Prospective Students

Your B.Sc. thesis can be written in English, but the fundamental courses are taught in German. For further information please refer to the corresponding web pages in German .
During the six semesters of the Bachelor’s degree programme towards the degree of Bachelor of Science, you will learn the basics of classical and modern physics and the underlying mathematics. You will also gain an insight into an elective subject outside of physics.

The Master’s degree programme Physics is designed for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree in physics or in solid state physics, astrophysics, biophysics, medical physics, or other primarily physics-related degrees. Also, degrees in related subjects (e.g. electrical engineering) are principally eligible, however, exclusively if within the curriculum a large and broad fraction of physics courses/lectures is contained. That is, most topics of general experimental and theoretical physics have to be covered in sufficient depth.

The Master’s degree programme aims at an advanced training in selected fields of physics, offers the opportunity for specialization and, finally, in its second phase, provides a one-year research training phase (including the Master thesis) directed towards the capability of performing independent research.

The general curriculum (two years of standard period of study) of the M.Sc. Physics course is principally structured – see also the summarizing table below – as follows:

The first year of study (two semesters) focuses on both, the deepening of theoretical and experimental foundations and methods of physics and can be used for specialization within a specific field.

For this you have to select from a set of mandatory advanced courses/modules in theoretical and experimental physics as well as practical laboratory courses/modules, and elective physics and also, if desired, non-physics courses/modules.

In this phase you can choose courses/modules according to your specific interest thus focusing on the general physical fields:

Within these general fields, advanced education in experimental and theoretical physics is covered broadly within the available modules, including potential across-field overlaps.

The second year of study (two semesters) is dedicated to a research training phase and the Master research project in experimental or theoretical physics. The results of the research project are documented in the written Master’s thesis and are presented orally (talk) in a subsequent colloquium.

Below the structure of an exemplary basic study plan is shown for the case starting in winter semester. It does not account for all possibilities you have in structuring and organizing your studies. It gives a general notion of how you may organize your studies depending on the regulations, and when certain modules are offered.

ECTS points and formal requirements for completion of the Master Physics curriculum

Students need to collect 120 ECTS credits (ECTS = European Credit Transfer System) for completion of the Master’s Physics degree (cf. NOTE 2 below).

Among these, students shall successfully complete modules from the mandatory modules of the Master’s Physics curriculum degree worth a minimum of 90 ECTS credits.

Students shall successfully complete modules from the elective subjects worth at least 20 ECTS credits.
This minimum of 110 ECTS credits required shall be complemented to the 120 ECTS credits through additional, freely chosen modules from the compulsory and elective subjects.

NOTE 1: All formal requirements for a successful completion of the M.Sc. Physics programme are outlined in detail in the examination regulations¹ (for new entries in winter semester 2023/24 the regulation StuO-PO BSc Physik-MSc Physics 20230731 applies).
NOTE 2: Each module (lecture, seminar, practical laboratory work etc.) is rated by a specific number of ECTS points. Each module sets its own examination rules (e.g. written or oral exam, holding a seminar talk etc.). The ECTS points are awarded by fulfilling successfully the examination rules of the module. In terms of workload, one ECTS point is considered to represent 25 to 30 hours.

Language requirements

The Master’s Physics course can be studied entirely in English. The compulsory courses are offered in English only.
With the application for admission, proof of proficiency in English is required. The required English proficiency level is B2 (vantage/upper intermediate) (CEFR) or an equivalent score in another internationally recognized test such as TOEFL (at least 85 points in iBT), IELTS (5.0 or higher) or others.
Proof of English proficiency level B2 through school according to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is accepted. No proof is needed for applicants who have acquired their school-leaving exam or their Bachelor’s degree in English.

Stipends for students outside Germany

Students from outside Germany are advised to consult the DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) webpage https://www.daad.de/en/study-and-research-in-germany/scholarships/ for scholarship possibilities.

Information for BAföG for German students

Information for BAföG you will find on the webpages for BAföG  des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung .

Application proccess

The application is requested online: https://www.campo.fau.de;
General information on the application procedure: https://www.fau.eu/international…

Application periods

• 15^th of April – 15^th of July for the upcoming winter semester
• 15^th of October – 15^th of January for the upcoming summer semester

NOTE: International applicants who require a visa are recommended, if possible, apply by 31^st of May, for the upcoming winter semester and by 15^th of November for the upcoming summer semester.

Application documents

Here are the necessary documents to be provided for the application listed in short. For a more detailed description, please check the checklist and see the application web page:

• Secondary education certificate (certified copy)
• University degree certificate with transcript of records (certified copy).

NOTE: Applicants can also formally apply if they provide evidence that (i) at the time of the application periods they are registered B.Sc. students and (ii) they are registered to their final/concluding exams and will have completed their B.Sc. studies/course by the time they start the FAU Master’s course. For the formal admission to the FAU Master course the B.Sc. degree certificate must be provided. This certificate must be submitted not later than one year after having started the FAU Master’s course studies.

• Tabular CV in English (not handwritten)
• GRE Subject Test in Physics by ETS (www.ets.org ). This document is not mandatory but highly recommended! Please, upload it under “additional documents”.
• Proof of proficiency in English (cf. Language requirements). The required English proficiency level is B2 (vantage/upper intermediate) (CEFR) or an equivalent score in another internationally recognized test.
• Only for applicants from India: You need an APS certification for the Master application. Please check if there are any additional requirements from the German Embassy (e.g. a language certificate might be required for the visa).

Application documents for internal FAU applicants

Students of the FAU Bachelor’s Physics course are kindly advised to refer to the internal applicant’s document list.

EXAMPLE of a basic study plan:

Study plan MSc Physics 

¹ The current examination regulation is the top PDF file at “konsolidierte Fassungen” (consolidated versions).

In the Physics Advanced programme, you can establish a close connection to research at a very early stage. For example, at the end of the Bachelor’s degree, special integrated courses are offered instead of the normal basic lectures and some practical parts (lab courses) are replaced by research projects. The Physics Advanced programme is open to extraordinarily talented and highly-motivated students. Applications for Physics Advanced are usually possible before the forth semester of the Bachelor’s programme or when applying for the Master’s programme. More information is available on the homepage:  www.physics-advanced.de.

Students interested in a teaching degree in physics (Lehramt Physik) need German language proficiency. Please refer to the corresponding German web page for further information.

As it is not uncommon that pupils entering the FAU to study physics do not have the knowledge of physics and mathematics that is required as fundamental prerequisite for the lectures, the department of physics offers course to bridge such gaps.
As the prime target audience for this offer are pupils graduation from a German high school, this “Brückenkurs” is only offered in German. You can register at any time, even if you are not yet enrolled at the FAU, via the FAU learning platform StudOn.

For mathematics – the language of physics – a Studon exercise area exists in which fundamentals of high school mathematics are reviewed and an exercise module is provided. The Studon link (currently only in German) can be found here .

In addition, the German Physical Society (Deutche Physikalischen Gesellschaft, DPG) offers training courses. The Online Mathematik Brückenkurs OMB+ is available (in German) free of charge at omb-physik.de.