Graduate studies in physics

MSc studies

To be admitted as a graduate student, an applicant must possess a bachelor's degree in physics or related fields of science from a university recognized in Israel, with a grade point average exceeding 80. In particular, the following courses are required to have been completed prior to your admission as a graduate student: Classical Mechanics, Electrodynamics 1, Quantum Mechanics 1 and Quantum Mechanics 2, Thermodynamics and Statistical Physics 1, Advanced Labs in Physics. Two tracks of graduate studies are available:

MSc in physics, the regular program;

MSc in physics, the electro-optics program;

Abide themselves by the regulations set by the Educational Committee;

Consult with three faculty members in order to be assigned to a supervisor. This task must be fulfilled by the end of the first semester;

Submit research proposals upon the completion two semesters. The proposal, not to exceed four pages, has to include the statement of the problem, the aim of the study, a short description of the methodology, and, finally, the references cited.

Select courses as per listed in Table. Students are required to complete all compulsory courses within the first year. During this period advance courses in mathematics may also be selected upon the approval of the supervisor;

Attend the department colloquium for three semesters; as well as a specialized seminar for four semesters.

Submit thesis and present the results therein at a seminar;

In the case of students working in experimental laboratories, take the safety-training orientations (once a year during the period of study). The registration for the safety-training orientations is done on the time-schedule site; the course number is 900-5-2002.

During the first semester, you will need to find a supervisor for your master's thesis, and after the second semester, you will present a research proposal. The thesis must be completed by the end of the second year and demonstrate scholarly thinking and critical judgment, as well as satisfactory working knowledge of the methods in your research, your thorough understanding of the relevant theoretical frameworks together with a high degree of familiarity with the literature related to your field.

40% average courses grade;

40% thesis grade;

20% thesis defense grade.

take two core compulsory courses for the regular program, or three compulsory courses for the electro-optics program;

take two core elective courses;

take elective or extracurricular courses in consultation with the supervisor;

take part in a specialized seminar in line with the field of study throughout the entire period of studies (2.0 credits);

take part in the colloquium for three semesters

PhD studies

The Kreitmann School of Advanced Graduate Studies accepts PhD students on condition of approval by the supervisor. For this purpose, an applicant must have a MSc in physics or a related field of science (from a university recognized in Israel) with a minimum grade point average of 85 and a minimum thesis grade of 90. In the case of the direct route, a bachelor's degree with a minimum grade point average of 90 is necessary. Research proposals to contain 10-15 pages must be presented during the first year; the recommended format \documentclass[11pt]{revtex4} \renewcommand{\baselinestretch}{1.5} . Upon succeeding in the candidacy exam and approval of the research proposa, the status of the individual is changed from the ''candidate'' to ''research student''. For more information:

Integrated route

This route opens a possibility to continue graduate studies towards a PhD degree. Admission is subject to the terms and set by the Kreitman School of Advanced Graduate Studies. The decision to choose this route must be made during the first four semesters of the graduate studies, and the conditions for a change-over include the candidate to pass all compulsory courses, take at least 20 credits with a minimum grade point average of 85, submit their MSc research proposal, have a reference letter issued by the supervisor. As a part of the tasks undertaken by the candidates, they are required to present the results of their work at a departmental seminar and submit the PhD research proposals prior to the end of the fourth semester. The research proposal for the integrated route should include a summary of the work completed before change-over. At the candidacy exam, the Exam Committee will consider the summary as a ''thesis'' and decide whether to grant the MSc degree on this basis. The candidate's status is changed to ''research student'' once the Exam Committee approves the research proposal.

The Educational Committee regulations

Take part in the colloquium and in at least one of the department seminars;

Subscribe to the distribution list phys-graduates, since all notifications and event information is made public through this channel. Evidently, individuals are required to receive such information by subscription, otherwise they are solely responsible for failure to take exams, attend seminars, etc.

Build a personal web-page that comprises the following items:

photograph;
status, indicating degree, current year and semester of study, the date of the beginning of studies, and supervisor (if assigned);
office, telephone, and e-mail address;
title and research abstract;
a brief CV formed as a click-on link to a pdf file (it is not recommended to include private data, like marital status, place of residence, home telephone etc)
teaching duties

Here are some examples of standard web-pages for this purpose: etzioni, erezam The web-page has to be prepared by the end of the first month of the first semester of your studies and regularly updated.

Students are required to give a minimum of one seminar during their study period which spans four semesters of graduate studies and eight semesters of post-graduate studies. Such seminars -to be held prior to thesis submission - are only allowed during the official academic calendar period and not on holidays, so that all interested individuals can attend. When submitting their theses, students are to present a copy of the official seminar announcement indicating the date of the seminar and signed by the seminar organizer. Juries will not review any theses prior to their seminar presentations. In the integrated route, a seminar is to be given before submitting the research proposal and another one before submitting the thesis.

Right after the research proposal is submitted or the theses approved, a pdf file MSc_proposal, or PhD_proposal, or MSc_thesis, or PhD_thesis has to be uploaded to the site SUBMISSIONS. At this stage, all research proposals are accessible by the Educational Committee, and the theses are protected by passwords. The file name has to begin with the student's name, such as in einstein_PhD_prop.pdf. Upon approval by the supervisor, the file may be uploaded to your personal web-page.