Frequently Asked Questions

What are the application deadlines?

The application deadline is January 15 for fall admission, and September 30 for spring admission. Most students enroll in the fall, but those who have already completed at least one semester of coursework at the graduate level, or those with an especially strong academic background, are encouraged to apply for the soonest application deadline. Applications for fall enrollment are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in early January. Late submission will not disqualify an application from being considered but may put you at some disadvantage.
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If I’m admitted, what financial support will be provided?

Students are admitted with full funding through a teaching assistantship, research assistantship, or a combination of these two. Assistantships include a stipend (currently starting at $2112 per month), full tuition coverage, and a contribution to health insurance.
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I'm not familiar with the city of Lincoln. What is it like?

Lincoln, the capital of the state of Nebraska, is a vibrant, safe city of nearly 300,000 people with many parks, nature centers, concert venues, and a lively downtown area, which is adjacent to the university campus. The cultural and entertainment options rival those typically found in much larger cities, with a wide variety of music, dance, and theater performances. Biking trails, public transportation, and light traffic allow for an easy commute. Lincoln has ranked in the top ten in various categories including quality of life (#3, NerdWallet, 2017), best places to live (#9, Livability.com, 2019), health (#1 among small cities, Daily Finance, 2014), and rental affordability (#4 in SmartAsset, 2018). More information about Lincoln can be found here. About an hour drive East is the Omaha metro area, which straddles the Missouri river and has nearly a million residents.
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Are any fellowships available for incoming graduate students?

All admitted graduate students are automatically considered for fellowships, which range from $1,500 to $8,000 per year. No additional application is required.
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Can I submit an application without the GRE or TOEFL scores?

We do not require GRE scores. The details about the English proficiency requirement can be found here.
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Can I be admitted to the graduate program in physics without a previous degree in physics?

Your degree may be in a closely related field, such as mathematics or engineering, but it is expected that your coursework included upper-level physics classes in classical mechanics, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics, and thermal/statistical physics, or at least most of these courses.
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Do you admit graduate students from other countries?

Yes, absolutely! More than half of our graduate students come from other countries.
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Do you admit students in my field of interest?

Our department offers opportunities for experimental and theoretical research in three broad fields: atomic, molecular, optical and plasma physics (AMOP); condensed matter and materials physics (CMMP), and high-energy physics (HEP).
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I would like to transfer from another graduate program. Will my courses transfer? If I’ve taken qualifying or comprehensive exams at my current institution, do I have to take them again at Nebraska?

Up to 45 graduate credit hours may be transferred, subject to the evaluation by the Graduate Committee. Any student receiving a degree from the Department of Physics and Astronomy must take all of the exams required for that degree at Nebraska.
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How many graduate students do you enroll?

The number varies from year to year, but usually we aim to enroll 15-18 students every year. Overall, there are about 90 graduate students in the program.
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I have earned a degree from an institution with English as the official language of instruction, and I have also taken a TOEFL or IELTS test. Should I request an exemption or report the test scores?

In this situation, we recommend that you request an exemption by selecting the corresponding option on your application and do not report the test scores.
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