Physics, M.Sc.
Master's in Physics (M.Sc.) at the University of Kassel, Germany — a research-intensive, English-taught program offering two specialisation tracks: Experimental Physics, with focus on photonics, nanostructured materials, semiconductor lasers, ultrashort pulses, surface science, and astrochemistry; and Theoretical Physics, providing advanced mathematical and conceptual training. The curriculum combines compulsory advanced laboratory work in optics, nanoscience, and spectroscopy with flexible elective modules, preparing students for independent research at the frontier of modern physical sciences.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
| Admission | Aptitude assessment: the university evaluates how well your previous education fits the programme |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €290.83 per semester |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
Admission goes through an aptitude assessment: the university checks how well the subjects, credits and grades of your previous education fit the programme. There is no fixed cut-off — the assessment is comparative.
- ✓Those who have completed a bachelor's in physics and want to deepen their expertise in a specific research direction rather than pursue a broadly generalist curriculum
- ✓Those drawn to experimental photonics, nanotechnology, or laser science and looking for a program where these are not peripheral topics but genuine research strengths
- ✓Those with a strong interest in theoretical physics — from quantum mechanics and solid-state theory to cosmology and general relativity — who appreciate working within a manageable, focused academic environment
Read moreShow less
- ✓Those who enjoy independent scientific work: reading primary literature, planning experiments or theoretical investigations, and presenting findings in a seminar setting
- ✓Those who are comfortable studying and researching entirely in English within a German university context
- ✓Those who see a master's thesis as the intellectual centrepiece of their degree and want meaningful time and supervision dedicated to it
- ✓Those who value flexibility to shape their elective profile across both experimental and theoretical modules, or to combine physics with an optional industry internship
- —Admission review timeline: Because applications are reviewed by an examination board for substantive content requirements, the process can take up to six weeks after submission. Applicants should plan accordingly and apply as early as possible within the relevant window.
- —Focused research environment: Kassel is a medium-sized university with a concentrated profile in optics and nanotechnology. Students seeking very broad thematic coverage or the atmosphere of a large research university may find the environment more specialised than expected — this is a strength for those aligned with these fields, but worth weighing for others.
- —English-medium program in Germany: While the program is taught in English, living and navigating everyday life in Kassel requires at least basic German for practical purposes. Administrative processes outside the academic program may be in German.
Read moreShow less
- —Independent thesis weight: 30 of 120 credits are allocated to the master's thesis, representing a quarter of the entire degree. Students who prefer structured coursework over open-ended research should be prepared for this significant independent project.
- —Optional rather than embedded internship: Industry experience is available only as an optional elective module, not as a structured placement. Students seeking a guaranteed industry component should factor this in.
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →About the programme
The Master's program in Physics at the University of Kassel is a research-intensive, English-taught program structured around two principal specialisation streams: Experimental Physics and Theoretical Physics. The program is designed to take students with a solid undergraduate foundation in physics and develop them into independent researchers capable of working at the frontier of modern physical sciences.
Read moreShow less
Curriculum approach and methodology
The curriculum combines compulsory advanced modules with a flexible elective structure. The compulsory core includes an advanced master's-level laboratory course covering optics, nanoscience, and spectroscopy, alongside dedicated seminars in both experimental and theoretical physics where students conduct independent literature research and deliver presentations on current topics. A specialisation module and a methodological expertise and project-planning module round out the core, preparing students for the demands of research.
Elective modules in the Experimental Physics track span applied and semiconductor physics, semiconductor lasers, ultrashort laser pulses and their applications, surface science, molecular physics and spectroscopy, nano-scale quantum optics, thin film physics, astrophysics and cosmology, and synchrotron radiation physics. The Theoretical Physics elective strand covers theoretical solid-state physics, advanced quantum mechanics, computational physics, modern methods in theoretical physics, and general relativity and cosmology. Students may also draw on cross-disciplinary modules and opt into an occupational internship as part of their elective credits.
Research orientation
Kassel's particular research identity in optics and nanotechnology is embedded throughout the curriculum. The advanced lab and the elective module landscape reflect active research groups in these areas. The program culminates in a master's thesis worth 30 credits — a substantial independent research project carried out under academic supervision, representing the central outcome of the degree.
Program highlights
- Clear disciplinary identity with two coherent specialisation directions
- Dedicated seminar modules that build skills in scientific communication and critical reading of literature
- Strong experimental-physics offering spanning multiple photonics and nanotechnology sub-fields
- Theoretical stream reaching from solid-state physics and quantum mechanics to astrophysics and cosmology
- Flexibility to combine experimental and theoretical content, or to include non-physics electives and an optional internship
What you study
Semesters 1–2: Compulsory Core and Specialisation Modules
Compulsory modules (49 credits total across the program):
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Physicists from this program enter a wide range of sectors. In research and academia, the program's strong thesis component and research-group integration provide a pathway toward doctoral studies in physics and related natural sciences. Beyond academia, physicists are sought after in information technology and software development, financial services and quantitative analysis, sales and technical consulting, management, and education. The program's concentration in optics and nanotechnology opens specific opportunities in photonics industry, semiconductor technology, laser technology, and nanotechnology R&D — sectors with active demand for specialists. Only a minority of physics graduates work in roles explicitly labelled 'physicist'; the analytical, mathematical, and problem-solving competencies of the degree are valued broadly across science-intensive industries.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Hesse), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €290.83 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in Physics or an equivalent qualification in the same or a closely related field, from a program with a standard duration of at least six semesters. |
|---|---|
| Language | English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 15.07, summer semester until 15.01 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 3Application via uni-assist until 15.01uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 4Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 15.01.2027 (93 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.