How to Apply to Physics at the University of New Hampshire: Physics B.A., Physics B.S. and Engineering Physics B.S. in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, SAT/ACT Optional, for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) Applicants and Transfer Students

The University of New Hampshire (UNH) teaches undergraduate physics in the Department of Physics & Astronomy of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences (CEPS), on its Durham campus in New Hampshire. You apply to UNH as a university through the Common App, not separately to the physics department. This guide follows UNH’s website and is organised for U.S. domestic applicants, international applicants, applicants from China and transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry and earth sciences are not covered; computer science and engineering each have their own guide on this site, and engineering physics is mentioned here only where it overlaps with physics.

1. Physics degrees and directions

• Size: the department page mentions about 22 teaching faculty, 25 research faculty and research scientists, 60 undergraduate students and 60 graduate students; the undergraduate program page says “about 20 faculty, 60 undergraduates and 60 graduate students”, so the counts differ slightly. The program page also says upper-division classes (second year and beyond) typically have 20 or fewer students and that some students begin research as early as their first year.
• Undergraduate degrees (the department’s “Programs of Study” list): Physics B.A., Physics B.S., and Engineering Physics B.S. (BSEP); minors in Physics and in Astronomy. The program page also mentions an interdisciplinary Math/Physics program that is administered by the mathematics department and awards a mathematics degree; it is not covered here.
• Physics B.S.: UNH describes it as preparation for professional work as a physicist and the first step toward graduate work in physics, “the most rigorous and rigid” of the programs, with the courses typically needed for admission to graduate study in physics or astronomy. The program page lists General Physics I and II (PHYS 407/408, honors or “studio” versions allowed), General Physics III with lab, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, computational physics, Experimental Physics I and II, Classical Mechanics and Mathematical Physics I and II, Quantum Mechanics I and II (including quantum information and quantum computing), Electricity and Magnetism I and II, two electives (optics, astrophysics I, space plasma physics, quantum materials, nuclear physics, general relativity and cosmology, nonlinear dynamics and chaos, numerical methods and others), plus General Chemistry I, Calculus I and II, a set of linear algebra / differential equations / multidimensional calculus courses, one Python scientific-programming course (CS 410P) and a capstone. The page gives 128 credits for the degree, 90–96 credits of major requirements and no foreign-language requirement.
• Physics B.A.: UNH says it is for students who want a broad education, with fewer required courses than the B.S. so there is time for other academic interests; it is also described as good preparation for middle- and high-school physics teachers, pre-med and pre-law students, and says it “in some cases may be sufficient for graduate work”. The major requirements total 70–76 credits (the B.S. lists 90–96), still including PHYS 407/408, General Physics III, thermodynamics and statistical mechanics, computational physics, Experimental Physics I and II, Classical Mechanics I and II, Quantum Mechanics I, Electricity and Magnetism I, CS 410P and Calculus I and II, but not General Chemistry I, Quantum Mechanics II, Electricity and Magnetism II or the physics electives. The B.A. has a foreign-language requirement (the page says “Foreign Language Requirement: Yes”).
• Engineering Physics B.S.: UNH says it is for students who seek employment in an engineering discipline requiring deeper knowledge of physical principles or who plan a graduate degree in engineering, and differs from a traditional engineering degree by focusing more on fundamental physics. Core courses include General Chemistry I, engineering computing or scientific programming, Calculus I and II, differential equations and multidimensional calculus, PHYS 407/408, General Physics III with lab, thermodynamics, Classical Mechanics I and II and Electricity and Magnetism I; the capstone is PHYS 797 Senior Design Project (4 credits). The page shows four-year plans for an Aerospace Track and an Engineering Research Track; the same page’s “Curriculum Tracks” section says to choose an “(acredited)” BSEP track — Aerospace, Materials Science or Engineering Research — but the pages we read have no Materials Science plan, so ask the department. The college’s ABET page lists accredited programs in bioengineering, chemical, civil, computer and electrical engineering, computer science, environmental engineering, information technology, mechanical and ocean engineering; engineering physics is not on that list.
• Astronomy: the program list has only an astronomy minor. The capstone page mentions students in a “BS Astronomy option” taking PHYS 795 and 799, but the program list shows no separate astronomy degree, so that wording does not match the list; ask the department.
• Degree-wide requirements: all three degrees list a minimum of 128 credits, at least 32 credits taken at UNH, a 2.0 graduation GPA and the Discovery and Writing requirements.

