master’s degree
Applied Physics
Welcome to the Faculty of Science and Technology! When choosing a Master’s programme, it is wise to look one step ahead. What would you like to do after completing your degree? Are you thinking about a job in industry, consultancy, teaching or research? All of these options are open to you once you have obtained your Master of Science degree from the Faculty Science and Technology at the University of Twente. However, the question remains of how to make the right choice among these options, and how best to prepare yourself for the future. Prof. dr. Gerard van der Steenhoven, dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology At the Faculty of Science and Technology we help students making this choice. Some Master’s specializations are more oriented towards science, whereas engineering plays a more dominant role in others. Moreover, by suggesting additional elective courses in business administration or innovation, for example, or by arranging projects with one of our industrial partners, our students become much more familiar with the range of possibilities open to them. In addition to helping you shape your own future, our Master’s programmes are very topical, incorporating the latest developments in applied physics, nanotechnology, chemical engineering, biomedical engineering or technical medicine. Master’s projects can either be more scientific in nature, or more closely related to
applications in domains such as sustainable energy or health technology. Most projects will be carried out at the MESA+ institute for nanotechnology, or the MIRA institute for biomedical technology, both of which provide an excellent research environment. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our programmes. Students rank our programmes very highly, and most obtain their degree in the nominal two years. Be assured that you will have a thoroughly enjoyable and productive time at the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Twente.
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programme Apply yourself in one of the oldest sciences: physics. Gain fundamental insights into your own research field while honing your research skills. A great deal of the work done by physicists is not immediately visible. But without recent breakthroughs in physics, the cellular phone and the laptop would have been power-guzzling machines that weigh a ton and lab-on-a-chip technology would still be science-fiction. These are only two examples of the enormous number of research fields where applied physicists work. Do you also want to be involved in high-profile developments? Are you interested in physical phenomena, scientific principles and their applications? Then Applied Physics is the programme for you. The Master’s in Applied Physics is rooted in the fundamental truths and basic laws that describe the world around us. You will focus on using scientific principles in practical devices and systems, and on the application of physics in other fields.
This Master’s degree will expand your knowledge of physics, providing deeper insights into the specific field of research you choose to focus on. You will have the opportunity to tailor your programme to suit your individual interests. The Physics faculty at the University of Twente is one of the best in the world: you will benefit from cutting edge high-tech lab facilities while enjoying the human touch of a small-scale programme.
The Master’s in Applied Physics is rooted in the fundamental truths and basic laws that describe the world around us
SPECIALIZATIONS Fluid Physics Fluid Physics is one of the largest disciplines of classical physics. The fascinating phenomena that are encountered in liquids and gases, from the almost mathematical beauty of a droplet falling from a tap to the chaos of large-scale turbulence, have long challenged and continue to challenge some of the world’s finest physicists, mathematicians and engineers. Fluid Physics is a key discipline in solving many issues at the forefront of the technological development of society. Future challenges for Fluid Physics range from large-scale phenomena such as fully developed turbulence in single and multiphase flow, through mesoscale phenomena like the behaviour of particles, bubbles, (bio-)polymers and even living cells within a flow, to the distinct mechanics of gases and liquids in the world of nano- and microfluidics. All of these challenges have a direct link to socially relevant issues such as flight safety, sustainable energy and greenhouse gases, lab-on-a-chip appliances for the synthesis and detection of substances in small quantities, processing and mixing of granules in the pharmaceutical industry, ink jet printing, biofluids, and biomedical applications (e.g. contrast agents), to name just a few.
Materials Physics Exceptional materials properties are at the heart of many modern technologies. To optimize properties for given applications, it is very important to understand and control the materials from the atomic to the macroscopic scales. In addition to the intrinsic properties of materials, the physical and chemical properties of surfaces and interfaces are of particular interest, while materials in reduced dimensions are of more general interest. These often differ qualitatively from the corresponding bulk properties. Active control of artificial structures, such as multilayers and
Applied Physics
nanostructures, opens unparalleled and practically inexhaustible opportunities for tailoring properties of new materials. The Materials Physics specialization covers the entire spectrum, ranging from a basic understanding of the relationship between physical properties, structure and chemical composition of (structured) materials, through strategies to control material on nanometre scales toward the development of devices with novel, predesigned functionalities. All aspects of these various perspectives are addressed in lectures discussing systematic trends in the physics of a number of classes of materials, current developments and novel advanced materials.
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Optics And Biophysics Light is essential to life, science, and industry; its speed is proverbial and so is its elusiveness. Generating, manipulating and trapping photons and completely controlling their propagation and emission will have far-reaching consequences in a wide variety of scientific fields in physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Moreover, it will give rise to quantum improvements in technologies that will be vital to our future society, such as efficient lighting, solar energy conversion, medical imaging, security and high-speed information networks. Such control of photons is not science fiction, but is the focus of advanced optics and the emerging area of nanophotonics. Here light is manipulated by dielectric, metallic, molecular, and (non-linear) optical structures down to the nanoscale. The Optics and Biophysics specialization is the result of a unique alliance between renowned research groups. The specialization offers you the opportunity to learn about and work on fundamental problems and cuttingedge applications in photonics and optical biophysics. We are involved in aspects of optics that range from fundamental quantum physics to studying life processes and the creation of industrial devices. As a student, you will be able to pursue your own interests. Thanks to our joint approach, we teach an exceptional optics curriculum.
Admission requirements Dutch HBO students Dutch HBO graduates with a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study may be considered for admission. In most cases students will first need to complete a bridging course.
University of Twente students Students with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Physics or Industrial and Applied Mathematics from the University of Twente qualify for direct admission, conditions may apply. Students with other relevant Bachelor’s degrees will be considered for admission.
Dutch university students Students with relevant Bachelor’s degrees a Dutch university will be considered for admission.
International students International students with a Bachelor’s degree in Physics or Applied Physics and a CGPA of at least 75% of the maximum score are invited to apply for
admission. In addition international students need to pass an English language test. More detailed admission requirements are available at www.utwente.nl/master/aph
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Career OPPORTUNITIES You have many career choices as an applied physicist. Research and Development
Management
Approximately half our graduates work in Research & Development at a university, institute (e.g. TNO, ECN, CERN) or at a corporate R&D department (e.g. Philips Natlab, Shell, OcĂŠ), developing new materials, new technology, or new products, for example for space travel or medical science.
Twenty per cent of our graduates work at management level. Some head corporate R&D departments, while others are production managers or general managers.
PhD Programme Many Applied Physics graduates pursue their scientific studies at doctorate level, conducting independent research for four years under the guidance of a professor, and writing and publicly defending a PhD dissertation.
Developing new materials, new technology, or new products Other opportunities Applied Physics graduates regularly pursue careers in Information Technology. In addition, consultancy firms (e.g. Arthur D. Little, McKinsey) regularly hire applied physicists. Over ten per cent of our graduates currently work abroad.
Engineering and Manufacturing Some graduates pursue a career in engineering or manufacturing. In engineering, you design new products (e.g. copier, image phone) or production processes, working for a major company or as an independent advisor. In manufacturing, the focus is on innovations in the production process.
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Student’s Touch ‘I discovered that physics provides a very solid background for working in basically any environment’ NAME
Matthijs Neut
Although this leaflet was compiled with the utmost care, no rights can be derived from its contents.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN the Netherlands
Matthijs completed his HBO Bachelor’s in Applied Physics at Saxion University of Applied Sciences in Enschede. He is now studying for his Master’s degree in Applied Physics at the University of Twente, where he chose the Physics of Fluids specialization. Recently, he and two former classmates started a small company offering custom-made simulation software and advice. “During my Bachelor’s internships, I discovered that physics provides a very solid background for working in basically any environment. I therefore decided to build on this foundation with a Master’s degree in physics. I chose the University of Twente because it’s well recognized, nationally as well as internationally. I found several differences between my Applied Sciences (HBO) programme and my Master’s degree at a research university. Firstly, the pace at the university is much higher. Also, the HBO approach is more practical: you have to be able to directly apply your knowledge. At the university, you are taught to think more critically and to find your own solutions to problems. For one course, some classmates and I had to analyze the splash of a droplet, which is interesting for printing
CONTACT For general information about the Master’s programme or the University of Twente, as well as for questions about the application form of your enrolment status, please contact:
University of Twente Study Information Desk Phone: +31 (0)53 489 5489 master@utwente.nl www.utwente.nl/master
applications. Basically, we wanted to know the shape and speed of the droplet as it splashed onto a surface. Using a high-speed camera we recorded the splash. After that, we had to analyse the image material. We could have done this manually by viewing each clip frame by frame and measuring the droplet in each frame, but this would have taken ages and would have been amazingly boring. Instead, we wrote a small program that analyzed each clip.” teaching material on safer, more effective internet use.”