How to Apply to Physics at UT Austin: BA, BSA and Seven BS Options in the College of Natural Sciences, Where You Apply by Major and Physics Is Not a Closed Major, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

At The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), undergraduate physics is offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Natural Sciences (CNS). You do not apply to the college separately; you choose a major on the Common App. Here is what you need to know, based on the university’s official websites, organised for US domestic applicants, international applicants (with a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, astronomy, engineering and computer science are not covered here.

1. Degrees and options

• Degree types: the physics department’s majors page lists a Bachelor of Science and Arts (BSA) in Physics, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Physics, and a BS in Physics with seven options: Option 1 Physics, Option 2 Computation, Option 3 Radiation Physics, Option 4 Space Sciences, Option 5 Teaching, Option 6 Physics Honor and Option 7 Biophysics. Option 5 has four teacher-certification routes (composite science; physical science; physics and mathematics; and mathematics, physical science and engineering). The admissions “Colleges and Degrees” page lists Biophysics, Computation, Radiation Physics, Space Sciences and Teaching under Physics and has no separate honors option, so the two pages differ slightly; rely on the degree checklists and advisors.
• What each option is for (2026-28 checklists): Option 1 gives a strong foundation for graduate study or work in physics and other areas; Option 2 prepares for computational physics or computer science, and those who complete it may meet some requirements of the Scientific Computation and Data Sciences certificate; Option 3 targets nuclear engineering, radiation engineering or health physics; Option 4 targets space sciences; Option 5 meets the course requirements for a Texas middle grades or secondary science teaching certificate; Option 7 includes biology, chemistry and biochemistry courses.
• Hours: the checklists show 120 hours for the BA, for BS Option 6 and for the BSA, and 126 hours for the other BS options (1 to 5 and 7). A grade of at least C- and a 2.0 GPA are needed in all mathematics and natural sciences courses, and a UT Austin GPA of at least 2.0 (3.5 for Option 6).
• BS Option 1 skeleton: 25 hours of upper-division physics: PHY 355 Modern Physics & Thermodynamics, PHY 353L Modern Physics Laboratory, PHY 336K Classical Dynamics, PHY 352K Classical Electrodynamics I, PHY 373 Quantum Physics I, PHY 369 Thermodynamics & Statistical Mechanics, PHY 362K Quantum Physics II and PHY 474 Advanced Laboratory I, plus one of PHY 362L, 352L, 375C, 375R or 375S; 14 hours of upper-division mathematics (including M 427J or 427K and M 427L); and 6 hours of biology, geology or astronomy.
• BA: the checklist requires introductory physics PHY 301/101L and 316/116L, waves and optics PHY 315/115L, PHY 355, PHY 336K, 352K and 353L, and 6 more upper-division physics hours; 8 hours of chemistry, one differential equations course and 9 further mathematics hours; 6 hours of majors-level coursework in one other field; and intermediate-level foreign language.
• BSA: 16 hours of mathematics (M 408C, 408D, 427J or 427K, and 427L); 30 to 31 hours of primary science (PHY 301, 101L, 315, 115L, 316, 116L; PHY 336K, 352K, 355, 369, 373; plus one elective from a list); 3 hours of secondary science; and one of 15 hours in a single field, a minor or a certificate.
• Minors and certificates: the department lists the Materials Science and Engineering minor and the Semiconductor Science and Engineering minor for physics majors in addition to CNS minors, and certificates including Quantum Information Science, UTeach Natural Sciences (secondary teaching and accelerated tracks) and Evidence and Inquiry.
• Honors: Option 6 is in section 3; CNS also has college honors programs (Dean’s Scholars, Health Science Scholars, Polymathic Scholars) open to freshmen and transfer students.
• Other tracks: astronomy is a separate major and is not covered here. Applied physics or engineering physics is not listed on the department pages read; this is not published there, so ask the advising center.

