A vital aspect and likely the secret to success in physics is that it traces back natural phenomena to a relatively small number of fundamental laws of physics, which are always expressed mathematically. Therefore, the solid mathematical skills acquired in the bachelor’s degree program are essential for a deeper understanding of physics.

At JGU, the Master of Science in Physics is an English-language degree program. Generally, the German Abitur certificate will be accepted as proof of English-language proficiency as long as the applicant has continuously taken English classes up until the end of year 11 (G-8 Abitur) or year 12 with final grades of 4.0 (sufficient) or higher.

A bachelor’s degree in Physics with a grade of 3.0 or higher or a comparable higher education degree.

Applicants must have obtained at least

• 30 credit points within Experimental Physics modules,
• 19 credit points in Lab Course modules,
• 25 credit points in Theoretical Physics modules,
• 23 credit points in Higher Mathematics and Calculation Methods modules,
• 9 credit points for the written bachelor’s thesis.

Applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree in Physics (or a comparable degree) with a minimum grade of 3.0 or who only partially meet the other qualifications mentioned above can demonstrate their aptitude via a selection interview upon request.

A further requirement for admission to the master’s program is proof of English language proficiency at the B2 level or above. You may be able to document your English language proficiency at this level with your German university entrance qualification (Abiturzeugnis), see info.

If you have not yet received your bachelor’s degree certificate by the application deadline, but have earned at least 135 credits in your bachelor’s program, you must apply by the set deadline with a transcript (certified copy issued by your university) of all coursework and exams completed to date, including your average grade to date.

Good to know: The legally binding basis for selection, admission and enrollment is the text of the entrance requirements as specified in Section 2 of the currently valid examination regulations and, where applicable, in the appendix.

You can find more information in the examination regulations of the master’s degree program (in German).

In the first year of the master’s degree program, you can choose from a variety of different courses in both theoretical and experimental physics. We aim to provide a high level of flexibility in the master’s degree program – you can decide what to focus on in the program.

The second year of the master’s degree program is reserved for a large-scale research project, concluding with your master’s thesis. Only at this point will you be required to determine your specific field of research.

For your master’s project, you will be integrated into one of the 50+ different scientific work groups and actively contribute to ongoing research projects.

Within this context, you may be able to spend time in leading international research centers or in external university laboratories. The degree program will teach you valuable soft skills such as cooperation, the ability to work in a team, problem solving skills, and writing and presentation techniques, in addition to important technical skills.

Stays abroad

Would you like to live abroad for a semester or a year? Do you want to learn another language and get to know a new culture? Or gain a different perspective on your particular subject? A stay abroad provides you with the perfect opportunity to achieve this and is possible with every degree program – either self-organized or by taking advantage of one of the popular exchange programs. This is made possible by various cooperation agreements and partnerships with foreign universities.

For more information on this topic, please visit our websites on studying abroad. Visit our student exchange platform for an overview of cooperating universities in your field.

This program of study does not require you to spend time abroad, but you nevertheless have the opportunity to do so.

The Physics department at JGU has many partner universities in both European and non-European countries with which an exchange program has been officially established. You can even write your master’s thesis abroad.

Internships

This program of study does not include a mandatory internship. However, voluntary internships are a great way to gain insight into a professional field.

An internship allows you to discover whether everyday life in a particular occupation suits your career expectations and interests. You can gain qualifications for a professional field and acquire important professional and personal skills to start a career. An internship helps you both shape your career path, and mold the remainder of your course sequence – in particular by selecting specializations that suit your practical experience.

You can find further information and relevant internships on the Career Service website.

The skills and abilities of physicists go far beyond an understanding of the laws of physics.

Whether in research and development, in the economy or in society – your expertise as a graduate of the Physics program is in high demand. Your analytical skills and experience in solving complex problems equip you for success in a variety of fields, especially when tackling new and unfamiliar challenges.

Typical professional fields include:

• Scientific research institutions
• Research departments in the private sector
• Management consultancies
• IT sector
• Insurance
• Patent law
• All companies that work with large quantities of data (e.g., automotive manufacturers, energy suppliers, transport companies)
• Finance sector (risk modeling, investment banking)
• Modeling of complex systems (e.g., pandemic spread)