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The two-year Master's program in Applied Physics at Eindhoven University of Technology (ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍø) comprises 120 EC and combines advanced applied physics, research experience, and professional development.

One of the defining features of the program is its flexibility. Rather than following a fixed curriculum, you gradually build your own academic profile. You start by exploring different research areas through foundational courses, deepen your knowledge through program-specific electives, broaden your perspective with free electives, and apply your expertise during an internship and graduation project.

Throughout the program, Professional & Personal Development (P&PD) is integrated into courses and projects, helping you develop the academic and professional skills needed for a successful career in research or industry.

120 EC – flexible to plan

The components of the program can be completed in a flexible order and tailored to your individual study path.

You begin your program by choosing three foundational courses (15 EC) from six research-inspired topics. These courses introduce the department's areas of expertise and provide a strong scientific foundation for the rest of your master's program.

The six foundational courses are:

• Advanced Fluid Dynamics
• Condensed Matter at the Nanoscale
• Physics of Plasma and Radiation
• Photonics and Modern Optics
• Quantum Science and Technology
• Soft Matter Physics

Shape your own academic profile

After building your foundation, you tailor your curriculum by choosing 2–5 advanced elective courses (10–25 EC) and three free elective courses (15 EC).

The department offers seven specializations, each with recommended foundational courses and elective combinations that reflect one of the department's research strengths. These recommendations help you build expertise in a specific field while still giving you the freedom to combine courses across research areas and create a curriculum that matches your own interests and career ambitions.

The recommended courses illustrate how you can build expertise within a particular specialization. At the same time, the flexible structure of the program allows you to combine courses across different research areas and create a study path that reflects your own interests.

Course recommendations for the Theoretical and Computational Physics specialization will be added once the curriculum has been finalized.

The 5 credits in Professional and Personal Development (P&PD) are integrated throughout the programme. In this course, you work closely with fellow students to develop essential academic skills that prepare you for a successful future career. Through interactive training sessions and giving and receiving feedback, you strengthen your academic writing and communication skills and develop an awareness of research integrity and the responsible handling of research data.

You may choose from any master’s courses available at ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍø or other institutions, as long as they are of a sufficient level. This gives you the opportunity to develop new knowledge and skills, either within your specialization or to expand to other disciplines.

As a master's student in Applied Physics, you have the opportunity to broaden your academic and professional horizons through an external internship and an in-depth graduation project.

External internship (15 or 30 ECTS)

Gain hands-on experience by working in an international, real-world setting – whether it is a high-tech Brainport company, a leading Dutch research institute, or a university lab abroad. Together with a ºÚÁϸ£ÀûÍø supervisor, you select the topic and location that suit your interests.

• The 15 ECTS internship (1 quarter) is ideal if you want to combine it with additional courses or finish your internship before the summer break.
• The 30 ECTS internship (1 semester) offers more depth, expands your international opportunities, and can support scholarship applications.

Graduation Project (45 ECTS)

Over three quarters, you will carry out an in-depth research project within one of the department's research groups. The foundational courses, specialization electives, and internship help you make a well-informed choice for a graduation project that aligns with one of the seven specializations and your own interests.

As the capstone of the master's program, the graduation project enables you to apply your knowledge and research skills in a professional academic environment while contributing to cutting-edge research with real societal impact. Working closely with researchers, you will investigate complex scientific questions, develop as an independent researcher, and contribute to innovations in areas such as healthcare, energy, semiconductors, quantum technologies, and sustainable materials.