Master's Programme in Physics – Nuclear and Particle Physics

Each specialisation within the Master's Programme in Physics has a recommended study outline, with a selection of suggested courses. It is not expected that you take all the courses but instead you make choices that are most meaningful to you. One can even pick courses from other specialisations or master's programmes. At the beginning of your studies, we meet with you and go over possibilities helping you to make a well-informed decision.

The wide range of choices in the programme means that all student backgrounds and interests are catered for. This is particularly important as our student group is international, and perhaps especially important for the Nuclear and Particle Physics specialisation where your choice of courses can prepare your future research.

Year 1

You have a wide range of courses to choose from, including:

• Advanced Quantum Mechanics,
• Symmetry and Group theory in Physics,
• Quantum Field Theory,
• Applied Deep Learning,
• Astroparticle Physics,
• Advanced Nuclear Physics with Modern Data Analysis,
• Advance Particle Physics.

Other courses include Analytical Mechanics, Special Relativity, Electromagnetic Field Theory or Classical Electrodynamics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, as well as Statistical Methods in Physics and Engineering.

Year 2

Following the courses in Accelerator Physics and Technology and/or Quantum Chromodynamics and Effective Field Theory, advanced Quantum Field Theory, a significant part of the second year is devoted to a degree project. There are a variety of projects open to you, usually based on one of the topics our research groups are engaged in. They range from detector development, over experimental data analysis over experimental data analysis, often with state-of-the-art methods such as deep neural networks or simulations of experiments, to theoretical research.

The projects can involve data analysis and simulation or can be more directed toward instrumentation. There is also the possibility of doing a more theoretical project, for example on the structure of hadrons and predictions for their properties, or interpretation of LHC data to test or find discrepancies with the standard model.

The programme has a very strong connection to research in the division for Nuclear Physics and the division for High Energy Physics at Uppsala University, which are internationally very competitive. The research in our groups is highly collaborative, and during the thesis project, you will be integrated in a research group.

Courses within the programme

See the programme outline for courses within the specialisation.

Our teachers are active researchers and the courses closely follow current developments in nuclear, particle and astroparticle physics. During a typical week, you will have about 8–10 hours of scheduled classroom time. The majority of time is thus spent studying on your own or in a study group outside the classroom.

Classes are typically small, ranging from a few students up to about 20. This gives you close contact with the teachers as well as your fellow students. Our teaching is in English as the student group is international.

Instruction consists of lectures, teacher-supervised tuition, and guidance in conjunction with laboratory work. The forms of examination vary depending on the course content and outline. Final exams are more common for theoretical courses, although many teachers have continuous examinations during the course, such as group discussions and hand-in exercises.

You can also choose to conduct research projects. They are a lot like thesis work, only shorter in duration, and are an excellent way into a new research field and research group.

The specialisation in Nuclear and Particle Physics gives you a versatile and solid background in fundamental physics and its applications. You will be very well prepared to go on to pursue a PhD degree in these, or related, fields.

You will also have great opportunities for jobs in industry or government. Our alumni can be found in a wide variety of industry, for example, in engineering, data analysis and software development. They work in fields such as medical technology, medical physics, Big Data, the energy sector, finance, or telecom. For a physicist with such a broad education as you, the opportunities are endless.

Career support

During your time as a student, UU Careers offers support and guidance. You have the opportunity to take part in a variety of activities and events that will prepare you for your future career.