Queen's 2015 Nobel Prize in PhysicsGraduate students in the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy are recruited directly into research groups. Applications received by the January 7th deadline will receive full consideration, and any applications after will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Look into possible lab groups and supervisors whose research aligns with your interests. Contact potential supervisor(s) to express your interest and inquire about an opening in their research group(s) for your start term. This step is not required, but highly recommended to ensure your application is seen by your potential supervisor(s).
You may submit an application without having secured a research supervisor. However, an offer of admission cannot be made unless an applicant has secured a supervisor.
Relevant Links:
The application portal is through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA). The online application will walk you through each step in the process, including how to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation and other documentation. Create an account using an email address you will be able to access in the future.
Relevant Links:
Additional documentation is required to complete your application to graduate studies, including:
- Transcripts
- Letters of Recommendation
- English Language Test Results (if applicable)
Transcripts:
Applications must include official and up-to-date transcripts for all current and previous post-secondary studies. Final transcripts be required from applicants who accept an offer of admission to graduate studies at Queen’s University. Final transcripts must be sent directly from the issuing institutions to the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs by email (sgspa.reception@queensu.ca) or mail:
School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Queen's University
Gordon Hall Room 425
74 Union Street
Kingston, Ontario
Canada K7L 3N6
Please note:
- Transcripts in languages other than English or French must be accompanied by an English or French translation provided by the institution issuing the transcript.
- Photocopied transcripts or those printed from a university website are not permitted.
- Degree and graduation certificated must be included if the transcript does not indicate the type of degree and date granted.
- Transcripts submitted with applications become the property of Queen’s University, are subject to verification, are not available for copying, and will not be returned to the applicant.
- When sending transcripts via Parchment, MyCreds, and other transcript issuing services, do not select Queen’s University in their “Send To” option, as this will direct the transcript to Undergraduate Admissions. Select “Send to Third Party” (or similar wording) and enter sgspa.reception@queensu.ca.
- Current of previous students of Queen’s University do not need to submit transcripts from Queen’s. SGSPA will access the student record through SOLUS.
Letters of Recommendation:
Two academic recommendations are required from professors under whom the applicant has recently studied. It is recognized that certain applicants to some programs may have difficulty obtaining academic references and that it may be more appropriate to get references from professionals or supervisors. In such cases, those references may be considered. However, all effort should be made to include academic recommendations.
Once an application is submitted, referees will receive instructions to complete the online reference form via a secure portal; reference letters can be uploaded if wished.
Please note:
- Letters of reference sent by email will not be accepted.
- Photocopied or letters issue more than one year prior to the application date will not be accepted.
- Reference forms from other universities will not be accepted.
English Language Test Results:
Those applicants whose native languages do not include English will need to earn satisfactory standing in an English Language Proficiency Test as part of the application process, and before final acceptance is granted.
The minimum scores and instructions to submit can be found here: Admission Requirements | Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy
Paying the Application Fee: The non-refundable application fee of $120 CAD can be paid by Visa or Mastercard.
The application is considered complete when the application fee is paid, and all documentation is received by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
After you submit your application, an application number will be emailed to you. You can continue to log into the application portal to view the status of your application, and if any further documentation is required. When your online application is complete and all documentation is received, the degree program will assess your application for admission. You will be informed of the decision by the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs by email.
Deadlines
Applying to graduate studies within the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy is a multi-step process that usually begins about a year before you will start. Below is the application timeline, which also includes scholarship deadlines.
