In this programme, you will acquire knowledge in fundamental physics, material sciences, nanosciences and computational methods. Moreover, you will gain various competences through the advanced practicals and workshops proposed within the programme, all beneficial for your future professional activities.

The competences our programme provides are:

• developing analytical mindset and understanding concepts used to describe matter at and below nanoscale; mastering the formalisms and methods in order to perform theoretical studies and calculations with applications from atomistic to macroscopic scale;

• evaluating the appropriate experimental techniques to probe specific properties of matter;

• acquiring experience in large scale facilities;

• developing communication skills and world-wide networking in a multi-cultural environment;

• performing independent research, using relevant scientific literature, delimiting a scientific problem, choosing appropriate methods, interpreting and evaluating the results, and  presenting the results to a large audience in correct language and in popular form (when needed).               

The study program has a clear profile that is tailored to the professional and academic field. The competences the students need to obtain with regard to knowledge and skills are clearly formulated and these are assessed in the evaluations. The structure of the programme and the content of the courses fit in nicely with this. There is a strong link between teaching and research.           

Your programme:

The bachelor's programme’s strengths, according to the visitation committee, are the extensive focus on experimental skills and the presence of modern physics early in the programme. The profile of the Master's in Physics builds on that of the Bachelor's programme, but it also emphasizes the student's personal responsibility, language proficiency and professional skills. Through good training in problem solving and critical thinking, the programme delivers physicists who can be used in many professional branches.       

As recommended by the visitation committee, the study programme has decided to involve Bachelor's students more in current research through the Bachelor's thesis. To encourage students to obtain their Bachelor's degree first, access to the Master's program have been made stricter.       

At the request of the visitation committee, the programme has developed the master’s programme further in line with the bachelor’s programme. The master's thesis supervision was strengthened and the objectives of the compulsory courses and modules in the master were reviewed and improved. The programme has optimized the learning line in computer skills.       

To attract more students, in particular female students, the programme organizes a lot of outreach activities such as students who present the research of their bachelor’s thesis at their former secondary school.

Your future:           

All the acquired competences in the Master will contribute to the easy integration of the graduates in the academic world, the European R&D base, as well as in the private job market. A large fraction of our graduates continue their education in a PhD programme, but many of them also find careers in private companies (as scientists, engineers or managers) and teaching institutions.