Medical Physics

Medical Physics Admissions

Vanderbilt’s CAMPEP-accredited Medical Physics programs are comprised of innovative, interdisciplinary collaborators who are ready to push the boundaries of medical physics further. Join us for the next phase of your medical physics journey.

Applications for Fall 2026 will open on August 1, 2025.

Medical Physics Admissions

Application Process and Timeline

Applications for admission are due by December 15 for entry in the following fall semester. 
 
Here’s what to expect: 

  1. Apply between August 1 and December 15, 2025.  
  2. Interview notifications will be sent by January 31, with interviews taking place in February. 
  3. Decisions Sent: No later than March 5, 2026. 
  4. If accepted, you must officially accept or decline your admission and reply to the admission email offer by April 15, 2026. 

Start Your Application 

Admissions Requirements

  • Required Application Materials

    Log in to our electronic application system and submit the following items by December 15:

    • Completed electronic application form
    • Official transcripts for all college classes
    • 3 academic/professional references
    • GRE General exam scores are required. The suggested minimum acceptable score for admission is a total of 312, with a minimum score on the quantitative section of 156. Use Institution Code 1871 when submitting your GRE report to our program. Note that the GRE Advanced Physics Exam is not required.
    • Statement of Purpose
    • Application Fee: The application fee is mandatory for all initiated applications and is non-refundable, regardless of whether your application is considered complete and whether your application is reviewed by our admissions committee. We are not able to waive this application fee.
    • If you are an international applicant, please make sure to include an external degree verification and results from a recent English proficiency exam.  

    Before the application process, we strongly encourage you to shadow a medical physicist, either in therapy, diagnostic imaging, or both if you wish to understand the day-to-day activities of medical physicists. Your reflections on your shadowing experience will play a crucial role in the interview step.

     

  • Academic Prerequisites
    • Bachelor’s degree in physics, applied physics, natural science, or engineering (with the equivalent of at least a minor in physics) from an accredited college or university.
    • Physics prerequisite courses or equivalent include:
      • Calculus III
      • Differential Equations
      • Modern Physics
      • Computer Programming or demonstrated equivalent experience
      • 2 out of the following 4 junior/senior level undergraduate physics courses: Electricity and Magnetism, Classical Mechanics, Quantum Mechanics, and Thermodynamics
    • GPA – The successful candidate should have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0 or a B average.
  • Information for International Applicants

    Proficiency in English

    Students from non-English-speaking countries are required to demonstrate proficiency in English by submitting results from one of the below English proficiency exams.

    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam – Successful applicants typically score at least 600 (paper), 250 (computer) and 100 (internet).
    • International English Language Testing System [IELTS] exam – Successful applicants typically score at least 7.0.
    • Cambridge English C1 Advanced or C2 proficiency exam – Successful applicants typically score at least 185.
    • PTE Academic exam – Successful applicants typically score at least 70.

    International Institution Transcripts and External Degree Verification
    Transcripts from non-U.S. institutions must be submitted with a course-by-course evaluation. Vanderbilt University offers an applicant discount conducted through International Education Evaluation (IEE). Other approved agencies include World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE), and Josef Silny & Associates.

    Visit International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) for visa and financial documentation guidance: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/isss  

Interview

After you submit your online application, we’ll notify you no later than January 31, 2026, whether you’ve been invited to continue forward in the next step of the admission process. Our admissions interviews typically take place in February.

During the interview day, you’ll meet with our program director, faculty members, staff, and current graduate students.

  • With our program director, you’ll discuss
    • the therapy and diagnostic pathways
    • the curriculum in the MSMP and DMP degrees
    • the student applicant selection process

Take time before to consider which pathways (therapy or diagnostic; MSMP or DMP) you hope to pursue. Our program director will be happy to answer any remaining questions you have at your interview.

  • With our faculty members, you’ll discuss
    • The collegial feel of courses and practicum in the program
    • Research opportunities and mentors
  • With current students, you’ll chat about
    • What it feels like to study at Vanderbilt
    • Student experience of the medical physics curriculum
    • Their favorite research, practicum, and courses so far
    • Living in the city of Nashville
    • Services and opportunities offered on Vanderbilt’s campus

Tuition

Tuition and student fee amounts for the upcoming academic year are determined every April by the Vanderbilt Board of Trust.

View the Cost of Attendance for the Medical Physics Program

Connect With Us

Have questions about the application process for the Medical Physics degree programs? Email us! 

Email Us!