Master's Programme in Theoretical Physics
The Master Programme in Theoretical Physics is offered in collaboration with Nordita, the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics.
Physics is constantly developing and it is the task of the theoretical physicist to use and to improve existing theories and models, find new ones to describe recently discovered phenomena, or shed new light on old problems. This MSc programme offers you advanced knowledge in theoretical physics in a strong research environment. Courses and master thesis projects are given by physicists from both Stockholm University and Nordita.
This two-year programme gives you advanced knowledge and broad qualifications in how to use the mathematical and statistical methods that are applicable within theoretical physics.
Thanks to the flexibility of the program and a combination of mandatory and optional courses, you can create your unique profile by combining courses of your interest. Our optional courses cover areas such as quantum field theory, cosmology, astro-particle physics, condensed matter and advanced statistical physics.
The final component of your studies is a master thesis project where students get to apply their knowledge and plan, carry out and report a research project. This is often performed together with one of our theoretical physics research groups or at Nordita. We offer the possibility to carry out long projects, up to one year.
Knowledge and skills acquired in the programme find applications in many areas of industry and research.
Information for admitted students autumn 2024
Congratulations! You have been admitted at Stockholm University and we hope that you will enjoy your studies with us.
In order to ensure that your studies begin as smoothly as possible we have compiled a short checklist for the beginning of the semester.
Follow the instructions on whether you have to reply to your offer or not.
universityadmissions.se
Checklist for admitted students
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Activate your university account
The first step in being able to register and gain access to all the university's IT services.
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Register at your department
Registration can be done in different ways. Read the instructions from your department below.
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Read all the information on this page
Here you will find what you need to know before your course or programme starts.
IMPORTANT
Your seat may be withdrawn if you do not register according to the instructions provided by your department.
Information from the department
Everyone admitted to a programme at the Department of Physics will receive a welcome letter with information from us via e-mail. If you have not receive an e-mail by August, please contact our Academic advisor! Unfold and read more.
Roll-call
All programmes at the Department of Physics starts with a mandatory introductory meeting (roll-call). You will receive more detailed information about the meeting via e-mail. If you are planning to start the programme but for some reason cannot participate in the meeting, contact our Academic advisor. Contact details are found further down on this web page.
Elective courses within a programme
If you are admitted to a programme at the Department of Physics you will also automatically be admitted to the compulsory courses within the programme given during the autumn. The courses included in the programme are listed further down on this web page. You will also receive information about this via e-mail. If you have elective courses within your programme during the autumn, you need to choose courses at the start of the semester. Information about this is provided at the introductory meeting.
Registration
If you are admitted to a programme at our department you can register yourself to the elective courses within your programme using your university account. Registration normally opens two weeks before the course starts and you must have registered at the latest one week after the first lecture. If you have any problems with registration, contact our Student office. Contact details are found further down on this web page.
Conditionally admitted
If you are conditionally admitted to a programme at the Department of Physics you need to contact our Academic advisor. Contact us as soon as possible, well before the the first course within the programme starts. Contact details are found further down on this web page.
Applicants on waiting list
Are you placed on a waiting list to a programme at our department? You will always be contacted by e-mail if you are offered a place. Normaly we will not admit new students if more than 1 week has passed after the beginning of the term.
Find the Departmend of Physics
Most of the physics courses are held in the AlbaNova building, located between the Frescati campus and the Royal Institute of Technology (Tekniska högskolan, KTH). Courses in medical radiation physics are held at Campus Karolinska Hospital. A few of our physics courses are also given in collaboration with KTH or other departments. If this is the case it is clearly stated further down on this web page.
Welcome activities
Stockholm University organises a series of welcome activities that stretch over a few weeks at the beginning of each semester. The programme is voluntary (attendance is optional) and includes Arrival Service at the airport and an Orientation Day, see more details about these events below.
Your department may also organise activities for welcoming international students. More information will be provided by your specific department.
Find your way on campus
Stockholm University's main campus is in the Frescati area, north of the city centre. While most of our departments and offices are located here, there are also campus areas in other parts of the city.
Read more
For new international students
Physics is constantly developing and it is the task of the theoretical physicist to use and to improve existing theories and models, find new ones to describe recently discovered phenomena, or shed new light on old problems. This MSc programme offers you advanced knowledge in theoretical physics in a strong research environment. Courses and master thesis projects are given by physicists from both Stockholm University and Nordita.
This two-year programme gives you advanced knowledge and broad qualifications in how to use the mathematical and statistical methods that are applicable within theoretical physics.
Thanks to the flexibility of the program and a combination of mandatory and optional courses, you can create your unique profile by combining courses of your interest. Our optional courses cover areas such as quantum field theory, cosmology, astro-particle physics, condensed matter and advanced statistical physics.
The final component of your studies is a master thesis project where students get to apply their knowledge and plan, carry out and report a research project. This is often performed together with one of our theoretical physics research groups or at Nordita. We offer the possibility to carry out long projects, up to one year.
Knowledge and skills acquired in the programme find applications in many areas of industry and research.
Nordita is the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics. Its purpose is to carry out research and strengthen the Nordic collaboration within the basic areas of theoretical physics. Click on the arrow and see courses given at Nordita!
Master courses that are offered by Nordita include:
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Programme overview
The programme represents two years of full time studies (120 credits), out which 30, 45 or 60 credits are allocated to the master thesis project. Within the programme there is a lot of freedom to choose the courses that best suit your interests and your physics profile. There is also room for you to broaden your competence thanks to a large number of optional courses.
Year 1
1st Semester
Electrodynamics, 7.5 credits, FK7045
Mathematical Methods in Physics, 7.5 credits, FK7048
Optional courses*, 15 credits2nd Semester
Statistical Physics, 7.5 credits, FK7058
Analytical Mechanics, 7,5 credits, FK7049
Optional courses*, 15 creditsYear 2
1st Semester
Optional courses*, 15 or 30 credits
2nd Semester
Degree project, 30 or 45 credits
* Optional courses
In order to give you the ability to customise the programme to your interests and needs, you have the possibility to choose among a number of optional courses. The optional courses can be chosen freely among all the physics courses proposed at Stockholm University, but we particularly recommend the following courses:
- General Relativity, 7.5 credits, FK8025
- Introduction to Quantum Information and Quantum Computation, 7,5 credits, FK7052
- Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics, 7.5 credits, FK7050
- Quantum Field Theory, 15 credits, FK8027
- Quantum Field Theory for condensed matter, 7.5 credits, FK8018
- Group theory and topology in physics, 7.5 credits, FK7073
- Fluid mechanics and soft matter, 7.5 credits, FK7069
- Open quantum systems, 7.5 credits, FK7072
Independent project
The master thesis project usually starts during the second year, but may start as soon as you have earned at least 45 credits of advanced courses in physics. The project is usually carried out in one of the research groups of the physics department or at Nordita. The master thesis project may also be carried out at a different university. During the master thesis project you are given the opportunity to participate to the activity and life of the research group. You work with a research question in a professional research environment where you are in contact with graduate students and researchers. This provides a unique opportunity to dive deep into a professional environment and develop important soft-skills (such as independence, perseverance, problem solving, critical thinking, communication, and troubleshooting) before going further to industry or graduate studies.
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How to apply
Application is done through universityadmissions.se.
When submitting you application make sure you have uploaded all required documents. Read more here: https://www.universityadmissions.se/documents
We at the Department of Physics do not require any additional documents such as CV, letter of recommendation or motivation letter. You will be contacted by us if we need further documentation. -
More information
Mentorship programme to strenghten your independent skills
We want our students to develop their ability to work independently as well as in groups which is why our teaching focusses on course projects. There is a good relation between students and teachers, and we provide strong academical support to the students by always having easily accessible teachers. In addition, the programme includes a unique mentor system, where PhD students act as a mentor for MSc students in practical matters as well as introduction to different research areas.
Following knowledges in quantum mechanics are recommended
Before starting the Master’s programme you should have passed a course/courses covering the following areas of quantum mechanics:
- Basic concepts and methods in non-relativistic quantum mechanics
- the Schrödinger equation
- The wave function and its interpretation
- Operators
- One-dimensional potentials
- The free particle
- The harmonic oscillator, ladder operators
- Matrix representation
- The uncertainty principle
- The formalism of quantum mechanics
- Schrödinger equation in three dimensions
- The hydrogen atom and hydrogenic atoms
- Angular momentum and spin
- Many-particle systems, in particular atoms
- Time-independent and time-dependent perturbation theory, fine structure, Zeeman effect, emission and absorption of radiation
- Variational calculus
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Meet us
Watch our Webinar about all our Master's Programmes in Physics. In the Webinar you will learn more about all our programmes (includning the Master's Programme in Theoretical Physics), meet the programme coordinators, mixed with interviews with students and alumni. The Webinar is found on the Stockholm University central web page for Webinars on-demand about our Master’s programmes. It is called "Master's Programmes in Physics".
Meet our students
Daniel is a Master's student in theoretical physics from the US. He had always wanted to become a professional baseball player, but life had different plans for him. Watch the film and read the text by clicking the link below to get to know his story.
Meet our teachers
All teachers in the master programme are engaged researchers. The department of physics houses both theoretical and experimental research, while Nordita focuses on theoretical physics.
Located in the Albanova University Centre, shared by Stockholm University, The Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), and Nordita, we carry out world leading research and cover basically all fields of theoretical physics. This creates a strong and vibrant research environment which we aim to reflect in our MSc programme. With all teachers being active researchers, our students are offered great opportunities to get in contact with the different fields through lectures, laboratory sessions, group projects and thesis work.
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Career opportunities
As a physics student at Stockholm University you gain experience of working in a frontline research environment and an advanced understanding of theoretical physics through analysing, modelling and synthesising complex information. Our programme provides an excellent foundation for PhD studies and opens multiple career options outside of the academic field. The ability and training in critical evaluation and analysis of complex new phenomena, often using sophisticated mathematical methods, is useful in various disciplines, such as bio-informatics and applied mathematics.
An internship is a great way to test your skills and gain work experience in a real-world environment. During your master studies, you can add an internship course and get the chance to experience working life before you graduate. You can choose a course of 7.5 ECTS or 15 ECTS depending on how long you want the intership to be. You can find more information via the links below.
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Contact
Academic advisor at Fysikum: studievagledare@fysik.su.se
Programme responsible: Dr. Eddy Ardonne
