MS Physics at University of Virginia

Programme overview

Physics department with about 85 graduate students and 40 standing faculty; admitted PhD students receive assistantships or fellowships, and dissertation research may take place in the department or at labs such as CERN, Fermilab and Jefferson Lab.

Faculty: Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Physics | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Research areas include astrophysics, gravity and cosmology; atomic, molecular and optical physics; medical physics; condensed matter; mathematical physics; nuclear and particle physics; high energy physics; and quantum information. Students attend seminars, undertake supervised research and have annual progress reviews.

Career pathways

Graduates work in academia, national labs and industry.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School of Arts & Sciences (all programmes): online application with a 500-1,000 word statement of purpose, unofficial transcripts of all postsecondary work, minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0, two letters of recommendation (programmes may require more), and an $85 non-refundable application fee. International applicants whose undergraduate degree was not earned entirely in English submit TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test scores: TOEFL iBT 90 overall (22 speaking, 22 writing, 23 reading, 23 listening) for tests taken before 1/21/26, IELTS 7.0 in each section, Duolingo 130 overall; committees may still consider scores below these minimums. Physics requires the Physics GRE. MS application deadline: January 15.

Requirements published at faculty level.

Domestic applicants: USD 22,770 a year (2026-27). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's programs rate (annual). Rate for Virginia residents. Tuition only; excludes mandatory/comprehensive and program fees. International students pay the non-Virginia resident rate only if the schedule so applies; Source

International applicants: USD 38,384 a year (2026-27). Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Master's programs rate (annual). Rate for non-Virginia residents. Tuition only; excludes mandatory/comprehensive and program fees. Source labels this rate as non-Virginia residents (not specifically international). Source

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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