How to Apply to Physics at Ohio State: A B.S. in Physics in Arts and Sciences or Engineering Physics in Engineering, Both Run by the Physics Department, Choosing the Major on the Application, With AP Physics Credit for PHYSICS 1200, 1201, 1250 and 1251, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At The Ohio State University (Ohio State, OSU), the Columbus campus offers two physics routes: the Bachelor of Science in Physics, awarded by the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Bachelor of Science in Engineering Physics, awarded by the College of Engineering. Both are managed by the Department of Physics. Here is what you need to know to apply, based on the physics department’s website, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, the University Registrar and the Office of Student Financial Aid, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants and applicants from China, followed by transfer students. Astronomy and Astrophysics is managed by the Department of Astronomy, and mathematics, computer science and other majors are not covered here beyond a mention where they touch physics.

1. Degrees and options

• B.S. in Physics: the department says students who complete the Arts & Sciences physics program earn a B.S. in Physics from the College of Arts and Sciences, and that Ohio State does not offer a B.A. in physics. For students who enrolled in autumn 2024 or later, the requirements are: 39 to 43 hours of physics (introductory calculus-based physics, 10-12 hours; Physics Seminar PHYSICS 2095; Intermediate Mechanics I and II; Data Analysis Lab 3700; Intermediate Electromagnetism 5400; Intermediate Quantum Mechanics 5500; Physics Senior Lab 5700; one third lab chosen from Electronics Lab 4700, Big Data Analytics 5680 or Computational Physics 5810; and one physics elective), 12 hours of Career Electives (which may come from outside physics), and 16 to 25 hours of math and programming (a calculus sequence, differential equations and a programming course). General education, college and state requirements are separate, including world language levels 1101 to 1103 (12 hours; students can test out or receive a waiver if English is their second language), and the degree needs at least 121 credit hours. Students who enrolled before autumn 2024 choose one of four focuses (Advanced, Applied, Pre-Med/Life Sciences and Teaching); all lead to the same major and degree, and the focus does not appear on the transcript or diploma.
• B.S. in Engineering Physics: the department says this degree is conferred by the College of Engineering and managed by the Department of Physics. Its physics and math requirements are similar to the B.S. in Physics, plus 27 credit hours of engineering courses from one of eight specializations: Aerospace Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Nuclear Engineering. The degree requirements page lists 78 to 81 hours of required physics and engineering, 9 hours of targeted electives and a capstone design sequence (PHYSICS 5800-5801, six hours, or the College of Engineering’s ENGR 5901.01 and 5902.01). Computer science and engineering is just one of the eight engineering specializations and is not covered further here. Outcomes are in section 8.
• Astronomy and Astrophysics: the department says this major is managed by the Department of Astronomy, not physics; many students double major, and the department provides sample schedules for a physics and astronomy double major, including an honors version.
• Other: the physics site also lists a physics minor and a computational physics certificate, whose pages were not read for this guide; check the official site. Physics education appears as a research area (section 8). Other joint degrees are not published in the pages read.

2. Admission: you choose the major when you apply, then meet a physics advisor once enrolled

• When you apply: admissions says you apply to the Columbus campus through the Common Application and indicate your intended major; admissions first decides whether you are eligible for the university, then reviews your record for enrollment in the major.
• B.S. in Physics (Arts and Sciences): the enrollment criteria page says that in the Natural and Mathematical Sciences of the College of Arts and Sciences “admitted students are enrolled directly in the major,” except actuarial science, computer and information science, and data analytics, which are pre-majors. Physics is not among the exceptions, so on the page’s wording an admitted physics applicant is enrolled directly. The pages read do not set a separate admission line for physics.
• Engineering Physics (College of Engineering): admissions says admission to engineering majors is competitive and admitted students are enrolled directly in their major; applicants interested in the highly competitive aerospace, biomedical and mechanical engineering majors must indicate that on the Common Application, and admitted students may change into any of the other engineering majors by 1 May. Admissions also advises meeting the 1 November Early Action deadline for engineering majors. However, the physics department’s course page and its Valentino Scholarship page refer to an “Engineering Physics pre-major,” which does not fully match the admissions wording; confirm your enrollment status with the physics advisors or the College of Engineering.
• Moving in after enrolling: the department says current OSU students who want to change to physics or engineering physics should first contact a physics advisor to discuss requirements and enroll in the program; students already in the College of Engineering email an Engineering Physics advisor to request a change of engineering major, and students outside engineering submit a request-to-enroll form on the engineering website. The pages read do not state a GPA or course-grade condition for moving into physics.
• Enrollment limits: the pages read do not mention a cap on places; this is not published there.

