. The faculty regard the teaching experience as highly valuable for all graduate students, especially those who plan to teach as a career.

Financial Aid. All students admitted to our graduate program receive a stipend for the duration of study in the form of teaching and research assistantships as long as they are in residence and demonstrate good progress toward the degree. Students also receive full tution, health, dental and vision insurance. Most funds for this support derive from research contracts and grants.

For more information see the Berkeley Bulletin

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The Ph.D. Program in the Department of Economics at Harvard is addressed to students of high promise who wish to prepare themselves in teaching and research in academia or for responsible positions in government, research organizations, or business enterprises. Students are expected to devote themselves full-time to their programs of study.

The program prepares students for productive and stimulating careers as economists. Courses and seminars offered by the department foster an intellectually active and stimulating environment. Each week, the department sponsors more than 15 different seminars on such topics as environmental economics, economic growth and development, monetary and fiscal policy, international economics, industrial organization, law and economics, behavioral economics, labor economics, and economic history. Top scholars from both domestic and international communities are often invited speakers at the seminars.  The Harvard community outside of the department functions as a strong and diverse resource. Students in the department are free to pursue research interests with scholars throughout the University. Faculty of the Harvard Law School, Kennedy School of Government, and Harvard Business School, for example, are available to students for consultation, instruction, and research guidance. As a member of the Harvard community, students in the department can register for courses in the various schools and have access to the enormous library resources available through the University. There are over 90 separate library units at Harvard, with the total collections of books and pamphlets numbering over 13 million.  Both the department and the wider University draw some of the brightest students from around the world, which makes for a student body that is culturally diverse and likely unequaled in the range of intellectual interests of its members. These factors combine to add an important dimension to the educational process. Students are able to learn from one another, collaborate on research projects and publications, and form bonds that are not broken by distance once the degree is completed and professional responsibilities lead them in different directions.

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For Graduate Students

The MIT Department of Physics has a graduate population of between 260 and 290 students, with approximately 45 students starting and graduating each year. Almost all students are pursuing a PhD degree in Physics, typically studying for 5 to 7 years and with the following degree structure:

Elements of the Doctoral Degree in Physics:

This is a roadmap for the path through our doctoral program. Each category is an element needed to complete your degree. Further information is available by clicking the accordion and links.. Read our Doctoral Guidelines PDF for more complete information.

Core Requirements – Written Exams/Classes

Students demonstrate knowledge in 4 four areas. Each of the Core Requirements can be satisfied either by:

• passing a written exam ; or
• receiving a qualifying grade in a related class.

A B+ grade or above in the related subject satisfies the requirement in:

• Classical Mechanics ( 8.309 )
• Electricity & Magnetism ( 8.311 )
• Quantum Mechanics ( 8.321 )
• Statistical Mechanics ( 8.333 )

See the Written Examination section of the General Doctoral Examination page for more information and schedule for the upcoming written examination .

Required Classes – Specialty & Breadth

In addition to the demonstrated proficiency in the 4 subject in the Written Exams, graduate students must take 4-5 additional subject classes in Physics Specialty and Breadth areas .

• The Specialty Area builds proficiency related to the student’s research area, with 2 subject classes required (3 in NUPAT and 3 in NUPAX ( effective Fall 2023 )) from the pre-approved Specialty Area chart.
• The Breadth Area extends the student’s knowledge beyond their research area with 2 subject classes in different areas of Physics. The pre-approved Breadth Area chart lists many options.
• Oral Exams are given in each Research Areas
• Team of 3 faculty examiners
• Research Supervision Form
• Research Co-Supervision Form
• Starting research work with the Supervisor’s Group
• After completing the Oral Exam
• Forming a Committee and Submitting a Thesis Proposal

Thesis Committee and Proposal

• Generally by the beginning of third year, after completing Oral Exam
• Submitting a Thesis Committee Proposal
• Completing the Committee
• Holding the first meeting
• Thesis Proposal Cover Sheet
• PHD Thesis Proposal Form
• SM Thesis Proposal Form

Preparing to Complete the Degree – Final Year

• Submitting any necessary requests for any subject substitutions, if needed.
• Consulting with Thesis Supervisor about scheduling the Thesis Defense
• International Students – Consulting International Students Office with post-completion plans
• Writing up Research in final Thesis document

Defense of Thesis Research

Student defends Thesis Research to Committee Members

Written Thesis

• Formatting Thesis

Thesis Submission and Degree Completion

• Submission of Written Thesis for MIT Archives
• Fill out the  Degree Application  through the student section of  WebSIS . Petitioning to be on the degree list for a particular commencement is required. Note that it is easier to be removed from the degree list to be added, so students are encouraged to apply for the degree list if there is any reasonable chance they will complete the PhD in the coming term.
• Full Guidelines and Policies for the MIT Physics PhD program
• Progress Benchmarks and Nominal Timetable (found under Academic Issues section)
• Written General Exam Samples and Study Materials
• Catalog of Class Subject Descriptions
• In-depth information for Prospective Applicants
• Graduate cost of attendance

Note: For more detailed information regarding the cost of attendance, including specific costs for tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and food as well as transportation, please visit the SFS website .

