Graduate Program

The Physics Department at McGill offers excellent research in a broad range of fields. Graduate studies are offered at the Masters and PhD level. Graduate students will be embedded in one of the Department's research groups and work on a specific topic under the guidance of their supervisor.

Master's program

New graduate students most commonly enter the Master's program at McGill, which is designed to take two years. During this time, M.Sc. students are required to take five graduate courses (15 course credits) of which at least one should be at the 600 level or higher. A full list of courses can be found here. Your advisor (or supervisor) will assist you in choosing relevant courses.

In addition to the graduate courses described above, students are required to take the PHYS 601/602 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Physics 1/2 (both worth 3 credits)

In addition to course work, you must perform independent research work in your designated area of specialization. Information on current areas of research in our department is available on the research section. M.Sc. students must register for 30 credits of research towards their thesis, in addition to the 15 credits of formal courses, giving a total of 45 credits required for the degree.

Transfer from M.Sc. to Ph.D. program

Upon recommendation by the Departmental Graduate Committee, outstanding students may be permitted to directly enter the Ph.D. program after one year of M.Sc. studies. For more information please see the requirements page.

Ph.D. program

There are two ways to enter the PhD program:

Method 1:

Students having a Bachelor degree in physics or equivalent degree can be admitted to graduate studies directly at the Ph.D level. In this case, the first year of the PhD is referred to as “PhD 1”. Candidates entering PhD 1 must take 6 courses at 500 and 600 levels, with at least three being at the 600 level, of which one should ideally be in their field of specialization. In addition to these courses, candidates must pass the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam, for which they must register and complete within the first 5 academic terms (not counting summer terms) of starting PhD 1. This examination typically tales place in the spring. Incoming students will have been assigned an advisor upon acceptance to McGill; in most cases, the advisor will become their research supervisor. Otherwise, the student should contact potential supervisors in their area of interest (see the reseach section).

In addition to the graduate courses described above, students are required to take the PHYS 601/602 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Physics 1/2 (both worth 3 credits)

Method 2:

Students already having a M.Sc. degree in physics or equivalent degree can be admitted to graduate studies at the Ph.D. level. In this case, the first year of the PhD is referred to as “PhD 2”. Candidates entering PhD 2 must take two courses at the 600 level or higher, of which one should ideally be in their field of specialization. If the candidate completed two or more courses at the 600 level as part of the McGill Physics M.Sc. program, then one of these courses may be used as a substitute for one of the required PhD level courses (only upon special request to and approval by the Graduate Program Director). In addition to these classes, candidates must pass the Ph.D. Preliminary Exam, for which they must register and complete within the first 3 academic term (not counting summer term) of starting PhD 2. . This examination typically tales place in the spring. Incoming students will have been assigned an advisor upon acceptance to McGill; in most cases, the advisor will become their research supervisor. Otherwise, the student should contact potential supervisors in their area of interest (see the reseach section).

In addition to the graduate courses described above, students are required to take the PHYS 601/602 Introduction to Graduate Studies in Physics 1/2 (both worth 3 credits)