| Date | What to Do | Relevant Links |
|---|---|---|
| Summer-Fall | Research possible lab groups that you would be interested in working with, and contact professors you want to work with to gain more information about possible research projects that are available. To be admitted as a graduate student, a professor must accept you for a research project. | Research Groups |
| October 9th | NSERC CGRS-D (PhD) applications are due. Please see the relevant link for application details and portal to submit application through. Please Note: A complete application requires reference letters and a research proposal, so working with your potential supervisor and an early start is recommended. | NSERC (PhD level) |
| December 1st | NSERC CGRS-M (Master's) applications are due. Please see the relevant link for application details and portal to submit application through. Please Note: A complete application requires reference letters and a research proposal, so working with your potential supervisor and an early start is recommended. | NSERC (Master's level) |
| Starting November and ongoing | Apply for graduate programs for the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (SGSPA). Applications are reviewed as they are submitted, so to have access to the most opportunities, apply early. | SGSPA Application Portal |
| January 7th | Applications submitted to the SGSPA portal by this deadline will receive full consideration for admission to the graduate program in the following academic year (September start). After this deadline, the department will operate on a rolling review process, and applications will be reviewed until all available positions are filled. Please Note: Applications require reference letters and English proficiency test scores (if applicable), so an early start is recommended. | SGSPA Application Portal |
| March 1st | Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) applications are due. Applications are submitted through a web application from SGSPA. For new students, reference letters from your graduate program application can be linked to your OGS application. Please Note: A complete application and a research proposal is required, so working with your potential supervisor and an early start is recommended. OGS applications are used for other internal award competitions. If you do not submit an OGS application, you cannot be considered for these awards. | Queen's SGSPA Scholarships |
| Summer | It is possible to start your research project over the summer. If you are interested in doing this, please contact the department and your supervisor. If you will start in the Fall, remain in contact with your supervisor to be ready to hit the ground running when you arrive in September. | |
| September | The Fall term begins. During the first week of September, the Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy hosts a New Physics Grad Student Orientation. SGSPA will also host orientation events for new graduate students throughout the month. Details will be emailed out in August. Also refer to the "New Student Information" page for more details on how to settle in within the Department. | SGSPA New Student Information |
Application Considerations
Supervision: The Department of Physics, Engineering Physics & Astronomy requires applicants to identify a potential supervisor prior in order to receive an offer of admission. Speaking with your current mentors, attending graduate recruitment fairs, and asking questions of potential supervisors will help clarify your options, expectations, and give you a chance to get to know the communities in which you may choose to work. For detailed instructions on how to contact supervisors, please visit our Contacting Supervisors page.
Funding: Funding for your studies is an important consideration when choosing a graduate program. Queen’s offers competitive funding packages. Review SGSPA’s funding page for more information on graduate funding packages.
Equity Admission Regulation: Queen’s University School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs is committed to enhancing diversity in graduate education which includes ensuring mechanisms for applications from prospective students who may not have had opportunity and advantage equal to others to be considered. In recognition that life circumstance may prohibit, present barriers, and/or discourage access to pursue advanced degrees, due consideration shall be given by the applicable graduate program personnel to the non-academic factors identified by the applicant, and the applicant’s special circumstances and unique qualities. Traditional measures of an applicant’s academic performance will be considered accordingly.
Indigenous Applicants: Queen’s welcomes and encourages inquiries and applications from Indigenous candidates. If you are an Indigenous student and wish for your application to be considered under the “Indigenous Student Admission Regulation,” you must self-identify as Indigenous upon application for admission. For the purposes of this regulation, Indigenous is defined as First Nation, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI).
International Applicants: English is the language of instruction and communication at Queen’s, except for language departments. Proficiency in English is a prerequisite for admission. Those applicants whose native languages do not include English will be required to obtain satisfactory standing in an English Language Proficiency Test before acceptance is granted. See Step 3 above for more information on English Language Proficiency Test requirements.
International Study Permits: International students participating in programs longer than six months must obtain a study permit issued by the Canadian government. Additionally, citizens of some countries require a temporary resident (entry) visa for entry into Canada. The Queen’s University International Centre (QUIC) offers information about applying for these documents, as well as additional support for mandatory health insurance, housing, and more. Graduate Students can now access BorderPass Immigration Support. BorderPass is an immigration support service offered at no cost as part of Queen's Commitment. Whether you're coming to study, work, or build a new life in Canada, BorderPass can help make your immigration process as smooth as possible—from your first year throughout your entire stay.