Application Process for Admission to MSU Physics and Astronomy

Your application package to our graduate program should include:

Completed application form
You can complete the application online or print it out.
To receive the application forms and information about our department sent to you via regular mail, send your request by electronic mail to gradforms at pa.msu.edu, and a package will be mailed to you.
Statement of Purpose:
As part of your completed application, you are asked to submit a statement of purpose. There are many websites that offer advice on the SOP but please be sure to address the following:
Why do you want to study Physics at the graduate level?
Describe any research experience, including conferences attended and papers published.
State your area(s) of interest. If you are undecided, list all areas that appeal to you.
GRE and TOEFL scores:
The GRE General Exam is required; the GRE Subject Exam is not required, but is recommended and greatly improves your application.
The TOEFL is required for foreign students.
The institution code for MSU for both GRE and TOEFL is 1465; the Department of Physics and Astronomy code is 0808 for physics and 0801 for astronomy
Official transcripts of grades sent directly from your institution.
Three letters of reference
Application fee of $50

Have items 3 and 4 sent to:

Director of Graduate Studies,
Physics and Astronomy Department
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-2320

For fall entry , we start inviting students for a visit and interview in January. We start making offers in February and continue until our positions are filled, which is usually in April (we enter about 25 students each fall). To be considered for fellowships, all of your application materials should arrive by January 1st.

For spring entry, we consider domestic applicants till the end of November and foreign applicants till the end of September (it takes at least three months to process visas, etc.)

There are a variety of fellowships available for domestic students. The deadline for some of these is quite early (e.g. some are as early as Jan. 10th) and they are competitive across the College of Natural Science and the University. We will submit your application for these fellowships as soon as it is complete and provided it is sufficiently strong (e.g. 3.5 or better GPA from a strong school, 650 or better Physics GRE, strong letters indicating research potential). Applicants to the Physics/Astronomy program are typically offered about 7 of these fellowships each year.