This Master’s programme combines high-level research with strong teaching to give you a broad yet flexible education in physics. You can shape your studies to concentrate on areas that match your interests while gaining deep subject knowledge, research methods, and professional skills needed to carry out scientific work, critically evaluate results, and act responsibly in professional contexts. The curriculum encourages early independent study and supports individual development paths.
You will develop the ability to tackle unfamiliar, multidisciplinary problems, communicate at a scientific level with specialists, and take on responsibility within teams. The programme includes targeted competence modules that build practical skills relevant to research and industry, preparing you for academic or professional careers.
The faculty is research-active and internationally connected, offering more than 20 research groups and access to renowned scientists and research programmes. Interdisciplinary collaboration is promoted across the university and through its global networks, while the faculty maintains a supportive, close-knit atmosphere between students and staff.
Practical benefits include a wide choice of module combinations to create an individual study plan, no tuition fees (only a semester social contribution), and a student public-transport ticket included in that fee. The Ruhr region also offers comparatively low living costs.
Requirements and key facts
Overview
This two-year Master’s in Physics is organised into a two-semester taught study phase followed by a two-semester research phase. In the study phase you consolidate and extend the experimental and theoretical methods learned in your Bachelor’s degree, take modules that introduce you to current research in a chosen focus area, and complete courses that build interdisciplinary and transferable skills. The curriculum also includes modules from other disciplines to broaden your perspective.
The research phase starts with a three-month period dedicated to preparing for your research project and becoming familiar with your chosen topic. The programme culminates in a Master’s thesis that you write under the supervision of a professor; the thesis is expected to be completed within nine months. You may propose your own thesis topic in agreement with your supervisor, and the research training emphasises independent scientific work and methods.
Key modules (typical)
Learning outcomes and programme requirements
This programme expects applicants to hold a completed physics Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) and specific subject credits. CP refers to credit points (commonly ECTS); 180 CP typically corresponds to a three‑year / six‑semester Bachelor's programme. If your background does not fully match the listed requirements, you are still encouraged to apply and to contact the programme advisers to discuss your individual situation.
Conditional admission is possible when gaps remain: you can be admitted provided the missing credit points do not exceed 40 CP. Any outstanding conditions must be fulfilled no later than your admission to the Master’s thesis. Coursework taken to satisfy these conditions is additional and does not count toward your Master’s degree (grades from these courses will not be included in your Master’s record).
Required academic background — please provide documentation of:
If you do not meet all of the above, you may still apply. Conditional admission can be granted when missing credits are no more than 40 CP; those missing credits must be completed before starting the Master’s thesis. Note that courses taken to meet conditions are extra-curricular for the Master’s degree and their grades will not be counted toward the Master’s programme.
Winter Semester (International)
15 July 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Graduates acquire advanced specialist knowledge, research skills and independent problem-solving abilities suited for academic research and development roles. The programme’s research phase and thesis training prepare students for PhD studies and careers in university or institute-based research.
Outside academia, graduates are well positioned for R&D and technical roles in industry (e.g. materials science, semiconductor and plasma industries), data science, engineering, instrumentation, and science-related consulting. The emphasis on interdisciplinary work and practical competence modules also supports transitions into technology-driven sectors and internationally oriented positions.
Friedrich Schiller University Jena — Jena
University of Göttingen — Göttingen
Technical University of Munich — München
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz — Mainz