2. How admission works: apply to the university, enter the major later

• One application: apply to UNH through the Common App. No supplemental essay is required beyond the Common App essay. UNH says individual majors and colleges may have additional entrance requirements. How the application records a major choice is not stated in the pages we read; ask Admissions (admissions@unh.edu).
• That page does not list physics as a competitive major: the “Changing Majors and Competitive Majors” page describes restricted majors in health sciences, exercise science, nursing and occupational therapy, plus internal transfer into business; physics is not among them, though the page does not say physics has no enrollment limits, so ask Admissions or the department. To change majors, email Admissions with your name, student ID and the major you want; Admissions reviews the request.
• Pathway Programs: UNH says some admitted students are placed in a pathway program for the College of Life Sciences, the Paul College of Business and Economics, or CEPS. These students show a tremendous capacity for success in their first-choice major but still need to meet program-specific benchmarks; they work with an advisor to meet prerequisites and then transfer into the major. The same passage also says you cannot change into your first-choice major if you are in a pathway program or were put into an alternate major, which appears to conflict with the previous sentence; ask Admissions. Whether physics applicants are placed in pathways is not stated by UNH.
• Undeclared: the transfer page mentions “CEPS Undeclared”, closed to students with 57 or more transfer credits. Whether first-year applicants can enter the college as undeclared is not stated in the pages we read.
• Gates inside the major: for the Physics B.S., by the end of spring of the sophomore year a student must have at least a C in each 400- or 500-level course specifically required for the degree and an average of at least 2.33 in those courses to continue in the B.S. program. The Engineering Physics page words it the same way (C and 2.33). The B.A. page does not state this rule.

3. Prerequisites and where courses start

• University-wide minimums (first-year page): four years of English; three years of mathematics (including Algebra I and II and Geometry or equivalents); two years of laboratory science (three preferred); two years of history or social science; two years of a single world language (preferred); and two additional full-year college-preparatory courses. UNH says the most successful applicants exceed the minimums and individual majors may add requirements.
• High-school expectations by program type: the first-year page has one line for “Biological/Physical Sciences, Forestry” (four years of mathematics and four years of science including chemistry and/or physics lab work, with math and science continuing in senior year) and a separate line for “Engineering, Mathematics” (four years of mathematics including pre-calculus, and four years of science including chemistry and/or physics lab). The international page merges “Engineering, Biological/Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Forestry” into one line: four years of mathematics (including one half credit of trigonometry or pre-calculus) and four years of science (chemistry and/or physics lab). Physics is not named on any of these lines; ask Admissions which applies.
• Where the department starts (undergraduate FAQ): PHYS 407/408 (calculus-based, aimed at CEPS students) requires that you have taken or are taking Calculus I (MATH 425) — and Calculus II (MATH 426) for PHYS 408 — plus a short list of algebra, trigonometry and pre-calculus skills; PHYS 401/402 needs only algebra and trigonometry and, the page says, is typically for students not in CEPS. The sample four-year plans for the Physics B.S. and B.A. both put PHYS 407 and Calculus I (MATH 425) together in the first fall semester.
• Honors and studio courses: the Engineering Physics page recommends (does not require) MATH 425H/426H together with PHYS 407H/408H in the first two semesters, taken together; the department’s overview mentions a first-year course that teaches calculus and physics together with group and hands-on work.
• Testing out: students with a strong physics background who beat the average on the department’s standardized test can be excused from PHYS 407/408, but they do not get the 4 credits and must replace the course with another; contact the department office. A math placement test is not mentioned in the pages we read.
• AP: UNH uses AP results for placement and credit, with scores sent by the College Board (CEEB code 3918); the score-to-credit table is on UNH’s AP policy pages, which we did not read. Which physics or calculus courses AP Physics 1/2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M or Calculus credit replaces is not stated on the department pages; see the college’s “Advanced Standing & Prior College Credit” resource or ask the department.
• IB: eight credits for each Higher Level exam scored 5, 6 or 7; no credit for Standard Level exams or for Higher Level Art/Design, Film and Business/Management. How IB Physics HL maps to physics courses is not stated by UNH.
• Testing and placement: the test-optional page says test scores are not a factor in placement decisions.

4. Labs, thesis and undergraduate research

• Labs: both the B.S. and B.A. plans require General Physics III with lab, Experimental Physics I (5 credits) and Experimental Physics II (4 credits).
• Capstone: the program pages say every physics major completes a capstone in the senior year; the department encourages a senior thesis (PHYS 799), with other options including independent research (PHYS 795 or INCO 590/790) or a special project in senior lab (Experimental Physics II). All capstones must be approved by the undergraduate committee in the penultimate semester. The capstone page says B.S. and B.A. majors may do either a thesis or a senior project: the thesis involves a substantial piece of research with a faculty member (about 100 hours or more), which can be done for credit (PHYS 795) or for pay; the project (PHYS 798, 2–4 credits) is more flexible and can be a research project, numerical project, literature review, an apparatus build or an experiment improvement. Every option needs a roughly one-page proposal by week ten of the preceding semester (November 1 or April 1) and a presentation at the Undergraduate Research Conference or the department’s undergraduate colloquium. The same page says Engineering Physics students must take a Senior Design option but adds that it is “not yet approved” and expected by spring 2018, which reads as old text now that the program page lists PHYS 797 as required.
• Thesis course (PHYS 799): 4 credits, permission required, writing intensive; the time expected is like any 4-credit course — 12–14 hours a week for a non-honors thesis and 16–20 for an honors thesis — with an advisor and a co-advisor who grade the thesis together, and one further formal presentation.
• Honors in Major: the department says there is no formal application. Requirements: an overall GPA and a major GPA of 3.20; three honors courses (700-level for physics majors; 600- or 700-level for engineering physics majors); for physics majors, the PHYS 799H thesis (4 credits), and for engineering physics majors, PHYS 797 with a written report; an Honors Designation Form by the third Friday of each honors course, and a completion certification at the start of the last semester.
• Research and innovation: the Physics B.S. page describes the Innovation Scholars program as a first-year research and innovation program open to all CEPS majors, run in interdisciplinary cohorts with hands-on research in labs, which the page says opens doors to paid research, internships and graduate study; it also lists recent student projects (two-dimensional materials, nuclear-physics experiments, instruments flown on balloons and sounding rockets, numerical general relativity and more).
• Other: students in PHYS 401/402/407/408 can use the Physics Help Center without an appointment; the UNH Observatory holds free public sessions on the first and third Saturdays of each month.
• Where graduates go: the Physics B.S. page says “Some of our graduates take jobs in industry, while others go on to graduate school, including top programs like MIT, Stanford, and Harvard.” It lists possible careers including accelerator operator, aerospace sciences, applied optics, engineering research, materials research, medical physics, high school physics teacher, software engineering, systems engineering, law and medicine.

5. Rounds, materials and testing

• Early Action: November 15 (the Common App must arrive by then; decision before the end of January). On supporting documents, one passage of the first-year page says they may arrive after November 15, while another passage and the international page say they are due by December 12 and incomplete files are deferred to Regular Decision (results in March); the pages differ, so follow the checklist in your applicant portal. Regular Decision: February 1, decision by the end of March. Spring Decision: October 15, decision before the end of December (the page does not say which entry term this round is for). Financial-aid priority date March 1 (federal code 002589); deposit May 1. The apply overview tells first-year applicants to submit Early Action by November 15. The pages print no year, so check that these are the fall 2027 dates.
• Application fee: $50 for New Hampshire residents, $65 for non-residents; waivers can be requested through the Common App.
• Transcripts: high school transcript, college transcripts for dual-enrollment coursework, or a GED/HiSET. UNH’s self-reported transcript system (STARS) lets first-year applicants at U.S. high schools apply with an unofficial transcript; UNH states that students at international or non-U.S. high schools are exempt from STARS and must submit an official transcript with the application. The international page separately says UNH accepts unofficial documents to complete the application and requires official copies after enrollment is confirmed, received by June 30; the two statements differ.
• Recommendation: one letter from a school counselor or core academic teacher; UNH does not require more than one and prefers no more than two. UNH does not ask physics applicants for a science-teacher letter.
• Testing: SAT/ACT are optional. You are asked whether you want scores considered, and can change the answer before the application is reviewed (first-year page) or before a decision is made (test-optional page); the wording differs slightly. Students who enroll and have taken the tests are asked to submit scores after the May 1 deposit, for research only. UNH says there are no score cut-offs and no one is admitted or denied solely on test scores; the international page adds that admitted first-year students’ average was SAT 1175 and ACT 25 (no year is printed). Students who do not submit scores are still considered for academic merit scholarships and the Hamel Honors and Scholars Colleges.
• Interview/portfolio: there are no interviews; the auditions and portfolios listed are for music, theatre and studio-art majors, and physics is not listed.
• Competitions: UNH does not say how USAPhO or other physics olympiads are viewed in admission.

