Master's Programme in Physics, 120 Credits

Entry Requirements

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognised university. Specific entry requirements are: 60 ECTS in physics. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Degree

After completing the study programme, a student who has applied for a degree can obtain a Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) in accordance with the local qualification descriptor established by the Vice-Chancellor (see Umeå University's website). In Swedish, Degree of Master of Science (120 credits) is called Naturvetenskaplig masterexamen. The degree is awarded in the main field of study (Physics).

Description of the education for current education cycle

The education is at an advanced level (second cycle). The aims for second-cycle courses and study programmes are set out in the Higher Education Act, Chapter 1 Section 9.

National goals for current degree

The national aims for qualification are set out in the Higher Education Ordinance's Annex 2.

Examination format

Each syllabus sets out the examination formats used in each individual course.

Grades

Each syllabus sets out the examination formats used in each individual course.

Transfer of Credits

A student who believes to have gained knowledge from previous relevant studies or professional experience that may be equivalent to a course or part of a course in the programme can apply for transfer of credits. Granting a transfer of credits means that the student will not have to study the parts of the programme included in the decision. Information on transfer of credits is available on Umeå University's website.

https://www.umu.se/en/student/my-studies/transfer-of-credits/

General

The Master's Programme comprises 120 credits and includes compulsory courses, elective courses, and free electives (see below for an explanation of the different types of courses). As long as the requirements for qualification are met, students enjoy great freedom of choice with respect to courses. The programme may also be completed after just one year, which may lead to a Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) in Physics. If so, the programme concludes with a Master's Thesis of at least 15 credits.

The programme offers the following profiles:

• Computational Physics
• Photonics
• Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials
• Theoretical Physics

The students are recommended to follow the study path of one of these profiles but can also choose to combine courses from different profiles. The study path for each profile lists the elective courses that the students should study. Each profile includes between 7.5-22.5 credits elective and optional courses.

The courses included in the study programme are listed in chronological order under the headline "Study plan".

Most courses are offered at half-speed and thus students usually take two courses in parallel throughout the programme. Exceptions include the project courses (Master's Thesis in Physics, Master's Thesis in Physics I and III, Advanced Project in Physics and Project in Optical Physics), where the plan can be adapted to the student's individual study plan. 

Education is provided in the form of lectures, classes, and calculation exercises, as well as through supervision in connection with laboratory and project work. Laboratory and project results may be presented both orally and in writing. The studies are presumed to be full-time studies. A working week normally includes 10-20 hours of scheduled teaching, while the remaining time is dedicated to individual studies and exercises. The courses are often studied together with other programmes, mainly the Master of Science Programme in Engineering Physics. Usually, the courses are offered at half-speed. All courses are offered in English.

Compulsory courses 
Compulsory courses are courses that all students enrolled in the programme normally study. A student enrolled in the study programme is guaranteed a seat in all compulsory courses, provided that the entry requirements for the course in question are met. 
Entry requirements are set out in each respective course syllabus.

5FY172 Master's Thesis in Physics, 30 credits
5FY174 Quantum Mechanics 2, 7.5 credits
5FY213 Atomic and Molecular Physics, 7.5 credits
5FY168 Advanced Project in Physics, 7.5 credits

Recommendations for when, during the programme, these courses should be studied are listed below, with the exception Advanced Project in Physics. This course should be studied instead of an "Elective/Optional course" sometime during the programme.

Elective courses
Elective courses are a selection of courses that Umeå University offers within the scope of the programme and where the student chooses which courses to enrol in. The student is guaranteed a seat in one of these courses, provided that the entry requirements for the courses in question are met. However, the student is not guaranteed a seat in their first choice courses. Entry requirements are set out in each respective course syllabus.

Photonics, and Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials Profiles
5FY197 Non-Invasive Measurement Techniques, 7.5 credits
5FY175 Laser Physics, 7.5 credits
5FY194 Optical Construction, 7.5 credits
5FY192 Laser-Based Spectroscopic Techniques, 7.5 credits
5FY216 Spectroscopic Techniques for Material Science, 7.5 credits
5FY215 Advanced Laser Systems and Technology, 7.5 credits
5FY178 Advanced Materials, 7.5 credits
5FY185 Solar Cells, 7.5 credits
5FY182 Nano Science, 7.5 credits
5FY177 Project in Optical Physics, 4.5 credits

Computational Physics Profile
5FY167 Computational Fluid Dynamics, 7.5 credits
5FY198 Modelling the Dynamics of Living Systems, 7.5 credits
5MA176 The Finite Element Method, 7.5 credits
5FY187 Numerical Methods in Physics, 7.5 credits
5FY126 Information, Networks, and Markets, 7.5 credits
5DA003 Matrix Computations and Applications, 7.5 credits
5FY188 Monte Carlo Simulations of Critical Phenomena in Physics, 7.5 credits
5MA184 Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations, 7.5 credits
5DA004 Engineering Optimization

Theoretical Physics Profile
5FY193 General Relativity, 7.5 credits
5FY191 Advanced Fluid Mechanics, 7.5 credits
5FY195 Astrophysics, 7.5 credits
5FY170 Electrodynamics II, 7.5 credits
5FY196 Non-Linear Physics, 7.5 credits
5FY179 Quantum Field Theory I, 7.5 credits
5FY180 Quantum Field Theory II, 7.5 credits
5FY183 Space Physics with Measuring Techniques, 7.5 credits
5FY184 Space Plasma Physics, 7.5 credits

Other Elective Courses
5FY098/099/100/101
5FY098 Current Research Topics in Physics 1, 2 credits
5FY099 Current Research Topics in Physics 2, 2 credits
5FY100 Current Research Topics in Physics 3, 2 credits
5FY101 Current Research Topics in Physics 4, 2 credits
5FY190 Physical Measuring Techniques, 7.5 credits
5FY173 Master's Thesis in Physics II, 15 credits
5FY171 Master's Thesis in Physics III, 60 credits



For more information on courses, please see: https://www.umu.se/student/mina-studier/hitta-kurs-och-utbildningsplan/, and https://www.umu.se/institutionen-for-fysik/utbildning/kurser/

Free electives
Free electives within the programme are applied for in open competition. Free electives can be studied at Umeå University or at other higher education institutions in Sweden or abroad.

