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Medical Physics

Application Process

Note: The Fall 2025 application window is currently closed. New applications for Fall 2026 will open on August 1, 2025. 

Fall 2026 Admission

Our application process consists of two steps: an online application and an interview.

Online Application
Log into our electronic application system and submit the following items by December 15, 2025:

  • Completed electronic application form
  • Official transcripts for all college classes
  • 3 academic/professional references
  • GRE General exam scores are 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.
  • Apply here: https://apply.vanderbilt.edu/apply/ 

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.

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

Final Admission Decisions
You’ll receive email notification of your admission status (accepted, waiting list, or denied admission) no later than March 5, 2026. If accepted, you must officially accept or decline your admission and reply to the admission email offer by April 15, 2026.