Drexel University's doctoral (PhD) in Physics students collaborate with leading researchers in a variety of fields including astrophysics, biophysics, condensed matter physics, particle physics, and physics education research. Many PhD students participate in international and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Coursework includes advanced training in core areas of physics such as quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, statistical mechanics, classical dynamics, and mathematical physics. Students have the opportunity to take additional courses related to areas of current research.
PhD students at Drexel begin research early in the program, commencing thesis work in their second year of study. Coursework requirements are typically satisfied within the first two years of the program. Under the supervision of a research advisor, PhD students pursue original, innovative research in areas of experimental, theoretical or computational physics. Research results are presented at scientific meetings and in journal publications, and the program culminates with the defense of a PhD dissertation.
The Drexel physics PhD program provides comprehensive preparation for careers in basic and applied research. Drexel PhD graduates obtain jobs such as university professors, research scientists, data scientists, and others. Comprehensive statistics regarding our program can be found at the American Institute of Physics.
The Drexel Physics department regularly hosts colloquia and seminars by distinguished external visitors and maintains an active graduate student association. PhD students are eligible for research and teaching assistantships that provide a stipend and full tuition remission. Many PhD students have early opportunities to develop mentorship skills due to Drexel's experiential education model and extensive undergraduate student involvement in research.
Program Format
- Full time, 60 credit program.
- Advanced training in core areas of physics is completed over seven years.
- Typical schedule: Two years of coursework, a research-based candidacy exam, and research training followed by dissertation research.
Program Deadlines
The deadlines below are the dates by which applications must be submitted and all application requirements received.
- Fall (Domestic/International) - December 1
- No Spring or Summer Intake
Quicklinks
Research Areas
Drexel is recognized as a worldwide leader in physics research. Whether you're preparing for a career in academia, industry, or government, Drexel’s Department of Physics will equip you with the knowledge and experience to lead in the field. Graduate students work alongside internationally recognized faculty in diverse research areas, including:
Collaborative Research
In addition, our community of scholars is actively engaged in collaborative research around the globe such as Sloan Digital Sky Survey in New Mexico, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile and the Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica – to name a few.
At Drexel, you’ll join a collaborative, research-driven community where discovery is a daily pursuit—and your contributions help shape the future of physics.
Program Highlights
- Research beginning research in the first year, with freedom to explore different areas of physics before choosing a thesis topic
- Opportunities to participate in major worldwide research collaborations, including the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope in Chile, the IceCube Neutrino Observatory in Antarctica, the PICO dark matter detection experiment at SNOLAB in Canada, and neutrino experiments including DUNE, PROSPECT, EXO-200 and nEXO
- Topics courses in areas of current research, including astrophysics, biophysics, nanoscience, particle physics, solid state and physics education research
- An active, tightly knit community of graduate students that enjoys dinners and outings together
- Physics Graduate Student Association, run by our students and funded by Drexel University
- Graduate-student-only research seminars
- Interaction with world-renowned researchers who visit Drexel for our colloquium series, and the acclaimed Kaczmarczik Lecture, which has featured several Nobel laureates
- Fellowships with 12-month stipend support, full tuition remission and free health insurance
- All coursework and exam requirements are finished in June of the second year; the MS in Physics is also awarded at that time
Students Admitted with Post-Master's Status
Students who are admitted for PhD study with “post-master’s” status must take 15 credits of graduate coursework with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to become doctoral candidates. Courses are to be chosen in consultation with the Graduate Academic Committee. Post-master's students are expected to pass the candidacy exam by the end of the spring quarter of their first year of study. To be prepared for the candidacy exam, post-master's students should begin research as soon as possible (Candidacy Exam below).
Physics Doctoral Program Research Requirements
Students begin research in the spring and summer terms of their first year. The spring project culminates in a poster presented to the department. A two-page proposal for their summer research is also due at the end of the spring term. At the end of the summer, students are required to submit an in-depth written report and give an oral presentation of their summer project. Research during the second year is toward the candidacy exam. More details can be found in the Physics Graduate Student Handbook.
PhD in Physics Candidacy Exam
The candidacy exam is based on original research performed by the student. A written report should be submitted to the exam committee and the Associate Head for Graduate Studies at least one week prior to the exam, which consist of a public seminar followed by an oral exam conducted by a faculty committee. More details can be found in the Physics Graduate Student Handbook.
Physics PhD Thesis Defense
PhD candidates must perform original research, write a satisfactory thesis describing that research, and defend this thesis in an oral examination. It is required by the university that a graduate student complete the PhD degree within seven years after enrollment. We expect that most students can complete the PhD in five years. More details can be found in the Physics Graduate Student Handbook.
Recent Dissertations
Physics doctoral students complete dissertations on a wide range of topics. We proudly invite prospective students to review recent dissertations authored by our PhD in Physics degree recipients.
Recent Dissertations