3. Prerequisites and course planning

• High school courses: admissions lists minimums of 4 units of English, 3 of math (4 recommended), 3 of natural science with significant lab experience, 2 of social science (3 recommended), 2 of the same world language (3 recommended) and 1 of visual or performing arts, plus 1 additional unit in any of these subjects; exceeding the minimum in math and natural science earns additional consideration, and most admitted students exceed the minimums. The pages read set no separate high school physics or calculus requirement for physics; this is not published there.
• Introductory sequences: the course page says PHYSICS 1270 and 1271 (“for Majors”: classical mechanics, conservation laws and special relativity; then electromagnetism, thermal physics, waves and quantum physics) are for students majoring in Astronomy & Astrophysics, Engineering Physics or Physics, with MATH 1141, 1151 or higher taken concurrently and enrollment in those majors. Alternatives are PHYSICS 1250 and 1251 (calculus-based physics for the physical sciences, mathematics and engineering; 1250 needs MATH 1141, 1151, 1154 or higher, prior or concurrent), the honors versions 1250H and 1251H (honors standing required), 1260 and 1261 for Fundamentals of Engineering Honors, or 1248, 1249 and 1251 (1248 plus 1249 equal 1250). PHYSICS 1200 and 1201 are algebra-based; 1200 requires a C- or better in MATH 1120 or 1148, or math placement level M.
• Math starting point: the department gives four sample curricula for students starting in MATH 1151 or above, 1150, 1140 or 1120, which indicates the starting math course depends on placement; the mathematics department’s placement page was not read for this guide, so check the official site. The physics major requires a calculus sequence (for example MATH 1151-1152-2153 or 1181H-2182H), differential equations (MATH 2415 preferred) and a programming course (CSE 1222, 1223 or 1224, or Astronomy 1221).
• AP physics and calculus credit: the physics department and the Registrar say a score of 3 or higher earns: AP Physics 1, PHYSICS 1200 (5 credits); AP Physics 2, PHYSICS 1201 (5); AP Physics C: Mechanics, PHYSICS 1250 (5); AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, PHYSICS 1251 (5). The Registrar’s AP page also lists Calculus AB 3+ for MATH 1151 (5), Calculus BC 3+ for MATH 1151 and 1152 (5 each) and Precalculus 3+ for MATH 1150 (5). Send AP scores to the Office of Testing.
• IB physics and math credit: the Registrar says that for students first enrolling in autumn 2026 or later the updated policy applies: IB Physics SL 5+ earns PHYSICS 1200 and HL 4+ earns PHYSICS 1200 and 1201; Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches SL 5+ earns MATH 1130 (4 credits) and HL 4+ earns MATH 1148 and 1149; Applications and Interpretation SL 5+ earns MATH 1116 and HL 4+ earns MATH 1116 and STAT 1450.01. The page also keeps an older “2025 and earlier” table, so use the one for your entry term. The A-Level and AS-Level credit pages were not read for this guide.
• Credit by examination: the department says credit by examination for PHYSICS 1200, 1201, 1250 or 1251 is arranged through the Testing Center at the Registrar’s Office; if you are already enrolled, the cutoff is the first Friday of the term.
• Honors and research: the honors versions of physics courses (1250H, 1251H, 5400H and others) require honors standing; the Honors and Scholars Programs are listed on the admissions Early Action page (apply by 1 November), and their own pages were not read. Undergraduate research is in section 8.
• Labs and thesis: the B.S. in Physics requires Data Analysis Lab (3700), Physics Senior Lab (5700) and a third lab course; the pages read do not say a thesis is required for the major; a senior thesis course (4999) and “research distinction” at graduation exist (section 8). Engineering Physics requires a capstone design sequence.
• Physics competitions: neither the admissions pages nor the physics pages read say how physics competitions are viewed.

