How to Apply to Physics at the University of Central Florida: A College of Sciences BS in Five Tracks and BA in Four, Physics Not on the Limited-Access List, SAT, ACT or CLT Required, and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At the University of Central Florida (UCF, in Orlando), undergraduate physics is offered by the Department of Physics in the College of Sciences. This guide, based on the university’s website, covers domestic students, international students (including a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. Mathematics, chemistry, engineering and computer science are not covered here.

1. Degrees and tracks

• The College of Sciences degree list shows nine physics tracks: for the BS in Physics, General Physics, Astronomy, Computational Physics, Materials Physics, and Optics and Lasers; for the BA in Physics, Biophysics, Education, Information Technology/Data Science, and Technical Writing. A mathematics BS has an Engineering/Physics track, which is not covered here.
• What the department says: the curriculum page says the department offers a multi-track program of study with a common core of theoretical and experimental physics, and that the tracks let students specialize. Graduates are prepared for advanced study in physics, engineering, medicine, environmental sciences and astronomy, and for careers such as engineering physics, computational physics and physics education. Majors benefit from small class sizes and are encouraged to do individually designed senior projects with a faculty advisor.
• The curriculum page is not consistent: its first paragraph says the program leads to the B.S., while a later sentence introduces the program of study for “the Physics B.S. and B.A.” The track-specific required courses are in the UCF catalog, which this guide did not read, so check the catalog.
• Suggested program of study (curriculum page, “one of numerous possible plans”): freshman fall Calculus I (MAC 2311C) and Chemistry Fundamentals I (CHM 2045C); freshman spring General Physics Using Calculus I (PHY 2048C), Calculus II (MAC 2312), Chemistry Fundamentals II (CHM 2046), a general education course, and either the Freshman Physics Seminar (PHY 1931) or the Chemistry Fundamentals Lab (CHM 2046L; the page notes the lab may be taken later if seats are not available); sophomore fall General Physics II (PHY 2049C), Calculus III (MAC 2313) and Computer Science I (COP 3502C); sophomore spring General Physics III (PHY 3101), Introduction to Theoretical Methods of Physics (PHZ 3113) and Ordinary Differential Equations I (MAP 2302); junior year Intermediate Physics Laboratory (PHY 3802L), Electricity and Magnetism I and II (PHY 3323, 4324), Thermal and Statistical Physics (PHY 3513) and Mechanics I (PHY 3220); senior year Wave Mechanics I and II (PHY 4604, 4605) and Independent Research (PHY 4912), with a Physics Exit Test. The rest are general education, restricted electives and free electives.
• Placement tests and summers: the page says to take the Chemistry Placement Test before enrolling in chemistry and the Math Placement Test before enrolling in math, and that although all classes are offered during the academic year you may be required to complete 9 hours of them in summer; consult an advisor about exemption.
• Two formats for the introductory sequence: each course can be taken as a combined “C” studio course (for example PHY 2053C) or as a lecture plus a separate lab (for example PHY 2053 and PHY 2053L); both are 4 credit hours with 6 contact hours a week, and honors versions are offered only in the combined format.
• Community college courses: the curriculum page says physics majors are discouraged from taking courses as a transient student at a community college, except where one semester of a two-semester sequence has already been taken there.
• Joint degrees: the pages read do not describe joint degrees or 3-2 programs.

2. How admission works

• Admission to UCF first: the College of Sciences degree-programs page says most of its majors are open-access programs with no limitation on students who want to declare them; the college’s limited-access programs are Advertising/Public Relations, Film, Digital Media, Journalism and Media Production and Management. Physics is not on that list, so by that page there is no separate application, GPA threshold or seat cap for physics. The freshman page does not say whether you must name a major on the application; ask admissions.
• Declaring and changing: for open-access programs, meet your Academic Success Coach, then change your major in the Student Center at my.ucf.edu; the page reminds students to read the Timely Academic Progress Policy before changing programs.
• Admission standard: the freshman page says UCF requires at least 18 high school units to be considered and that meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission. It prints the Fall 2026 admitted freshman profile (as of August 2026): mid-range ACT 28–32, SAT 1310–1420, CLT 91–101 and high school GPA 4.11–4.57 (weighted), with the top five majors Mechanical Engineering, Finance, Biomedical Sciences, Biology and Nursing.
• Weighted GPA: grades in AP, AICE, dual enrollment, honors and IB courses get extra weight if the courses are academic core (English, math, science, social science or foreign language); you must submit official AP, IB or AICE scores and final dual-enrollment transcripts within six days of the start of your first semester.
• Essay and recommendations: the freshman page says the application essay is strongly encouraged but not required; it does not mention recommendations. The pages read do not say whether physics wants a science teacher’s recommendation.
• Physics competitions: the pages read do not say how physics competitions are viewed in admission.

