Program structure

In the English-language master's degree program, you will deepen and expand the basic scientific qualifications in experimental and theoretical physics that you acquired during your bachelor's degree and develop your knowledge and skills into an individual skills profile.

You start building your profile in the first year of study by choosing from a wide range of modules within the framework of a major and a second major in physics and a minor in physics.

You can choose the modules of the major subject (with a total of 20 CP) from this range of topics:

• Condensed Matter

• Nano-Physics

• Optics & Photonics

• Experimental Particle and Astroparticle Physics, Cosmology
  

• Theoretical Particle Physics
  

• Condensed Matter Theory

Within the second major and minor subjects (14 and 8 CP in total), you will deepen your knowledge of further sub-disciplines from the above-mentioned subject areas, such as Solid-State Optics, Nanotechnology, Quantum Information, Methods of Data Analysis, Accelerator Physics, Cosmology, Supersymmetry, etc. or you can choose suitable courses from Geophysics or Meteorology.

A non-physical compulsory elective subject (8 CP, semester 2) also contributes to your profile development in the Mmaster's degree Program. You can choose the elective from the natural sciences and engineering and thus, for example, build on the compulsory elective subjects of the bachelor's degree program from the disciplines of mathematics, chemistry, electrical engineering and information technology, mechanical engineering, computer science or economics.

The program also includes an advanced lab course (6 CP, semester 1) and the acquisition of interdisciplinary qualifications (4 CP, semester 2). For the master's thesis (30 CP), for which you prepare with an introduction to scientific work and a specialization phase, you have a processing time of 6 months.

The department recommends starting your studies in the winter semester. Applicants with non-EU citizenship should apply as early as possible.

With a master's degree in physics, you can start your career in a variety of fields, e.g. in university and industrial research and development, in data analysis and process optimization, as well as in program and hardware development, management consulting, the insurance industry or in the patent system. A scientific career, starting with a doctorate, is also a possible career path that you can take after the master's program.

Characteristic features of Physics M.Sc. at KIT

• curriculum based on an exceptionally broad range of scientific topics that can be tailored to personal interests
  

• research focus: Particle and Astroparticle Physics, Quantum Materials and Systems, Optics and Photonics, Geophysics as well as Meteorology and Climate Physics
  

• great variety in non-physical electives (natural sciences, engineering, computer science or economics)
  

• a combination of university education and research at large-scale facilities that is unique in Germany in terms of quality
  

• integration into the Eucor university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  

• possibility of a Franco-German double master's degree with the Université Grenoble Alpes and the École Nationale Supérieure de Physique, Électronique, Matériaux
  

• for future doctoral students: Karlsruhe House of Young Scientists (KHYS)

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Physics are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a passed bachelor's degree or at least an equivalent degree in Physics or a related degree program with essentially the same content at a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The degree must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 credit points (CP) in accordance with ECTS
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the subjects
  • Theoretical Physics (Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Quantum Mechanics, Statistical Physics) amounting to at least 32 ECTS credits
    
  • Experimental Physics (Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optics, Thermodynamics, Atomic Physics, Molecular Physics, Nuclear Physics, Solid State Physics) amounting to at least 32 ECTS credits
    
  • Physics lab courses worth at least 18 ECTS credits
    
  Other courses can be recognized if they are equivalent.
  If you are applying with fewer than 82 ECTS credits in Theoretical Physics, Experimental Physics and Physics Internships, but at least 30 ECTS credits in Theoretical Physics, 30 ECTS credits in Experimental Physics and 15 ECTS credits in Physics lab courses, you have the opportunity to prove your knowledge in an interview in accordance with Section 6 of the admission regulations.
  
• Letter of motivation
  a letter of motivation (approx. 1000-3000 characters) in German or English, in which you explain your motivation for studying in the master's program in Physics at KIT
  
• Proof of entitlement to an examination
  proof that you have not definitively failed an examination required by the examination regulations in the master's degree program in Physics or a related degree program with essentially the same content and that you are still entitled to an examination
  

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Physics, you need very good knowledge of English, which must correspond to at least level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Proof of sufficient English language skills

The following is sufficient proof of your English language skills

• your Abitur certificate, if you have taken English for at least five years up to graduation and your final or average grade of the last two years of English lessons corresponds to at least the German grade 4 (sufficient) or at least 5 points or
• a degree from a university with English as the sole language of instruction and examination, whereby English must be the only and official language of the completed degree program noted in the diploma supplement, the transcript of records or the degree certificate
  

Otherwise, only the internationally recognized English tests listed in the KIT admission and enrollment regulations are accepted as proof. These are

• Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) with at least 90 points in the internet-based test or

• IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.5 and no section below 5.5 or

• University of Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or

• University of Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE) or

• UNIcert at least level II

In addition, other proof than what is listed above may be accepted on request in individual cases. The decision on this is made by the admissions commission upon application.

Please note:
Language certificates are extremely important application documents that can prevent your enrollment if you do not submit them on time. Therefore, check early on in the application process whether you have the necessary language certificates for your degree program and, if necessary, plan to take one of the language tests mentioned above. The deadline by which you must submit language certificates corresponds to the enrollment deadline stated in your admission offer. In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of this deadline. The extension can be granted until the start of the lecture period at the latest.

Additional contacts:

• KIT-Department of Physics
• Academic advisor
• Examination board
• Information about exchange programs and studying abroad
• Student representatives Physics

• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs