MSc in Physics
University of Southern Denmark
Key Information
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Campus location
Odense, Denmark
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
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Application deadline
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Earliest start date
01 Sep 2024
* for full degree students from the Nordic countries or from the EU/EEA countries and Switzerland; 6,640 EUR per semester for students with a non-EU/EEA-citizenship or non-Swiss-citizenship
Introduction
With internationally awarded and acknowledged research groups at the forefront of Physics, SDU has one of the most versatile and dynamic academic environments to offer you a specialized education in the fields of Computational Physics, Particle Physics & Cosmology, Quantum Optics, and Soft Matter & Statistical Physics.
Curriculum
Program structure
The Master's degree program in Physics at SDU has a standard duration of two years.
The first semester consists of four compulsory courses:
- FY803: Quantum physics (10 ECTS)
- FY817: Introduction to Astrophysics and Cosmology (5 ECTS)
- FY828: Advanced statistical physics (10 ECTS)
- FY829: Research activities in experimental physics (5 ECTS)
During the second semester, you can choose freely among all Master- and PhD-level courses offered by the Faculty of Science, across all subject areas, as long as you meet any academic prerequisites. Most of the courses have a weighting of 10 ECTS. By approval from the Study Board, you can also take courses offered by other faculties if they are relevant to the academic profile of the Physics program.
During the second year, you will complete your own individual research-based Master Thesis project, which has a weighting of 60 ECTS.
The courses in the program are taught entirely in English.
Specializations
The structure of the Master's degree program in Physics allows you to opt for a general profile or specialize in one of the following subject areas:
- Computational Physics
- Particle Physics and Cosmology
- Quantum Optics
- Soft Matter and Statistical Physics
The specializations should be considered as suggestions to give you a better overview of the elective courses that we offer, but you will not be required to stick to courses from just one specialization.
Master's Thesis project
The Master's Thesis project on the Physics program is a 60 ECTS individual research-based project.
You can take part in an existing research-based project developed by your supervisor, develop your own project according to your interests or work on a real-life project in collaboration with a company.
Throughout the entire project, you will be supervised by a professor who is an expert on the topic of your project. Most of our thesis students meet with their supervisors on a weekly basis to discuss questions arising and the progress of their projects.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Career perspectives
Most physicists work in research and development, but physicists have skills that are demanded by many different businesses.
Industry
Most industrial physicists work in IT, telecommunications, and related industries. However, a Physics degree can also lead to careers in finance, the energy industry, and various consultancies.
Government
Government agencies hire physicists to conduct research, work in regulatory affairs and public policy, or almost any other area that requires workers with scientific training.
Danish government agencies are located across the country, although the highest concentration is in the Copenhagen area.
Healthcare
While they are unable to advise on medical treatment, physicists are often employed within areas such as radiology, radiation oncology, and nuclear medicine, in order to design, test, and approve new medical technologies and equipment.
If you pursue a healthcare career as a physicist, you will be working as part of a team comprised of fellow physicists, biomedical engineers, clinicians, and pathologists.
Research
Research can be conducted in many different ways. For instance, you could be based in a university, combining research with teaching; or in a public-sector research centre, helping to ensure national provisions keep pace with new discoveries.
Typically, a career in academic research will require a Ph.D. degree.
Entrepreneurial career
Some physicists opt to start their own company. Being an entrepreneur requires understanding the business side of science and learning a completely new language of business plans, marketing, advertising, competitive intelligence, market analysis, cash flow, taxes, applicable regulations, intellectual property protection, financing, and much more.
If you thrive on challenge and self-reliance, this may be the career path for you.