Postgraduate Physics

Study with the Best!
The School of Physics is the most successful School in the University of Sydney, as well as one of the largest and best funded Physics Departments in Australia. Come and see why!

A brief outline of postgraduate physics is provided on the Physics Courses page. The links below provide more specific information on various aspects of postgraduate physics.

The postgraduate degrees available in the School of Physics are research degrees

• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
• Master of Science (MSc)

or coursework degrees

• Master of Medical Physics (MMedPhys)
• Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics (GradDipMedPhys)
• Master of Applied Nuclear Science (MAppNucSci)
• Graduate Diploma in Applied Nuclear Science (GradDipApplNucSci)
• *NEW in 2009* Master of Photonics and Optical Science (MPhotOptSci)
• *NEW in 2009* Graduate Diploma in Photonics and Optical Science (GradDipPhotOptSci)

There are around 100 research students in the School, contributing to the School’s outstanding, world-recognised research environment. Approximately 90% of these students are undertaking a PhD.

Applicants for a PhD program should normally hold a Master's degree or a Bachelor's degree with first class honours from the University of Sydney or an equivalent qualification from another university or institution.

Applicants for an MSc program should hold a Bachelor's degree with first or second class honours or an equivalent qualification.

The Graduate Diploma in Science provides an alternate entry qualification for the MSc and PhD. It is identical in content to the Honours (4th year) Physics course and is available to candidates who are not eligible to enrol in that course, usually because of their background in Physics from outside the University of Sydney. It consists of eight lecture courses, chosen from approximately twelve available each year, and a supervised research project in one of the research departments within the School of Physics. The Graduate Diploma can be undertaken as a full-time course over one year or as a part-time course over two years.

Most research students are supported financially by a scholarship provided by

• Australian Postgraduate Awards (APA) and University Postgraduate Awards (UPA)
• School of Physics Postgraduate Scholarships

Candidates for a Masters or Graduate Diploma by coursework are expected to have successfully completed a Bachelor's degree in the physical sciences with a major in physics, or an equivalent degree. Students in these programs undertake the same taught course units, which are undertaken over two semesters (full-time) or four semesters (part-time). Masters students also undertake a research project, which normally requires one additional semester (full-time) or two additional semesters (part-time). The Graduate Diploma has no project component.

The School of Physics is offering up to five part-time (0.2 full-time equivalent) appointments at the Associate Lecturer Level A. The aim of the Fellowship program is to provide training and experience in tertiary teaching for outstanding postgraduate students with the objective of training the next generation of Australian university academics.

Applications are welcome from:

• students who have completed a First Class Honours degree in any area of Physics and have applied to enrol in a PhD program in the School of Physics in 2008, or
• PhD students who have completed their first year of postgraduate studies in the School of Physics and will be continuing their full-time enrolment in 2008.

Further information and application details.

Science Faculty Information for Future Postgraduate Students

University Information for Current Postgraduate Students

University Information for INTERNATIONAL Postgraduate Students

For further information about postgraduate study, contact the Physics Student Office via email: