Advice on Choosing Grad School for Theory

[AcidRainLiTE]

I did my undergrad in math and physics (in the US) and would like to go on to graduate school. However, I am having a little trouble deciding on a program and was wondering if anyone could recommend any schools.

My motivation for going to grad school is really just that I want to thoroughly learn and understand the physics that is currently out there. At the moment, I am not really interested in research or anything, and don't have a desire to specialize in any particular area at the moment. Interest in that may come later, but at the moment all I really have a drive to do is understand well the theory that currently exists.

Ideally, I would like to do a program that emphasizes studying theory. By this I mean a program that covers Classical Physics, General Relativity, Quantum Mechanics, Quantum Field Theory, etc. from a heavily mathematical perspective and also includes study in the areas of mathematics related to those areas of physics--for instance, differential geometry. As an example, the courses for http://www.theorie.physik.uni-muenchen.de/TMP/courses/index.html" program in Germany are attractive to me. I would be willing to go outside the US for school, but I would also like to look into schools in the US that have what I am looking for.

Thanks for your help.

 

[axiomatic7777]

Have you looked at the PSI program http://www.perimeterscholars.org/home.html ?

 

[AcidRainLiTE]

Yeah, one of my friends actually recommended PSI to me and I think I will apply. It looks like a really good program. Anyone have any other recommendations?

 

[Kevin_Axion]

PSI is a good recommendation, but by looking at the statistics of the nationalities attending, your chances seem very slim. Only a handful of U.S students attended last year and the year before that, I'm not sure if that's due to it not being as renowned in the U.S or the selectivity. I'm fairly certain though that they are trying to keep the attendants at a Canadian majority. Still try though.

 

[physiker_192]

The one you mentioned in Germany is pretty good, PSI is great but one may not get admitted due to one reason or another (doesn't mean unqualified).

Financially speaking, the LMU course is excellent as it doesn't cost much (~ 1000 euro/1400usd per year) and it is also held in English.

Check my reply at the following thread:
https://www.physicsforums.com/showpost.php?p=2835807&postcount=4

and the topic itself contains info about other possible courses outside the U.S.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=421443

There is also this (Cambridge math tripos part III)
http://www.maths.cam.ac.uk/postgrad/mathiii/

 

[AcidRainLiTE]

Thanks for the links physiker. I found http://www.themunichtimes.com/news-services/display_article.php?news_title=Munich%20university%20might%20reduce%20tuition%20fees&article_id=461" article that said LMU might lower tuition to 300 euros. You wouldn't happen to know what the outcome of that was, would you? I believe the article was from 2010.

Is the tuition for the LMU course the same regardless of whether you are from Germany or not (i.e. from the US)?

 

[physiker_192]

Thanks for the links physiker. I found http://www.themunichtimes.com/news-services/display_article.php?news_title=Munich%20university%20might%20reduce%20tuition%20fees&article_id=461" article that said LMU might lower tuition to 300 euros. You wouldn't happen to know what the outcome of that was, would you? I believe the article was from 2010.

Is the tuition for the LMU course the same regardless of whether you are from Germany or not (i.e. from the US)?

You're welcome

Well, a reduction of the tuition fees is unlikely, and I haven't heard anything so far.
The fees are the same regardless where you are from (500 euro tuition per semester + 42 euro services fee per semester).