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Master of Physics (Leuven)

Master of Science
The master trains physicists capable of working in research institutes, corporate environments or social
profit sector. Regardless of your chosen profile or option, you will obtain a thorough training in physics and a
good insight in the current status of physics research.
The programme contains a set of advanced physics courses and allows to further specialise in several fields
of physics with an additional set of specialisation courses and a master’s thesis. Moreover, through the
choice of the Research option or the option Physics in Society, you are introduced in the professional life of a
physicist.
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Master of Physics (120 ECTS)

Education
Key information
What is the Master of Physics all about? Location
The Master of Science in Physics (120 ECTS) is a research-based master’s programme in which you can specialize in the Leuven
following fields of physics:
Ects + duration
Condensed Matter Physics: Cluster Physics, Surface and Interface Physics, Correlated Electron Systems, 120 ECTS (2 years full-time)
Semiconductor Physics, Soft Matter Physics, Physics of Biosystems;
Nuclear Physics: Physics Beyond the Standard Model, Structure of Exotic Nuclei: Decay, Reactions and Laser Educational level
Spectroscopy, Theoretical Nuclear Physics Master’s
Theoretical Physics: Complex Systems, Cosmology, Mathematical Physics, String Theory.
Academic calendar
The programme aims to train physicists capable of working in research institutes, corporate environments or social profit
sector. Upon successful completion of the programme, students will have acquired:
1st semester: end of September -
thorough knowledge of physics in general as well as more in-depth knowledge of at least one specialised area; > end of January (exams in
the ability to make sound judgments informed by current research; January)
the ability to gain new insights and results and to develop new methods; 2nd semester: half of February ->
the ability to solve physical problems using the most appropriate experimental and/or theoretical methods and to report end of June (exams in June)
on research findings;
the ability to structure and analyse specific problems in different situations; KU Leuven academic calendar
strong teamwork skills;
Applying
the ability to communicate findings and insights;
Application deadline
a critical understanding of the role that physics plays in society.
1 March (for non-EEA citizens)
Structure 1 June (for EEA citizens)

After a semester with advanced courses in different disciplines of physics, you choose a major research specialisation How to apply
consisting of advanced and specialised courses and a master’s thesis of 30 ECTS. www.kuleuven.be/application
The remaining 30 ECTS allow you to follow one of two options: Research or Physics in Society.
Tuition fee 2018-2019
The Research option prepares you for a research career in academia or industry. You broaden your research skills by €922.30
choosing a minor research domain, including at least 12 ECTS courses from that domain and complemented by a
research internship or with other courses. Most recent information
The Physics in Society option offers you the opportunity to prepare for a career as a physicist outside academia, on www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees
through courses preparing you for entrepreneurship or via an internship in a company.
Chat with our students
Department Student Ambassadors

The mission of the Department of Physics and Astronomy is exploring, understanding and modelling physical realities Open days
using mathematical, computational, experimental and observational techniques. Fifteen teams perform research at an
Meet us in Belgium
international level. Publication of research results in leading journals and attracting top-level scientists are priorities for the
department. Meet us abroad

New physics and innovation in the development of new techniques are important aspects of our mission. The interaction Brochure
with industry (consulting, patents...) and society (science popularisation) are additional points of interest. Furthermore, the
Download the brochure
department is responsible for teaching basic physics courses in several study programmes.
Request the brochure
Application deadline for 2019-2020
Faculty website
1 March 2019 (for non-EEA citizens) Faculty of Science
 1 June 2019 (for EEA citizens)
KU Leuven uses an online application system. You can download and submit your application form
via www.kuleuven.be/application. Students with a Flemish degree can consult www.kuleuven.be/inschrijven.

Tuition fee

The current tuition fee is €922.30. The tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year will be determined in the spring of 2019.
Please consult the website for the most recent information: www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees

Master mind

Excellent students who are eligible for a Master Mind Scholarship are invited to submit their application before 1
February 2019.

Profile

Is this the right programme for me?

The ideal prospective student possesses the following skills and knowledge set:

a bachelor's degree in Physics (or in natural sciences or mathematics, with a strong physics component);
well-developed insight in the general methodology of physics, and the ability to situate this methodology and its
results;
the ability to tackle the study of a limited scientific topic and report about it (orally and in writing);
a thorough knowledge of traditional and modern physics at the bachelors level (classical mechanics,
electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, electrodynamics);
the ability to build upon logical and deductive reasoning skills and mathematical techniques (including statistics,
computer programming) to understand and apply physical principles in new situations;
the ability to use basic physics tools to carry out experiments and analyse, interpret and report on the results;
experience with the deeper levels of some subfield(s) of physics at an advanced level (statistical mechanics, nuclear
physics, condensed matter physics);
an awareness of at least one related science subfield and the ability to connect this subfield with physics, be it from a
fundamental or an applied viewpoint (e.g. astrophysics, mathematics, chemistry ...).
Specifically, the following (indicative) list of courses represents the level of prerequisite knowledge expected of prospective
students. For more detailed descriptions of content, a counterpart for each of these courses can be found in the Dutch-
language courses of the KU Leuven course catalogue under the heading 'bachelor in de fysica'.

General physics (27 ECTS) (for example Serway and Jewett, Physics for Scientists and Engineers; with modern
physics, complete)
Mathematics and computational techniques (33 ECTS) (calculus, linear algebra, statistics, differential equations,
including partial differential equations and notions of complex analysis, computer programming)
Intermediate physics (24 ECTS) (classical mechanics, electrodynamics, experimental methods, quantum mechanics)
At least two advanced physics courses (12 ECTS) that build upon the above.
At least one research project (individual or in group) with oral and written evaluation (6 ECTS)
This total of 102 ECTS should be considered a minimum. In particular, some additional mathematical and/or computer
skills, but especially additional advanced physics courses are highly recommended.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements Master of Physics

General admissions

Career perspectives

Career perspectives
The Department of Physics and Astronomy at KU Leuven generates substantial research funding. Consequently, many
research positions are available, and more than half the students obtaining a master’s degree in physics eventually start a
PhD programme in one of the department’s research groups.

