The Physics Department welcomes students interested in the Ph.D. degree. Doctoral candidates can perform research in any of the areas covered by the department, including experimental and theoretical astrophysics, biophysics, condensed matter physics and materials science, cosmology, and particle physics theory and experiment. Each doctoral student is assigned a faculty advisor who helps to design a research project suited to the interests of the student.

The UC Santa Cruz Physics Department is committed to providing an excellent education to a diverse population of graduate students and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We employ a holistic process to assess candidates’ knowledge and passion for physics, as well as whether or not they have the perseverance and tenacity required to complete the doctoral program. Of particular importance is the alignment between the research interests of the candidate and those of the department. While taking into consideration a candidate's undergraduate grade point average (GPA), letters of recommendation, student statements, and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores (if provided), we do not disqualify applicants based on any single factor. In particular, the department recognizes the documented limitations of the GRE as an equitable predictor of success in graduate studies and research.