4. Deadlines and materials (first-year)

• Autumn 2027: the admissions page shows Early Action on 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision on 15 January 2027, with the acceptance fee due 1 May 2027. Early Action is non-binding. EA decisions come on 11 December for Ohio residents and Stamps Eminence applicants and on 22 January for non-Ohio residents and international applicants; Regular Decision decisions come on 5 March. The spring 2027 deadline is 1 November 2026 (1 October 2026 for international applicants). There are no first-year applications for the summer term.
• Why apply early: admissions says Early Action applicants are considered for university merit scholarships, the Morrill and President’s Ohio scholarships, engineering majors, the College of Nursing direct admission program, Honors and Scholars Programs and the Stamps Eminence Scholarship.
• Testing is required: admissions says first-year applicants to the Columbus campus must submit ACT or SAT scores (except applicants who will have been out of high school for two or more years); the ACT science section and the essay are not required, and Ohio State superscores. Codes: ACT 3312, SAT 1592. To meet Early Action, the last test dates are 3 October (SAT) and 17 October (ACT) as the page states. There are no minimum ACT/SAT or rank requirements; the middle 50% of admitted students scored 27 to 33 on the ACT and 1280 to 1470 on the SAT.
• Application and fee: through the Common Application. The first-year pages read do not show the fee amount (the transfer page says a nonrefundable $60, with waivers for low-income families); check the Common App page for the first-year fee.
• Transcripts and recommendations: an official high school transcript including senior-year courses; a teacher or counselor recommendation is optional, with up to two letters sent by the counselor. The first-year admissions page does not list essays among required materials; the Common App personal statement and other application items follow the Common App page.
• Review: holistic; there is no minimum GPA or test score; admissions looks at rigor, grades, the personal essay, experiences and accomplishments.

5. US domestic applicants

• Tuition: the admissions cost page (2026-27 estimates, first-year students on the Columbus campus): tuition including instructional and general fees $14,050 for Ohio residents and $44,271 for nonresidents (including the out-of-state surcharge); housing and food $15,738. Tuition varies by mode of instruction and program; for Ohio residents, tuition, general fees and housing and food are held steady for four years under the Ohio State Tuition Guarantee. Costs for 2027-28 are not published on the page read.
• Ohio Guaranteed Admission: admissions says Ohio residents ranked in the top 10% of their class are guaranteed admission to any Ohio public college or university that they qualify for under its unconditional admission standard, and those in the top 5% are nominated for the Governor’s Merit Scholarship and guaranteed admission to the main campus, provided they meet the deadlines. Top 5% applicants must still submit ACT or SAT scores to complete the application, but the scores are not used in the decision, and the designation must be sent through the Ohio Department of Higher Education’s secure portal.
• Aid and scholarships: first-year students on the Columbus campus compete for university-funded merit scholarships, with most considered automatically on the 1 November Early Action application; most require US citizenship or permanent residency. The President’s Ohio Scholarship Program (Ohio residents; a perfect ACT 36 or SAT 1600 on a single test date; full cost of attendance plus a $5,000 grant); Stamps Eminence (full cost of attendance for eight semesters plus up to $5,000; US citizens and permanent residents; separate application by 9 November); Morrill (US citizens and permanent residents; three award levels); Land Grant Opportunity (Ohio residents who are Pell-eligible; full cost of attendance; 88 students a year); National Buckeye (non-Ohio residents; up to $13,500); and Maximus, Provost and Trustees ($1,000 to $3,000). Transfer students are not eligible for university merit scholarships. Students seeking need-based aid should file the FAFSA and create a Scholarship Universe profile by the 1 February priority date.
• Physics department scholarships: see section 8.

