University of Kentucky

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.S. - Physics, Ph.D. - Physics

Program Description:

The University of Kentucky, established in 1865, is a public, research, land-grant university with an enrollment of nearly 27,000 students. UK is located in downtown Lexington, a metropolitan area of 270,000. Lexington is located in the heart of the state’s Bluegrass region.

The Department of Physics and Astronomy comprises 30 faculty, 70 graduate students, and 50 undergraduate majors. 11 faculty members have been named Fellows of the American Physical Society, in recognition of their pioneering and significant contributions to their research field.

Research programs are offered in: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Experimental and Theoretical Atomic Physics, Experimental and Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, Experimental and Theoretical Nuclear Physics, Theoretical Particle Physics, and String Theory. Faculty also conduct interdisciplinary research with other UK faculty in chemistry, computational sciences, and materials engineering.

The department offers M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. All graduate students receive a substantial education in advanced physics, mentoring from faculty, and extensive research experience.

The department’s core curriculum consists of Classical Mechanics (1 semester), Electromagnetism (2 semesters), Quantum Mechanics (2 semesters), and Statistical Mechanics (1 semester). Students also develop a working knowledge in at least 3 areas of specialized physics courses. Students are encouraged to participate in research early on in their graduate school careers. The Ph.D. degree in Physics is a significant accomplishment and indicates mastery of a research field.

The annual deadline for admission with financial aid is February 1 (each year). Nearly all admitted students are offered a full-tuition scholarship, a Fellowship or a Teaching Assistantship, summer support, and health insurance. The cost-of-living in Lexington is very affordable, with monthly rents for apartments near campus ranging from $450–$650.

Complete details on the application process may be found at www.pa.uky.edu

Accreditation:

Southern Association of Colleges & Schools

Eligibility Requirements:

Undergraduate degree in Physics or Astronomy

International Student Requirements:

TOEFL

Tuition & Financial Aid

Financial Aid Offered: Yes

Format: Campus

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above