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Director of degree programme: Professor Mika Sillanpää
Degree: Master of Science (Technology)
Extent: 120 ECTS

Studies in engineering physics create a basis for the technological applications of physics and open doors for different careers in industry, science, and research. The study programme in engineering physics distinguishes itself from more traditional university physics by its direct engagement with concrete and practical questions in research and technology. This distinctive focus allows students to develop a profound understanding of physics and mathematics, enabling them to discover innovative solutions to present-day and future challenges. Graduates from the programme are associated to an enduring national brand, and typically work in a vastly broad spectrum of jobs ranging from fundamental research to global corporate leadership.

The focus areas in the programme range from experimental and theoretical materials physics to nanophysics and nanoscience, and to novel energy solutions.

In addition to learning advanced physics and mathematics, in the programme you will learn to think out from the box. This is what the Master's Programme in Engineering Physics is famous for. This will aid you finding the best ways to solve complicated problems in science and technology. In addition, seeing the big picture will make you able to quickly find simple solutions in everyday situations encountered in your career either at hands-on or at management level.

Concretely, graduates from the programme

• Are able to apply methods of physics, mathematics, and computer science in solving demanding problems in science and technology.
• Can see a technological or management situation in a wide perspective in order to find a comprehensive solution.
• Can work in industry both in engineering and management roles.
• Adopt a platform for post-graduate scientific studies.
• Are able to continuously develop their professional skills.
• Are able to communicate effectively on science and engineering.

Two majors with a different focus are offered in the Master's Programme in Engineering Physics:

Materials Physics and Quantum Technology

You can focus either in experimental physics or theoretical physics and modeling, with emphasis on technology applications or basic research. You can further specialize in nanomaterials, solid-state applications of quantum technology, or purely theoretical physics related to the most pressing questions in modern solid-state physics and quantum technology.

Content and structure

The Materials Physics and Quantum Technology major is offered as a long major, and as a compact major. The compact major forms the core content for the long major. The pertaining courses cover important topics for engineering physics, and methods from computational, theoretical, and experimental physics. The compact major also includes some choices for more detailed focusing on a specific subject.

The rest of the studies in the long major have a flexible structure, and provide the student with the possibility of focusing on physics, nanoscience, or designing a more cross-disciplinary content for the long major.

As per the cross-institutional studies agreement (“QuantEd agreement”), MSc students in Engineering Physics with Materials Physics and Quantum Technology major are eligible to sign up for specific courses in University of Helsinki. The course list is given on page Planning your studies. These courses can replace optional or elective courses in the major. The courses are intended to complement the locally offered courses, and more than half of the credits in the MSc degree have to come from Aalto. Before signing up, please check from your own programme whether the course credits fit in your degree.

Advanced Energy Technologies

This major addresses the most pressing questions faced by the society in the near future: how to combat climate change and pollution by finding alternative energy sources. These include e.g. advanced nuclear technologies, fusion, solar energy, and fuel cells.

Content and structure

The Advanced Energy Technologies major is offered as a long major and as a compact major. The compact major forms the core content for the long major. The pertaining courses cover the foundations for novel and clean energy sources, both from practical and computational perspectives. The compact major also includes options for focusing on a specific subject field.

The rest of the studies in the long major have a flexible structure and provide the student with the possibility of focusing either on fission, fusion, or renewable energy sources, or designing a more cross-disciplinary content for the long major.

Completing studies in Finnish/Swedish

Courses within the programme are mainly offered in English. However, you can choose to complete some of the courses included in both majors in Finnish/Swedish languages.

In addition, you can include a minor and/or elective studies offered in Finnish/Swedish in your degree. 

The master’s thesis can be written in English, Finnish or Swedish. The language of the master’s thesis determines the language of the degree. 

The languages used in teaching and studying

The table shows the language of instruction and possible supplementary languages of instruction. The language of instruction is the language in which the teaching is provided, while the supplementary language of instruction is a language used alongside the language of instruction. The teaching offered in the supplementary language of instruction depends on the course: for a detailed description of the languages used in a given course, see the course’s MyCourses page. 

You can complete study attainments, such as examinations or course assignments, using either the language of instruction or the supplementary language of instruction. In some courses, the language of study attainments may also be a language that is not used in teaching. The languages of study attainments offered are specified in Sisu under each study unit implementation.

