How to Apply to Physics at Northwestern: Apply to Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Choose Among the Advanced Physics, Astronomy and Flexible Concentrations, and Consider a Double Major With the Integrated Science Program, With Requirements for U.S. Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

2026-10-28 · Application guides

Northwestern asks every applicant to choose one of six undergraduate schools; the Department of Physics and Astronomy is in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, where you may apply undecided and must declare a major by the end of sophomore year. The physics major has Advanced Physics, Astronomy and Flexible concentrations; introductory physics comes in PHYSICS 140, 135 and 125 sequences, and departmental honors needs a 3.3 overall GPA and a 3.3 in physics, astronomy and mathematics. For fall 2027 entry, Early Decision closes on 1 November 2026 and Regular Decision on 4 January 2027; the SAT and ACT are optional. Admission is need-aware for international applicants who request financial aid. This guide covers the major, placement and AP credit, English, aid, transfer, costs and a checklist.

Northwestern University requires every applicant to apply to one of its six undergraduate schools. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences; the department’s site says Weinberg students must officially declare a major before the end of sophomore year. Admissions advises applying to the school that houses your intended primary major, says all schools are equally competitive, and lets applicants to Weinberg, McCormick and the School of Education and Social Policy apply “undecided” and declare by the end of sophomore year. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on Northwestern’s websites, for U.S. domestic students, international students (including students at high schools in China) and transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, engineering, computer science and other majors are not covered here.

1. The physics major and its concentrations

Name of the major: the major is Physics; the department’s overview page speaks of “Physics & Astronomy”, and astronomy is one of the concentrations (below). The department pages read do not say whether the degree is a B.A. or a B.S.; this is not published. Ask the Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) or Weinberg.
2026-27 course changes: the major page notes that PHYSICS 311-1, 2 is being converted into PHYSICS 211-0 (Mathematical Tools for Physical Sciences, offered in the fall from fall 2026) and PHYSICS 250-0 (Differential Equations and Fourier Analysis for Physics, offered in the winter from winter 2027), and 311 will no longer be offered; students who completed 311 are not affected. The requirements page says students who matriculated before fall 2026 may follow the earlier requirements, linked there.
Prerequisites (6 or 7 units): MATH 220-1 and 220-2 (or MATH 218-1, 2, 3); and one physics option: PHYSICS 140-1, 2, 3 (Fundamentals of Physics) with 126-1, 2, 3 lab, or 135-1, 2, 3 (Introductory Physics) with 136-1, 2, 3 lab, or 125-1, 2, 3 (ISP Physics) with the 126 lab.
Core courses (11–12 units, depending on the math sequence): MATH 230-1, 230-2 and 240-0; PHYSICS 211-0, 239-0 (Foundations of Modern Physics), 250-0 (or MATH 250 plus MATH 351), 330-1 (Classical Mechanics), 332-0 (Statistical Mechanics), 333-1 (Electricity & Magnetism) and 339-1 (Quantum Mechanics); plus one lab course, for example ASTRON 321, PHYSICS 357 (Optics Lab), 359 (Electronics Lab) or 360 (General Physics Lab). The page notes that Math department placement decisions may waive certain math courses, and courses designated equivalent can substitute.
Three concentrations (called “Concentrations” on the requirements page; you choose one when declaring):
- Advanced Physics (6 units): PHYSICS 330-2, 333-2 and 339-2, one additional lab course, and two electives (astronomy courses, PHYSICS 337 Condensed Matter, 339-3 Particle and Nuclear Physics, 345 General Relativity, 352 Computational Physics, 361 Classical Optics and Special Relativity, 371 Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, and other 300/400-level physics or astronomy courses approved by the DUS, except PHYSICS 312, 335, 398, 399 and ASTRON 398, 399);
- Astronomy (6 units): ASTRON 220-1 or 220-2 (Introduction to Astrophysics), PHYSICS 330-2, 333-2 and 339-2, and two astronomy electives (for example ASTRON 314 Planetary Astrophysics, 321 Observational Astrophysics, 325 Stellar Astrophysics, 329 Extragalactic Astronomy and Cosmology, 390 Current Topics in Astronomy);
- Flexible (5 units): three 300-level physics or astronomy lecture or lab courses plus two electives from a list that includes biomedical engineering (BME 305, 327), chemistry (CHEM 307), electrical engineering (ELEC_ENG 360, 381), applied mathematics (ES_APPM 322-0), materials science (MAT_SCI 315, 331, 351, 361, 376), mathematics (MATH 354) and mechanical engineering (MECH_ENG 346, 385); other related 300/400-level courses may qualify with DUS approval.
The pages read do not present these concentrations as separate B.A. or B.S. tracks, and do not list Applied Physics, Engineering Physics, Biophysics or Chemical Physics as separate majors; this is not published. For such interests look at the Flexible electives list or ask the DUS.
Labs and thesis: every major takes at least one lab course, and Advanced Physics takes a second. The program learning objectives page says Weinberg’s Advanced Expression requirement is typically met by one of the department’s advanced lab courses, and that most majors take more than one. A thesis or research is not required: the page says research is “strongly encouraged” but “not formally required”.
Physics minor: same prerequisites (calculus and the 135 or 125 physics sequence), a lighter core: MATH 230-1, 230-2, 240-0; PHYSICS 239-0, 250-0, 330-1, 333-1 (PHYSICS 211-0 is optional but recommended); plus two other 300-level physics or astronomy courses.
Double major with the Integrated Science Program (ISP): ISP is a highly selective B.A. program in Weinberg whose curriculum includes PHYSICS 125-1, 2, 3 and 339-1, 2, among other courses; you apply to ISP directly and it is not covered here. The department says that beyond the ISP requirements you add PHYSICS 330-1, 2 or 333-1, 2, three 300-level physics or astronomy courses and one lab course to double major in physics; double majors need not choose a physics concentration and may not substitute ISP 398 for any physics or math course.

2. How admission works and when you declare

On the application: you apply to Weinberg. Northwestern says the same review criteria apply to every undergraduate school; it describes no separate admission line or quota for physics.
When to declare: Weinberg students must officially declare before the end of sophomore year. The department’s steps: download Weinberg’s Declaration of Major form and fill in the student and major information (choose a concentration), meet the Director of Undergraduate Studies (dusphysics@northwestern.edu) or another departmental adviser to discuss your program and get the form signed, and the department approver submits the signed form to Weinberg (wcas-forms@northwestern.edu).
Conditions to declare: the department says the physics major and minor are “open to all undergraduates at Northwestern”; the pages read state no grade or GPA threshold and no cap on places; this is not published.
Changing: the department says changing your major, minor or concentration is easy; submit a new form.
Moving between schools: not covered on the pages read; not published. Ask Undergraduate Admission or Weinberg.
Double majors and double degrees: Admissions says to apply to the school housing your primary major and add a second major later for a four-year double major, or apply to a Dual Degree program for two degrees in five years.
Programs with separate applications: the Integrated Science Program (ISP) and Mathematical Methods in the Social Sciences (MMSS) have their own applications; Admissions says admission to Northwestern does not guarantee admission to them, and their status does not affect your general decision. The ISP page says its high school preparation should include four years of mathematics (with one year of calculus) and four years of science (including chemistry and physics), with AP Physics and Chemistry “highly recommended”; you should complete single-variable calculus before enrolling in ISP.

3. Prerequisites, placement and credit

High school courses: Weinberg and four other schools require at least 16 high school courses, including four years of English, at least two of a foreign language, at least two of history and social science, at least two full years of laboratory science and at least three full years of mathematics. The pages read set no extra high school physics or math requirement for the physics major; this is not published. The department also says you do not need to have taken physics before starting the major.
Introductory physics sequences (the department’s first-year page):
- PHYSICS 140-1, 2, 3: for prospective physics majors and minors and others who want greater depth; permission is required. It covers substantially the same core material as 135 but in more depth and at a faster pace. The department encourages prospective majors to complete the full 140 sequence; many entering students have AP Physics credit, and by default they still begin with 140-1. It goes with the 126 lab;
- PHYSICS 135-1, 2, 3: the calculus-based sequence taken by chemistry majors, engineering students and some special programs; physics majors and minors may also take it. It goes with the 136 lab and runs on two schedules (fall start or spring start) with identical content;
- PHYSICS 125-1, 2, 3: taken by ISP students (and sometimes other well-prepared students also in MENU or an equivalent math sequence). PHYSICS 130-1, 2, 3 is the algebra-based version, which the department says does not fulfill the physics requirement for physics majors or minors.
Placement is mainly decided by math preparation and program requirements rather than prior physics knowledge. The prerequisites for 135-1 are MATH 220-1 and 220-2 (or equivalent), with MATH 230-1 allowed concurrently; MATH 230-2 should come before or with 135-2. The department advises taking the entire three-quarter sequence rather than skipping ahead on perceived prior knowledge, except for exceptional preparation or approved AP or transfer credit.
AP physics credit (the department’s page; a score of 5 is required): AP Physics 1 gives credit for PHYSICS 130-1 and lab; AP Physics 2 for 130-2 and lab; AP Physics C: Mechanics for PHYSICS 135-1 and lab 136-1; AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism for 135-2 and lab 136-2. The major and minor requirement pages mention only the two C exams. Credit for IB physics is not described on the physics pages read; this is not published. For physics credit and placement the first-year page names Nate Stern, Director of Placement (placement.physics@northwestern.edu), while the advising page names Deborah Brown for AP physics credit and placement; the two differ, so check the latest.
Math placement exam (the math department’s first-year page): incoming first-year and transfer students who intend to take calculus at Northwestern must complete the Mathematics Placement Examination (120 minutes, on single-variable calculus, on Canvas from 1 June) by 11:59 pm on 31 July; placement results are available by 5 August. The physics department accepts the math department’s placement decisions. It also says that if you have had calculus in high school, you may place out of some or all math prerequisites through AP/IB scores or the online exam.
Where AP and IB math scores place you (the math department’s table, to be compared with your placement exam result, registering for the most advanced course you qualify for):
- AP Calculus AB (or the AB subscore of BC): 1–3, MATH 220-1; 4, MATH 220-2; 5, MATH 230-1, MATH 290-1 or MATH 226-0, with MATH 291-1 also possible (contact the MENU director);
- AP Calculus BC: 4 or 5, MATH 230-1, MATH 290-1 or MATH 226-0, with MATH 291-1 also possible;
- IB Higher Level (Analysis and Approaches, or Applications and Interpretations): 1–5, MATH 220-1; 6 or 7, see the placement exam result.
The math page points to Weinberg’s AP/IB credit policy for the actual credit; we did not read that page, so the credit is not covered here.
MENU math sequences: the department’s sample schedules show students who place into MENU (or similar advanced math placement such as ISP) taking MATH 290-1/291-1 sequences in the first year in place of the 230 sequence. MENU’s participation criteria are on the math department’s site and are not repeated here.
Sample schedules: four examples are given: entering with BC calculus credit and no physics credit; no math credit; placement into MENU; and starting from MATH 218 (the department calls this “not standard for Physics majors”, but says students follow it successfully each year). The department also notes that students heading to graduate school right after Northwestern should ideally take all core physics courses by fall of senior year, and that PHYSICS 333-2 (required for the Advanced Physics and Astronomy concentrations) is offered in spring, so you must take 333-1 by junior year.
Physics competitions: the admissions pages say review considers grades, course rigor, recommendations, academic honors or awards, writing supplements and other information, and the pages read do not say how physics competitions are viewed; this is not published.

4. Rounds, materials and testing

QuestBridge National College Match: application due 1 October 2026, results in December, binding.
Early Decision: deadline 1 November 2026, decisions in December (the text says mid-December); it is binding (you must withdraw other applications and enroll if admitted), and the deposit is due 1 February. Northwestern says its ED acceptance rate is typically higher than Regular Decision, and that aid offers are the same either way.
Regular Decision: deadline 4 January 2027; the date table says decisions in March 2027 (the text says late March); deposit by 1 May.
Platforms and fee: the Common Application or Coalition with Scoir (or QuestBridge); the application fee is $75, with fee waivers available.
Materials: the Northwestern supplement with writing questions, official transcripts from all secondary schools, a school report with counselor recommendation, and one teacher recommendation. Northwestern asks for one letter from a counselor or school administrator and one from an academic teacher, most likely from a core subject in junior or senior year; it does not require a science teacher. Supplemental letters are accepted (no more than three letters in all is advised). The Common Application personal essay is no longer required; there are supplemental writing questions and an activity chart.
Testing: test-optional; not submitting does not affect review. If you submit, there is no preference between the SAT and ACT (codes: SAT 1565, ACT 1106); you may self-report, and enrolling students must send official scores. AP, IB and other results may also be reported. ISP and MMSS have their own requirements on their websites.
Videos and interviews: applicants at U.S. schools may submit an optional Glimpse video; applicants at international schools may take an optional InitialView interview. Neither is required and skipping them is no disadvantage. Both must be completed by 6 November (ED) or 16 January (RD). Alumni interviews have been discontinued.

5. U.S. domestic students

No in-state price difference: the cost page says the rate is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Northwestern’s pages do not describe an in-state preference or guarantee.
Financial aid: awarded strictly on need, using the FAFSA (federal code 001739) and CSS Profile (code 1565). Northwestern says it is one of the few universities that meet 100% of demonstrated need without loans, using scholarships, grants and work-study; it says “most families making less than $150K per year attend Northwestern tuition-free”, and that about half of undergraduates received a Northwestern scholarship in 2025-26.
Aid deadlines: Early Decision, FAFSA and CSS Profile 1 December and tax forms 5 December; Regular Decision, FAFSA and CSS Profile 1 February and tax forms 5 February. The domestic aid page lists 2 January for the Regular Decision application, while the admissions page says 4 January; check with the admissions office.
Scholarships: applicants who apply for aid are automatically considered for all the university scholarships listed; the pages read describe no entrance scholarship specific to physics; this is not published.