2. Admission: you apply by major, and physics is not a closed major

• Apply by major: Admissions says CNS admits freshmen and transfers for all entry terms (summer, fall, spring); all students are admitted with entry-level status in their chosen major and select a degree specialization after entry-level coursework; only freshmen may be admitted as Undeclared. Applicants choose first- and second-choice majors, and review considers the competitiveness of the major applied to.
• A separate admission line: the pages read do not give a score cutoff for CNS or physics; this is not published there, so ask Admissions.
• Not a closed major: the college’s internal transfer page lists the closed majors as the computer science combinations with neuroscience, linguistics and history, environmental science, and statistics and data science; physics is not among them.
• Moving into physics from another major: the Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy (MPA) Advising Center FAQ says that to declare mathematics, physics or astronomy you should follow the Internal Transfer process; moving only between options within those majors is done by appointment with an MPA advisor. Internal transfer conditions are in section 9.
• Advising: the MPA Advising Center is in PMA 4.101, and all MPA majors must meet an advisor in person or submit an advising worksheet before registering.

3. Prerequisites, AP calculus and honors

• High school courses: Admissions lists language arts 4 credits required; mathematics 3 required (4 strongly recommended), one at Algebra II level or higher; science 2 required (4 strongly recommended), with one each of biology, physics and chemistry suggested; social studies 3 required (4 recommended); and 2 credits of one foreign language. The department sets no separate high school physics or calculus requirement on the pages read; this is not published there.
• Calculus readiness: freshmen must demonstrate calculus readiness to apply to all Cockrell School of Engineering majors, all Jackson School of Geosciences majors, the two Environmental Science majors and computer science majors in CNS. Physics is not on the list, so no calculus readiness proof is needed to apply. The page notes that readiness markers do not always exempt you from math placement exams after admission.
• Starting courses: the checklists use M 408C and 408D (or the equivalent) for calculus and PHY 301/101L, 316/116L and 315/115L as the physics core; the Option 6 checklist notes that PHY 303K/105M and 303L/105N can substitute for PHY 301/101L and 316/116L but are not preferred preparation for PHY 315/115L. Course descriptions were not read, because the catalog is hosted on a third-party platform.
• AP Calculus (MPA Advising Center): AB score of 5 gives credit for M 408C and the next course is M 408D or the honors M 408D AP; AB 3 or 4 gives credit for M 408K, 408N or 408R and the next course is M 408L or 408S (M 408S is restricted to CNS students). BC score of 5 can claim credit for M 408C, or M 408K and 408L, or M 408N and 408S, or M 408R with 408L or 408S, with M 427L AP Honors, M 427J or M 427L as the next course; BC 3 or 4 gives credit for M 408C and the next course is M 408D AP Honors or M 408D. With less than 3 on BC but at least a 3 AB subscore, you can claim M 408K, 408N or 408R.
• AP/IB physics: how AP/IB Physics (1/2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M) maps onto PHY 301, 316, 315 and the other required courses is not published on the pages read, so check the catalog and the advising center; IB mathematics credit was also not read.
• Option 6 Physics Honor: the checklist requires a UT Austin GPA of at least 3.5 and 120 hours; the honors core includes M 427J and 427L (one an honors section), chemistry 301C and 302C, honors-designated courses and a 6-hour honors thesis (PHY 371C and PHY 379H, or NSC 323 and NSC 371). Entry conditions are not stated on the pages read; ask the advising center and the honors programs.
• Directed Reading Program in Physics (DRP-PHY): pairs undergraduates with graduate student mentors for a semester-long independent project, with an hour-long weekly meeting and a 15-minute talk at the end. Any undergraduate may apply; sophomores, juniors and seniors with a strong physics background, including at least the PHY 301-316 sequence, are eligible, freshmen are considered case by case, and some projects have no prerequisite. Applications open in the first or second week of each fall and spring semester.
• Labs and research: BS Option 1 requires PHY 353L Modern Physics Laboratory and PHY 474 Advanced Laboratory I; lab requirements for the other options are in their checklists. Other undergraduate research opportunities were not read page by page and are not published on the pages read.
• Physics competitions: the admissions pages read do not say how competitions such as USAPhO are viewed.

4. Deadlines and materials (freshmen, fall 2027)

• Freshmen: applications open August 1; Early Action deadline October 15 (supplemental materials October 22); regular deadline December 1 (materials December 10). Early Action applicants get a decision or deferral by January 15, 2027; deferred and regular applicants get a decision by February 15, 2027; honors decisions come March 1. Spring entry is due September 1.
• Application: through the Common App, with at least one essay and the required short answers. The fee is $75 for domestic applicants (waivers available) and $90 for international applicants (no waivers).
• Testing: at least one official SAT or ACT is required (Classic Learning Test scores also satisfy this); the SAT Essay, ACT Writing and ACT Science are not required.
• Recommendations: optional; up to two, from mentors or people who know you well, including teachers, though letters from outside your high school are encouraged. A science teacher’s letter is not required on the pages read. A resume and a short note on special circumstances are optional.
• How applications are reviewed: UT Austin describes individualized holistic review covering strength of academic background, achievements and honors, special accomplishments, work and service, recommendations (not required) and the competitiveness of the major; it says no class rank, test score or other qualification alone ensures admission other than automatic admission under Texas law.

5. US domestic applicants

• Who counts as domestic: US citizens, permanent residents, or students graduating from a Texas high school.
• Automatic admission for Texas residents: the review page says that under Texas law UT Austin must automatically admit enough students to fill 75 percent of available Texas resident spaces; for summer/fall 2027 applicants the class rank cutoff is the top 5%. Students at Texas public high schools who believe they qualify must submit a transcript showing the required level of the Foundation High School Program; Texas private high school students submit the Texas Private High School Certification form or claim an exemption by test scores. Whether automatic admission guarantees a place in physics is not stated on the pages read.
• Costs: the 2026-27 estimate for full-time undergraduates (fall and spring): tuition of $10,858 to $13,576 for Texas residents and $42,554 to $51,106 for non-residents; with housing and food, transportation, books and personal expenses the total is $32,508 to $35,386 for residents on or off campus, $24,998 to $27,716 for residents living with parents, and $64,204 to $72,916 for non-residents. Which tuition band applies to physics is not published on the page read; the university has an estimator.
• Aid and scholarships: Admissions recommends completing the financial aid application before January 15 to maximize eligibility. The physics department lists the Abel Family Scholarship in Physics (physics majors pursuing a BS, sophomore level or higher, with a 3.0 overall and 3.0 major GPA, at least 12 semester hours, working at least 10 hours a week in a paid part-time position, which can be in a UT research lab); endowed scholarships (Walter E. Millett, Kent & Linda McCormack, Melvin J. Rieger, Dr. Arnold Romberg, Carol May and James C. Thompson, Dr. Marco Antonio Zuniga Izaguirre in Engineering and Physics, Peter R. Antoniewicz, David and Edwina Thomas); and three presidential endowed scholarships (Ira Lon Morgan, Nancy Francis and William Arnold McMinn, Darrell W. Moffitt Jr.). Continuing students apply in the spring for the next academic year and write a thank-you letter to the donor; entering freshmen and transfer students should use the CNS scholarship website, which was not read.
• Testing: SAT or ACT required.

6. International applicants

• Who counts: neither a US citizen nor a permanent resident, and not a graduate of a Texas high school.
• Transcripts: documentation of an accredited secondary school series equivalent to US grades 9 to 12, completed or in progress.
• English: TOEFL iBT 79 (4 on the 6-point scale), IELTS Academic overall 6.5, or Duolingo 115. Institutional TOEFL (ITP), TOEFL Essentials and IELTS General Training are not accepted. The TOEFL code is 6882.
• Exemptions: applicants from countries on the exemption list (including Australia, Canada except Quebec, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom), or who graduate from a high school in the United States or such a country after at least three years of study, are exempt.
• Costs and aid: non-resident costs are in section 5. Need-based aid and scholarships for international students, and proof-of-funds requirements, are not stated on the pages read, so ask International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) and Admissions.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the admission pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published there, so ask Admissions.
• Transcripts and Huikao: the site asks for transcripts equivalent to US grades 9 to 12; the international transfer page mentions external exam results, school leaving certificates or matriculation scores (it gives GCSE, CBSE and SSC as examples). China-specific guidance is not published on the pages read, so confirm with Admissions.
• English: China is not on the exemption list, so submit TOEFL 79 (4 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115.
• Testing: SAT or ACT required.

8. Outcomes and research opportunities

• Employment data: the pages read print no employment or graduate-school outcomes for physics majors; this is not published there.
• Research: see the Directed Reading Program in section 3; other opportunities were not read page by page.
• Scholarships: see section 5.

9. Transfer students

• Eligibility: you have started studies at another college or university and have or will have earned 24 semester hours of required transferable coursework; spring applicants cannot use in-progress coursework, and international transfer applicants cannot either.
• CNS prerequisites: transfer applicants to the college must show completed or in-progress credit for at least MATH 408K, 408C or 408N and 6 hours of first-year mathematics and science coursework. Additional prerequisites specific to physics are not stated on the pages read.
• Timing: for fall entry the deadline is March 1, supplemental materials March 10, with decisions June 30 (the international transfer page says June 15); for spring entry the deadline is September 1, with decisions December 15. The pages print no year, so check that these are for fall 2027. The fee is $75 (waivers available) or $90 for international applicants.
• Materials: one essay, transcripts from every college attended and a resume (required for transfer); letters of recommendation are optional, up to two. Review looks at substantial coursework from a challenging institution, relevant coursework and experiences, required courses for the area of study and a positive academic trend in GPA.
• Automatic transfer admission: per the review page, you may qualify if you graduated from high school in 2008 or later, qualify for automatic freshman admission under Texas law, attended only a Texas community or junior college afterwards (not another four-year university), completed the core curriculum at a Texas public or private lower-division institution, earned a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, and apply no later than four years after the academic year of high school graduation.
• Internal transfer: current UT students apply for CNS internal transfer: the application opens in spring (online in February) for fall entry; you need 24 hours in residence (30 for a second major), one math course and two science courses (the listed science options include PHY 303K and 303L), a GPA of at least 3.0, fewer than 90 hours in residence, and the ability to graduate in four years; letters of recommendation are not accepted, and you may apply at most twice. UT calls it competitive, saying minimum requirements do not guarantee admission; calculus in residence is highly recommended for admission to mathematics, physics, astronomy or computer science.

Checklist

US domestic applicants:

• Submit through the Common App by October 15 (Early Action) or December 1 with the $75 fee; list physics as your first-choice major; send at least one official SAT or ACT; high school mathematics at least 3 credits and science at least 2
• File the financial aid application before January 15; Texas residents should check the top 5% automatic admission cutoff

International applicants (including China):

• $90 fee (no waiver); SAT or ACT; prepare TOEFL 79, IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115; ask Admissions how the Gaokao is used

After entry:

• Enter at the entry-level stage of physics and meet an MPA advisor; choose the BA, BSA or a BS option; AP Calculus scores set your calculus starting point

Transfer students:

• 24 hours of transferable credit; MATH 408K/C/N equivalent plus 6 hours of first-year math and science; March 1 deadline and a required resume

Sources: The University of Texas at Austin, Physics: majors, minors and certificates; Physics: academics; Physics: scholarships and fellowships; Physics: Directed Reading Program; BA Physics checklist; BSA Physics checklist; BS Physics Option 1 checklist; BS Physics Option 6 (honors) checklist; Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy Advising FAQ; Advising: AP tests in calculus; CNS internal transfer; Freshman applicants; High school prerequisites and calculus readiness; Review and decision process; International freshman; Info for international students; Colleges and degrees; Transfer applicants; International transfer; 2026-27 cost of attendance. Dates are for fall 2027 entry; costs are 2026-27 estimates. The course catalog is hosted on a third-party platform and was not read, so course descriptions and AP/IB physics credit are not covered. See UT Austin for the latest.