Department of Statistics

Last update: 11/10/23

PhD Degree in Statistics

The Department of Statistics offers an exciting and recently revamped PhD program that involves students in cutting-edge interdisciplinary research in a wide variety of fields. Statistics has become a core component of research in the biological, physical, and social sciences, as well as in traditional computer science domains such as artificial intelligence and machine learning. The massive increase in the data acquired, through scientific measurement on one hand and through web-based collection on the other, makes the development of statistical analysis and prediction methodologies more relevant than ever.

Our graduate program prepares students to address these issues through rigorous training in scientific computation, and in the theory, methodology, and applications of statistics. The course work includes four core sequences:

• Probability (STAT 30400, 38100, 38300)
• Mathematical statistics (STAT 30400, 30100, 30210)
• Applied statistics (STAT 34300, 34700, 34800)
• Computational mathematics and machine learning (STAT 30900, 31015/31020, 37710).

All students must take the Applied Statistics and Theoretical Statistics sequence. In addition it is highly recommended that students take a third core sequence based on their interests and in consultation with the Department Graduate Advisor (DGA). At the start of their second year, the students take two preliminary examinations. All students must take the Applied Statistics Prelim. For the second the students can choose to take either the Theoretical Statistics or the Probability prelim. Students planning to take the Probability prelim should take the Probability sequence as their third sequence.

Incoming first-year students have the option of taking any or all of these exams; if an incoming student passes one or more of these, then he/she will be excused from the requirement of taking the first-year courses in that subject. During the second and subsequent years, students can take more advanced courses, and perform research, with world-class faculty in a wide variety of research areas .

In recent years, a large majority of our students complete the PhD within four or five years of entering the program. Students who have significant graduate training before entering the program can (and do) obtain their doctor's degree in three years.

Most students receiving a doctorate proceed to faculty or postdoctoral appointments in research universities. A substantial number take positions in government or industry, such as in research groups in the government labs, in communications, in commercial pharmaceutical companies, and in banking/financial institutions. The department has an excellent track record in placing new PhDs.

Prerequisites for the Program

A student applying to the PhD program normally should have taken courses in advanced calculus, linear algebra, probability, and statistics. Additional courses in mathematics, especially a course in real analysis, will be helpful. Some facility with computer programming is expected. Students without background in all of these areas, however, should not be discouraged from applying, especially if they have a substantial background, through study or experience, in some area of science or other discipline involving quantitative reasoning and empirical investigation. Statistics is an empirical and interdisciplinary field, and a strong background in some area of potential application of statistics is a considerable asset. Indeed, a student's background in mathematics and in science or another quantitative discipline is more important than his or her background in statistics.

To obtain more information about applying, see the Guide For Applicants .

Students with questions may contact Yali Amit for PhD Studies, Mei Wang for Masters Studies, and Keisha Prowoznik for all other questions, Bahareh Lampert (Dean of Students in the Physical Sciences Division), or Amanda Young (Associate Director, Graduate Student Affairs) in UChicagoGRAD.

Handbook for PhD Students

Information for first and second year phd students in statistics.

PhD (Doctoral) Admissions Overview

Our research-intensive program cultivates the next generation of leaders in academia and industry. Electrical Engineering doctoral students work alongside faculty, fellow students, and researchers who are leaders in their disciplines.  

Application Timeline & Deadlines

Click on the links below to read about each step of the application process:

Did You Know?

• A master's degree is not required prior to applying to the PhD program in Electrical Engineering. • Applications are reviewed on an annual basis for autumn quarter start only. • December 7, 2023 is the application deadline for Autumn 2024-2025. • Typical completion time for the PhD degree is 5-7 years. • All PhD students who maintain satisfactory academic progress receive full financial support for the duration of the doctoral program.

Knight-Hennessy Scholars

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program is designed to build an interdisciplinary community of Stanford graduate students dedicated to finding creative solutions to the world's greatest challenges. The program awards up to 100 high-achieving students every year with full funding to pursue a graduate education at Stanford, including the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. To be considered, you must apply to Knight-Hennessy Scholars and separately apply to the Electrical Engineering department.

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Graduate studies, commencement 2019.

The Harvard Department of Physics offers students innovative educational and research opportunities with renowned faculty in state-of-the-art facilities, exploring fundamental problems involving physics at all scales. Our primary areas of experimental and theoretical research are atomic and molecular physics, astrophysics and cosmology, biophysics, chemical physics, computational physics, condensed-matter physics, materials science, mathematical physics, particle physics, quantum optics, quantum field theory, quantum information, string theory, and relativity.

Our talented and hardworking students participate in exciting discoveries and cutting-edge inventions such as the ATLAS experiment, which discovered the Higgs boson; building the first 51-cubit quantum computer; measuring entanglement entropy; discovering new phases of matter; and peering into the ‘soft hair’ of black holes.

Our students come from all over the world and from varied educational backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive environment and attracting the widest possible range of talents.

We have a flexible and highly responsive advising structure for our PhD students that shepherds them through every stage of their education, providing assistance and counseling along the way, helping resolve problems and academic impasses, and making sure that everyone has the most enriching experience possible.The graduate advising team also sponsors alumni talks, panels, and advice sessions to help students along their academic and career paths in physics and beyond, such as “Getting Started in Research,” “Applying to Fellowships,” “Preparing for Qualifying Exams,” “Securing a Post-Doc Position,” and other career events (both academic and industry-related).

