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Physics, Materials science - Master Programme

Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits

A whiteboard with blue letters that says "the big question"

Description

The Master’s programme in materials science provides you with the opportunity to work on issues of great significance for technological development. The programme is very interdisciplinary and positioned between basic research and applied engineering. At this interface, you can contribute to the development of new materials with novel functionality.

Students on this Master programme study material growth and properties and how properties are linked to material structure. The physics and chemistry courses in the programme gives a fundamental understanding of how material properties is linked to atomic and molecular structure. Also, the programme practise investigating materials using advanced techniques in spectroscopy, diffraction and microscopy.

In your studies you will be introduced to and potentially use two world-leading research facilities in Lund: the synchrotron radiation facility MAX IV Laboratory and the forthcoming neutron source ESS (European Spallation Source). The Master’s programme has a flexible structure and enables the combination of theory and computation with an experimental approach.

The programme is strongly linked to research with close connections to research teams in materials science. All teaching staff on the Master’s programme are researchers, so the courses are continuously adapted to current research. There is a high proportion of teacher-directed learning. The language of instruction is English.

Programme structure

The programme includes two compulsory courses, one in quantum mechanics and one on quantum physics in research and society. During your first year of study, you will also have the opportunity to choose between a number of other courses focusing on physics and chemistry of surfaces, spectroscopy and the quantum description of matter, scanning probe microscopy, modern X-ray physics and statistical mechanics.

During your second year of study, you will continue to increase your expertise based on your own preferences. The degree project is equivalent to either 30 or 60 credits and is carried out in a research group.

Career prospects  

Materials science is an important subject in many areas of research and development, which means that there are several possible career paths available after graduation, depending on your own specialist interest. The Master’s programme provides a good basis for research studies in physics and physical chemistry, but you can also choose to work in business and industry. You can work on issues connected to astrophysics, communications technology, life science or energy, for example. Both research facilities, the MAX IV Laboratory and ESS, also contribute to new opportunities on the labour market. These major laboratories need qualified staff with expertise in materials science and physics, as well as the technical methods used in experiments in these facilities.

Video about the MAX IV Laboratory

Applications will open on the
2024-10-15

Application opportunities

This programme will be open for applications from 15 October 2024 to 15 January 2025.

Contact

Programme coordinator

Mathieu Gisselbrecht

Email: mathieu [dot] gisselbrecht [at] sljus [dot] lu [dot] se

Study advisor

Email: studievagledning [at] fysik [dot] lu [dot] se

Requirements and selection

Entry requirements

Bachelor’s degree of at least 180 credits in physics or the equivalent. The degree must include at least 90 credits in physics. 

Proficiency in English equivalent to English 6/B from Swedish upper-secondary school.

 

Selection criteria

Based on grades awarded for previous academic courses, particularly qualifying courses, and a statement of purpose for the application (from the applicant’s “Summary sheet”).

English language requirements

Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.

How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements

Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:

Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se

Apply

Start Autumn Semester 2025

Day-time Lund, full time 100%

In English

Study period

1 September 2025 - 6 June 2027

Application

Will open for applications 2024-10-15

How to apply

Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.

When to apply for studies

Step 1: Apply online

  • Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
  • Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
    Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website
  • Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.

Step 2: Submit documents

  • Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
    Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
    Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
     
  • Get all your documents ready:
    - official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
    - official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
    - passport/ID (all applicants) and
    - proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
     
  • Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
  • Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
  • Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.

* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below. 

Svensk student? 
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit a Summary Sheet when you apply for this programme.

Summary Sheet for the Master's programmes in Physics (PDF, new window)

Watch on YouTube: How to apply for a Master's programme 

Tuition fees

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 340 000

First payment: SEK 85 000

Convert currency – xe.com

Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Application fee

If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.


*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.

Scholarships & funding

Lund University Global Scholarship programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarships

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.

External scholarships

Information about scholarships from external organisations

More information about this Master's