- Applicants who achieve a score of 800 or higher on the Physics GRE Subject Test are excused from Preliminary Exams. Students already enrolled in the Ph.D. program will not be granted a waiver from one or more sections of the Preliminary Examination based on retaking the GRE subject test and achieving a score above 800.
- After entry into the graduate program a Ph.D. student in Physics must pass 1 section of the Preliminary Examination by the second sitting, 2 sections of the Preliminary Examination by the third sitting, and must pass all 4 sections by the fourth sitting. The Ph.D. level of passing on each section is a grade of 60%.
- After passing the Preliminary Exams at the Masters level, students are eligible to receive an MS degree "on the way" to Ph.D. provided they fulfill the course requirements for a Masters.