Master's Programme in Physics, 120 ECTS credits

Umea univerity
Programme code: TAFYM (not to be confused with the application code, which usually changes from one
semester to another).
General: The Master's Programme in Physics is a two-year study programme offered in English. The students
have large freedom to choose courses and specialization according to their own interests and ambitions. The
programme is structured according to the European Bologna system and is finished off with an (at least) one-
semester Masters thesis. The thesis work is usually done in one of our reseach groups, but it is also possible
to do it in a company or in a different university, even abroad. The latter alternatives usually have to be
arranged by the students themselves.
The programme starts in August/September every year (fall semester), but it is possible to join in in the middle
of January as well (spring semester).
Main study paths: You have a large freedom to put together individual study paths leading to the Masters
degree. All physics courses offered in English are found here.
You can read about some recommended study paths and their prerequisites here:
Computational PhysicsCondensed Matter Physics/NanotechnologyQuantum Physics/Quantum TechniqueOptical
Physics/Measurement PhysicsSpace PhysicsTheoretical Physics
Eligibility: The programme is open for students holding at least a three-year Bachelors degree in calculus-
based physics or engineering physics. It is possible to apply already during the last semester of Bachelor
studies and get a conditional admission to the programme.
Ume university: The university, having 31,000 students and 4,200 employees, is one of the larger universities
in Sweden. It is built after the American campus model and is well-known for excellent quality in both education
and research.
Tuition fees: The Swedish Government has recently proposed that all Swedish universities shall charge tuition
fees for most non-EU/EEA students that start their studies in the autumn semester 2011 or later. The charge is
not determined yet but will probably be around 9 000 - 11 000 USD per year. Ume University will issue
scholarships for the most qualified applicants, but these scholarships will at most cover the tuition fees.
(Students from countries receiving development aid from Sweden can apply for scholarships from the Swedish
Institute that covers the living costs as well.)
A student starting his/her studies before the autumn semester 2011 will be allowed to finish the whole
acknowledged study plan without tuition fees, at least if the rate of study is normal. Also those non-EU/EEA
students studying in Sweden under a bilateral student exchange agreement will normally be exempted from
tuition fees if they pay fees to their home universities.
Accreditation and quality: Ume University is a state university and the quality of the education is regularly
scrutinized by the Swedish National Agency for Higher Education. Institutions not fulfilling the national
standards are denied the right to offer questioned programmes.
Further, every course at the Department of Physics is evaluated by the students with respect to content and
teaching skills, and the quality of the courses and the teaching is continuously improved in line with these
student opinions.
Application deadlines: The application is done on-line, but all supporting paper documents like transcripts and
degree certificates must be sent by post. A good advice is to prepare all necessary documents well in advance!
For studies starting in August/September (autumn semester), the application can be made between
December 1 - January 15 (for all students), or
March 17 - April 15 (OBS! for Swedish students and other EU/EEC citizens only, the application form is in
Swedish!).
For studies starting in mid-January (spring semester) the application dates are
June 1 - August 1 (for all students), OBS new deadline!, and
September 15 - October 15 (OBS! for Swedish students and other EU/EEC citizens only, the application form is
in Swedish!)
Note that the application period June 1 - August 1, 2010, will be the last chance for non-EU/EEA students to
study for free at Ume University.