6. International students

Same application: international applicants follow the same procedures as domestic applicants, and all admission is for the fall (September) term. The international page says to apply in your final year of secondary school, having completed a program that would let you enter a degree-seeking program at an accredited university in your home country, and the FAQ says applicants who leave secondary school early are at a disadvantage.
English: applicants whose first or primary language is not English, or whose secondary schooling was not in English, must submit an English proficiency score, sent officially (no self-reporting). Northwestern accepts the Duolingo English Test, IELTS (including IELTS Indicator) and TOEFL iBT, but not TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution. There is no minimum score; competitive applicants score in the high range on all sections. Scores are not superscored and TOEFL MyBest scores are not reviewed. The TOEFL code is 1565. The testing-policy page words it as applicants whose first language is not English and whose high school courses were taught in another language needing one of the three tests, unlike the “or” above; the pages read describe no other exemption, and none is published.
Transcripts and documents: foreign transcripts need certified English translations, from any translation service including one in your home country; Northwestern points to the NACES list and EducationUSA centers. Other credential evaluation or proof-of-funds rules are not on the pages read; this is not published.
Testing: as for domestic applicants, the SAT and ACT are optional.
Aid: need-based aid is available, and Northwestern guarantees to meet 100% of admitted first-year students’ demonstrated need for all four years, with four-year aid awards. However, admission is need-aware for international applicants: a request for aid and the amount needed may factor into the decision. Tick “yes” for aid on the application and file the CSS Profile (international students cannot get College Board Profile fee waivers; if you cannot submit it, or doing so would cause significant hardship, file the International Student Application for Financial Assistance, ISAFA). You also submit parents’ national tax forms or an employer income statement, officially translated into English.
Aid deadlines: the admissions date table gives 1 December for ED and 1 February for RD. The international aid page lists CSS Profile or ISAFA 1 December and tax documents 5 December for ED, and CSS Profile 2 February and tax documents 5 February for RD, and puts the aid-interest request at 1 November (ED) and 2 January (RD). The two differ slightly; check the latest.
AP / IB credit: Northwestern awards credit for eligible AP and IB Higher Level results (see the registrar’s credit policy); results from other international curricula are evaluated individually.

7. Students at high schools in China

One process: the same application as other international applicants; there is no separate route for China.
Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether or how the Gaokao is used; this is not published. Ask the Office of Undergraduate Admission (ug-admission@northwestern.edu) or the international student specialist (nuinternational@northwestern.edu).
Transcripts and school-leaving exam records: the international FAQ says to give the information as best you can and add anything that does not fit the application as additional information. It has no specific notes on Chinese transcripts or exam records; this is not published.
English: see above; only TOEFL iBT is accepted, not TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution.
Physics-specific points: the physics pages read say nothing specific about Chinese or other international curricula for physics or calculus credit; this is not published. The math department asks students who studied calculus outside the United States to consult the MENU director about placement.

8. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

2026-27 costs (on campus, US$): full-time tuition $23,934 per quarter ($71,802 for the year); fees 1,260; estimated housing and meals 22,941; books and supplies 1,239; personal expenses 2,079; loan fees 54; transportation varies; the page totals 99,375. The student health insurance (NU-SHIP) premium estimate for 2026-27 is 5,996, with default enrollment unless you have your own coverage; the tuition page lists it separately and does not say whether it is in the total above. Figures for the 2027-28 year are not printed on the pages read; this is not published.
Department awards and research funding: each year the department gives undergraduate awards with a cash prize: Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Research, the Career Award for graduating seniors, the Junior Career Award, and Physics & Astronomy Scholars. These recognize students already in the major; they are not entrance scholarships. For research funding the department lists the Office of Undergraduate Research’s Summer Undergraduate Research Grant, Academic Year Undergraduate Research Grant and Conference Travel Grant, Weinberg grants for undergraduate research, and Illinois Space Grant research opportunities. A department scholarship for incoming students is not described on the pages read; this is not published.
Undergraduate research: the department says physics and astronomy majors have the opportunity to do original research with a faculty member and encourages each student to find a research adviser.
Honors: a physics or astronomy major is eligible for Departmental Honors with an overall GPA of at least 3.3, a GPA of at least 3.3 in all physics, astronomy and mathematics courses, a refereed publication or an honors thesis, and at least two quarters of PHYSICS/ASTRON 398 (Honors Independent Study) or 399 (Independent Study) on the project. Tell the DUS during or before fall of senior year; documents go to the research adviser by 15 April and to the DUS by 1 May, with a supporting letter from the adviser and a letter from another faculty evaluator. The department expects honors research to last at least two quarters and more typically a year.
Internships and study abroad: the department lists internship links (NSF-funded REUs, SULI, NanoRING, DAAD RISE) and study-abroad links, including exchanges with the Technical University of Munich and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology; the Study Abroad Office handles questions.
Outcomes (sentences from the department’s overview page, which prints no year): historically about 60% of Northwestern physics majors have chosen to pursue advanced degrees, mostly in physics and astronomy but also in law, business, medicine and engineering; in a survey of alumni who did not attend graduate school, the largest group, about 24%, had become self-employed entrepreneurs, mostly in computer and engineering consulting. The page also lists research and development, business management, government policy research, law, engineering, medicine, the military, technical sales and high-school teaching among other paths. The survey year is not given on the page read; this is not published.

9. Transfer students

Who counts as a transfer: anyone who has enrolled in and earned credits from post-secondary study after secondary school graduation must apply as a transfer. Successful applicants typically arrive with at least one academic year of full-time college coursework (24 semester or 36 quarter hours) and must be in good standing at their most recent institution. The FAQ adds that no specific courses are required, that strong applicants have coursework across the liberal arts and sciences and a B average, and that typically under 15% of transfer applicants are admitted.
Entry: fall quarter only.
Deadlines (2027): Early Decision 1 March, decisions in early April; Regular Decision 1 April, decisions in mid- to late May (the application-materials page instead says transfer decisions by the end of June). The fee is $75. Financial aid documents: the admissions date table says due the same days (1 March, 1 April); the domestic aid page gives Regular Decision transfer FAFSA and CSS Profile 15 April and tax forms 20 April, and Early Transfer 15 March and 20 March. The two differ; check the latest.
Materials: the transfer application on the Common App or Coalition (with the transfer writing supplements; a personal statement is recommended), secondary school transcript, all university transcripts, a college report and one academic evaluation; test scores are optional. All departments of the undergraduate schools are open to transfer applicants (Theatre has very few spaces). International transfer applicants whose first language is not English, or whose secondary or college education was not in English, send English proficiency scores; those currently attending a U.S. institution do not need to.
Credit: evaluated by the Registrar, with a preliminary evaluation after admission. Courses that do not transfer include those at unaccredited institutions, physical education, credit earned by examination or CLEP, courses worth under three quarter hours or two semester hours, ESL, and courses graded P or S. Transferred credit appears as “T” and is not in the GPA; a conversion formula turns it into Northwestern units. AP and IB credit is evaluated after matriculation, not in the preliminary evaluation.
Physics department credit rules: requests for transfer credit for 100-level introductory courses go to transfer-credit.physics@northwestern.edu (Nate Stern); approvals of courses for the major or minor go to the DUS. A transfer-specific GPA or calculus and physics sequence requirement for entering the physics major is not stated on the pages read; this is not published. The major requirements above apply.
Transfer aid: U.S. citizens and permanent residents who transfer can apply for need-based aid, subject to available funds. The transfer FAQ says financial aid is not offered to international transfer applicants, yet the international aid page lists application dates for international transfer applicants (2 March, 15 March, 20 April and others). The two contradict each other; ask the admissions office.

Checklist

U.S. domestic students:

Apply by 1 November 2026 (Early Decision) or 4 January 2027 (Regular Decision) to Weinberg; test scores are optional
One counselor and one teacher recommendation; file the FAFSA and CSS Profile if you need aid

International students (including students at high schools in China):

Same deadlines and materials; if English is not your first language or schooling was not in English, send TOEFL iBT, IELTS or Duolingo scores
Certified English translations of transcripts; if you need aid, tick the box and file the CSS Profile or ISAFA and parents’ tax documents (the request affects admission)

Transfer students:

Apply after about one year of full-time college work; 1 March (ED) or 1 April (RD)
Ask the physics department about 100-level transfer credit, and the DUS (dusphysics@northwestern.edu) about courses for the major

If you want physics: complete at least three years of high school mathematics and two of laboratory science, take the math placement exam by 31 July, ask the department for permission if you want the PHYSICS 140 sequence, and declare the major and a concentration before the end of sophomore year.