We offer many resources, services, and on-site facilities to the physics community, including our electronic instrument design lab and our fabrication machine shop. Our historic Jefferson Laboratory, the first physics laboratory of its kind in the nation and the heart of the physics department, has been redesigned and renovated to facilitate study and collaboration among our students.

Members of the Harvard Physics community participate in initiatives that bring together scientists from institutions across the world and from different fields of inquiry. For example, the Harvard-MIT Center for Ultracold Atoms unites a community of scientists from both institutions to pursue research in the new fields opened up by the creation of ultracold atoms and quantum gases. The Center for Integrated Quantum Materials , a collaboration between Harvard University, Howard University, MIT, and the Museum of Science, Boston, is dedicated to the study of extraordinary new quantum materials that hold promise for transforming signal processing and computation. The Harvard Materials Science and Engineering Center is home to an interdisciplinary group of physicists, chemists, and researchers from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences working on fundamental questions in materials science and applications such as soft robotics and 3D printing.  The Black Hole Initiative , the first center worldwide to focus on the study of black holes, is an interdisciplinary collaboration between principal investigators from the fields of astronomy, physics, mathematics, and philosophy. The quantitative biology initiative https://quantbio.harvard.edu/  aims to bring together physicists, biologists, engineers, and applied mathematicians to understand life itself. And, most recently, the new program in  Quantum Science and Engineering (QSE) , which lies at the interface of physics, chemistry, and engineering, will admit its first cohort of PhD students in Fall 2022.

We support and encourage interdisciplinary research and simultaneous applications to two departments is permissible. Prospective students may thus wish to apply to the following departments and programs in addition to Physics:

• Department of Astronomy
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Mathematics
• John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS)
• Biophysics Program
• Molecules, Cells and Organisms Program (MCO)

If you are a prospective graduate student and have questions for us, or if you’re interested in visiting our department, please contact  [email protected] .

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Learn about university-wide admission requirements and processes for MA, MS, PhD, and other non-professional graduate programs.

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Browse this website to learn about university-wide requirements and processes for admission to MA, MS, PhD, and other non-professional graduate programs in the following Stanford schools:

Graduate School of Education | School of Engineering | School of Humanities & Sciences | School of Medicine | Doerr School of Sustainability

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Applying to a Professional School?

The professional schools have separate admissions offices and applications. Visit their websites below for information about applying to their graduate programs.

• Graduate School of Business: MBA | MSx | PhD
• School of Law: JD | Advanced Degrees
• School of Medicine: MD | MS in Physician Assistant Studies

Why Stanford?

Consider joining Stanford’s globally diverse graduate community of 9,300 students.

• Watch Playlist: The Stanford Grad Experience and Advice to Prospective Students
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Steps to completing your PhD….

• Exam requirements are different depending on which program a student is in. Please refer to the UCSD catalog for specific requirements:  https://www.ucsd.edu/catalog/curric/MATH-gr.html
• Finding an advisor . While completing the qualifying exams, students should be exploring areas of research (attending seminars, speaking with faculty, and reading with faculty). Once exams are done, students should be actively reading with a faculty member and making a decision on who their advisor will be. You can see faculty’s area of research here:  https://math.ucsd.edu/research/
• Students should work with their advisor on forming a committee. Policies on thesis committees can be found here:  http://grad.ucsd.edu/academics/progress-to-degree/committees.html#Appointment-of-the-Doctoral-Com
• Once the committee is decided upon, the student must submit  this form  to the PhD staff advisor,  at least 2 weeks before advancement
• Student should reserve a room with the front desk staff either in person or by sending an email to  [email protected]  – please include your name, date and time of your talk, and how big of a room you need
• A few days before your examination, go to the PhD staff advisor and pick up the “Report of the Qualifying Examination and Advancement to Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy” form* (which requires the signatures of all your committee members). Please note: original signatures are required on this form (no scanned or electronic signatures allowed) *Note: Forms are currently being done via DocuSign, please have your advisor email [email protected]  after your advancement.
• If a student needs to change their committee at all, the student must submit  this form  to the PhD staff advisor,  at least 2 weeks before defense  –  if your committee remains the same, you may skip this step
• Students should schedule a preliminary appointment (not required, but highly recommended) and final appointment (mandatory) with Graduate Division:  https://gradforms.ucsd.edu/calendar/index.php  – allow at least a few days between your defense and your final appointment in order to finalize department paperwork.
• Room reservations should be made at the Front Desk (in person or email to  [email protected])
• A few days before your defense, pick-up a “Final Report” form*, from the PhD staff advisor (which requires the signatures of all your committee members). Please note: original signatures are required on this form (no scanned or electronic signatures allowed). *Note: Forms are currently being done via DocuSign, please have your advisor email [email protected]  after your defense.

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Ph.D. Program

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• Crime, Law and Punishment Workshop
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Key to the doctoral training offered by the NYU Department of Sociology is a distinguished faculty doing cutting-edge research on topics important to theory and policy. The faculty includes individuals using diverse perspectives and methodological approaches. Thus, the selective cohort of 9-12 students admitted each year receives training that is broad and deep. Areas in which the department has faculty strength include: Comparative/Historical Sociology; Criminology and Law; Culture; Demography; Education; Environment; Family; Gender; Inequality; Political Sociology; Qualitative Methods; Quantitative Methods; Theory; and Urban Sociology. 

