Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Physics and Astronomy is a thesis-based program that offers students the opportunity to make original and significant contributions to science within a department recognized globally for leading research. The program appeals to students planning a career in academia, government labs, leadership roles, and industry.

Program Details

• The program connects students with state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities both at the University of Calgary and at collaborating institutions, and with world-renowned researchers in one of six focus areas: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Complexity, Environmental and Isotope Physics, Radiation Oncology Physics, Quantum Information and Quantum, Atomic, and Molecular Optics, and Space Physics.
• These focus areas lie within program specializations that students apply to: Physics, Astrophysics, Space Physics, or Radiation Oncology Physics (including Medical Imaging/Medical Physics).
• The PhD under Radiation Oncology Physics (ROP) is a Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Program (CAMPEP) accredited program.
• Students interested in this specialization typically have a MSc from a CAMPEP accredited program or closely related degree to be admitted.
• The PhD specializing in ROP is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Physics Education Programs (CAMPEP) and provides didactic background, research experience, and clinical training for a career in Radiation Oncology Physics.

Completing the Program

• Astronomy & Astrophysics: Research topics may include radio, optical, infrared, and space astronomy, computational astrophysics, star formation, the interstellar medium, and general relativity.
• Isotope and Environmental Physics: Research topics may include nuclear decay processes, the effect of human activity on the environment, the development of analytical and instrumental techniques, isotope composition of trace gases and aerosols, source apportionment studies, and isotope fractionation.
• Radiation Oncology Physics: Research topics may include intensity modulated and image-guided radiation therapy, prostate brachytherapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery.
• Space Physics: Research topics may include precipitation mechanisms, remote sensing magnetospheric dynamics, and the solar-terrestrial interaction.
• Complexity: Research topics may include complex networks, self-organized criticality, statistical and computational physics, and non-linear dynamics.
• Quantum Information and Quantum, Atomic, and Molecular Optics: Research topics may include the study of information, communication, and computation using devices that are governed by quantum principles as well as the interaction between light and matter.
• Candidacy: Students will prepare a thesis proposal as well as take an oral exam on background knowledge of the research topic and the student's proposal.
• Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.

Specializations

• Astrophysics
• Medical Physics
• Physics
• Radiation Oncology Physics
• Space Physics
• Computational Neuroscience (interdisciplinary)
• Medical Imaging (interdisciplinary)

Outcomes

• Researcher, technician, radiation oncology, medical or clinical physicist, professor, instructor, data science/mining, communications, journalism, entrepreneur, environmental, financial, strategic management and/or IT consultant, quantitative analyst, risk assessment, insurance, bioinformatics.
• A PhD in physics and astronomy is usually considered a final degree; in some cases, students may pursue postdoctoral work.

Thesis-Based Program

• Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend it in an open oral defense.

Courses

• Two courses minimum
• Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Time Commitment

• Four years full-time; six years maximum

Supervisor

• A supervisor is required, but is not required prior to the start of the program

Fees and Funding

• See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

Admission Requirements

• GPA: A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.
• Minimum Education: An MSc degree (or equivalent) in physics, engineering physics, astronomy/astrophysics, or a related scientific field.
• Work Samples: None
• Documents: None
• Reference Letters: Two
• Test Scores: All foreign applicants must submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Physics subject score
• English Language Proficiency (ELP): An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT including TOEFL iBT Home Edition) minimum score of 86 (Internet-based, with no section less than 20).
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 (with no section less than 6.0).
  • Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency minimum score of 180.
  • Pearson Test of English (PTE) score of 59 or higher
  • Canadian Academic English Language test (CAEL) overall score of 70 (no section less than 60).
  • Academic Communication Certificate (ACC) minimum of B+ in each course.
  • Duolingo English Test obtaining a minimum score of 125 (with no sub-score below 105).

Deadlines

• For admission on September 1:
  • Canadians and permanent residents: Jan. 15 application deadline
  • International students: Jan. 15 application deadline

Supervisors

• Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.
• Please note: additional supervisors may be available. Contact the program for more information.
  1. Paul Barclay
     • Seeking Students
     • Nanophotonics, quantum optics, nanoscience, nano-optomechanics
  2. Shabir Barzanjeh
     • Seeking Students
     • Quantum Communication and Quantum Interface (optomechanics, electromechanics, circuitQED), Quantum Sensing and Imaging
  3. Christopher Cully
     • Accepting Inquiries
     • Space Physics, Space-based, balloon-based and ground-based instrumentation, Van Allen Radiation Belts, Wave-particle interactions, Ion outflow, Kinetic plasma theory, Spacecraft-plasma interactions
  4. Jörn Davidsen
     • Seeking Students
     • Complexity Science, Spreading & triggering processes, Fluid-induced seismicity, Computational neuroscience & the critical brain, Rock fracture & frictional sliding, Statistical seismology, Network neuroscience, Synchronization & chimera states, Sociophysics, Climate dynamics & climate networks
  5. Megan Engel
     • Accepting Inquiries
     • Computational Biophysics, Molecular Simulation, Machine Learning, DNA/RNA nanotechnology, Nonequilibrium Physics, Molecular Machines
  6. David Knudsen
     • Unavailable
     • Space Plasma Physics
  7. Denis Leahy
     • Accepting Inquiries
     • High Energy Astrophysics
  8. Nasser Moazzen-Ahmadi
     • Accepting Inquiries
     • Molecular Physics, Chemical Physics
  9. Daniel Oblak
     • Accepting Inquiries
     • Quantum Information
  10. Rene Plume
  • Accepting Inquiries
  • Astronomy

Related Programs

• If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
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    • Course-based MSc
    • Thesis-based MSc
  • Biomedical Engineering
    • Thesis-based MEng
    • Thesis-based MSc
    • Thesis-based PhD
  • Chemistry
    • Thesis-based MSc
    • PhD
  • Computer Science
    • Thesis-based MSc
    • Thesis-based PhD
  • Electrical and Software Engineering
    • Course-based MEng
    • Course-based MEng (Software)
    • Thesis-based MEng
    • Thesis-based MSc
    • Thesis-based PhD
  • Geography
    • Course-based MGIS
    • Thesis-based MA
    • Thesis-based MSc
    • PhD
  • Geoscience
    • Thesis-based MSc
    • Course-based MSc
    • PhD

University of Calgary

• Located in the nation's most enterprising city, we are a living, growing, and youthful institution that embraces change and opportunity with a can-do attitude.
• Learn More about student life at UCalgary

Acknowledgement

• The University of Calgary, located in the heart of Southern Alberta, both acknowledges and pays tribute to the traditional territories of the peoples of Treaty 7, which include the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprised of the Siksika, the Piikani, and the Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Goodstoney First Nations).
• The city of Calgary is also home to the Métis Nation within Alberta (including Nose Hill Métis District 5 and Elbow Métis District 6).
• The University of Calgary is situated on land Northwest of where the Bow River meets the Elbow River, a site traditionally known as Moh’kins’tsis to the Blackfoot, Wîchîspa to the Stoney Nakoda, and Guts’ists’i to the Tsuut’ina.
• On this land and in this place, we strive to learn together, walk together, and grow together “in a good way.”