Materials Science and Nanotechnology

The Materials Science and Nanotechnology (MSN) master's programme is a competitive education program that specialises students in the area of new materials. The big leap of advances in modern technologies and products in recent decades relies to a large extent on the development of materials science and technology.

The importance of advanced materials in today’s technology is best exemplified by the highly purified semiconductor crystals, which are the basis of the "electronic age". Future implementations and applications of materials in electronics and photonics involve nano-scaled physics, molecular electronics and non-linear optics etc.

With support from internationally competitive research activities in materials physics at Linköping University, the programme has been established with some distinct features to offer students high level interdisciplinary education and training in solid state fundaments and materials with the following profiles:

• electronic materials and devices
• surface and nano-sciences
• theory and modelling of materials
• organic/molecular electronics and sensors

The programme emphasises the comprehension of scientific principles and the development of personal and professional skills in solving practical engineering problems. The studies begin with some mandatory courses, including nanotechnology, quantum mechanics, surface physics and physics of condensed matter, in order to provide students with a solid knowledge foundation for modern materials science and nanotechnology. Moreover, through the courses experimental physics and analytical methods in materials science, students will get extensive training in operating advanced instruments and equipment nowadays used in the research and development (R&D) of new materials.

Starting with the second semester a large variety of elective courses is offered in close connection to cutting-edge technologies in order to give students a broad perspective of today’s materials science and links to applications in semiconductor technology, optoelectronics, bioengineering (biocompatibility), chemical and biosensors, and mechanical applications for high hardness and elasticity. Students will also be instructed through the in-depth CDIO (Conceive - Design - Implement – Operate) type of project courses to develop abilities for creative thinking and problem solving.

At last students will complete a thesis project in the area of materials science and nanotechnology, either in a research group in-house or the industry.

Career opportunities

The programme provides students with knowledge and skills required for modern science and technology. Graduates will be prepared for careers within academia or industry in materials-related research and development. Four profiles listed above are strongly linked to the cutting-edge technologies in materials science today. Therefore, the demand for talents in those fields is large both in research institutes and industries. For example, wide-bandgap semiconductors, high-performance soft matters, as well as hybrid smart materials are of high interest in the industries in Sweden and other European countries. Furthermore, as materials science is a research priority at Linköping University, there are two multidisciplinary PhD graduate schools here:

• Agora Materiae specialised in advanced functional materials
• Forum Scientium covering research activities in natural sciences, engineering and biomedicine.

Many of the programme’s graduates continue their advanced studies at one of these graduate schools.

Degree: Master of Science with a major in Applied Physics or Physics.

Year : 2015
Study Programme : MSN
Specialisation : MSN

Course name1Ht1

• Experimental Physics
• Quantum Mechanics
• Nanotechnology
• English
• Fundamentals in Materials Science

1Ht2

• Experimental Physics
• Physics of Condensed Matter I
• Surface Physics
• English

2Vt1

• Analytical Methods in Materials Science
• Physics of Condensed Matter II
• Material Optics
• Physical Metallurgy
• Classical Electrodynamics

2Vt2

• Analytical Methods in Materials Science
• Quantum Computers
• Optoelectronics
• Thin Film Physics

3Ht1

• Advanced Project Work in Applied Physics
• Analytical Mechanics
• Project course in Computational Physics CDIO
• Project Course in Physics - Design and Fabrication of Sensor Chip, CDIO
• Computational Physics
• Semiconductor Physics

3Ht2

• Advanced Project Work in Applied Physics
• Quantum Dynamics
• Semiconductor Technology
• Project course in Computational Physics CDIO
• Project Course in Physics - Design and Fabrication of Sensor Chip, CDIO
• Nano Physics

Programme specific requirementsApplicants shall have:a bachelor's degree in physics, applied physics, materials science, electronics engineering or equivalentat least 20 ECTS credits mathematics/applied mathematics and/or application of mathematics relevant to the program including courses in calculus, linear algebra, vector calculus, Fourier transform and differential equationsat least 20 ECTS credits in physics including courses in mechanics, wave physics, modern physics, electromagnetism, and thermal and statistical physics English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 575 TOEFL iBT® test: 90

Scholarships

LiU International Scholarships

Linköping University offers scholarships to new students with excellent academic results. Scholarships within the programme LiU International Scholarships will result in a tuition fee waiver.

Who is eligible?

• Students who have applied for master’s programmes at Linköping University in time (before 15 January)
• AND who have chosen a programme at Linköping University as the first priority (ranked as No.1 out of 4)
• AND who are required to pay tuition fees