The program is designed to make students producers, not merely consumers, of knowledge. Training includes a two-semester course that guides a student through executing his or her own research project and writing a publishable paper. In addition to formal course work, the program includes an opportunity to do collaborative research with a faculty member the summer after students’ first year. It is common for faculty members to coauthor published papers with doctoral students arising from collaborations.

Doctoral students’ training is further enhanced by six regularly meeting workshops where students and faculty present research, get feedback, and learn from each other’s research. Students are encouraged to participate in at least one of the workshops throughout their time of study. Current workshops are in Crime, Law, and Deviance; Cultural Sociology; Economic and Political Sociology; Ethnography; Inequality; Race and Ethnicity; and Sociology of Education.

Students get training and experience in undergraduate teaching through opportunities to work as teaching assistants to departmental faculty during the fall and spring semesters, and through opportunities to teach their own courses during the University's summer sessions.

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PhD Program

The PhD Statistics program provides excellent training in the modern theory, methods, and applications of statistics to prepare for research and teaching careers in academia or industry, including interdisciplinary research in a wide array of disciplines. The median time to degree is five years.

Students will take courses in modern theory, methods, and applications of statistics, demonstrate mastery of this material via a qualifying examination, and then conduct statistical research under the supervision of one of the many regular or affiliate faculty members in the department, resulting in a dissertation.

The PhD qualifying examination is primarily based on the first-year curriculum. Most students pass at the end of the summer after the first year of the program. Students select between two versions of the examination, one with questions from mathematical statistics and probability or the second with questions from mathematical statistics and statistical methods.

Graduates are prepared for positions in academia, business, or government. They have taken positions at leading universities such as UC-Berkeley, Penn, and Yale and at top companies such as Google, Facebook, and Eli Lilly. The department strives to support students in the PhD program as teaching, research, or project assistants.

Questions about our Statistics PhD Programs can be directed to our graduate program coordinator at  [email protected] .

Resources, Regulations, and Policies

• Statistics PhD Handbook 2023-2024 More
• Criteria for Satisfactory Progress More
• Current PhD Regulations More
• 2014 PhD Regulations More

PhD Statistics Program Options

There are two program options students can select from – PhD Statistics, Statistics Option or PhD Statistics, Biostatistics Option . 

We have a single admissions process for both options and we encourage applicants to select only one of the options and not list both when applying. Selection of the program to which you apply has very little influence on the admissions decision. If you are unsure of which program option to choose, students who enter our PhD program may readily switch between the programs. 

Please note that the Department of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics has a separate PhD program in Biomedical Data Science that is distinct from the programs in the Department of Statistics.

Statistics Option

Career Outcomes : Students will be prepared for research and teaching careers in academia, industry, and other disciplines.

Coursework : Students will take courses in several broad areas of statistical methods and theory. This includes two-semester sequences in mathematical statistics and in statistical methods, either a course in probability theory or a course in statistical computing, a statistical consulting course, and a wide variety of elective options.

Biostatistics Option

Career Outcomes : Students will be prepared for careers in clinical research, genetics, drug testing, and experimental design in academia, government, and private sector.

Coursework : Students in the Biostatistics named option complete the same required courses as are in the Statistics named option, but have additional required coursework in biostatistics and biology and fewer elective course requirements.

Applying to the PhD Statistics Program

The application deadline is December 1 for a fall term start (no spring admissions).   A reminder to only list either the Statistics Option or Biostatistics Option in your application, not both. Again, students who enter the PhD program in Statistics can readily switch between the programs.

We welcome applications from around the world and strive to admit well-qualified applicants who are interested in the diverse array of research interests of our faculty. We do not make preliminary evaluations of any applicant inquiry based on email communication. No decision will be made until after the deadline has passed and a completed file (including the application fee) has been received.

Before applying to the Statistics Department, please read the Graduate School Frequently Asked Questions. Note that there is a non-refundable application fee. Applicants whose native language is not English, or whose undergraduate instruction was not in English, must provide an English proficiency test score.

To be considered for financial assistantship, all required application materials listed below should be submitted via the electronic application at https://apply.grad.wisc.edu/ by the December 1 deadline.

• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose
• CV or Resumé
• Supplemental Application (Including a List of Courses)
• English Proficiency
• A minimum of three (3) letters of recommendation to be submitted electronically by the recommenders.
• The online application for admission asks for the name and email contact information of the references from whom you request recommendations. A recommendation request will be sent, by email, to each of your references. The email will include your name with a link to each department’s electronic recommendation form. The request can be sent at any time providing you meet department deadlines. You can change references or send a reminder through your application.
• It is common practice to contact your references ahead of time so that they expect your request.
• After you have submitted your application, you can view receipt of your recommendations through the online status system.
• As part of the online application, please upload a clear and easy-to-read PDF copy of your transcript from each institution of higher learning (post High School) that you have attended. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable. If we offer you admission, you will be asked to provide an official copy of your transcript to the Graduate School at that time. Admission will be contingent upon receiving the official transcript.
• If courses at the institution were not taught in English, we will need an electronic copy of both the transcript in the original language, and the transcript in English.
• Your statement of purpose should include why you feel that the UW-Madison program is a good fit for you, and conversely, why you are a good fit for our program. What are you hoping to work on in the field with your degree? Are there any professors here that you would particularly like to work with? Any research areas in statistics that particularly excite you?
• The overall length of the statement is usually about 2 pages, single or double spaced. You can use whatever font and formatting you are comfortable with.

