Structure of the program
Since we strive to support each student individually, the research program starts in the third or fourth
semester. The first two or three semesters are completed as part of a regular physics bachelor's program at any
university. During these semesters, the students interested in the program learn the required fundamentals and
get used to university life.
After starting the research program in their third semester, participants attend an exclusive lecture on
thermodynamics in Regensburg and a lecture on classical field theory in Erlangen. This constitutes a preparation
for the integrated course, and the academic background of the students from both universities gets aligned. The
remaining lectures are attended with co-students from the regular study program.
Please note that the grades from “Experimental physics 3” and “Theoretical physics 2” will be counted towards the bachelor's degree
grade.
The series of integrated lectures starts in the fourth semester. They will be held jointly by an experimental
physicist and a theorist and are intended exclusively for participants of the research program. In the fourth
semester, the integrated course takes place in Erlangen and covers quantum mechanics and atomic physics. The
students are guaranteed a place in student housing. In the
fifth semester, the participants study statistical physics and condensed matter physics in Regensburg.
The series ends with the third integrated lecture in the
sixth semester, which is offered in both Erlangen and Regensburg. It comprises the fundamentals of relativistic
quantum physics, many-body theory and particle physics.
The series can be interrupted by a sabbatical semester starting in the sixth semester.
Because the schedule is
flexible, we will find an individual solution for each participant. In addition to the lectures, physics and
non-physics electives are taken. The chosen electives depend on which lectures are offered by the respective
university. The order in which the electives are taken is completely flexible.
In addition to their studies, participants work on four research projects. In Regensburg, students are exempt
from participating in the second part of the advanced physics laboratories, and in Erlangen, students are exempt
from the entire regular advanced physics laboratories. Three of these projects are designed to be worked on
part-time during a period of about nine weeks in the corresponding research group at the university or the Max
Planck Institute. A fourth project will form the basis of the bachelor's thesis (about 3 months of full-time
work). The topics of the projects may be chosen freely by the participants depending on their interests.
However, they must work on at least one project from the field of experimental physics and at least one project
from the field of theoretical physics. The integrated course is supplemented by additional lectures offered at
the university, which can be chosen freely.
After the sixth semester at the earliest, the research phase begins. It is possible to combine the master's thesis with the doctoral
studies, which will immediately follow. The students choose an area of research for their master's thesis, which - if so desired -
will form the basis of their doctoral dissertation. After completing the master's thesis, they are awarded the master's degree and a
certificate of the Elite Network of Bavaria. Subsequently, they complete their dissertation project.
The study program is designed to end with the completion of the doctorate. Prior to that, the regular bachelor's
and master's degrees will have been obtained. During the study phase, it is possible to switch to regular
physics studies at any time. The achievements gained so far are taken into account so that no time is lost.
Modules of the Physics Research Program
Bachelor's degree
Semesters 1-3:
|
Module | Credit points
| Part of bachelor's degree grade?
|
Experimental physics A | 14 CP | yes
|
Theoretical physics I | 16 CP | yes
|
Lab course A | 8 CP | yes
|
Lab course B | 8 CP | yes
|
Mathematics | 30 CP | yes
|
Research Program preparation course =
Experimental physics III: Waves and quanta | 7 CP |
yes
|
Complementary subject | 16 CP | yes
|
|
Subtotal | 99CP
|
In the third semester, the lecture "Introduction to thermodynamics" (2+2 credit hours) is
offered for participants of the Physics Research Program, which takes the place of the
regular lecture "Experimental physics IV".
Semesters 4-6:
|
Module | Credit points |
Part of bachelor's degree grade?
|
Integrated courses I-III | 3 * 16 CP = 48 CP | yes
|
One subject module | 8 CP | yes
|
Bachelor's thesis | 12 CP | yes
|
Advanced lab course | 8 CP | no
|
Research seminars and seminar weeks in the fourth semester | 3
CP | no
|
Electives | 2 CP | no
|
|
Subtotal | 81 CP
|
Total bachelor's degree: 180 CP
Master's degree
The master's degree takes place in semesters 5 to 8. This means that you will already be
admitted to the master's degree program in your fifth semester on a trial basis. Bachelor's
and master's degrees overlap for one year.
Module | Credit points | Part of master's degree
grade?
|
Three subject modules and three associated projects | 3*(8+6)=
42 CP
| yes
|
Research seminars in semesters 5-8 | 4*3= 12 CP
| no
|
Electives | 6 CP
| no
|
Master's thesis + specialization | 60 CP |
yes
|
|
Total master's degree: 120 CP
At the core of the Physics Research Program are thus the integrated courses and the four
subject modules with their associated projects, one of which being more extensive and
counted as the bachelor's thesis.
Collaborations
Many of our students work on research projects conducted with our partners. Currently, there are active
collaborations with the following institutes and universities:
- Australian National University
- Berkeley
- Cambridge
- École polytechnique Paris
- École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
- ETH Zürich
- Imperial College London
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- University of Oxford
- Princeton University
- University of California, Santa Barbara
- Université de Marseille
- Université de Paris
- Weizmann Institute