Masters degrees in Chemical Physics involve advanced study of electrons, nuclei, atoms and molecules, and how they interact with their environment. As you’d expect, these courses combine approaches from Chemistry and Physics.
Related subjects include Nanoscience and Applied Measurement Science, while entry requirements usually include an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject such as Physics, Chemistry or Mathematics.
It is an exciting time to be studying physics in the 21st century: it is an enabling science that expands our knowledge of the universe and underpins new technologies that benefit our society. The School of Physics is well established and is internationally respected for its research excellence, broad-based undergraduate courses, and a challenging and rewarding postgraduate experience.
Our programs in astrophysics, theoretical particle and experimental particle physics explore questions relating to the origin, evolution and fate of our universe, addressing some of the most important and fundamental problems of our age. Research collaborations include the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Geneva, the LIGO gravitational wave detector, and the MWA low frequency radio telescope.
The School has strengths in the exploration of matter and light interactions, particularly in advanced materials utilising diamond and silicon, quantum information science, photonics, advanced electron microscopy, nanoscale imaging, nanoelectronics, all the way down to the single atom and photon. Working closely with the Australian Synchrotron, the School hosts the Centre for Coherent X-Ray Science, and the Victorian node of the Centre for Quantum Computer Technology.
Students in the Master of Science (Physics) who have a weighted average mark of 80% or higher in the prerequisite undergraduate major, are eligible for consideration for the Graduate Research Program in Science. This is a five-year course of study comprising the Master of Science and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Find out more.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
As a graduate, you may find a rewarding career in:
Our society is currently facing major challenges in the areas of energy, medicine, ecology, construction and transportation. For further advancements in these key areas, it has become crucial to discover and develop novel functional materials.
The International Master program Chemistry and Physics of Materials offered at the Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials (CPM) prepares students for these important issues. It is opened to students from all countries and different scientific backgrounds and is taught in English.
It is focused on the synthesis, characterization and processing of synthetic and naturally-occurring functional materials. Through both fundamental and applied science courses, this program provides students with a complete understanding of the influence that the physical, chemical and biological properties of materials can have over their integration within functional devices and real-life applications. Students enrolled in this program will gain a well-rounded education in materials science and engineering that meets the needs of industry and academia.
Studying in Salzburg
The Austrian city of Salzburg is internationally renowned for its baroque architecture and is one of the best-preserved city centers north of the Alps. It was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997. The city is surrounded by mountains on its Western and Southern border providing a perfect location for hiking, skiing and mountaineering. It is well-known for its cultural life as well as for being the central location of the Sound of Music movie.
No tuition fees
No tuition fees are required for students coming from the European Union. Third-country nationals are charged tuition fees of € 726.72 per semester. A small obligatory activity fee (currently € 18.70/semester) in support of the Austrian Student Union is collected from all students.
Organization (Curriculum)
Language of study: English
Academic Degree: M.Sc.
Program duration: 3 semesters
ECTS units: 90
Start-date: Winter (October) or Summer (March) semester
Structure
The CPM Master of Science program is an English-based curriculum. It is research orientated and is three semesters in length. A balanced mix of required core courses and elective modules provides a flexible and individualized curriculum. The first two semesters introduce a number of modern methods of synthesis, processing, and characterization of functional materials. The third semester is dedicated to the Master’s thesis research work.
Research
During the course of the M.Sc. degree program, students will become familiar with the means of independent experimental scientific research, through a constant interaction with our Faculty members. This will provide students with the ability to find innovative solutions to material-, processing- and sustainability-related problems.
Further information about this curriculum is available here.
This taught MSc course gives you a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art research in nanoscience. It provides you with the opportunity to develop the skills necessary for this emerging area.
The course is mainly designed to equip you for a research-based career in industry but it can also serve as a way of progressing towards a PhD.
This course will be of interest to physical science graduates looking to work in the field of nanoscience. It’s also suitable for those with an industrial background as a further training opportunity and a way of gaining insights into topics at the forefront of academic research.
This course explores the frontiers of science on the nanoscale. It provides a strong grounding in basic nanoscience before progressing to advanced topics.
Taught classes have been developed from the many years of nanoscience research at the University in areas such as:
Two semesters of formal teaching are followed by a three-month intensive project.
Research project
Following the taught classes, you’ll undertake a research intensive project in a relevant nanoscience topic.
The projects take place primarily in research labs located in the University’s physical science departments. There are some opportunities for relevant industrial placements.
This course is run by the Department of Physics. The department’s facilities include:
The final assessment will be based on your performance in exams, coursework, a research project and, if required, in an oral exam.
What kind of jobs do Strathclyde Physics graduates get?
To answer this question we contacted some of our Physics graduates from all courses to find out what jobs they have. They are working across the world in a number of different roles including:
Pursuing a research degree at the School of Chemistry could be one of the best experiences of your life.
In addition to gaining research skills, making friends, meeting eminent researchers and being part of the research community, a research degree will help you to develop invaluable transferable skills which you can apply to academic life or a variety of professions outside of academia.
