Program structure and approach
This two-year Master’s programme is organised into a taught study phase (first year) and a research phase (second year). During the study phase you follow lectures, seminars and laboratory courses across two semesters to broaden and deepen your knowledge in physics topics of your choice. The programme is delivered in English and balances theoretical instruction with hands-on lab work to prepare you for advanced research.
Research phase and thesis
In the third semester you move into the research phase, which comprises two modules: a research internship and a methods & project planning module. These prepare you for the independent research project that you carry out as your Master’s thesis in the fourth semester. The structure is designed so you gain practical experience in a research environment and develop the methodological and project-management skills needed to complete a substantial scientific project.
Research areas (possible specialisations)
Key programme components (requirements)
This structure enables you to tailor your studies to a chosen research area and gain direct experience in laboratory or theoretical projects before completing your thesis.
This two-year Master's programme is organised across four semesters and is designed to build advanced theoretical knowledge, practical laboratory skills and independent research experience. The schedule assumes a winter-semester start; a summer intake is possible but requires careful planning because some courses run only once a year and may not be available in the first semester.
In the first year you combine hands-on experimental training with advanced coursework and seminars. Core elements include intensive experimental exercises and a choice of a specialist theoretical module (solid-state or elementary-particle theory), together with an advanced physics seminar and both general and physics-focused specialisation tracks. These components develop techniques in experimental design and measurement, deep theoretical understanding, and academic presentation and critical discussion skills.
The second year emphasises research and project management. A substantial research internship and a project-planning module prepare you for the fourth-semester Master’s thesis, where you carry out an independent research project. Learning outcomes across the programme include the ability to design and execute experiments, apply advanced theoretical methods, manage a research project, communicate results effectively, and work independently at a research level.
Requirements (credit points)
Total: 120 CP
Note: “CP” denotes credit points used in the programme’s credit system; check the official timetable before choosing a summer start because some modules are offered only once per year.
You must hold a first-cycle (Bachelor-level) degree in physics that is recognised under the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) or an internationally equivalent qualification in the same subject area. The programme expects a solid physics background from your prior studies.
Your bachelor’s degree must have a sufficiently strong overall grade: a final mark in the B–C range on the ECTS grading scale (i.e., B or C or better). This grade requirement corresponds to a German grade of up to 2.9 (≤ 2.9 on the German scale).
If your home institution uses a different grading system, be prepared to provide official transcripts and any available grade conversion information or explanatory documentation so the selection committee can verify equivalence.
Winter Semester (International)
15 May 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for research careers in academia (including progression to PhD programmes) and for R&D roles in industry sectors such as materials science, medical technology, particle and accelerator laboratories, and instrumentation. The programme’s combination of advanced coursework, laboratory experience and a supervised research project fosters skills in experimental design, data analysis, scientific programming and independent project management that are valued in both research institutions and high-tech companies.
Additionally, the international orientation and mobility options (Erasmus+, departmental exchanges) help build networks and transferable skills for careers in multinational research collaborations, science policy, or technology transfer.
Friedrich Schiller University Jena — Jena
University of Göttingen — Göttingen
Technical University of Munich — München
Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz — Mainz