Physics M.Sc.

 

The RWTH Aachen University offers a novel international Master’s program in physics. Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to flexibly choose a desired course of study falling either into the research direction of Particle and Astroparticle Physics or Condensed Matter Physics, with an experimental or a theoretical focus. The large physics department in Aachen, comprising of 11 research institutes, provides a rich variety of basic and specialised Master’s courses and an opportunity to participate in top-quality research at one of the best technical universities in Germany.

RWTH Aachen University is a world renowned institution in the international community of particle physicists, both in theoretical and experimental fields. Our institutes are involved in the CMS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, at which the last sought-after elementary particle of the standard model was discovered, the Higgs-Boson. Questions from astroparticle physics and cosmology are also answered through involvement in the AMS experiment on the International Space Station.

The research groups in the Department of Physics have strong international networks. For this reason the international experience of our graduates is very important to us. We happily support stays abroad, see Programs Abroad, however work with international research groups during Master theses also offers diverse opportunities for international experiences. Furthermore, the international physics Master course of study is held in English.

As a technical university, RWTH Aachen offers physics students in particular many possibilities to get to know interdisciplinary topics in engineering. This is illustrated in the Master's specialization fields nanoelectronics and Quantum Technology, which are offered together with the Faculty of Electrical Engineering. The Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology or the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Technology are also collaborators.

Overall, physics studies in Aachen offer graduates a great deal, that prepares them outstandingly for later professional challenges, whether they be in basic research or in industry.

 

Degree Content

The international Master's program in Physics is a two years program. The first year consists of lectures, seminars and lab courses. The second year is dedicated to an individual research project.

The international Master’s curriculum is organized along six different tracks, see list below. For each track the first year of Master’s studies has several mandatory courses as well as elective courses. The elective courses can be chosen from the many specialisation courses offered by Aachen physics faculty, researchers at the research center in Jülich as well as elective courses from other related Master’s programs (biophysics, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, laser technology, material science etc.). An overview of these courses is available in the Course Module Catalogue. The available specialised courses can vary from term-to-term or year-to-year. The curriculum is set up to offer maximum flexibility and allows students to select courses which prepare them to achieve the research goals of the second Master's year.

At the end of the first year of studies, students choose a Master's thesis supervisor in one of the institutes. During the second year, the students will complete a Master's thesis research project. The precise form of the project depends on the research topic and is developed together with the responsible supervisor. In the last semester, the students complete their Master's thesis work, write up their Master’s thesis and give a presentation about their research project (Master's defense colloquium).

You can find more information about the schedule on the department website.

Tracks of Study

• Experimental Particle Physics
• Astroparticle Physics and Cosmology
• Quantum Field Theory and Gauge Theories
• Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ,
• Nanoelectronics
• Quantum Technology
• Condensed Matter Theory

Subsidiary Subjects

Courses from other Master´s programs can be selected to specialize in one of the following subsidiary subjects: Astronomy and Astrophysics, Economics, Biomedical Engineering, Biophysics, Chemistry, Energy Technology, Computer Science, Geophysics, Crystallography, Laser Technology, Aerospace Technology, Mathematics, Patent System, Philosophy, Technical Acoustics, Process Technology, Electronic Materials, Physics of Materials.
Some of these courses are not taught in English.

Study Abroad

The Department of Physics maintains research and teaching collaborations with a number of European and non-European universities. Stays abroad in the shape of internships and study abroad are highly recommended. It is possible to complete one or two semesters abroad at one of our numerous European partner universities during the first academic year as part of the ERASMUS program. You can find details and experience reports on the department website. Here you can get an overview of all of RWTH’s international collaborative programs.

Laboratory Courses and Research Projects

The laboratory courses take place in special laboratories of the physics department which offer an excellent up to date equipment. The courses of the first year of study provide the qualification for the research project of the second year of study. The results of this research project are described and presented in the Master’s thesis.
The research project can be chosen from one of the current research fields in the department of physics, the Forschungszentrum Jülich or another institute of RWTH Aachen University. Here you can find an overview of the research activities of the department. Collaboration with the international partners in these research activities is desired.

 

Prerequisites

Academic Prerequisites

In order to be sufficiently qualified for the Master’s course in Physics the student applicant must have acquired a fundamental education in physics with knowledge as it is acquired in a regular Bachelor’s program in physics. The specific requirements can be found in the examination regulations of the Master’s program. The decision on the admission of the candidates is taken by the board of examiners. Please contact the Departmental Student Advising for further questions.

Language Prerequisites

The Master’s program in physics is an international program. Courses are taught in English language. Student applicants who have not obtained their academic qualification at an English-language institution or who are not English native speakers must prove sufficient fluency in English. Please contact the Departmental Student Advising for further questions.

Detailed information

You can find more information about the prerequisites on the department´s website.

or department´s

Master’s College for International Students

The successful participation in the Master's program in Physics at RWTH Aachen University requires an undergraduate education that enables students to follow lectures at a very advanced and specialized level. Hence, some Bachelor graduates do not meet the requirements for admission. For these students, the Department of Physics and the International Academy, as official institution for education attached to the university, have developed a new master’s entry programme, the Master’s College.
This innovative programme includes bridging courses in theoretical and modern physics, scientific guidance, involvement in research and laboratory experiments, as well as an intense social support especially for international students. Please refer to the Master's College for more information.

 

Media Library

You can find our recommendations in the media library.

 

Career Prospects

Detailed informations on career persepectives can be found at the website of the German Physical Society.

 

Module Handbook and Examination Regulations

The module handbook provides a description of all modules of a degree program and offers a comprehensive insight into the program contents.

The examination regulations are comprised of legally binding provisions on learning objectives, prerequisites for study, the course structure and processes, and examination procedures.

Regulations that generally apply to all Bachelor's and Master's degree programs, including information on language proficiency requirements, can be found in RWTH's General Examination Regulations. These general regulations are further specified and complemented by the subject-specific examination regulations.

If two examination regulations are valid for a degree program during a transition phase, the most current version shall apply to students enrolling in the program for the first time.

Please note that only the German examination regulations are legally binding.

Module Handbook
Subject-Specific Examination Regulations
RWTH's General Examination Regulations

 

Faculty

The Master course of study in Physics is offered by the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences.