How to Apply FAQs

FAQ's

Your question is:

Our answer is:
  • What are the deadlines to apply?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • I am applying for January admission. Can I send my application later?

Our admission application intake period is October 1 - March 31.

Each year, Physics will admit approximately 30 graduate students to our graduate programs.

Complete applications will be considered for admission each time the departmental admissions committee meets which is normally late December, mid-January, late February and late March.

  • Applicants for January admission are strongly urged to apply as early as possible because the departmental admissions committee makes decisions on the entire pool of applicants for the full admission year.  
  • Applications received or completed after October 1 will be considered for admission in subsequent rounds of competition. Students will be considered for graduate assistantships and scholarships only if funding is still available
  • Will you waive the application fee?
  • No. The fee is required, it cannot be waived.
  • What is the Statement of Purpose? How long should it be?
  • Your Statement must tell us why you want to study physics at University of Alberta. Be specific and succinct. It should be 500 words or less on a single 8" x 11" page, single-spaced using a 12-pt font.
  • What is the Physics Graduate Application Declaration?
  • The Physics Graduate Applicant Declaration requires applicants to declare their preferred research focus area(s) and supervisor(s) along with providing details of any external awards or potential external awards.
  • My academic standing is below the minimum requirement. Can I get conditional or probationary admission?
  • There is no conditional admission for applicants with low academic standing. All applicants must meet minimum academic standards to be considered for admission to our graduate programs
  • All of my schooling was in English, so I should be exempted from the requirement for proof of English language proficiency.
  • My overall TOEFL or IELTS score is above the minimum requirement, but one band score is below the minimum. Will I still be considered for admission?
  • Yes.
  • My overall TOEFL/IELTS/other score is below the minimum requirement. Will I still be considered for admission, or should I retake the exam in order to be considered for admission?
  • Although the decision is yours, we suggest that retake the TOEFL or IELTS test if you plan to apply for one of our graduate programs.
  • What happens when my application is submitted?
  • Your application will be forwarded to our graduate admissions committee for consideration. The review process might take several weeks.
  • You will be notified by email of the committee's decision and/or the decision will be posted online in your graduate application portal.
  • If you are recommended for admission, the recommendation will then be forwarded to the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies.
    • If you are offered funding, the Department will send you a letter indicating the conditions of your financial support, where applicable. Please note that a departmental financial offer means that we are recommending you for admission to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.  It does not mean that you have been admitted to graduate studies at the U of A! Via email, you must accept/decline the department's financial offer.
    • If the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies approves our recommendation, they will offer you admission. The admission letter will be posted in your application portal; you must accept/decline the admission offer.
  • I was refused admission to the Physics graduate program, but will apply to another department at U of A. Can my application be sent to another department for consideration?
  • No. You must submit a new application form for the other department's graduate program (and pay another application fee, if required).