Physics

The goal of physics is to capture states and occurrences in nature at the quantitative and qualitative levels and describe them on the basis of generally valid physical laws. It explores at various levels the basic building blocks of the world around us, the connections between microcosm and macrocosm.

A key part of this degree program is the “language of physics,” i.e. mathematics. Physics itself is divided into experimental physics and theoretical physics. In experimental physics, students derive underlying laws of nature—from mechanics to particle physics—from experimental observations. Theoretical physics, on the other hand, starting from a few axioms, describes in logical-mathematical fashion the interplay between particles and forces on macroscopic and microscopic scales.

Some lectures are complemented by practical laboratory courses in order to treat the topics in depth in small groups. Depending on students’ interest levels, they may attend research-oriented courses from the master’s degree program, conduct a practical project, or do an internship in a relevant professional field. Students’ choice of a complementary subject, whether in a physical field (e.g. astronomy or meteorology) or a non-physical field, expands their view beyond the limits of their discipline.

Possible lines of work:

Academia (teaching/research at universities, research institutions, etc.), research and development (industrial sector), administration and management, patents, public authorities and ministries, financial and software services, consulting, monitoring/production and distribution control