Master's Programme in Physics

120 credits

Programme syllabus, TFY2M

A revised version of the programme syllabus is available.
Code
TFY2M
Finalised by
The Faculty Board of Science and Technology, 8 November 2012
Registration number
TEKNAT 2012/87
Responsible faculty
Faculty of Science and Technology
Responsible department
Department of Physics and Astronomy

Decisions and guidelines

1. Decision to offer two-year Master programmes

According to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2006-09-16, Uppsala University will offer two-year Master programmes in biology, computer science, physics, earth science, sustainable development, chemistry, mathematics, computational science and applied biotechnology, all from 2007-07-01. Furthermore according to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2008-06-07 a Master programme in bioinformatics from 2009-07-01.

2. Objectives for a Degree

2.1 Objectives for a Degree of Master (One Year) (Magisterexamen)

Objectives for a Degree of Master (One Year) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must

- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both a broad command of the field and deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with insight into current research and development work; and

- demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must

- demonstrate an ability to integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;

- demonstrate an ability to independently identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits;

- demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing; and

- demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work in other advanced contexts.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must

- demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;

- demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used; and

- demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

2.2 Objectives for a Degree of Master (Two Years) (Masterexamen)

Objectives for a Degree of Master (Two Years) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must

- demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with deeper insight into current research and development work; and

- demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must

- demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;

- demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits, so as to contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work;

- demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, in national and international contexts; and - demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced contexts.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must

- demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;

- demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people's responsibility for how it is used; and

- demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

Entry requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish degree of at least 180 credits (i.e. three years of full-time studies), including 75 credits in physics.

Proof of skills in English to a level corresponding to English B in the Swedish secondary school. This is normally attested by means of an internationally recognised test with the following minimum scores:

  • IELTS: an overall mark of 6.5 and no section below 5.5
  • TOEFL: Paper-based: Score of 4.5 (scale 1-6) in written test and a total score of 575. Internet-based: Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test and a total score of 90
  • Cambridge: CAE, CPE

Layout of the programme

4.3.1 Description of the programme

The courses within the programme are on an advanced level. The programme provides a structured range of courses that lead to a Master of Science (two years) Degree in Physics. After one year the student may, if he or she wishes, finish with a Master of Science (one year) Degree in Physics.

4.3.2 Comprehensive aims of the education

After having accomplished the programme the student will achieve a Master's degree according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications. The main topic of the programme is physics. Within the programme the following profiles can be pursued: material physics (magnetism, materials theory, chemical physics), theoretical physics (Quantum fields and strings), nuclear and particle physics, energy physics, astronomy and space physics, geo-physics, meteorology, and physics didactics. After exam the student shall be prepared to utilise the achieved deep knowledge in physics either to start a PhD study or for activities in industry or public organisations.

4.3.3 Aims as expected results of the study

Within the framework of the goals given in the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications the student of the programme must:

- demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the objectives and models of physics, as well as their limitations, and demonstrate the ability to increase the knowledge of the field.

- be able to independently initiate, control and lead investigations of complicated scenarios in a scientific way.

- demonstrate a capacity to independently plan and perform calculations, simulations, experiments and scientific observations within physics

- be able to collaborate within a group as well as to plan and lead a group collaboration

- be able to follow the development within the research field, and to judge new findings by help of relevant scientific literature and databases

- be able to use the terminology of physics in order to explain and discuss new research discoveries

- be able to give a correct and balanced picture of methods, results, conclusions and future applications

4.3.4 Programme outline

The first semester is partly utilised to level out the differences in knowledge between students with different background and partly to provide non-introductory courses within quantum- or macroscopic physics. The last year courses are closely connected to current research. The obligatory independent project work (degree project) is performed either during the last semester or during the whole last year in parallel with other courses.

The Master programme in physics consists of the following specialisations

- Specialisation in physics

- Specialisation in astronomy and space physics

- Specialisation in geo-physics

- Specialisation in meteorology

In addition there exist several profiles within the physics specialisation:

- Materials Physics

- Nuclear and Particle Physics

- Theoretical Physics: Quantum Fields and Strings

- Energy Physics

- Physics Didactics

4.3.5 The courses of the programme

The courses in the programme can be seen from the outline. The extent of the courses is given in higher education credits (hp). Courses, up to 30 credits, also can be chosen from other main fields.

Degree

3.1 Regulations according to Higher Education Ordinance

A Degree of Master (One Year) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 60 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 30 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

Exceptions may be made to the requirement of a previous qualification for a student who has been admitted to the educational programme without having had basic eligibility in the form of a qualification. However, this does not apply if in the admissions process an exception has been made under Chapter 7, Section 28, second paragraph on the grounds that there has been insufficient time to issue a qualification certificate.

A Degree of Master (Two Years) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

Exceptions may be made to the requirement of a previous qualification for a student who has been admitted to the educational programme without having had basic eligibility in the form of a qualification. However, this does not apply if in the admissions process an exception has been made under Chapter 7, Section 28, second paragraph on the grounds that there has been insufficient time to issue a qualification certificate.

Independent project (degree project)

For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements.

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements. The independent project may comprise less than 30 higher education credits, but not less than 15 higher education credits, if the student has already completed an independent project at the second level worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, or an equivalent project in a foreign educational programme.

3.2 Local regulations

Main fields for a Degree of Master (One Year) and a Degree of Master (Two Years) at the Faculty of Science and Technology are Biology, Computer Science, Physics, Earth Science, Sustainable Development, Chemistry, Mathematics, Computational Science and Applied Biotechnology.

A Degree of Master (one year ) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 15 higher education credits. A degree of Master ( two years ) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 30 higher education credits. The course or the courses are meant to provide such additional competence as is needed for in-depth studies in the main field of study and cannot be included in the student's basic degree.

For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits.

Other directives

In the course plans the following is meant by “requirements” respectively “recommended requirements”: Required conditions must be fulfilled, while for recommended requirements, the student has to be aware that there might be substantial extra studying needed if the recommended requirements are not fulfilled.

Students who, outside the programme, have acquired equivalent qualifications corresponding to at least 15 credits on advanced level in addition to the degree at Bachelor’s level, may apply to be accepted to a later part of the programme. The application deadline is for the autumn term May 1 and for the spring term December 1.

4.3.7 Grade and examination

Unless otherwise prescribed in the course syllabus, a grade is to be awarded on completion of a course. A student who has taken two examinations in a course or a part of a course without obtaining a pass grade is entitled to have another examiner appointed, unless there are special reasons to the contrary.

4.3.8 Courses together in a degree

Some courses cannot be considered in a degree together. Which courses this concern will be pointed out in each course syllabus.

4.3.9 Qualification and diploma

Upon request, a student who has received a pass grade in a course is to receive a course certificate from the higher education institution. Upon request, a student who meets the requirements for a qualification is to receive a diploma from the higher education institution.

A Degree of Master (One Year) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 60 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 30 higher education credits with in-depth studies in physics. For a Degree of Master (One Year) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 15 higher education credits in physics, within the framework of the course requirements.

A Degree of Master (Two Years) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in physics. For a Degree of Master (Two Years) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in physics, within the framework of the course requirements A degree of Master (Two Years) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 30 higher education credits.

Outline

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