Please upload a PDF copy of your CV or Resumé to the online application.

A supplemental application is required as part of the online application. You will be asked to answer the following questions and provide the following information:

• Are you applying to the Biostatistics option? Yes/No (There is no advantage to applying to both programs.)
• List any major competitive honors, awards, and/or fellowships you have received.
• List any undergraduate or graduate research experiences.
• Provide a table with all courses you have taken, are currently taking, or plan to take prior to coming to UW-Madison that contain substantial mathematical, statistical, quantitative, or computational content. Include courses from other disciplines such as economics, physics, or engineering, if applicable. Use one row per course with columns for the course number, course title, textbook used (if possible), and grade received (if already completed). Upload this document as a pdf.

The GRE is not required.

• For all international degree-seeking students, see the  Graduate School requirements page  for additional information.

Consult the Graduate School for general information about graduate admissions to the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

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Stanford GSB PhD Program

Discover a focus and intensity greater than you may have thought possible. As a PhD student at Stanford Graduate School of Business, you will be inspired and challenged to explore novel ideas and complex questions.

Fall 2024 applications are now closed. Applications for Fall 2025 will be available in September 2024.

Become an Outstanding Scholar

Our PhD Program is designed to develop outstanding scholars for careers in research and teaching at leading academic institutions throughout the world. You will embark on a challenging and meaningful experience, focusing your academic study in one of seven distinct fields within the PhD degree program.

Is a PhD Right for You?

Strong PhD candidates are full of ideas and curiosity, with a passion and aptitude for research. If you’re prepared to embark on a rigorous career in research and develop your full potential, we invite you to explore the possibilities of a PhD in business. Admitted students receive full fellowships for their doctoral studies.

Faculty Publications

Financial inclusion, economic development, and inequality: evidence from brazil, boeing 737 max, democracy corrupted: apex corruption and the erosion of democratic values, phd student voices, school news, stanford economist guido imbens wins nobel in economic sciences, susan athey named president of american economic association, teaching through a pandemic: students recognize two faculty members for their efforts, diversifying the pool of phd students will require systemic change.

Gain valuable research experience and training in a two-year, pre-doctoral opportunity at Stanford University.

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Grad student Leslie Taylor snaps quite the mirror selfie in the mirrors of a telescope she helped build in Arizona

Students from the entering class of 2019 went apple picking together their first fall in Madison

PhD — Prospective Students

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Welcome to the PhD in Physics program at UW–Madison!

The first PhD in physics at UW–Madison was awarded in 1899, for research on “An Interferometer Study of Radiation in a Magnetic Field.” Over 1,500 individual PhD research projects have been completed since.

Our department has a strong tradition of graduate study and the research that is essential to the PhD Degree. There are many facilities for doing world-class research, and the PhD research program involves leading-edge activities in Madison and at research facilities around the world. Over 175 current graduate students conduct research in one of the Department of Physics faculty groups or with an affiliated faculty group  in departments such as Electrical and Computer Engineering or Astronomy.

If you have any questions about the program, please direct them to physgrad@physics.wisc.edu.

How to Apply

Fall 2024 Physics PhD Application Deadline: December 15, 2023

Fall 2024 prospective students should apply for admissions through the Graduate School. Applicants must s atisfy the Graduate School requirements for undergraduate grade-point average, bachelor’s degree, and English proficiency and submit:

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

3 Letters of Recommendation

A complete application requires 3 (no more than 4) letters of recommendation. The most impactful letters come from current or past research advisors, or other individuals who know you well and can speak to your strengths, prior experiences, and accomplishments and how they have prepared you to pursue a PhD in Physics.

Official Transcripts

No official transcripts are required as part of the application. The Graduate School will send an instructional email request after the program has recommended admission.  Please submit transcripts for all post-secondary coursework.

It’s helpful to submit a resume/CV that details your experiences that are relevant to your interests in Physics.

Statement of Purpose

Please describe your relevant experiences and future research interests and goals. Strong applicants will clearly communicate their motivations for pursuing a PhD in Physics, and how their research interests and experiences align with the strengths of the UW-Madison Physics PhD program.

This statement is also an opportunity to provide any other personal information you would like the admissions committee to know that is not clear from the other submitted materials.

The Department of Physics does not require the subject GRE for admission.  However, if students submit the score, the admissions committee will review it as part of the application.

The general GRE will not be considered even if submitted. The subject GRE is recommended in these circumstances:

• Your transcript does not accurately reflect your academic strengths
• If including the score would significantly strengthen your application
• You are particularly interested in pursuing Physics Theory as a research focus

Application Fee Waivers

The UW-Madison Physics Ph.D. program has now distributed the limited number of application fee waivers available for the Fall 2024 application season.   The Department has no additional waivers to provide, but we encourage you to apply for a fee grant from the Graduate School if you qualify.