The Chemistry/Biology Interface
This is a broad area, with particular strengths in the areas of protein structure and function, mechanistic enzymology, proteomics, peptide and protein synthesis, protein folding, recombinant and synthetic DNA methodology, biologically targeted synthesis and the application of high throughput and combinatorial approaches. We also focus on biophysical chemistry, the development and application of physicochemical techniques to biological systems. This includes mass spectrometry, advanced spectroscopy and microscopy, as applied to proteins, enzymes, DNA, membranes and biosensors.
Experimental & Theoretical Chemical Physics
This is the fundamental study of molecular properties and processes. Areas of expertise include probing molecular structure in the gas phase, clusters and nanoparticles, the development and application of physicochemical techniques such as mass spectoscropy to molecular systems and the EaStCHEM surface science group, who study complex molecules on surfaces, probing the structure property-relationships employed in heterogeneous catalysis. A major feature is in Silico Scotland, a world-class research computing facility.
Synthesis
This research area encompasses the synthesis and characterisation of organic and inorganic compounds, including those with application in homogeneous catalysis, nanotechnology, coordination chemistry, ligand design and supramolecular chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, heterocyclic chemistry and the development of synthetic methods and strategies leading to the synthesis of biologically important molecules (including drug discovery). The development of innovative synthetic and characterisation methodologies (particularly in structural chemistry) is a key feature, and we specialise in structural chemistry at extremely high pressures.
Materials Chemistry
The EaStCHEM Materials group is one of the largest in the UK. Areas of strength include the design, synthesis and characterisation of functional (for example magnetic, superconducting and electronic) materials; strongly correlated electronic materials, battery and fuel cell materials and devices, porous solids, fundamental and applied electrochemistry polymer microarray technologies and technique development for materials and nanomaterials analysis.
Students attend regular research talks, visiting speaker symposia, an annual residential meeting in the Scottish Highlands, and lecture courses on specialised techniques and safety. Students are encouraged to participate in transferable skills and computing courses, public awareness of science activities, undergraduate teaching and to represent the School at national and international conferences.
Our facilities are among the best in the world, offering an outstanding range of capabilities. You’ll be working in recently refurbished laboratories that meet the highest possible standards, packed with state-of-the-art equipment for both analysis and synthesis.
For NMR in the solution and solid state, we have 10 spectrometers at field strengths from 200-800 MHz; mass spectrometry utilises EI, ESI, APCI, MALDI and FAB instrumentation, including LC and GC interfaces. New combinatorial chemistry laboratories, equipped with a modern fermentation unit, are available. We have excellent facilities for the synthesis and characterisation of bio-molecules, including advanced mass spectrometry and NMR stopped-flow spectrometers, EPR, HPLC, FPLC, AA.
World-class facilities are available for small molecule and macromolecular X-ray diffraction, utilising both single crystal and powder methods. Application of diffraction methods at high pressures is a particular strength, and we enjoy strong links to central facilities for neutron, muon and synchrotron science in the UK and further afield. We are one of the world's leading centres for gas-phase electron diffraction.
Also available are instruments for magnetic and electronic characterisation of materials (SQUID), electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), force-probe microscopy, high-resolution FTRaman and FT-IR, XPS and thermal analysis. We have also recently installed a new 1,000- tonne pressure chamber, to be used for the synthesis of materials at high pressures and temperatures. Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy instruments are available within the COSMIC Centre. Dedicated computational infrastructure is available, and we benefit from close links with the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre.
2-year master's programme provides thorough knowledge and skills in the areas of laboratory and technological measurements, testing and chemical analysis methods, quality systems, metrology and related economic and legal aspects. Studies are carried out in the “Physicum” and “Chemicum” buildings in Tartu – among the top research and education facilities in Northern Europe.
The MSc in Science of Energy consists of six taught modules worth 10 ECTS each. These are structured around a cross-cutting introductory module. The introductory module is designed to furnish students with all of the basic physics, chemistry and engineering concepts that are required to become an "Energy Scientist". These basics are complemented by essential "Economics of Energy" and "Principles of Energy Policy".
Now with the ability to understand and analyse the competing aspects of all of the essential science, engineering and economics pertinent to the energy discipline, the students proceed to Five specialised technically orientated core modules; "Conventional Energy Sources & Technologies", "Electric Power Generation and Distribution", "Sustainable Energy Sources & Technologies I & II", and "Managing the impact of Energy Utilisation".
With these modules completed and examined in the months September to April, students proceed to a 15 week research project worth 30 ECTS in a leading research laboratory or in industry in the months of May-August.
The curriculum is designed to allow students from a science, engineering, or other backgrounds with relevant experience, to gain the scientific knowledge needed to contribute to the energy sector. This can be through industry, business, academia, government policy or media communication. Students will examine the fundamental and applied science of how energy resources could be diversified from conventional polluting sources (e.g. CO2, NOX, SMOG) to renewable sources, where the sustainability of both the energy source and the conversion technology is presently unknown.
1. Introductory Module - September to November
2. Specialised Modules - December to March
3. Dissertation by Research - April to August
The programme includes interactive lessons, workshops and group projects. Students can also undertake research in the form of a company project instead of the standard dissertation.
