Physics, Experimental Particle and Nuclear Physics - Master Programme

In this Master programme, you will gain an understanding of the fundamental principles that govern the structure of the entire physical world, through the mathematical theories and experimental data that reveal the physics of the known universe. Among other things, the Master programme will provide you with specialised knowledge of the standard model of physics, including its fundamental potential to explain the basic principles of physics, as well as its limitations. You will gain insight into the research that strives for explanations outside the framework of the standard model, for example with regard to the universe’s dark matter. You can also learn about the quantum mechanical nature of the nuclei: from studies of its many different structures to the search for new super-heavy elements. And even what happens when it melts into a quark-gluon plasma, the extremely energy-dense matter which characterised the early universe.

The programme offers a wide variety of master projects that cover everything from carrying out experiments and data analysis, to e-science and hardware development and testing. We are involved in the ATLAS and ALICE experiments at the LHC at CERN and their upgrades. Dark Matter is the majority of the matter in the Universe, but what is it made of? The LDMX experiment is being prepared to answer that question. The HIBEAM/NNBAR collaboration is a planned international programme of searches for neutron conversions between matter and antimatter at ESS. Research on the stability and structure of atomic nuclei is conducted within the international FAIR-NUSTAR and CERN-ISOLDE collaborations, but also at other facilities in Europe and the USA. In applied nuclear physics, we study anthropogenic radioactivity in the environment.

Programme structure

The programme includes two compulsory courses, one in quantum mechanics and one on quantum physics in research and society. During your first year of study, you will also choose between a number of other courses, for example in experimental tools, modern experimental particle physics or advanced nuclear physics.

During your second year of study, you will continue to build your expertise on the basis of your personal preferences. For example, you can take a course on theoretical particle physics. Your degree project will be equivalent to either 30 or 60 credits and will be done in a research group. During the degree project work, you have the opportunity to be an active member of an international research team and, in certain cases, to visit the experiments or take part in workshops and meetings.

Career prospects

The Master programme provides a good basis for research studies in particle and nuclear physics and prepares you to work in the major international research laboratories. Both the research facilities in Lund – the MAX IV Laboratory and ESS (European Spallation Source) – and those around the world. 

A master’s degree in particle and nuclear physics also prepares you well for a career path outside of academia; many graduates go on to jobs in fields such as information and communications technology, or e-science, where there is a need for expertise in advanced programming and modelling as well as the processing of large amounts of data.