Degree/independent project
The Master's Thesis in Physics concludes the programme and may be started once the entry requirements in the course syllabus are met. For the degree project, comprising at least 30 credits, the student shall apply the knowledge acquired during their studies, independently cover the topic, and present the result orally and in a written report/thesis. The work shall include some form of subject-specific specialisation within the field of Physics. The degree project is usually completed individually. However, it is also occasionally permitted for two students to cooperate on a degree project.
The report is normally written in English. Alternatively, the report may be written in Swedish and shall then include an English abstract and an English translation of the title.

Deferment of studies

Information on deferment of studies is available on Umeå University's website.

Approved leave from studies

Information on approved leave from studies is available on Umeå University's website.

Discontinuation

Information on discontinuation is available on Umeå University's website.

Other

For more information, see Umeå University's Code of rules and procedures for first-cycle and second-cycle education https://www.umu.se/regelverk/

Outline

Valid from: HT21

To find out what compulsory, elective and optional courses are, please read under the section "General" above.

The programme contains the following compulsory courses:

5FY172 Master's Thesis in Physics, 30 credits
5FY174 Quantum Mechanics 2, 7.5 credits
5FY213 Atomic and Molecular Physics, 7.5 credits
5FY168 Advanced Project in Physics, 7.5 credits

Recommendations for when, during the programme, these courses should be studied are listed below, with the exception Advanced Project in Physics. This course should be studied instead of an "Elective/Optional course" sometime during the programme.

Study plan for the profiles

Below is a list of the courses, in the order of study, for the different profiles of the programme. The courses are studied in pairwise in parallel each as half-time studies, with the exception for the degree project which is normally studied as a full-time study during the last semester. During periods marked with "Elective/Optional courses" the students can choose elective courses from other profiles or optional courses.

Computational Physics

To study this profile, it is necessary to fulfil the requirements for the course Modelling and Simulation, in addition to the specific requirements of the programme.

Semester 1
- Quantum Mechanics 2
- Modelling and Simulation
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
Semester 2
- Numerical Methods in Physics
- Space Physics with Measuring Techniques
- Monte Carlo Simulations of Critical Phenomena in Physics
- The Finite Element Method
Semester 3
- Information, Networks and Markets*, or Modelling the Dynamics of Living Systems**
- Matrix Computations and Applications***
- Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations***
- Engineering Optimization
Semester 4
- Master's Thesis in Physics

* The course is only offered odd years.
** The course is only offered even years.
*** One of these courses should be exchanged for Advanced Project in Physics.

Photonics

Semester 1
- Quantum Mechanics 2
- Laser Physics* or Laser-Based Spectroscopic Techniques**
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Advanced Laser Systems and Technology* or Optical Construction**
Semester 2
- Non-Invasive Measurement Techniques
- Nano Science
- Non-Linear Physics* or Molecular Spectroscopy with Applications**
- Elective/Optional course
Semester 3
- Laser Physics* or Laser-Based Spectroscopic Techniques**
- Elective/Optional course
- Advanced Laser Systems and Technology* or Optical Construction**
- Elective/Optional course
Semester 4
- Master's Thesis in Physics

* The course is only offered odd years.
** The course is only offered even years.

During the third semester, the student can choose to study Master's Thesis in Physics, II during the two Elective/Optional courses. This course can then replace Advanced Project in Physics as a mandatory course.

Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials

To study this profile, it is necessary to fulfil the requirements for the course Modelling and Simulation, in addition to the specific requirements of the programme.

Semester 1
- Quantum Mechanics 2
- Modelling and Simulation or Laser-Based Spectroscopic Techniques**
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Optical Construction** or Non-Invasive Measurement Techniques
Semester 2
- Nano Science
- Elective/Optional course
- Solar Cells
- Advanced Materials
Semester 3
- Modelling and Simulation or Laser-Based Spectroscopic Techniques**
- Elective/Optional course
- Optical Construction** or Non-Invasive Measurement Techniques
- Elective/Optional course
Semester 4
- Master's Thesis in Physics

** The course is only offered even years.

By starting the degree project in semester 3, it is possible to also fit in the course Spectroscopic Techniques for Material Science** in semester 2 or 4.

Theoretical Physics

To study this profile, it is necessary to fulfil the requirements for the course Modelling and Simulation, in addition to the specific requirements of the programme.

Semester 1
- Quantum Mechanics 2
- Modelling and Simulation
- Atomic and Molecular Physics
- Electrodynamics 2*, or General Relativity**
Semester 2
- Quantum Field Theory I
- Space Physics with Measuring Techniques
- Any two of: Astrophysics*, Non-Linear Physics*, Quantum Field Theory II, Space Plasma Physics, Advanced Fluid Mechanics
Semester 3
- Information, Networks and Markets*, or Modelling the Dynamics of Living Systems**
- Elective/Optional course
- Computational Fluid Dynamics
- Electrodynamics 2*, or General Relativity**
Semester 4
- Master's Thesis in Physics

* The course is only offered odd years.
** The course is only offered even years.