A number of graduates prefer to pursue a second master’s degree, with medical radiation physics, environmental sciences,
and statistics as the most popular subjects. There are also excellent career opportunities in industry (ICT, material
research, electronics), consulting, government, banking (statistics), and higher education. Unemployment is nonexistent
among newly graduated physicists.

Start your career, during your studies

During your bachelor's and master's programme you can already shape your own profile by choosing a certain
specialisation, studying abroad (Erasmus), doing a work placement, or starting your own business.

The Student Career Centre is happy to put you on the right track towards your first work experience. The centre also
coaches you in the search for an interesting job and helps you with job interviews. For students wanting to start their own
business KU Leuven also has Lcie, the KU Leuven community that encourages students with innovative and
entrepreneurial ideas.

Don’t know where to start? The Student Career Centre's databases contain offers for jobs, volunteer work, innovation
projects and student jobs. You can also visit one of the events organised by the Career Centre.
 Contact

Faculty of Science Leuven

Geel Huis
Kasteelpark Arenberg 11 box 2100
3001 HEVERLEE, Belgium
Tel. + 32 16 32 14 01
info.wet@kuleuven.be

Programme director
Prof. M.J. Van Bael
Tel. +32 16 32 76 46
margriet.vanbael@kuleuven.be

Visit this department's website.

Objectives

The master students will grow into independent and critical scientists. Masters of physics will have developed sufficient
knowledge and skills to participate in competitive national or international PhD programmes. Moreover the acquired
research methodology will prepare the student for employment as a scientist in any chosen profession.

The curriculum is constructed in a way that the student can specialize in an area of choice by joining one of the research
groups of the department. This specialization can be in the field of nuclear physics, condensed matter physics
ortheoretical physics. A major part of the curriculum consists of research resulting in a master thesis. The subject of the
thesis is chosen by the student during the course of the second semester of the 1st Master year and students join a
research team from the 3th semester onwards.

The students can choose an option to prepare themselves better for a future in research or in industry or society related
fields.

In the option "research" the student can take courses from another research specialization than its major one, which can
be accompanied by an internship in one of the research teams of this minor discipline. As such our students have the
possibility to broaden their knowledge in at least two scientific disciplines (in physics or a related field), which is invaluable
when a further research career in or out of academia is considered.

In the option "Physics for society" students can choose for an internship of a full semester in a company or they can take
courses from the LCIE Entrepreneurship Academy who wants to prepare academics for entrepreneurschip.

The Erasmus programme of the European Union offers an excellent opportunity for Belgian students who would like to
combine their study with experience outside the KU Leuven. All research groups of the department have a network of
European collaborators and we advise interested students to integrate this exchange with their thesis research during their
second Master year. Choices concerning the Erasmus programme need to be made in December of the 1st Master year.
Address the Erasmus coordinator to obtain specific information on this European programme !

At the end of the Master programme the student:

* has a broad knowledge of modern physics;

* has specialized in one of the following important areas of physics: solid-state physics, nuclear physics, theoretical
physics or physics of soft matter;
* is familiar with the most recent developments in the research area of the chosen specialization of the master thesis;
* is able to carry out research in a professional and multidisciplinary research team under the supervision of experts;
* is able to independently solve advanced physics problems by choosing the appropriate experimental
and/or theoretical method, develop the method and report on it in a correct way;
* has developed the literature research skills to be able to process and present insights and results from international
scientific research to both specialists and peers;
* is able to reflect critically, communicate and discuss the social role and the ethical dimension of scientific research in
general and physics research in particular;
* has mastered scientific English to such a level that he/she can deliver written and oral reports;
* is able to use the scientific methodology in his/her own learning process while acquiring new concepts inside as well as
outside physics. This is a vital skill for lifelong learning.
* has insight into the role of physics research in the society of the twenty-first century
* is able to place a contemporary discussion on physics research into a historical framework and formulate his/her own
opinion.

Direct:
Postgraduate Studies in Advanced Medical Imaging (Leuven)

Access after preparatory, bridging or abridged programme :

Master of Actuarial and Financial Engineering (New programme as from 2018-2019) (Leuven), after taking
Voorbereidingsprogramma: Master in de actuariële en financiële wetenschappen / Master of Actuarial and Financial
Engineering (Leuven)
Master in de actuariële en financiële wetenschappen (nieuw programma vanaf 2018-2019) (Leuven), after taking
Voorbereidingsprogramma: Master in de actuariële en financiële wetenschappen / Master of Actuarial and Financial
 Engineering (Leuven)
Master in de actuariële en financiële wetenschappen (nieuw programma vanaf 2018-2019) (Leuven), after taking
Preparatory Programme: Master of Actuarial and Financial Engineering (Leuven)

Admission requirements

Master of Physics (Leuven)

In the context of the wellbeing law certain data must be stored for each student and they must be informed timely on the
subject of:

the risks to which the student is exposed during the study programme (practicals, traineeships, master's theses,…)
the associated preventive measures for each risk, such as medical follow-up, personal protective equipment and
instructions.
The risks and preventive measures are collected in the HSE-file for students. Through this link you can consult the HSE-
file. The HSE-file will be used for traineeships and/or master’s theses. For more information about traineeships, we refer to
the following site: traineeship.. For questions, please contact the HSE Department.

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