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As of 1.10.2022, the Faculty of Physics has been merged into the TUM School of Natural Sciences with the website https://www.nat.tum.de/. For more information read Conversion of Websites.

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This page contains information on the Bachelor’s program in Physics for students beginning their studies in October 2020. Students who started their studies before this date check the curriculum valid until 2020.

Your Bachelor in Physics at TUM

Our Bachelor is a science-oriented program, which provides students with a solid educational background in physics. After a common fundamentals phase during the first four semesters, follows the individual specialization in the last year.

Our German-taught program provides our students with a very stong theoretical and experimental basis in physics, enabling them to continue their education in one of our consecutive Physics Master’ programs or our offer of interdisciplinary Master’s programs. In the Master’s programs they are led to state-of-the-art research on current topics. Beyond this option, our Bachelor program also highly qualifies students for many other disciplines at TUM.

Flyer "Study and Research Opportunities at TUM Physics Department" (PDF)

Fundamentals Phase (Semester 1 to 4)

During the first four semesters, all our Bachelor students take essentially the same core courses in mathematics, experimental physics, theoretical physics, and chemistry. The curriculum is completed with a basic lab course, general-education subjects and technical basics (e.g. informatics).

A unique feature offered by our deparment is the mentoring program for Bachelor students. Each of our professors has a small group of mentees, being their contact person in any question related to their studies and beyond.

Semester 1

ModulesWorkload
PH0001 Experimental Physics 1 (Mechanics) 9 CP
MA9201 Mathematics for Physicists 1 (Linear Algebra) 8 CP
MA9202 Mathematics for Physicists 2 (Analysis 1) 8 CP
PH0009 Basic Lab Course Part 1 5 CP

Semester 2

ModulesWorkload
PH0002 Experimental Physics 2 (Electromagnetismus) 9 CP
PH0005 Theoretical Physics 1 (Classical Mechanics) 8 CP
MA9203 Mathematics for Physicists 3 (Analysis 2) 8 CP
PH0010 Basic Lab Course Part 2 5 CP

Semester 3

ModulesWorkload
PH0003 Experimental Physics 3 (Optics and Quantum Physics) 8 CP
PH0006 Theoretical Physics 2 (Electrodynamics) 8 CP
MA9204 Mathematics for Physicists (Analysis 3) 8 CP
Elective "technical basics" 5 CP

Semester 4

ModulesWorkload
PH0004 Experimental Physics 4 (Atomic Physics and Thermodynamics) 8 CP
PH0007 Theoretical Physics 3 (Quantum Mechanics) 9 CP
CH1104 Chemistry for Physicists 6 CP
General-education subjects (open elective catalog) 3 CP
PH0011 Basic Lab Course Part 3 5 CP

Specialization Phase (Semester 5 and 6)

This page contains information on the Bachelor’s program in Physics for students beginning their studies in October 2020. Students who started their studies before this date check the curriculum valid until 2020.

The specialisation studies in the fifth and sixth semester concentrate on modules from physics. In addition to the specific modules from the catalogue of general education subjects, the module subject-specific key qualifications provides key qualifications in the context of specialist physics education.

All students are required to complete the basic canon in theoretical physics with the module Statistical Physics and Thermodynamics during the fifth semester. This final chapter of the basic theoretical canon connects the different aspects from the previous modules of theoretical physics.

In the elective catalogues "advanced experimental physics", " physics supplement" and "physics specialisation" students complete their basic education in physics. The catalogs allow for an individual setting of focal points and at the same time ensure a well-founded education in the entire range of physics.

Advanced Experimental Physics

In the elective catalogue "advanced experimental physics" with a total workload of 13 CP, students can choose to focus on the physics of condensed matter or on nuclear, particle and astrophysics, whereby the other subject area is chosen as an introductory module with reduced workload. Students who are highly interested are free to study both subject areas in depth while exceeding the workload target. The attendance of both subject areas enables a complete education in physics. The catalog advanced experimental physics is always included with exactly 13 CP in the credit balance and the overall grade of the Bachelor degree.

