Theoretical Physics: Classical Mechanics

The course Classical Mechanics is an advanced course, elective for students within the theoretical physics area. It builds a solid, modern understanding of classical mechanics through the Lagrangian and Hamiltonian formalisms, with clear links to field theory and relativity. You will learn how variational principles lead to equations of motion, how symmetries imply conservation laws, and how canonical methods provide powerful tools that carry over to quantum mechanics and beyond.

Why should you choose this course? If you enjoy elegant reasoning and want techniques that generalize across physics, this course is for you. Blackboard lectures emphasise conceptual clarity and derivations from first principles, while targeted problem sets build fluency with real systems – from small oscillations and central forces to rigid-body motion and canonical transformations. The course suits Master students in physics who have completed junior-level mechanics and strong maths. It rewards curiosity, persistence and a taste for depth.

Teaching is built around blackboard lectures and three focused problem-solving sessions. You learn by deriving results from first principles and then applying them to concrete systems: small oscillations and normal modes, central-force motion and scattering, rigid-body dynamics, and canonical transformations leading to Hamilton–Jacobi insights. Groups work through curated exercise sets; attending sessions isn’t compulsory but is highly recommended, and extra sessions can be arranged on demand.

Assessment has two parts. The first part contains three take-home problem sets with fixed deadlines. If you score at least 70% on each, you will be qualified for the second part: a comprehensive oral exam. The oral exam probes your grasp of foundations and your ability to reason on the spot. The final grade (fail, pass or pass with distinction) is determined by this oral exam alone. Typical oral questions are shared in advance to guide preparation.

Entry requirements

For admission to the course, 75 credits in physics and 45 credits in mathematics is required including knowledge corresponding to FYTB14 Classical mechanics, special relativity, 7.5 credits, and English 6/B.

Tuition fees for non-EU/EEA citizens

Citizens of countries outside:

• The European Union (EU)
• The European Economic Area (EEA) and
• Switzerland

are required to pay tuition fees. You pay an instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each
semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 21,250
First payment: SEK 21,250

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Note that you may also need to pay an application fee, or provide proof of exemption.

Application fee

No tuition fees for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland

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