Admission and degree requirements

Our graduate and postgraduate degrees are research-based and require the supervision of a faculty member. We encourage you to contact a faculty member within your area of interest to inquire about availability and funding.

Admissions requirements

Candidates should possess:

• A good Physics degree from a recognized university

• A minimum average of 3.0 (B)

Candidates may be required to take a qualifying year if they lack sufficient background. 

Language proficiency 

If you are an international applicant and your first language isn’t English, you will be required to demonstrate proficiency in English prior to your admission.

This is normally done by completing one of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and a minimum of 550 on the paper-based test or 80 on the internet-based test
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and a minimum overall band score of 7

• Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and a minimum score of 85

Students may be required to take supplementary English courses if admitted to the School of Graduate Studies. 

International Students

If you apply from outside Canada, you should do so at least six months in advance. Contact the School of Graduate Studies or the International Student Advisor’s Office for more information.

The GRE is only mandatory for non-North American PhD candidates. If you have taken the GRE advanced test in Physics and have received a good score, you will probably have an advantage.

Steps to Apply

• Choose a research area
• Find a supervisor, discuss funding
• Submit an online application

Seminar requirements

You will need to present your work to the department once a year after your first year, as part of the Department Seminar Series (PHYS6006 for MSc and PHYS6106 for PhD).

Attendance to this weekly series is mandatory:

• Support your colleagues
• Learn about the research being done at UNB
• Discover new Physics results in fields other than your own

• Improve your presentation skills

You must attend at least 75% of the seminars in a school term to be eligible to graduate. 

Courses

MSc students must take four academic courses during their studies and pass them with a grade of B or higher, including:

• PHYS6020
• PHYS6080

• Two courses chosen based on your supervisor’s recommendations

PhD students must take two academic courses during their studies and pass them with a grade of B or higher. Three other courses can be recommended by the GAC or supervisory committee based on results of the comprehensive exam.