Learn advanced courses, participate in state-of-the-art research and launch your career with a Ph.D. from the Physics and Applied Physics Department.

At a Glance

  • Flexibility
    Part Time | Full Time
  • Delivery Options
    On Campus
  • Degree
    PhD

Get Started

Deadline for fall semester entry:
January 15

Program Overview

UMass Lowell's Ph.D. in Physics program is research-centric, preparing students for lifelong careers in academia, industry, national laboratories and entrepreneurship. The 60-credit-hour program incorporates advanced courses, comprehensive examination and a multi-year research component.

The Department offers a Ph.D. Degree in Physics with the following options:

  • General Option
  • Applied Mechanics Option (in collaboration with Dept. of Mechanical Engineering)
  • Atmospheric Science Option (in collaboration with Dept. of Earth and Atmospheric Science)
  • Energy Engineering Option (in collaboration with Dept. of Chemical Engineering)
  • Aerospace Sciences Option
We also offer options in Medical Physics and Radiological Sciences.
  • $10M
    Annual research funding
  • 14+
    Research Areas
  • 30+
    Faculty Members

Research Opportunities

Research lies at the heart of our Ph.D. in Physics program, with research expenditures totaling more than $10 million annually.

Two students wearing protective lab gear in a UMass Lowell physics lab.

Career Outlook

UMass Lowell's physics Ph.D. program prepares graduates for positions in academia, national laboratories, government agencies, major medical facilities and industry, including: 

  • Argonne National Lab
  • Boston University
  • City University of New York
  • Duke University
  • DuPont
  • Harvard University
  • Idaho National Lab
  • Lockheed Martin Corp.
  • Los Alamos National Lab
  • Northeastern University
  • Pacific Northwest National Lab
  • Passport Systems, Inc.
  • Radiation Monitoring Devices, Inc.
  • Schlumberger
  • U.S. Department of Energy
  • U.S. Naval Research Lab
  • Westinghouse Electric Corp.
  • Yale University

Admissions

Deadline for fall admissions: January 15

  • Admission Requirements

    In addition to the requirements for admission, applicants for the Ph.D. in Physics program are expected to have a sound background in intermediate-level mechanics, electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics, and modern physics.

    For complete Admission Requirements, please visit the Academic Catalog.

    Application Process

    For a list of application materials and guidelines, please visit the Sciences Admissions Requirements.

Join Our Community of Scholars

Christian Burns wears a safety mask and gloves as he pours nitrogen in a UMass Lowell lab.

"The professors really do teach and motivate you to learn."

Physics Ph.D. student Christian Burns got accepted to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science Graduate Student Research program.

Read more about Christian

Request More Information

Contact Us

For more information, please contact: 

Viktor Podolskiy, Ph.D.
Graduate Coordinator, Professor
978-934-3398
Viktor_Podolskiy@uml.edu