Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

The submission of Physics Subject GRE scores is required for applications to the PhD program; the General GRE is optional.  For the ScM program, submitting General and Physics GRE scores is recommended, but not required, especially for non-traditional students. This includes applicants with a bachelor's degree outside of physics, or applicants who have taken a long gap after completing their bachelor's degree.

English Proficiency Testing

The Brown Graduate School requires all international applicants whose native language is not English to submit an official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score. The admissions committee can consider an application with self-reported scores or if a student qualifies for a waiver.

Waivers can be granted to students who have earned a degree from a non-U.S. university where the primary language of instruction is English, from a college or university in the United States, or in any number of countries. The application system does not automatically provide these waivers based on the education listed on an application, a waiver must be requested from the Graduate School. Without a waiver granted, the application's status will list as 'incomplete.' All submitted applications receive full consideration regardless of status. We require a waiver or official English proficiency score for all admitted students.

More information can be found on the Graduate School website.

Test Scores

The recommended minimum TOEFL score for admission consideration is 90 for the internet-based test (577 on the paper-based test). For IELTS, the recommended minimum overall band score is 7.

English proficiency scores do not automatically find their way to an application. They are sent in batches to the university and must then be matched by the Graduate School to each application. As there are many applications requiring attention, this process takes time. Be assured that all applications submitted receive full consideration regardless of the status of the application.

Brown University requires official scores to be sent. You may self-report your TOEFL scores and upload copies of your score report(s) into your application. However, you must also have your official scores sent to the Graduate School.

Physics code for TOEFL reporting: 76
Brown University code for ETS reporting: 3094