On arrival: Information for New Graduate Students

Acceptance and Registration Procedures

New students initially receive a letter from the Department of Physics indicating that they have been recommended for acceptance to a McGill graduate program in physics. This is followed by an official package containing a letter of acceptance from Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) and a number of forms that need to be completed and returned directly to GPS.

The Department of Physics then sends each new student a welcome letter that contains information about registering for courses and the applicable deadlines.

Arrival in the Department

A map of the location of the Ernest Rutherford Physics (ERP) Building is available. Upon arrival, new students should speak to the graduate studies coordinator, in the main office (ERP 108). There will be a welcome package available for each student in the nearby mailroom (ERP 103b). This will contain information on housing, health insurance, the Post-Graduate Students' Society (PGSS), the McGill Graduate Association of Physics Students (MGAPS), Thomson House, and other useful details.

Settling in to the Department

New students should consult Diane Koziol in the main office (ERP 108) to learn where their desk will be and to receive an office key. ID-card authentication for after-hours building access is provided by the chair's secretary, Louise Decelles, also located in the main office. New students should consult with their assigned advisor with a view to settling on a research supervisor within the first month after arriving. Teaching Assistantship (TA) application information is available from graduate studies coordinator and TA assignments are handled by a faculty member tasked with coordinating the positions for the academic year. Requests for a computer account should be made through the supervisor, who will contact the administrators to activate access. Photocopies are made using a numerical code system, with different codes for teaching (TA) and research; students needing to make photocopies should consult the relevant course instructor or research supervisor for details.