Physics, M.Sc.
Master's in Physics at Leibniz University Hannover, Germany — a research-oriented program built around four active faculty specialisations: Solid State Physics, Gravitational Physics, Quantum Optics, and Radioecology & Radiation Protection. The Gravitational Physics track is particularly distinctive, with institutional ties to gravitational wave detection infrastructure. The curriculum combines advanced coursework with a compulsory interdisciplinary elective spanning fields from Computer Science to Philosophy, and can be completed primarily in English.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German, English |
| Required German | B2 |
| Required English | B2 |
| Study mode | Full-Time, Part-Time |
| Start | Winter semester, summer semester |
| Application | uni-assist (VPD) + the university, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 30.11 |
| Admission | Aptitude assessment: the university evaluates how well your previous education fits the programme |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €434.91 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 are drawn to fundamental physics questions rather than applied engineering, and who want to spend significant time doing actual research rather than coursework
- ✓Students who have a clear interest in at least one of the programme's specialisations — gravitational waves, quantum optical systems, condensed matter, or radiation physics in environmental contexts — and want to deepen that focus to doctoral level
- ✓Those who are comfortable working independently within a research group, where progress depends on self-directed inquiry and close collaboration with a supervisor
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- ✓Graduates who see the master's as a stepping stone toward a PhD, whether in Germany or internationally, and value a programme structured explicitly to prepare for that path
- ✓Applicants from physics or closely related bachelor's programmes who want the flexibility of both German and English instruction, or who are open to strengthening German as a working scientific language
- ✓Those who appreciate an interdisciplinary elective component that allows genuine exploration outside physics — whether in mathematics, computing, or even philosophy of science
- —The programme is explicitly research-oriented and leads naturally to doctoral study — applicants primarily seeking industry-ready professional qualifications rather than research preparation may find the balance of the curriculum less aligned with their goals
- —Although English-medium study is formally possible, most seminars, lab courses, and day-to-day academic life at the faculty are conducted in German; students planning to study in English should be prepared for a bilingual environment rather than a fully English-language one
- —The research phase constitutes half of the total programme workload; success in the second half depends heavily on finding a well-matched supervisor and research group, which students typically arrange during the first phase
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- —Hannover is a mid-sized German city with moderate living costs compared to Frankfurt or Munich, but international students should budget carefully, as no programme-level financial support is described
- —Applicants without a German bachelor's degree who wish to study in German must demonstrate German at B2 level; those applying to the Physics or Mathematics master's may alternatively satisfy this requirement with English B2, which is relevant for applicants from non-German-speaking countries
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 programme in Physics at Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Universität Hannover is a research-oriented consecutive programme that prepares graduates for independent scientific work and doctoral study. The programme is built around four established research areas active at the faculty — Solid State Physics, Gravitational Physics, Quantum Optics, and Radioecology & Radiation Protection — giving students early exposure to internationally relevant research questions.
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The curriculum divides into two broad phases. The first phase covers advanced coursework and specialisation: students deepen their theoretical and experimental foundations through specialised lectures, laboratory courses, and a mandatory seminar. A compulsory interdisciplinary elective (16 ECTS) draws from a broad catalogue including Chemistry, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Meteorology, Philosophy, and Economics, broadening the graduate profile beyond pure physics. Students who study primarily in English may substitute this elective with German language courses. Transferable skills are developed through dedicated key competency modules drawn from the university's language centre, IT services, and quality assurance offerings.
The second phase is fully devoted to research. Students complete a substantial research internship and project planning module, followed by the master's thesis project — together accounting for 60 of the programme's 120 ECTS. This structure means that students spend the equivalent of a full year embedded in active research, working closely with faculty supervisors in one of the programme's specialisation areas.
The programme is available in both German and English, and can be studied full-time or part-time, providing flexibility for those managing parallel commitments. An optional industrial internship can be integrated into the coursework phase as an alternative to part of the standard lecture and practical requirement, offering a pathway into applied industry contexts while remaining within the academic framework.
What you study
Phase 1 — Advanced Coursework and Specialisation (60 ECTS)
Advanced specialisation modules (10 ECTS): Students choose 2 out of 5 available advanced deepening modules (5 ECTS each), selecting from offerings aligned with the programme's four research areas — Solid State Physics, Gravitational Physics, Quantum Optics, and Radioecology & Radiation Protection.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
Pick programmesCareer
Graduates of this programme typically enter publicly funded or industrial research environments — working in research institutes, national laboratories, or technology-driven companies. Physics graduates are also in demand in sectors beyond core research: information technology firms value their analytical and problem-solving capabilities, and management consulting regularly recruits physicists for quantitative modelling and strategy roles. The programme's explicit research orientation and thesis-level research experience make graduates well-positioned for doctoral programmes in Germany and internationally.
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Lower Saxony), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €434.91 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent in Physics or a closely related field. |
|---|---|
| Language | German B2, English B2 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | uni-assist (VPD) + the university, winter semester until 31.05, summer semester until 30.11 |
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.
- 2German up to B2 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application uni-assist (VPD) + the university until 30.11uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 5Admission, 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.
Video about the programme
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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 30.11.2026 (47 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.