International students can study the Physics at Stony Brook University at its main campus in Stony Brook, United States of America. This Master degree is available as a Full Time program delivered on campus in English. The program has a duration of 2 years and is offered at the university's main campus. Students can apply for the next intake starting on August 28, 2027.

About Master of Physics

General Description of the Graduate Program

The Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Arts and Sciences offers courses of study and research that normally lead to the Ph.D. degree. The M.A degree is awarded either as a terminal degree, or to students on the way to the Ph.D. degree. The Master of Science in Scientific Instrumentation (MSI) program is provided for those interested in instrumentation for physical research. The Master of Science in Quantum Information Science and Technology (MSQIST) prepares students to work in this rapidly growing area. A Master of Arts in Teaching program, from the School of Professional Development, is available for students seeking to teach physics in high schools. An Advanced Graduate Certificate in Accelerator Science is offered, which can be taken concurrently with a PhD or Masters degree.

Students may find opportunities in various areas of physics not found in the department or in related disciplines at Stony Brook in such programs as Medical Physics, Chemical Physics, Atmospheric and Climate Modeling, Materials Science and at Brookhaven National Laboratory or Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

The entire faculty participates in teaching a rich curriculum of undergraduate, graduate, and professional development courses, including many courses on special topics of current interest. PhD and MSI students must fulfill one year of teaching. PhD students are encouraged to participate in research as early as possible and to begin their thesis research no later than the beginning of their third year. The typical length of time to the Ph.D. is four to six years. The Master's in Scientific Instrumentation is a two-year program that involves a thesis project in instrumentation design or development. The minimum time to earn the M.A. or MSQIST degrees is two semesters and one Summer, but will more usually take two years.

The Stony Brook Physics graduate program has been highly ranked in national surveys for the quality of its graduate program, its faculty, and the impact of its published research. It strives to make a graduate education in physics intellectually stimulating and educationally rewarding.

Degrees

Doctoral Program in Physics

This is the generic Ph.D. degree which may specialize in any area of Physics research. This course of study is pursued by most students in the Ph.D. program. See below for a description of the degree requirements.

Doctoral Program with Concentration in Astronomy

The Department of Physics and Astronomy offers a Ph.D. degree with concentration in astronomy when the thesis work is carried out in the area of astronomy or astrophysics. Some of the requirement for the Ph.D. degree are substituted by astronomy courses.

Doctoral Program with Concentration in Physical Biology

This is an interdisciplinary concentration connected with the Laufer Center for Quantitative Biology. Students usually declare their interest in this concentration not later than the end of the first semester. Postponing this decision will result in a loss of time. There are several differences with the default physics concentration. The number of core courses is reduced by one course while several physical biology courses are required. Instead of the graduate lab students do rotations with faculty associated with the Laufer Center. Also the Graduate Seminar is substituted by the Laufer Center Journal Club.

Doctoral Programs with Concentration in Chemical Physics

The basic degree requirements for a student enrolled in this program are the same as those for other students in physics. Students will usually be advised to take one or more courses in chemical physics. The written part of the preliminary (comprehensive) examination is the same as for other physics students; the oral part will ordinarily be on topics in chemical physics. The studentâ€™s research advisor may be chosen from faculty working in chemical physics.

Master of Science Program with Concentration in Instrumentation

This is a two year Master of Science Program in which students focus on the study of modern research instrumentation.

Master of Arts Degree in Physics

This program which can be completed in three or four semesters prepares you either of admission to a Ph.D. program or for a physics related job in a national lab or in the private sector.

Master of Science in Quantum Information Science and Technology

This degree prepares students to work in the rapidly growing area of Quantum Information Science and Technology. The degree features several customized courses in QIST and also allows students to take a number of relevant courses that are already offered in Physics and other departments across our campus. It also features a research component that may be satisfied through research on-campus or at Brookhaven National Laboratory, or through a internship with an industrial partner.

Advanced Graduate Certificate in Accelerator Science

The goal of this program is to educate the next generation of accelerator scientists and engineers to maintain USâ€™s leadership in this important area of science and industry.

Disciplines

Faculty of the Department of Physics and Astronomy

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Physics at Stony Brook University

Entry Requirements

An applicant must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00 on a 4.00 point scale. If the student attends a college that only gives Passes or Credits for the first year of study, then these grades will be evaluated as C for GPA admission purposes unless the student provides actual grades.

Paper recommendations can be sent in, but you must use the paper recommendation form from your application portal and give it to your recommender. Paper recommendations must be sent directly to the graduate program you are applying to in sealed envelopes, signed across the seal by the recommender.
In order to gain access to our recommendation forms, you must submit an application. Within your application, you can either send emails directing your recommenders to each submit a recommendation online, or you may download a paper recommendation form and give it to your recommender. Paper recommendations must be sent directly to the graduate program you are applying to in sealed envelopes, signed across the seal by the recommender.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 7

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Physics at Stony Brook University

Application Fee 100

How to Apply for Master of Physics at Stony Brook University

All applications must be submitted electronically through our online application system. Once you create an account, you can save and update your material as often as necessary until you click the “Finalize Application” button. Once your application is submitted, you can log on to track its status.