Physics

The master's degree program provides general training in applied, experimental and theoretical Physics or Astronomy, enabling students to undertake independent academic work.

As part of the master's degree program, students specialize in one of the fields of work in Physics/Astronomy (Applied Physics, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Experimental High Energy Physics, Climate and Environmental Physics, Theoretical Physics, Space Research and Planetary Sciences). The master's thesis also serves to deepen students' knowledge, this being undertaken within one of the four institutes (Institute of Astronomy, Institute of Theoretical Physics, Institute of Applied Physics, Physics Institute). Completion of the master's thesis provides evidence that graduates are able to work independently on a physical/astronomical problem.

The master's degree program extends the basic knowledge acquired in the bachelor's degree program, enabling students to specialize in a particular field. Specialization can be in Astronomy, Experimental Physics, Applied Physics or Theoretical Physics.

Students learn to understand physical problems and find solutions under supervision. In this respect, the master's degree program is research-oriented training that often extends beyond current knowledge in Physics. The master's degree program is taught in English as students for this course increasingly come from abroad. The master's thesis constitutes the largest part of the master's degree program. This enables creative involvement in exciting and current research topics in one of the many work groups. The master's thesis is a written piece of work which is examined, thus completing the master's degree program.

Master in experimental physics, applied physics, astronomy (90 ECTS)

The ECTS points for each course are given in the brackets.

1st semester

• Lab Course for Modern Physics II (12)
• Measurement Techniques in Physics (4)
• Numerical Methods in Physics (4)
• Advanced Course I (4)

2nd semester

• Masters Thesis (22.5 of 45)
• Seminar I (2.5)
• Advanced Course II (4)
• Specialist Course I (4)

3rd semester

• Masters Thesis (22.5 of 45)
• Seminar II (2.5)
• Advanced Course III (4)
• Specialist Course II (4)

Master in Theoretical Physics (90 ECTS)

The ECTS points for each course are given in the brackets.

1st semester

• General Relativity (5)
• Advanced Concepts of Theoretical Physics (4)
• Quantum Field Theory I (5)
• Theoretical Exercises (6)
• Additional course (5)

2nd semester

• Masters Thesis (20 of 45)
• Quantum Field Theory II (5)
• Standard Model (5)
• Additional course (5)

3rd semester

• Masters Thesis (25 of 45)
• Additional course (5)

Specialist courses

• Groups and Algebras for Theoretical Physics (4)

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the master’s degree program in Physics (mono):

• Curriculum vitae in table form with uninterrupted chronology of your education and academic studies up to the present incl. up-to-date passport photo (45 mm high by 35 mm wide)
• Motivation letter (incl. family name, given name, full address, e-mail address, date and signature and – if you have one – mobile phone number)
• If you are holding a bachelor degree's: Originally certified photocopies of your degree (e.g. diploma and diploma supplement). The correspondence of the photocopy to the original must be officially certified.
• Originals (stamped and signed) or originally certified photocopies of all official proofs of your achievements (transcripts) with grades/scores
• Grading system of the degree issuing university, if the grading system is different from ours. Our scale goes from 1 to 6, with 6 being excellent and grades below 4 being unsatisfactory.
• Brief description of the content/learning objectives of the different courses/lectures (annotated course catalog or module handbook)
• Originally certified translations of the original documents (e.g. diploma, diploma supplement, bachelor's or master's degree, transcripts of diploma records), if these are not written in German, English, French or Italian. These translations have to be inseparably connected with the originally certified photocopies of the original documents.
• Photocopy of your valid passport or identity card
• Application fee: CHF 105