Code: SCI3107
Extent: 40 ECTS or 65 ECTS
Professor in charge: Mika Sillanpää

Name of the major in Finnish: Materiaalifysiikka ja kvanttiteknologia

Name of the major in Swedish: Materialfysik och kvantteknologi

Objectives

The studies offered in the major follow topical research directions at the Department of Applied Physics, such as experimental and theoretical or computational materials physics and nanophysics, and quantum technology.

Materials is one of the focus areas of Aalto. In materials physics, one of the aims is to discover novel materials and structures and to find and apply new phenomena that often occur at a nanometer length scale. This covers studies based on electronic structure of solid matter, as well as statistical physics, nanomagnetism, nano-optics, and soft matter physics.

Quantum technology uses the principles of quantum mechanics to design physical systems with unforeseen functionalities that are impossible to attain in classical information systems or sensors. Quantum technology is experiencing a rapid growth  worldwide. Plenty of start-up companies are emerging in order to bring the findings out from research laboratories into the market. Time is right to step into the field. The studies on quantum technology offered in the major include advanced quantum mechanics, statistical physics, nanoelectronics, and quantum computing architectures.

The long major offers a chance of profiling the studies by a specialization in a topic. Examples of this are in-depth studies in experimental physics of materials or quantum technology, or theoretical/computational studies on similar topics. The course contents is flexible, and extends beyond the courses organized by the Department of Applied Physics. For students who are clearly aiming at jobs in the private sector, or otherwise interested in broadening their scope beyond core physics, it is suggested to include courses offered elsewhere at Aalto: Department of Mathematics and Systems Analysis, Department of Computer Science, School of Electrical Engineering, and School of Chemical Engineering.

If the student wishes to include other courses to the long major than the courses listed, the student may seek advice on the course selection with the professor in charge of the major or with his/her academic advisor.

In the case of a long major (65 ECTS) the student is recommended to take 40 ECTS of the major courses and 20 ECTS of others during the first year. The special assignment is often completed during the summer between the first and second year in the programme.

Languages of instruction
In the Teaching column of the table, the language of instruction for the course is indicated. Any supplementary language of instruction is provided in parentheses.

(EN = English, FI = Finnish, SWE = Swedish)

^{* The mathematics courses on the MSc level are: MS-E2117 Riskianalyysi, MS-E1600 �մǻ��Բ�ä��ö���������ٱ�ǰ�����, MS-E1651 Numeerinen matriisilaskenta, MS-E1652 Computational methods for differential equations, MS-E1653 Finite element method, MS-E1654 Laskennalliset käänteisongelmat, MS-E2121 Linear Optimization, MS-E2122 Nonlinear optimization, MS-E1461 Hilbert spaces 
** Unless included in the core content. 
***The contents and requirements for the individual studies need to be agreed with a professor.}

>> Suggestions for optional courses for sample study paths

>> Studies in quantum technology offered by University of Helsinki

Code: SCI3106
Extent: 40 ECTS or 65 ECTS
Professor in charge: Andrea Sand

Name of the major in Finnish: Edistyneet energiateknologiat

Name of the major in Swedish: Avancerade energiteknologier

Objectives

The M.Sc. Major in Advanced Energy Technologies deals with clean energy solutions, with high relevance to present grand challenges such as climate change and green economy. The major is supported by the high-level research pursued in this field at the Department of Applied Physics. The major provides a solid analytical competence to deal with a range of energy-related issues such as energy materials, energy systems, fundamental energy science, nuclear reactors, radiation safety, fusion, or renewable energy technologies such as solar energy, wind power or fuel cells. The major is defined through a strong multi-disciplinary thinking with solid physical sciences in its core.

The major contains both theoretical and applied science studies. The major is flexible to allow research intensive or more practice orientated foci. Courses from outside the PHYS-field are included to broaden the skill basis of the students.

The major offers career paths both for those interested in pursuing academic research and for those interested in industries and businesses. The clean energy field is one of the fastest growing fields with global outreach offering interesting and motivating jobs from technology development, analytics to management, among others in Finland and internationally. The major is also one of the main entries to nuclear engineering in which the Department of Applied Physics has a key national role to educate nuclear engineering experts. The Department of Applied Physics is also the key national organisation in European Fusion Energy Research, closely related to the ITER fusion project. The job prospects in energy industries are excellent.

The long major offers a chance of profiling the studies by a specialization in a topic, not just in certain subject areas, but also towards different career paths. Examples of topical fields include in-depth studies in nuclear engineering, fusion technology, or new and renewable energy sources, or a mix of these. The course portfolio is flexible and extends beyond the courses organized by the Department of Applied Physics. Further courses relevant to this major can be found in the course listings of the Aalto Nuclear Safety Minor and Multidisciplinary Energy Studies Minor. In case the student wishes to include other courses to the long major, the student may seek advice on the course selection with the professor in charge of the major or with his/her teacher tutor.