Admission is competitive. All eligible applicants with complete files are considered for teaching or research assistantships and fellowships. To be considered for admission, students must submit all application materials via the Graduate School  electronic application site  by December 15.

Contact us with questions!

All admitted PhD students are provided with a guarantee of five years of financial support. Typically, a graduate student is first appointed as a teaching assistant. Teaching assistants assist faculty members in the introductory physics courses, generally by teaching discussion and laboratory sections. Later, as a research assistant, the student works with a major professor on a mutually agreed research project.

Tuition is remitted for teaching assistant and research assistant appointments one-third time or greater.  Most graduate assistant appointments are also eligible for a comprehensive health insurance package.  All students are responsible for their own segregated fees, which are about $600 per semester for full-time students, and any additional university fees.  Further information about the various types of assistantships at UW-Madison can be found on the Graduate School website .

Can I apply to more than one graduate program at UW-Madison?

Yes!  With one application to UW-Madison, you can apply to 3 different graduate programs.  Please keep in mind that you can only submit your application once and will need to submit by the earliest deadline for the 3 programs that you choose.  For example, the Physics Ph.D. program application deadline is December 15th.  If another program that you apply to has a January 1st deadline, you must submit your application by December 15th to ensure it is received by the earlier deadline.

What is the application deadline?

The Physics Ph.D. application deadline is December 15th.  All application materials must be received by this time to ensure consideration.  Test scores and letters of recommendation should be submitted by the deadline.

Where should I send my GRE & TOEFL scores?

The Physics Ph.D. program requires the official test scores (GRE and TOEFL) to be sent directly from ETS to UW-Madison.  The UW-Madison institution code is 1846.  Please be sure your test score report shows that your scores were sent directly to UW-Madison.  Test scores are loaded every few days during the peak admissions season by the UW-Madison Graduate School.  You can check your Graduate School application status to see if your test scores have been received.

When will admissions committee decisions be made?

All completed applications are made available to the Physics Ph.D. Admissions Committee after the December 15th deadline.  The program receives over 550 applications each year and all completed applications are fully reviewed by the Admissions Committee.   All applicants will be informed of the admissions decision by the end of January.  All applicants who are accepted will be invited to prospective student visit weekend to be held in February/March each year.

FAQs from Virtual Sessions (Dec 5-6, 2023)

You can find questions and answers that were discussed in virtual sessions on 5-6 December 2023 on this page .  Feel free to add questions through the admissions deadline on 15 December, but if you need immediate answers, please reach out to Physics Graduate Coordinator. .

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Graduate Students

John Abughattas PhD candidate

Krupa Appleton JD/PhD candidate

Mustafa Aziz PhD candidate Research Interests: Greek Philosophy, German Idealism, Phenomenology

Bethany Cates PhD candidate Research Interests:  Legal and Political Philosophy, Ethics, Meta-Ethics  

Justin Cavitt PhD candidate Research Interests: Set Theory, Mathematical Logic, Philosophy of Mathematics, Philosophy of Science

Luke Ciancarelli PhD candidate Research Interests:   Moral psychology, history of philosophy, ethics as first philosophy  

Britta Clark PhD candidate Research Interests: Moral And Political Philosophy (especially intergenerational justice and the ethics of climate change)

Megan Entwistle PhD candidate

Caitlin Fitchett PhD candidate Research Interests: Moral Philosophy, Practical Deliberation, and Collective Action

Zachary Gabor PhD candidate Research Interests: philosophy of mind; philosophy of language; philosophy of biology  

Rachael Goodyer PhD candidate Research Interests: Ethics, Political Philosophy, 19th and 20th Century European Philosophy

Veronika Hammond PhD candidate Research Interests:  Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Science, Epistemology

Shelby Hanna PhD candidate Research Interests:  Metaethics, Philosophy of Language

Denish Jaswal PhD candidate Research Interests: Epistemology, Philosophy of Mind, Feminist Philosophy, Emotions

Lucy Johnson PhD candidate  

Yunhyae Kim PhD candidate Research Interests: Social and Political Philosophy, Moral Philosophy

Ellie Lasater-Guttmann PhD candidate

Matt Macdonald PhD candidate

Ian Martel PhD candidate Research Interests:   Metaphilosophy, History of Philosophy

Michael Mitchell JD/PhD candidate Research Interests: Moral, Political, and Legal Philosophy

Malcolm Morano PhD candidate Research Interests: Metaethics and Moral Psychology; analytic flavors of Marxism and Existentialism.

LaKeyma Pennyamon PhD candidate (AAAS) / MA candidate (Philosophy)  

Eden Sayed PhD candidate Research Interests: Philosophy of Science, Metaphysics

Ezra Schwartz PhD candidate  

Isaijah Shadrach PhD candidate  

Ryan Sirk PhD candidate

Asa Zabarsky PhD candidate Research Interests: Philosophy of mind, Philosophy of action, Moral psychology, Ethics

PhD in Biology

The PhD program in Biology is a research-intensive program that also has a strong focus on teaching, designed to produce top scientists and educators with a broad base of knowledge to tackle the most important biological problems of today. This is accomplished through research training, graduate-level courses, seminars, and teaching experience. Entering students are assigned an advisory committee of three faculty members who work with the student to plan a suitable program based on the student's experience and interests.