6. International applicants

• How to apply: international first-year applicants also use the Common Application and the international page’s steps. Deadlines: autumn 2027, Early Action 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision 15 January 2027 (decisions on 22 January and 5 March); spring 2027, 1 October 2026. ACT or SAT scores are required. Transcripts: official copies of coursework and examination certificates for the final four years (grades 9-12); non-English documents must be translated into English by the issuing institution, an authorized translator or a teacher of the language.
• English: applicants whose native language is not English submit one of: TOEFL iBT (including the Home Edition), at least 79 for exams before 21 January 2026 and at least 4.0 for exams on or after that date; IELTS or IELTS Indicator 6.5; ACT English 21; Duolingo 120; or SAT, where the first-year page says 27 on the Reading Test and the international page says 550 on Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (the two pages differ). You can instead be exempt by completing three full years at a US regionally accredited high school and graduating, or by being a citizen of, or holding a bachelor’s degree from, one of the listed countries (including Australia, Canada except Quebec, England, Ireland, Singapore and South Africa). The American Language Program needs a separate application, and Ohio State does not offer conditional admission to students in it.
• After admission: pay the $100 nonrefundable acceptance fee by 1 May; submit the Visa Request Form and financial support documents to receive an I-20 or DS-2019 (by the first week of June for autumn admits and the first week of November for spring admits) and a copy of your passport photo page. Financial documents are reviewed only after you are admitted and have accepted.
• Costs: the admissions cost page (2026-27 estimates, single international student, USD): tuition including instructional and general fees $47,374, which includes an annual International Undergraduate Student Fee of $3,103; housing and food $15,630; books, supplies and equipment $1,020; health insurance $4,108; miscellaneous personal expenses $4,046. International students must buy the university student health insurance unless exempt.
• Scholarships: admissions says international students are not eligible for the university’s first-year merit scholarships. The financial aid office’s international page says students can use Scholarship Universe to match with university and external scholarships (create a profile by the 1 February priority date), that some colleges and departments have their own scholarships, and that short-term university assistance is approved by the Office of International Affairs. The physics department’s Valentino Scholarship is open to non-US citizens (section 8).

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not mention the Gaokao or say how it is used; this is not published there. Ohio State requires ACT or SAT, so ask undergraduate admissions (askabuckeye@osu.edu) whether the Gaokao has any role.
• Transcripts: the international pages have no China-specific entry. The general rule is official copies of coursework and examination certificates for grades 9-12, with non-English documents translated; if the final transcript lacks a graduation date, submit the graduation certificate (with English translation) or final examination certificate. How the Chinese Huikao is handled is not published in the pages read; contact admissions.
• English scores and proof of funds: see section 6.

8. Costs, scholarships, research and outcomes

• Costs: see sections 5 and 6.
• Valentino Physics Academic Achievement Scholarship: the department awards $8,000 per academic year to one incoming student planning to major in physics or engineering physics, renewable for up to four years while making good progress. It is open to any high school senior applying to Ohio State, US citizen or not, and not limited to Ohio residents. The application includes an online form, two recommendation letters (at least one from a high school teacher) and a high school transcript; the committee also looks at SAT or ACT scores already sent to the university. The page read is for autumn 2026 entry and says the 2026 application closed on 13 March 2026; the date for autumn 2027 is not published in the pages read, so ask the department (the page lists Lindsey Thaler as contact). The award is added after other non-need-based aid, up to the university maximum.
• Other department scholarships: the department also lists the James L. Smith Scholarship for physics and engineering physics majors with financial need, and says it awards academic and need-based scholarships generally in the spring. Engineering Physics students may apply for College of Engineering scholarships and Arts and Sciences students for college scholarships.
• Undergraduate research: the department encourages physics and engineering physics majors to consider research; fields listed are astrophysics; atomic, molecular and optical physics; biophysics; condensed matter physics; high energy physics; medical physics; nuclear physics; particle physics; and physics education. You can earn credit through PHYSICS 4998 (4998H for honors students), or 4999 for a senior thesis; the enrollment deadline is the second Friday of the term. The department’s Summer Research Program runs 10 weeks at 30 hours a week for current physics and engineering physics majors, with applications from early January to mid-March. The new-student page says about 80% of students take part in at least one undergraduate research or internship experience before graduating, and that students hear about options in PHYSICS 2095, typically taken by sophomores. “Research distinction” at graduation is handled by the colleges, not the department.
• Outcomes: the department’s careers page says: “With a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics or Engineering Physics, students can pursue careers in research and development, science, engineering, education, medicine, law, business, and the military.” It adds: “Over 40% of our students join the workforce after graduating with a bachelor's degree” and “Roughly 45% of graduates of the Physics and Engineering Physics programs go to graduate school to pursue a Master's degree or Ph.D. in Physics, Math, Engineering, or Astronomy.” The page also lists internship employers and graduate schools of recent students, which are not repeated here.