In the case of a long major (65 ECTS) the student is recommended to take 40 ECTS of the major courses and 20 ECTS of others during the first year. The special assignment or company internship is often completed during the summer between the first and second year in the programme.

Languages of instruction
In the Teaching column of the table, the language of instruction for the course is indicated. Any supplementary language of instruction is provided in parentheses.

(EN = English, FI = Finnish, SWE = Swedish)

^{* If you want to include some other course from System Analysis, Applied Mathematics or Mathematics, please consult with the professor in charge.
** If you want to include some other course from Energy Markets, Energy Economics or similar, please consult with the professor in charge. 
*** Unless included in the core content.
1 The contents and requirements for the individual studies need to be agreed with the professor in charge.}
 

Internationally, students can take courses available through the European Nuclear Education Network ENEN (). An additional benefit provided by ENEN is the European Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering Certification EMSNE (requires a 300 ECTS-MSc-level degree where 60 ECTS are in nuclear science and technology, preferably engineering, including a MSc thesis project in the nuclear field, and 20 ECTS need to be earned in a country other than that of the home university).

Students are required to complete a master's thesis, which is a research assignment with a workload corresponding to 30 credits. The thesis is written on a topic usually related to the student's major, or in some special cases to the minor, and agreed upon between the student and a professor who specializes in the topic of the thesis. The supervisor of the thesis must be a professor in the University or for special reasons, the thesis supervisor may also be a university lecturer, or senior university lecturer of the school, whereas the thesis advisor(s) must have at least a master’s degree.

Master’s thesis work includes a seminar presentation or equivalent presentation. The student is also required to write a maturity essay related to the master’s thesis.

The master’s thesis is a public document and cannot be concealed.

For more information about the master's thesis process, please see 

All students in the Master’s Programme in Engineering Physics may have a minor as part of their studies. You can choose to complete a minor subject instead of completing a more extended major. A minor can also be completed as part of the elective studies.

You can choose a minor from those offered by Aalto University, other Finnish universities or universities abroad. You are advised to discuss the matter with the professor in charge or other member of faculty. The minor is confirmed in the Personal Study Plan.

More information on Aalto University’s minor subjects:

• Minors

Students choose 25–30 ECTS of elective studies. As elective studies, students can complete a minor and/or take individual courses from other programmes at Aalto University or other Finnish universities. The study right includes the right to select designated cross-institutional studies (RIPA) from other Finnish universities. See more information on Cross-institutional studies (RIPA) | Aalto University.

Elective studies must be university level studies that fulfill the degree requirements and, in general, studies that are offered as degree studies at the university in question. Universities also offer courses that are targeted for a larger audience. The suitability of these studies is evaluated taking into consideration the learning outcomes of the degree that the courses are planned to be included in. Elective studies may not overlap with student's other studies. For this reason, the programme may restrict the choices in elective studies. Please note, that the elective studies require separate approval through the Personal Study Plan (HOPS).

Please note that PHYS-E0442 Company internship and SCI.trai Training are mutually exclusive. If a student chooses to do PHYS-E0442 Company internship to the major, practical training cannot be included in the elective studies.

For more information on internationalisation, Aalto University’s minor subjects or practical training:

• Minors
• Exchange studies
• Practical training

If you have compulsory language studies in your master's degree, they are included in the elective studies.

• If you have completed your bachelor's degree in Finland (in Aalto or in another higher education institute), you have fulfilled the compulsory language requirements in the respective degree or received the exemption. You do not need to complete language studies in the master's degree.
• If your language of education is Finnish or Swedish and you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you must
  • demonstrate proficiency in national languages by writing the maturity test in your language of education (Finnish or Swedish) and complete the language proficiency tests (2 ECTS) in the other national language. Read more about the language of education here. You may also apply for an exemption of demonstrating proficiency in national languages.
  • complete 3 ECTS in one foreign language (including both oral (o) and written (w) proficiency).
• If you have completed your bachelor’s degree outside of Finland, you are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language (including both oral (o) and written (w) proficiency). Students, whose language of education is not Finnish or Swedish, may alternatively complete an elementary course in Finnish or in Swedish (3 ECTS). The courses in national languages can be at any level on CEFR scale.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS). Language center offers the language studies.