PhD students in Biology receive full tuition support for six years, a competitive stipend, health coverage, and receive extensive training in pedagogy, outreach, and communication that prepares them for careers in academia, biotechnology, education, and policy. Students are required to serve as teaching assistants for at least two semesters. Most students complete the requirement for teaching experience in the first year by assisting in the introductory undergraduate biology courses for two semesters.

During the first year, students become familiar with research opportunities in the department by doing short research rotations with various faculty members. This experience in expected to lead to the selection of a research focus for the PhD thesis, and it also sets the stage for cross-disciplinary approaches to the thesis topic that is pursued.

First- and second-year students usually take some graduate courses that are selected in consultation with the advisory committee, in addition to one required course: either Biology 243: Topics in Molecular and Cell Biology; Biology 244: Topics in Evolutionary Ecology; or Biology 246: Topics in Physiology and Animal Behavior.

The department faculty are educators as well as researchers, and the graduate students benefit from this expertise. Graduate students serving as teaching assistants have the opportunity to take a course on teaching and pedagogy to improve their skills, or to become involved with upper level courses in their area of expertise. In addition, we offer a one-month summer program for PhD students interested in contributing to course design and honing their teaching skills via GIFT, the Graduate Institute For Teaching .

Research Concentrations

Browse the six concentration areas below for recommended programs of study and relevant courses:

• Biology Education Research
• Ecology, Behavior and Evolution
• Global Change Biology
• Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Physiology, Neurobiology and Animal Behavior

Graduate credit for a course requires a grade of B- (B minus) or better. A list of biology department undergraduate and graduate courses can be found by selecting the Courses button from the top bar.

Throughout the year, graduate students benefit from a variety of seminars on current research that are presented by faculty, fellow graduate students, and invited speakers.

Ph.D. Degree Programs

The UCSD Mathematics Department admits students into the following Ph.D. programs:

• Ph.D. in Mathematics -- Pure or Applied Mathematics.
• Ph.D. in Mathematics with a  Specialization in Computational Science .
• Ph.D. in Mathematics with a  Specialization in Statistics .

In addition, the department participates in the following Ph.D. programs:

• Ph.D. in  Bioinformatics .
• Ph.D. in  Mathematics and Science Education  (joint program between UCSD and SDSU).

For application information, go to  How to Apply (Graduate) .  

Ph.D. in Mathematics

The Ph.D. in Mathematics allows study in pure mathematics, applied mathematics and statistics. The mathematics department has over 60 faculty, approximately 100 Ph.D. students, and approximately 35 Masters students. A list of the UCSD mathematics faculty and their research interests can be found at  here . The Ph.D. in Mathematics program produces graduates with a preparation in teaching and a broad knowledge of mathematics. Our students go on to careers as university professors, as well as careers in industry or government.

In the first and second years of study, Ph.D. students take courses in preparation for three written qualifying examinations (quals). One qual must be taken in Algebra or Topology, and another in Real or Complex Analysis. A third qual may be taken in Numerical Analysis or Statistics or one of the remaining topics in the first two groups. All three quals must be passed by the start of the third year. After the qualifying exams are passed, the student is expected to choose an advisor and follow a course of study agreed on by the two of them. At this point, the student chooses a thesis topic, finds a doctoral committee and presents a talk on his or her proposed research topic. If the committee is satisfied with this talk, the student has "Advanced to Candidacy." The student will then pursue their research agenda with their advisor until they have solved an original problem. The student will submit a written dissertation and reconvene his or her committee for a Final Defense. At the Final Defense, the student gives a seminar talk that is very similar to a talk that he or she might give for a job interview.

Nearly every admitted Ph.D. student gets financial support. The financial support is most commonly in the form of a Teaching Assistantship, however, Research Assistantships and other fellowships are also available.

Because of the large faculty to student ratio, graduate students have many opportunities to interact with faculty in courses or smaller research seminars. The graduate students also run their own "Food for Thought" seminar for expository talks as well as a research seminar where they give talks about their research.

UCSD has excellent library facilities with strong collections in mathematics, science, and engineering. Ph.D. students are provided with access to computer facilities and office space.

Full-time students are required to register for a minimum of twelve (12) units every quarter, eight (8) of which must be graduate-level mathematics courses taken for a letter grade only. The remaining four (4) units can be approved upper-division or graduate-level courses in mathematics-related subjects (MATH 500 may not be used to satisfy any part of this requirement). After advancing to candidacy, Ph.D. candidates may take all course work on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. Typically, students should not enroll in MATH 299 (Reading and Research) until they have passed at least two Qualifying Examinations at the PhD or Provisional PhD level, or obtained approval of their faculty advisor.  

Written Qualifying Examinations

Effective Fall Quarter 1998, the department made changes in their qualifying exam requirements with a view to:

• improving applied mathematics' access to students and the attractiveness of its program to applicants; and
• broadening the education of our doctoral students and leading more of them towards applied areas.