6. U.S. domestic applicants

• Tuition (2026–27, Durham undergraduate): New Hampshire resident $16,304 a year; non-resident $37,996; New England Regional Student Program (NERSP, limited to approved majors) $28,532; mandatory fees including a $242 technology fee $3,868. Whether physics is on the NERSP list is not stated in the pages we read; see UNH’s NERSP page.
• CEPS differential: the tuition page says students in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, including engineering and computer science, pay a tuition differential each semester; the table row is labelled “CEPS Engineering & Computer Science”, $752 a semester and $1,504 a year, charged in addition to the tuition above. The two wordings differ slightly, and whether Physics B.A./B.S. students pay it is not stated; ask Student Accounts.
• New Hampshire residents: UNH describes the “New Hampshire Promise”, which bridges the gap between aid and in-state tuition for up to four years; see UNH for eligibility. The pages we read do not describe priority or guaranteed admission for state residents.
• Scholarships and aid: UNH says 88% of first-year students receive aid or scholarships. CEPS has two Industry Scholarships (funded by Whelen Engineering and Johnson Controls), each covering “a significant portion” of tuition, fees and room and board for four years. Students “admitted to UNH by the early action deadline (Nov. 15th)” who meet certain merit criteria are contacted by Admissions and invited to apply with a supplemental essay (typically due in late January); the Whelen scholarship also requires demonstrated need and a FAFSA by March 1; semi-finalists may have a virtual interview, with finalists notified by mid-April. The college lists more than 200 scholarships; most recipients are full-time students with a GPA of 3.0 or higher, departments review applications each spring and recipients are notified in May.
• Physics-related awards (college scholarship page): the Robert E. Houston Jr. Scholarship goes to a junior physics major, preferably from New Hampshire, chosen by the physics faculty; the Richard N. St. Onge Memorial Scholarship supports undergraduate physics students of academic merit; the department gives a Physics Achievement Award and an award named for St. Onge for outstanding students in PHYS 407–408; under Great Minds in STEM the page lists a Dearborn Scholarship for students majoring in physics, robotics, biomedical, chemical, electrical and mechanical engineering; the Noyce Scholarship supports students planning to teach science or mathematics in grades 6–12. See the page and department emails for amounts and how to apply.
• Testing and grades: SAT/ACT optional, as above.

7. International applicants

• Materials: the Common App; transcripts for secondary school (and any university coursework) with English translations; one recommendation (ideally from a counselor or teacher); English-proficiency scores; a copy of the passport biographic page; no interview. UNH says undergraduate applicants do not need a credential evaluation, but academic credentials must be in English.
• Grades: the international page’s FAQ on eligibility says UNH recalculates GPA in-house under its own core-course guidelines and states a U.S.-equivalent 2.7 or above, based on grades 9, 10 and 11. The admissions page also says requirements vary by country curriculum and UNH looks for a university-preparatory program covering English, math, science, social science and a world language.
• English proficiency: required if English is not your first language. Minimum scores: IELTS 6.5; Duolingo English Test 120; LanguageCert 70; PTE Academic 59; TOEFL Essentials 8.5; TOEFL iBT 87 (before January 2026) or 4.5 on the new scale (January 2026 and after). The FAQ on the international students page lists only IELTS 6.5+, TOEFL 4.5+, PTE 59+ and Duolingo 120+. Waivers: an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher waives the requirement; applicants studying at a school where English is the language of instruction can request a waiver, considered case by case. The pages we read do not list exempt countries. Applicants who are otherwise admissible but below the requirement may be considered for the ESL Bridge Program.
• Funds: the estimate-of-expenses page is the one used for I-20/DS-2019 forms (see Costs below). We did not find a separate bank-balance requirement; not stated by UNH in what we read, so ask the Office of International Students and Scholars.
• Scholarships and aid: the international students page says international students are eligible for merit scholarships (“up to $40K USD”) and the International Engagement and Service Scholarship (IESS) for high-achieving international undergraduates with financial need, which covers partial tuition and is renewable for up to eight semesters. Admitted students who receive a merit scholarship are invited by email, generally in late February or early March, to apply for the international scholarships, which are limited and competitive. International students are not eligible for U.S. federal aid.

8. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the international page, the international application page and the test-optional page do not mention the gaokao, and there is no China-specific country page. Whether and how gaokao results are used is not stated by UNH; ask Admissions (admissions@unh.edu).
• Transcripts: transcripts need English translations; see the international section for the official-document rules, and note that students at non-U.S. high schools are exempt from STARS. The pages do not say what stamps or certification Chinese school transcripts need. Not stated by UNH.
• English: see above; TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo and others are accepted, and an SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 500 or higher waives the requirement.
• Interview and evaluation agencies: no interview; no third-party credential evaluation for undergraduate applications (transfer applicants need a course evaluation, see below).

9. Costs

• International estimate (2026–27, undergraduate, used for I-20): non-resident tuition $37,996; fees $3,868; housing $9,410; food $5,624; health insurance $2,554; total direct costs $59,452 (the page notes CEPS adds $1,504); books and supplies $1,000 and miscellaneous $3,795, for an estimated total of $64,247 over nine months. F-1 and J-1 visa holders must enroll in the UNH student health benefits plan.
• Domestic estimate (2026–27 Durham undergraduate): tuition and fees as above; housing $9,960 and food $5,624; estimated cost of attendance $40,920 for residents, $62,862 for non-residents and $53,298 for New England regional students; the figures are estimates that may change. The international page lists housing at $9,410 and the domestic page at $9,960, so the two differ. New undergraduates pay a one-time $400 administration fee.
• 2027–28 prices are not yet shown on the pages we read; check UNH Student Accounts.

10. Transfer students

• College requirements (transfer page): a recommended cumulative college GPA of 3.0 or higher; Calculus I (equivalent to UNH MATH 425) with a C or better is required for all CEPS majors; physics also asks for a C or better in calculus-based Physics I or Chemistry I. UNH says students lacking calculus or science foundations on entry may need four years to graduate. CEPS Undeclared is closed to students with 57 or more transfer credits.
• Deadlines: fall entry April 1 (rolling review begins in mid-February, decisions from March); spring entry October 15, with an extended deadline of December 1; financial-aid priority March 1. The page prints no year, and one line about health majors mentions “Fall 2026”, so confirm the fall 2027 dates.
• Materials: the Common App for transfer or the UNH transfer application (New Hampshire community-college students use a dedicated transfer application); $50 (resident) or $65 (non-resident) fee; high school transcript or GED/HiSET unless you hold an associate or bachelor’s degree; official transcripts from every college attended; no interview.
• International transfers: English scores as above, college transcripts with English translations; for transfer credit, evaluation options include World Education Services (WES) and the Center for Educational Documentation, which UNH says is required to receive credit.
• Credit transfer: after admission UNH posts an official credit evaluation to your MyUNH account showing credits transferred and Discovery requirements met; departments then review which courses count toward the major, which can take extra time. You can check how courses transfer in Transferology. Transfer scholarships exist; see UNH for criteria and deadlines.

Checklist

U.S. domestic applicants:

• Common App by November 15 (Early Action) or February 1 (Regular), one recommendation, transcript (a self-reported one is fine at first); SAT/ACT optional
• Take four years of math and four years of science in high school and keep taking both in senior year; plan to start with calculus and PHYS 407
• Once enrolled, B.S. students need the required lower-level courses at C or better and a 2.33 average in them by the end of sophomore spring
• If you need aid, file the FAFSA by March 1 (code 002589)

International applicants (including China):

• Same timeline as domestic applicants; $65 application fee; transcripts with English translation, official transcripts required for non-U.S. high schools, official copies due by June 30
• English: IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 120, PTE 59 and so on, or an SAT reading and writing score of 500+ for a waiver; ask Admissions how to submit the gaokao
• Watch for the international scholarship invitation in late February to early March

Transfer students:

• Calculus I and calculus-based Physics I (or Chemistry I) with C or better, GPA of 3.0+ recommended; fall deadline April 1, after checking the 2027 dates

Sources: University of New Hampshire, Department of Physics & Astronomy; Undergraduate program overview; Physics B.S.; Physics B.A.; Engineering Physics B.S.; Undergraduate FAQs; Capstone options; Senior thesis procedures; Honors in major; ABET accreditation; College scholarships; Apply overview; First-year; International; Transfer; Test-optional policy; Changing majors and competitive majors; Tuition and aid; International students; International scholarship; 2026–27 tuition and fees; 2026–27 cost of attendance; International estimate of expenses. Most dates on the admissions pages carry no year, and the transfer page mentions “Fall 2026”; check UNH for fall 2027 deadlines and prices.