Physics Master Programs

Our Master programs build the natural continuation to our Bachelor program in physics. All four Master programs convey the academic width which is typical for a physicist. Thus it is assured that our Master graduates are outstandingly qualified for the various tasks in research, development and industry.

The four Master programs

have the same structure. They differ in the specific contents of the elective module catalogs and the formal instruction language – only the Physics (Applied and Engineering Physics) is defined as English language program and thus guarantees the possibility to study without proficiency in German. This page gives an overview of the curriculum and links current informationen for students. After successful application new students find help to begin their studies in the Study Introduction Days (SET) and other events.

Curriculum

All four Master programs have similarly structured curricula: a first year mostly with advanced lectures and lab courses, while the second year concentrates on research in the framework of the Master’s thesis.

KTA

Semester 1 and 2 - Advanced studies

Modules	Workload
Theory Elective Nuclear, Particle, and Astrophysics lecture, course catalog Exercises in small groups graded exam: written	10 CP
Physics special courses KTA lectures, KTA elective catalog Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	20 CP
Physics special courses non-KTA lectures, elective catalogs of AEP, BIO, or KM Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	10 CP
Non-Physics elective courses open catalog graded exams: written or oral	8 CP
Advanced Subject-Specific Key Qualifications in Physics Student Seminar KTA elective catalog scientific presentation and discussion on current research topics course work: seminar talk Advanced Lab Course six research oriented lab experiments in small teams course work: lab work	10 CP
General-education subjects open catalog various course types course work	3 CP

Semester 3 and 4 - Research phase

Modules	Workload
Master’s Seminar scientific research in the area KTA course work	10 CP
Master’s Training scientific research in the area KTA course work	14 CP
Master’s Thesis scientific research in the area KTA graded exam: final thesis	30 CP
Master’s Colloquium graded exam: oral	5 CP

KM

Semester 1 and 2 - Advanced studies

Modules	Workload
Theory elective Condensed Matter Physics lecture, course catalog Exercises in small groups graded exam: written	10 CP
Physics special courses KM lectures, KM elective catalog Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	20 CP
Physics special courses non-KM lectures, elective catalogs of AEP, BIO, or KTA Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	10 CP
Non-Physics elective courses open catalog graded exams: written or oral	8 CP
Advanced Subject-Specific Key Qualifications in Physics Student Seminar KM elective catalog scientific presentation and discussion on current research topics course work: seminar talk Advanced Lab Course six research oriented lab experiments in small teams course work: lab work	10 CP
General-education subjects open catalog various course types course work	3 CP

Semester 3 and 4 - Research phase

Modules	Workload
Master’s Seminar scientific research in the area KM course work	10 CP
Master’s Training scientific research in the area KM course work	14 CP
Master’s Thesis scientific research in the area KM graded exam: final thesis	30 CP
Master’s Colloquium graded exam: oral	5 CP

BIO

Semester 1 and 2 - Advanced studies

Modules	Workload
Theory Elective Biophysics lectures, BIO elective catalog Exercises in small groups graded exams: written	10 CP
Physics special courses BIO lectures, BIO elective catalog Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	20 CP
Physics special courses non-BIO lectures, elective catalogs of AEP, KM, or KTA Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	10 CP
Non-Physics elective courses open catalog graded exams: written or oral	8 CP
Advanced Subject-Specific Key Qualifications in Physics Student Seminar BIO elective catalog scientific presentation and discussion on current research topics course work: seminar talk Advanced Lab Course six research oriented lab experiments in small teams course work: lab work	10 CP
General-education subjects open catalog various course types course work	3 CP

Semester 3 and 4 - Research phase

Modules	Workload
Master’s Seminar scientific research in the area BIO course work	10 CP
Master’s Training scientific research in the area BIO course work	14 CP
Master’s Thesis scientific research in the area BIO graded exam: final thesis	30 CP
Master’s Colloquium graded exam: oral	5 CP

AEP

Semester 1 and 2 - Advanced studies

Modules	Workload
Theory elective AEP lectures, AEP elective catalog Exercises in small groups graded exams: written	10 CP
Physics Special Courses AEP lectures, AEP elective catalog Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	20 CP
Physics Special Courses non-AEP lectures, elective catalogs of BIO, KM, or KTA Exercises in small groups graded exams: written or oral	10 CP
Non-Physics elective courses open catalog graded exams: written or oral	8 CP
Advanced Subject-Specific Key Qualifications in Physics Student Seminar AEP elective catalog scientific presentation and discussion on current research topics course work: seminar talk Advanced Lab Course six research oriented lab experiments in small teams course work: lab work	10 CP
General-education subjects open catalog various course types course work	3 CP

Semester 3 and 4 - Research phase

Modules	Workload
Master’s Seminar scientific research in applied Physics course work	10 CP
Master’s Training scientific research in applied Physics course work	14 CP
Master’s Thesis scientific research in applied Physics graded exam: final thesis	30 CP
Master’s Colloquium graded exam: oral	5 CP

During the advanced studies students take a theoretical physics course from the elective catalog and a number of special courses from the comprehensive offer. These special courses deal with selected topics of modern physics and reach the frontiers of current research – here the diversity of the research activities of our Physics Department is visible and accessible to the students. A student seminar, the advanced lab course and the non-physics elective courses, which give an insight into related sciences of the student's choice (e.g. chemistry, mathematics, informatics, engineering sciences), complete the profile.

The research phase brings the students in direct contact with current Physics research topics from the specific scientific area of the study program. After a period of vocational adjustment (Master’s seminar and Master’s training) students work on their own research project for the Master’s thesis. An intense supervision during the whole research phase is assured by the large number of senior scientists at the campus Garching and students benefit from the excellent research environment with a broad national and international research network.

„Direct Track“ from a Master Program to a Ph. D.

Talented students can continue the Master’s research phase seamlessly with a doctoral project, speeding up their academic career. Already during your Master’s research phase (Thesis) you may become a member of the Department Graduate Center and hence participate in the training program of TUM Graduate School.