The department now offers written qualifying examinations in  SEVEN (7)  subjects. These are grouped into three areas as follows:  

• Three qualifying examinations must be passed. At least one must be passed at the Ph.D. level and a second must be passed at either the Ph.D. or Provisional Ph.D. level.
• Of the three qualifying exams, there must be at least one from each of Areas 1 and 2. 
• Students must pass at least two exams from distinct areas with a minimum grade of Provisional Ph.D. (For example, a Ph.D. pass in Real Analysis, Provisional Ph.D. pass in Complex Analysis, M.A. pass in Algebra would  NOT  satisfy this requirement, but a Ph.D. pass in Real Analysis, M.A. pass in Complex Analysis, Provisional Ph.D. pass in Algebra would, as would a Ph.D. pass in Numerical Analysis, Provisional Ph.D. pass in Applied Algebra, and M.A. pass in Real Analysis.) All exams must be passed by the September exam session prior to the beginning of the third year of graduate studies. (Thus, there is no limit on the number of attempts, encouraging new students to take exams when they arrive, without penalty.) Except for this deadline, there is no limit on the number of exams a student may attempt.

After qualifying exams are given, the faculty meet to discuss the results of the exams with the Qualifying Exam and Appeals Committee (QEAC). Exam grades are reported at one of four levels:  

Department policy stipulates that at least one of the exams must be completed with a Provisional Ph.D. pass or better by September following the end of the first year. Anyone unable to complete this schedule will be terminated from the doctoral program and transferred to one of our Master's programs. Any grievances about exams or other matters can be brought before the Qualifying Exam and Appeals Committee for consideration.

Exams are typically offered twice a year, one scheduled late in the Spring Quarter and again in early September (prior to the start of Fall Quarter). Copies of past exams are available on the  Math Graduate Student Handbook .

In choosing a program with an eye to future employment, students should seek the assistance of a faculty advisor and take a broad selection of courses including applied mathematics, such as those in Area 3.  

Master's Transferring to Ph.D.

Any student who wishes to transfer from masters to the Ph.D. program will submit their full admissions file as Ph.D. applicants by the regular closing date for all Ph.D. applicants (end of the fall quarter/beginning of winter quarter). It is the student's responsibility to submit their files in a timely fashion, no later than the closing date for Ph.D. applications at the end of the fall quarter of their second year of masters study, or earlier. The candidate is required to add any relevant materials to their original masters admissions file, such as most recent transcript showing performance in our graduate program. Letters of support from potential faculty advisors are encouraged. The admissions committee will either recommend the candidate for admission to the Ph.D. program, or decline admission. In the event of a positive recommendation, the Qualifying Exam Committee checks the qualifying exam results of candidates to determine whether they meet the appropriate Ph.D. program requirements, at the latest by the fall of the year in which the application is received. For students in the second year of the master's program, it is required that the student has secured a Ph.D. advisor before admission is finalized. An admitted student is supported in the same way as continuing Ph.D. students at the same level of advancement are supported. Transferring from the Master's program may require renewal of an I-20 for international students, and such students should make their financial plans accordingly. To be eligible for TA support, non-native English speakers must pass the English exam administered by the department in conjunction with the Teaching + Learning Commons.  

Foreign Language Requirement

There is no Foreign Language requirement for the Ph.D. in Mathematics.  

Advancement to Candidacy

It is expected that by the end of the third year (9 quarters), students should have a field of research chosen and a faculty member willing to direct and guide them. A student will advance to candidacy after successfully passing the oral qualifying examination, which deals primarily with the area of research proposed but may include the project itself. This examination is conducted by the student's appointed doctoral committee. Based on their recommendation, a student advances to candidacy and is awarded the C. Phil. degree.  

Dissertation and Final Defense

Submission of a written dissertation and a final examination in which the thesis is publicly defended are the last steps before the Ph.D. degree is awarded. When the dissertation is substantially completed, copies must be provided to all committee members at least four weeks in advance of the proposed defense date. Two weeks before the scheduled final defense, a copy of the dissertation must be made available in the Department for public inspection.  

Time Limits

The normative time for the Ph.D. in mathematics is five (5) years. Students must be advanced to candidacy by the end of eleven (11) quarters. Total university support cannot exceed six (6) years. Total registered time at UCSD cannot exceed seven (7) years.  

It may be useful to describe what the majority of students who have successfully completed their Ph.D. and obtained an academic job have done. In the past some students have waited until the last time limit before completing their qualifying exams, finding an advisor or advancing to candidacy. We strongly discourage this, because experience suggests that such students often do not complete the program. Although these are formal time limits, the general expectation is that students pass two qualifying exams, one at the Ph.D. level and one at the masters level by the beginning of their second year. (About half of our students accomplish this.) In the second year, a student begins taking reading courses so that they become familiar with the process of doing research and familiarize themselves with a number of faculty who may serve as their advisor. In surveying our students, on average, a student takes 4 to 5 reading courses before finding an advisor. Optimally, a student advances to candidacy sometime in their third year. This allows for the fourth and fifth year to concentrate on research and produce a thesis. In contrast to coursework, research is an unpredictable endeavor, so it is in the interest of the student to have as much time as possible to produce a thesis.

A student is also a teaching assistant in a variety of courses to strengthen their resume when they apply for a teaching job. Students who excel in their TA duties and who have advanced to candidacy are selected to teach a course of their own as an Associate Instructor. Because there are a limited number of openings to become an Associate Instructor, we highly recommend that you do an outstanding job of TAing in a large variety of courses and advance to candidacy as soon as possible to optimize your chances of getting an Associate Instructorship.

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