The modules from the advanced experimental physics catalogue are always offered in the winter semester. In addition, the courses and examinations of the two introductory modules are offered in English during the summer semester. This helps students to get started with the English language and also allows a more flexible design of the individual curriculum, e.g. for a stay abroad.

Catalog Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics (KTA)

Module IDTitleCPSemester
PH0014Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics 1 (KTA Expert 1)8WS
PH0016Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics (KTA Intro)5WS
PH8016Introduction to Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics in English (alternatively to PH0016)5SS

Students have to choose one module from the catalog Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics (KTA) and need to select at least 13 CP from both catalogs together.

Catalog Condensed Matter Physics (KM)

Module IDTitleCPSemester
PH0017Condensed Matter Physics 1 (KM Expert 1)8WS
PH0019Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics (KM Intro)5WS
PH8019Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics in English (alternatively to PH0019)5SS

Students have to choose one module from the catalog Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics (KTA) and need to select at least 13 CP from both catalogs together.

Physis Supplement

In the winter semester, students choose 5 CP (one module) from the catalog Physics Supplement to expand on the competencies from their basic studies.

Module IDTitleCP
PH0023Introduction to Biophysics (BIO Intro)5
PH0024Supplement to Quantum Mechanics (QM*)5

Physics Specialization

In the summer semester, students choose 8 CP (regularly one module) from the catalog Physics Specialization to complete their individual focus.

Module IDTitleCP
PH0015Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics 2 (KTA Expert 2)8
PH0018Condensed Matter Physics 2 (KM Expert 2)8
PH0020Biophysics (BIO)8
PH0021Energy Science4
PH0022Materials Science4

Individual Area of Concentration and Example Curricula

The catalogues of the specialisation phase are elective catalogs. It is possible to take more modules than necessary. Within the restrictions mentioned above for the respective catalogs, the best grades will be included in the degree in case of overachievement.

In the following example curricula are given for the four classic areas of concentration corresponding to the research areas at the Physics Department and the Physics Master’s programs.

KTA

Semester 5

ModulesWorkload
PH0014 Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 1 8 CP
PH0019 Introduction to Condensed Matter Physics 5 CP
PH0024: Supplement to Quantum Mechanics 5 CP
PH0008 Theoretical Physics 4A (Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics) 9 CP
PH0031: Subject-specific Key Qualifications
10 CP

Semester 6

ModulesWorkload
PH0015 Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 2 9 CP
Bachelor's Thesis 12 CP
Bachelor's Colloquium 3 CP

KM

Semester 5

ModulesWorkload
PH0017 Condensed Matter Physics 1 8 CP
PH0016 Introduction to Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 5 CP
PH0023: Introduction to Biophysics 5 CP
PH0008 Theoretical Physics 4A (Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics) 9 CP
PH0031: Subject-specific Key Qualifications
10 CP

Semester 6

ModulesWorkload
PH0018 Condensed Matter Physics 2 8 CP
Bachelor's Thesis 12 CP
Bachelor's Colloquium 3 CP

BIO

Semester 5

ModulesWorkload
PH0016 Introduction to Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 5 CP
PH0017 Condensed Matter Physics 1 8 CP
PH0023: Introduction to Biophysics 5 CP
PH0008 Theoretical Physics 4A (Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics) 9 CP
PH0031: Subject-specific Key Qualifications
10 CP

Semester 6

ModulesWorkload
PH0020 Biophysics 10 CP
Bachelor's Thesis 12 CP
Bachelor's Colloquium 3 CP

AEP

Semester 5

ModulesWorkload
PH0016 Introduction to Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics 5 CP
PH0017 Condensed Matter Physics 1 8 CP
PH0023: Introduction to Biophysics 5 CP
PH0008 Theoretical Physics 4A (Thermodynamics and Statistical Mechanics) 9 CP
PH0031: Subject-specific Key Qualifications
10 CP

6. Semester

ModulesWorkload
PH0021 Energy Science 4 CP
PH0022 Materials Science 4 CP
Bachelor's Thesis 12 CP
Bachelor's Colloquium 3 CP
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