Master's Programme in Physics, 120 ECTS
Second levelFacts
No available factsEducation plan
Education plan in English, valid from Autumn 2021
Education plan valid from Autumn 2017
Education plan in English, valid from Autumn 2017
Education plan valid from Spring 2008
Education plan in English, valid from Spring 2008
Education plan valid from Autumn 2007
Description
Aim and purpose of the programme
Physics is an empirical science where new ideas and theories on physical phenomena are tested through observations and controlled experiments. In this Master’s programme you will be trained to plan, perform, and to analyze advanced experiments. In physics, the art of identifying crucial and more sensitive experiments to test current theories and to make room for unexpected discoveries, is just as important as to further develop and refine those theories.
The programme is a very good preparation for future PhD studies in experimental physics (at our Physics Department there are strong experimental research programmes in atomic, molecular, and cluster physics, quantum optics, superconductivity, and in nuclear and particle physics). In addition, the thorough training with instrumentation and measuring procedures is an excellent preparation for front line development work in industry.
Content
There are three compulsory courses (Programming and Computer Science for Physicists, Statistical methods in physics, and Physical measuring techniques) during the first year. In addition, you will have to choose two courses among Atomic Physics, Molecular Physics I, Nuclear physics, Elementary Particle Physics, Optics and Laser Physics, and Condensed Matter Physics I, and one of Analytical Mechanics, Electrodynamics I, Quantum Mechanics III, and Statistical physics I. During the first and the second year you will specialize in a particular branch of modern experimental and instrumental physics through 4-6 courses from a broad selection (including also advanced theory courses). The Master’s program is concluded with a thesis project which normally takes one and a half semester and which may be performed in a research group or in industry.
Degree and job market
A Master degree in Physics will make you attractive on the international job market. Suitable branches in industry are those involved with telecommunication, sensors, detectors, various forms of laser applications, instrumentation for medicine, energy production etc. Some suitable PhD topics are mentioned above but include, in addition, any field requiring a good knowledge of theoretical and experimental physics, and of modern instrumentation.
Area of interests: Science and Mathematics
Science and mathematics help us understand how the world around us is connected – from the origin and structure of the universe, to the development and function of humanity and all other organisms on earth. Scientific knowledge makes it possible to critically examine the credibility of information in different areas of everyday life, society, and the media. As a scientist or mathematician, you will be attractive on a large job market that covers all parts of society and includes everything from pure technology companies to environment and healthcare, as well as research.
Subject
Physics
Physics deals with ‘matter and its motion’ as well as ‘space and time’. Important concepts are then force, energy, mass and charge. It is an experimental science and its goal is to understand the natural world. The interplay with theoretical model building and experimental work is then important. It is an old science subfield and it developed through the subfield of astronomy to which it is strongly related. The ‘modern’ science discipline physics developed during the 17th century when it diverged from disciplines like mathematics, biology and chemistry. Today one can see that the boundaries between these fields of science are more difficult to define again. Today, physics is a broad and highly developed subject. Research is divided into many subfields: condensed matter physics; atomic, molecular, nuclear and optical physics; high energy physics, elementary particle physics and astrophysics. At Fysikum there are research groups in all the main areas of physics. There is a number of open questions in physics. Mainly physics is studied in study programs at Stockholm University but we have also a lot of separate courses. There is a Bachelors of Science programme in Physics and three masters programmes in respectively Physics, Theoretical Physics and Computational Physics. The teaching of the masters programmes are in English. In the B.Sc programme English textbooks are used extensively.