Physics is the foundation of all the sciences, including medicine. It explores the laws of the physical world, in all their complexity and diversity, from the unimaginably tiny scale of elementary particles to the immense scale of the universe, in order to quantify them through experimentation, base them in theory and derive possible applications.

The concrete subjects that physics deals with experimentally and theoretically change over time because it is only after researchers have established the experimental and theoretical fundamentals that they can tackle specific problems in a satisfactory way. This dynamic aspect guarantees that physics remains a constantly evolving science capable of unlocking ever more complex natural processes with the latest methods. The constant revision of experimental and theoretical methods in physics means that more and more areas of the natural world are made accessible to scientific exploration – areas beyond the limits of traditional physics. To an ever greater degree, we are able to explain fundamental physical mechanisms that adjacent sciences such as chemistry, biology and medicine have only been able to describe phenomenologically.

Thus, in a unique way physics plays a central role as a bridge between the sciences. For this reason the Faculty of Physics at LMU Munich has very deliberately made it its aim to explore the physical foundations of the processes of science. With this orientation, physics at LMU Munich takes a complementary position among other institutions that foreground the applications side or technical usability.

The Faculty of Physics focuses its research around the following core fields:

• Astronomy and astrophysics, cosmology
• Molecular biophysics, statistical physics
• Solid state physics, nanophysics
• Elementary Particle Physics
• Mathematical Physics
• Laser physics and quantum optics
• Meteorology
• Medical Physics
• Physics education

Studying physics also means encountering many technologies now that will not come into general use for many years. In this way, physics education is essential for equipping young people not only to find their way in today's information and knowledge society but also to actively shape its development for years to come. Information technology is evolving at a breathtaking pace, putting highly qualified workers in strong demand. Familiar as they are with all its fundamentals, physicists enjoy excellent career opportunities; however, as the private sector constantly bemoans, there are not enough young physicists in the pipeline. Helping to further careers and also groom more physicists is another educational aspect we offer: the subject- and instruction-based certification of physics teachers for all levels of schools.

At the Faculty of Physics, tomorrow's physicists and meteorologists are being trained today. Our scientifically grounded education unifies research and instruction. And the Faculty of Physics carries out instructor evaluations every semester to assure quality control.

At undergraduate level, the Faculty of Physics offers students the choice between a bachelor's degree in physics and a bachelor's degree in physics plus a minor. Our graduate programs include master's degrees in physics, astrophysics and meteorology, as well as an elite master course in theoretical and mathematical physics. We also offer PhD degree programs in physics, astronomy and meteorology, which lead to the degree Dr. rer. nat.