3. Prerequisites and course planning

• High school units (freshman page, at least 18): four years of English; four of math (Algebra 1 and above); three of science; three of social studies; two years of the same foreign language in sequence; and two academic electives. The pages read set no separate calculus or physics minimum.
• Math and chemistry at UCF: the suggested plan starts with Calculus I (MAC 2311C) and Chemistry Fundamentals I, and says to take the math and chemistry placement tests before enrolling in those subjects.
• AP/IB physics (Physics 1/2, C: Mechanics, C: E&M) and calculus credit: not on the pages read; see UCF’s AP/IB credit tables or ask College of Sciences advising.
• Honors and research: Honors in the Major (HIM) is for the best juniors and seniors, established in 1989 as UCF’s oldest undergraduate research program; students act as principal investigators and research, write, defend and publish an original thesis through the university library. Eligibility and the application are at the Office of Research of the Burnett Honors College. The department’s capstone research course (a 3-credit elective) can be taken in any semester, and students agree on an Undergraduate Research Agreement with a faculty member. That page says both that the department “requires” students to complete undergraduate research and that this is a 3-credit elective, which do not read the same way; ask the department whether it is mandatory.
• Research opportunities: the department page encourages all majors to join research early, not to wait until the senior year; it lists faculty projects (biophysics, quantum materials, structural biology, the upper atmosphere and ionosphere) with expected commitments of about 8–10 hours a week or two days a week, and mentions NSF REU supplements and sites and UCF’s CAMP-YES program (the page describes a $5,000 stipend for those selected).
• Learning Assistants: undergraduates who earned an A or B in a physics class can be hired to help teach introductory courses, at $13.50 an hour for 10 hours a week in fall and spring (not summer); first-time assistants also take a 1-credit pedagogy seminar.

4. Deadlines and documents

• Early Action for domestic freshmen (non-binding, for domestic freshmen applying for summer and fall): application deadline October 15, material submission deadline November 15, decisions December 4. A banner on the freshman page says the Early Action material deadline for Summer and Fall 2027 is November 15 (the SPARK Form, official test scores and all supporting materials must be received). Students who skip or miss Early Action are reviewed from early January on a modified rolling basis.
• Regular decision (freshman; no year stated, confirm it applies to 2027 entry): Summer March 1, Fall May 1, Spring November 1 for both the application and materials, with rolling notifications from January. The page notes that scholarship funding is limited and usually exhausted by mid-January, so apply early.
• Materials: a current official high school or home-school transcript if you have graduated; the SPARK Form (Self-Provided Academic Record for Knights); official SAT (code 5233), ACT (code 0735) or CLT scores; an official GED or TOEFL/IELTS score if applicable; the $30 nonrefundable application fee; and an application essay (strongly encouraged). SAT and ACT scores are valid for five years and CLT scores if taken on or after July 1, 2023. The ACT Science section has been optional since April 2025: exams taken before then use all four sections for the superscore, and any exam taken in April 2025 or later uses English, Math and Reading only. Apply with the UCF application or the Common App.
• Testing: the page lists official SAT, ACT or CLT scores as required materials and shows no test-optional route.

5. Domestic students

• Costs: on the 2026-2027 cost page, a full-time Florida-resident undergraduate (28 credit hours) pays $5,954 in tuition and fees, with housing $8,750 and food $6,170, so the page’s direct cost is $20,874; the on-campus yearly estimate including books ($1,200), transportation ($1,094) and personal expenses ($3,104) is $26,272. For non-Florida residents, tuition and fees are $24,960 and the on-campus estimate is $45,278.
• Aid for Florida residents: the scholarships page lists Florida Bright Futures (state-funded, based on high school achievement); the Benacquisto Scholarship for high school graduates recognized as National Merit scholars; and Pegasus Scholarships, awarded by Undergraduate Admissions on admission with no separate application (applicants for summer or fall are automatically considered), requiring full-time enrollment of at least 12 UCF hours each fall and spring. Access 2 Opportunities (A2O) lets one application match you with over 200 scholarships, including College of Sciences donor scholarships.
• Department and college scholarships: the College of Sciences page says awards are based on academic achievement, campus and community involvement and financial need, and are applied for through A2O. Physics-specific scholarships were not on the pages read.
• Federal aid: US citizens and eligible applicants file the FAFSA; check the financial aid page for UCF’s school code.

6. International students

• International freshman deadlines (international page; no year stated, confirm it applies to 2027 entry), split between “International Abroad” (entering directly from outside the US) and “Domestic International” (entering from another US institution): Summer February 1 / March 1; Fall April 1 (abroad) / May 1 (domestic international); Spring October 1 / November 1; rolling notification. The international page does not mention Early Action; the freshman page offers it to domestic freshmen.
• Documents: the online application ($30 nonrefundable fee); official transcripts, graduation certificates and/or leaving exam results from secondary schools (see the Country Reference Guide); certified literal translations for documents not in English, made by the issuing institution, a government agency or an American Translators Association–certified translator; official AICE, AP, Cambridge AS/A level and IB score reports; official SAT, ACT or CLT scores; proof of English proficiency if required; and immigration documents to UCF Global. Documents are mailed by the school, ministry or exam board in a sealed envelope; UCF keeps them and does not return or forward them to evaluators.
• Credential evaluation: the international page says international high school credentials are evaluated by UCF itself and need not go to an outside agency; international college or university coursework must be sent to Josef Silny & Associates, The Evaluation Company (TEC/SpanTran) or World Education Services for a course-by-course evaluation.
• English requirement (non-native speakers, meeting one of the following): being from a country where English is the only official language; a US-accredited degree; a degree from a country or university where English is the only official language; four years of English at a US or accredited US-style high school; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 520 (480 on the old Critical Reading); ACT English 20; CLT Verbal Reasoning + Grammar/Writing 42; IELTS 6.5; TOEFL iBT 4 (January 2026 and later) or 80 (before January 2026); Duolingo 120; ENC 1101 and 1102 with a B or better at an accredited institution; UCF Global English programs level 8 or higher with a B or better; and other options. Scores must be sent to UCF officially.
• Proof of funds and aid: the international page points to the “Certification of Finances” section on the UCF Global website for F-1 and J-1 estimates (not read); students on F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2 or G visas are not eligible for federal student aid.
• International scholarships: the international page only says information is available from the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Whether Pegasus and similar awards are open to international applicants is not stated on the pages read; ask admissions and financial assistance.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the pages read do not say whether Gaokao results are considered or how. This is not published; ask international admissions (uainternational@ucf.edu). SAT, ACT or CLT scores are still among the required materials.
• Chinese high school records: the Country Reference Guide (PDF) lists for China a Senior High School Graduation Certificate, an Academic Transcript, and General Education Examination Results; verification reports for the examination results are required upon admission and must be sent directly to UCF by the China Academic Degrees and Graduate Education Development Center (CDGDC) or the China Higher Education Student Information & Career Center (CHESICC). The guide says this is a list of preferred credentials and that meeting it does not guarantee admission; it does not explain which examination (huikao or Gaokao) the entry refers to, so ask admissions.
• Timeline: applying directly from China falls under “International Abroad”, so the fall deadline is April 1 (no year stated on the page; confirm it applies to fall 2027).
• English: the pages read set no China-specific English requirement; applicants whose native language is not English must meet one of the options in section 6 (for example IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80 or 4 on the new scale, Duolingo 120).
• International curricula: send official AP, IB, AICE and Cambridge AS/A level score reports. How AP/IB physics and calculus convert into credit was not on the pages read.
• Interviews: no interview requirement is listed.

8. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer applicant, and deadlines: the international page defines a transfer applicant as one who has completed 12 or more semester hours of college credit after secondary school. Application completion deadlines (no year stated; confirm they apply to 2027 entry): Fall June 1, Spring November 1, Summer March 1. International transfer deadlines: domestic international Summer March 1, Fall June 1, Spring November 1; international abroad Summer February 1, Fall May 1, Spring October 1. The fee is $30.
• Three tiers by transferable hours: with fewer than 30 hours you must meet the first-year high school unit, high school GPA and SAT/ACT/CLT minimums, have a competitive college GPA (requirements may change by semester) and be in good standing (at least 2.0); with 30 to 59 hours you need one English composition and one college-level math course of 3 credits each with a C or higher, world language competency at about the second high school level (or second elementary college course) and a competitive GPA; with 60 or more hours, or an AA or state-articulated AS from a Florida public college, you need two English composition and two college math courses with a C or higher, the language competency and a competitive GPA. The pages read set no physics-specific transfer GPA or prerequisites; use the transfer equivalency portal and ask College of Sciences advising how calculus and physics sequences map.
• DirectConnect to UCF: an AA or state-articulated AS from a partner college (College of Central Florida, Daytona State College, Eastern Florida State College, Indian River State College, Lake-Sumter State College, Seminole State College or Valencia College) guarantees admission, consistent with university policy.
• Credit: a transfer credit report appears on myUCF shortly after admission; the Transfer Equivalency Portal shows existing course equivalencies before you apply. International college coursework needs a course-by-course evaluation (Josef Silny, TEC/SpanTran or WES).
• Physics department caution: physics majors are discouraged from taking courses as a transient community college student unless one semester of a two-semester sequence was already taken there (see section 1).

9. Costs, scholarships and research

• 2026-2027 estimate (28 credit hours, cost page): Florida residents pay $5,954 in tuition and fees, $1,200 for books, $8,750 for housing, $6,170 for food, $1,094 for transportation and $3,104 for personal expenses, with a page total of $26,272 on campus; non-residents pay $24,960 in tuition and fees with the other lines the same and a page total of $45,278. Off-campus and living-with-parents columns are listed separately.
• Extra charges: the page says the cost of attendance is updated for majors with licensure or equipment fees; whether physics has an equipment fee is not stated on the pages read.
• Department scholarships and research: see section 3 for research opportunities, Honors in the Major and Learning Assistants; the department’s undergraduate awards (UG Awards) page was not read.
• Outcomes: the curriculum page says graduates are prepared for advanced study in physics, engineering, medicine, environmental sciences, astronomy and other disciplines and for careers such as engineering physics, computational physics and physics education; it prints no placement numbers.
• Contact: advising appointments through physics@ucf.edu or (407) 823-2325; course overrides go through the College of Sciences COSAS Override website.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• For Early Action and scholarship priority, apply by October 15 with materials by November 15; regular fall deadline May 1 (confirm the year)
• 18 high school units (English 4, math 4, science 3, social studies 3, language 2, electives 2) and SAT, ACT or CLT scores
• Plan Calculus I and general chemistry for the first year and take the math and chemistry placement tests

International students (including applicants from China):

• For fall, apply from abroad by April 1 (confirm the year); prepare the Chinese graduation certificate, transcript and General Education Examination Results (verification reports from CDGDC or CHESICC after admission)
• SAT, ACT or CLT scores plus an English score (for example IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 80 or 4 on the new scale, Duolingo 120)
• Ask international admissions whether Gaokao results can be used and what financial documents are needed

Transfer students:

• Match your hours to the tier (English, math and language requirements); fall deadline June 1 (confirm the year)
• Try to finish two-semester physics sequences at one school and ask College of Sciences advising how credits map

Sources: University of Central Florida, Department of Physics; Physics undergraduate; Physics curriculum and suggested program of study; Undergraduate research opportunities; Honors in the Major thesis; Capstone research course; College of Sciences undergraduate services; College of Sciences undergraduate degrees; Degree programs and choosing a major; College of Sciences scholarships; Freshman admission; International admission; International secondary credentials country guide (PDF); Transfer admission; Cost of attendance; Scholarships; Pegasus scholarships. Costs for 2027-28 have not been published; figures quoted are the 2026-2027 cost page estimates. Check UCF’s website for the latest.