Application Process

Admission to the graduate program is quite competitive. All applicants must have a Bachelor's degree in Physics, Astronomy, or a related area upon their arrival, and a minimum Junior-Senior GPA of 3.0. The graduate admission FAQ describes the typical GRE and TOEFL scores that are required for admission. Additional information regarding the application fee and other requirements is provided at the How to Apply page of the Graduate School. To begin the application process, go to the admissions site for the Graduate School. Complete the on-line application form for the Ph.D. program of the Dept of Astronomy & Astrophysics at the University Park campus of Penn State University. This form will ask you for

• your biographical information.

• your educational background.

• your work experience.

• your scores from the Graduate Record Examinations. You must take the GRE general test, and an Advanced test in Physics or a related discipline, and have the official scores transmitted to Penn State. Scores of 720 or more on the general test, and 680 or more on the Advanced test are treated more favorably, but admission is based on the overall strength of the student's application.

• the names and addresses of three people familiar with your qualifications for graduate school.

• A brief (one or two page) narrative statement explaining your interest and/or background in astronomy, and how graduate study at Penn State fits into your career plans. If you believe your grades or standardized test scores are not an accurate measure of your ability or achievement, you may wish to include that in your statement. Alternatively, you can send this statement directly to the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the address below.

• International students (with the exceptions noted below) will also need to supply their scores from the TOEFL (Test Of English as a Foreign Language) examination. A score of at least 620 on the paper test, 260 on the computer based test, or 105 on the internet-based (iBT) test are viewed most favorably, but a lower score does not exclude consideration. In addition, Penn State University also requires a minimum of 19 points on the new speaking portion of the iBT test. Applicants with iBT speaking scores between 15 and 18 may still be considered for provisional admission. Provisional admission requires an institutional test of English proficiency upon first enrollment and, if necessary, remedial course work. The minimum composite score for the IELTS is 6.5. Students who have received a baccalaureate or a masters degree from a college/university/institution in Australia, Belize, British Caribbean and British West Indies, Canada (except Quebec), England, Guyana, Republic of Ireland, Liberia, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Scotland, the United States or Wales are excepted from this requirement.

In addition, you will also need to have one official transcript (or photocopy) of your undergraduate grades sent to the address below:

Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics
The Pennsylvania State University
525 Davey Lab
University Park, PA 16802

The graduate school web site may indicate that two copies of the transcript should be sent, but one copy is sufficient. Transcripts not in English must be accompanied by a translation.

In order for an application to be given fullest consideration, all application materials must arrive by January 6. Late applications may also be considered, but first consideration for admission and financial aid will be given to those which arrive by the deadline. Typically, first year students are awarded teaching assistantships and full tuition is waived. The strongest applicants may receive fellowships, either in place of a teaching assistantship, or in addition to it.

For more information about our graduate program or our application procedures, please contact:

Kevin Luhman, Chair, Graduate Admissions
Nina Bumgarner, Graduate Staff Assistant