The Master’s degree programme in Physics is taught primarily in English.
Students can decide to take their examinations for the seminars, lab courses, basic and specialisation subjects in English or German. The language of instruction and examination in the non-physics minor subjects is either English or German and is based on the courses offered in the minor course catalogue.
The Physics Master's can thus be studied entirely in English.
The programme can be started in the winter semester or the summer semester.
Application deadlines and information on the application procedure are available online.
Please consult the study information pages for further details.
The Master's degree programme in Physics at TU Dresden aims to consolidate insights into interrelations within physics as well as connections to neighbouring disciplines.
During the one-year research phase, you will acquire the necessary skills to become acquainted with current topics in physics, to design and conduct experiments or theoretical methods in this field, to categorise the results and to draw conclusions for application to technical developments and scientific progress.
The specialisation areas are:
Collaboration with other subject areas in the natural sciences, technology and the humanities in 13 minor subjects, each with multiple elective topics, guarantees a diverse profile for acquiring a basic understanding of topics in other subject areas and the necessary skills for interdisciplinary work. Examples of minor subjects are:
The Master's course in Physics at TU Dresden is structured in two parts: a one-year phase of regular studies with courses and seminars, and a one-year research phase.
In the first year, the obligatory courses in experimental and theoretical physics offer a broad overview of modern physics topics and their interconnections. Specialisation courses and a seminar can be chosen in the fields of applied physics, solid state and material physics, particle and nuclear physics, theoretical physics, soft matter physics and biophysics. These topics correspond to the main research areas at the Faculty of Physics. In case of experimental specialisation, an advanced laboratory course is part of the curriculum. A non-physics minor can be selected among a large variety of 13 non-physics subjects.
The second year of the Master's programme is devoted to a research project, which is divided into scientific research studies and the Master's thesis. The research topic can be chosen within the specialisation areas offered at the Faculty of Physics and by the affiliated research institutes. The research studies and the Master's thesis are usually on a single, overarching research topic.
More details can be found in the official study documents, which are available online.
The curriculum of the Master's course of studies in Physics foresees the first summer semester as an optional time slot for studies abroad. These studies may be organised within the ERASMUS framework or on individual initiative. Counselling for international studies is offered by the Faculty of Physics.
The curriculum of the Master's course of studies in Physics foresees the first summer semester as an optional time slot for studies abroad. These studies may be organised within the ERASMUS framework or on individual initiative. Counselling for international studies is offered by the Faculty of Physics.
The Master's course of studies in Physics integrates practical and advanced laboratory courses in experimental physics specialisation areas. Students specialising in theoretical physics may chose among various practical theory tutorials.
Practical laboratory courses may also be offered within the non-physics minors.
Currently, students pay ~300 EUR per semester (i.e. for six months). This includes a ticket for public transport in Dresden (bus, tram, ferry, "S-Bahn" suburban train) and regional trains in the Federal State of Saxony. Additionally, students can use a bike rental service all over the city for free for 30 min. The contribution also assures concessions in the university cafeterias and offers benefits (e.g. price reductions) for many cultural and leisure activities in Dresden.
Dresden offers high quality of living at very moderate costs. Currently, students should expect to pay around 850 EUR per month including rent, food, insurance and basic expenses. This figure is relatively low compared to other big German cities.
Academic admission requirements include the completion of a first vocational university degree recognised in Germany or a qualification from an officially-recognised vocational academy in the field of physics or a closely-related programme of study such as engineering physics (if the course content on experimental and theoretical physics and the knowledge of applied and mathematical methods imparted correspond to the content of the TU Dresden’s Bachelor’s degree programme in physics).
Proficiency in English at the B2 level of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages
If you do not have a certificate of general or subject-specific university entrance qualification with a basic or advanced course in English (or comparable levels), a certificate for admission to higher education completed in English or a higher education graduation certificate completed in English, then you must provide proof of English proficiency by taking an internationally-offered English test and by scoring accordingly (e.g. IELTS: 6.0, online TOEFL: 75, UNIcert II).
Application deadlines and information on the application procedure are available online.
Please consult the study information pages for further details.
Online application information:
TU Dresden, Study Information System, Degree programme in Physics (Master's) accredited
In order to top up their budget, some students may want to look for temporary work in Dresden. If so, different regulations apply for students from EU member states, countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, and students from outside the European Union and the EEA area. In addition, restrictions on the duration of employment may apply. Professors, lecturers and group leaders involved in the Master's programme may offer students the possibility of working as academic assistants. However, living expenses can be financed only partially through a job as an academic assistant.
It is still relatively easy to find affordable accommodation in Dresden. Accommodation is available either via the "Studentenwerk Dresden" or on the private market. Rent for a single room in a student residence is approx. 250 EUR per month.
Private housing can be found online. We recommend that you move into a hall of residence at the beginning of your stay in Dresden. Subsequently, you can look for a place on the private market or in a shared apartment, which is known as a "Wohngemeinschaft" in German.
TU Dresden offers plenty of counseling and training within its Career Service to help students with finding professional orientation. They offer workshops to equip students with professional skills and help optimise their CV.
Additionally, there are special workshops for international students to get to know the German and Saxon job market and network.
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