9. Transfer students

• Who it covers: the transfer steps page covers US residents who attended another university after high school; international transfer applicants have a separate page (spring 2027: 1 October 2026; autumn 2027: 1 March 2027).
• Deadlines (Columbus campus, as labelled on the page): spring 2027, 1 November 2026; summer 2027, 1 March 2027; autumn 2027, 15 May 2027.
• Admission criteria: with 30 or more earned semester hours, admission is based on the cumulative GPA from all colleges attended, and a cumulative 2.5 or better is typically competitive, with grade trends and performance in courses key to the major considered. With fewer than 30 hours, admissions does a holistic review including the high school record and ACT/SAT scores if required. Test scores are not required of applicants who have earned graded college credit after high school.
• Entering the major: for the College of Arts and Sciences, transfer students are enrolled directly, with pre-majors only in actuarial science, computer and information science, data analytics and a few social science majors; physics is not among them. For the College of Engineering, transfer students with at least 30 transferable semester hours including at least one calculus course and a GPA of 3.0 or higher are enrolled directly in their major (aerospace, biomedical and mechanical engineering enroll as pre-majors); those with fewer than 30 hours are considered under the first-year criteria, and those with more than 30 hours but under a 3.0 or without credit for MATH 1151 or equivalent enter an exploration program.
• Materials: official transcripts from every college attended (including college courses taken in high school), a high school transcript if you have fewer than 30 semester hours, the $60 nonrefundable application fee (waivers available), and a personal statement, required if your record shows interruptions in education and optional otherwise.
• Credit: admissions says a course transfers if it was taken at a regionally accredited institution, was non-remedial and earned a C- or better (a D or D+ in a few cases); Transferology shows established equivalencies. For physics courses, contact the department’s transfer credit evaluator with a syllabus or assignment sheet listing topics, the textbook author and title and the transfer credit report (two department pages name different evaluators, so check the current contact). AP, CLEP and IB credit is covered in section 3.
• Physics-specific requirements: the pages read set no extra GPA or prerequisite requirement for transfer students entering the B.S. in Physics; contact a physics advisor about how your courses fit.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Apply by 1 November (Early Action) or 15 January (Regular Decision), choosing physics or engineering physics; ACT or SAT scores are required; recommendations are optional
• AP Physics 1, 2, C: Mechanics and C: E&M at 3 or higher earn credit for PHYSICS 1200, 1201, 1250 and 1251; Ohio residents in the top 5% should check the guaranteed admission program

International applicants (including China):

• Prepare TOEFL (4.0 new scale or 79 old), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120 or higher; ACT or SAT scores; grade 9-12 transcripts; ask admissions how the Gaokao is used
• After admission, pay the acceptance fee and send the Visa Request Form and financial documents; university first-year merit scholarships are not open to international students, but the Valentino Scholarship is (2027 date not published)

Transfer students:

• Autumn deadline 15 May (as labelled; international transfer 1 March); 30 or more semester hours and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher are typically competitive; contact the physics department’s evaluator for physics credit

Sources: The Ohio State University, Physics: the physics major; Physics major requirements (autumn 2024 onward); Engineering Physics program; Engineering Physics degree requirements; Physics procedures; Information for new students; Transfer credit and credit by examination; Undergraduate research; Scholarships and awards; Valentino Scholarship; Careers in physics; Physics courses; Registrar: AP credit; Registrar: IB credit; Admissions: first-year; Who gets in; Enrollment criteria; International first-year; After you are admitted (international); Ohio Guaranteed Admission Program; Transfer applicants; Transfer admission criteria; Transfer enrollment criteria; International transfer; Costs; Merit scholarships; Financial aid: international scholarships. Deadlines are from the admissions pages labelled for autumn 2027; costs are 2026-27 estimates. See Ohio State’s website for the latest.