Bachelors
The main objective of the degree in Physics is to provide the tools needed to understand the Universe. Understanding the world around us and unlocking its secrets is, in itself, an enormous challenge that underpins countless technological advances that improve life for all of us.
With a degree in Physics, students develop the skills that enable them to understand the basic principles of classical and modern physics. The degree has a strong emphasis on its mathematical foundations and includes a strong and indispensable laboratory component, or physics would not be a highly experimental science. There is a strong emphasis on individual student development, but also on the ability to work as part of a team.
As well as learning physics, students develop skills such as creativity, the ability to reduce problems to their essence and find models to solve problems. These skills allow U.C. Physics graduates to adapt easily to any professional activity in which problem-solving and/or modeling are essential, even if the focus is on areas of knowledge completely different from Physics. It is this characteristic that explains the success of physicists in various sectors of the job market, such as the financial sector (stock market, investment banking, risk analysis, etc.).
Course Coordinator
Fernando Manuel Silva Nogueira | fnog@uc.pt
Testimonials
My degree in Physics at the University of Coimbra not only gave me all the tools I needed to study physics, it also opened a lot of doors for me. I was able to count on enormous support from all my teachers and colleagues, with the door always open if I had any questions. The physics course has an ideal combination of theoretical and practical components, and you never feel the lack or suffocation of either side. And most importantly of all, the department listens to and gives voice to the students, always making changes not only if there are problems, but as a way of optimizing teaching.
Masters
The Master in Physics aims to train excellent professionals with high-level knowledge and skills in the fundamental areas of Modern Physics, namely Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, and Computational Modeling and Simulation.
Students will develop solid skills in the theoretical, experimental and/or computational components of physics, including scientific methodology, the development of physical models and their simulation, experimental and instrumental planning and data analysis. Students will acquire the skills to carry out original and supervised research into current problems in Physics.
As well as providing students with advanced knowledge of theoretical and experimental physics in a stimulating scientific environment, the MSc also aims to equip students with a professional profile of integrity and honesty in research.
On completion of the Master's in Physics, students will be able to carry out research activities:
- research in R&D laboratories, universities and industry;
- teaching and disseminating science in general, whether in the education system, interactive science dissemination centers or science museums;
- in companies that require highly qualified workers;
- software development and testing companies; instrumentation development and maintenance companies, in health units, in the service sector and in the financial sector.
Course Coordinator
João Pedro Trancoso Gomes Rosa | jgrosa@uc.pt
Testimonials
During my master's degree in Physics I really understood what I wanted to do in the future, working in the field of particle physics. The Physics department gave me an insight into the real world of working in different areas of physics, outside the classroom. I would recommend my course to anyone who likes to face challenges, wants to be involved in research groups and, above all, has a great desire to learn.
The Master in Physics aims to train excellent professionals with high-level knowledge and skills in the fundamental areas of Modern Physics, namely Condensed Matter Physics, Nuclear and Particle Physics, and Computational Modeling and Simulation.
The master's degree in Physics at the UC Physics Department didn't let me down when it came to what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. It's an intense but very constructive and rewarding master's degree. I feel that I've been accompanied by the best specialists in the various areas I've chosen to study, and that thanks to this, I've been able to take my knowledge to the next level. The syllabus is very comprehensive and leaves nothing to be desired when it comes to preparing for anything, and it also manages to offer its students a good variety of options. Now I can see that there was no reason to hesitate in choosing FCTUC's Master's in Physics!
Doctorate
The main objective of the PhD in Physics is to provide doctoral students with a general understanding of the foundations and methods of research in Physics, leading to the production of original, critical and creative scientific work in a specific field of Physics.
To this end, a stimulating and high level of training is provided, leading doctoral students to obtain the necessary skills for the development of autonomous and quality research work, according to international standards, in fundamental or applied Physics, in one of the specific areas of the study cycle:
- Astrophysics;
- Atomic and Molecular Physics;
- Computational Physics;
- Nuclear and Particle Physics;
- Condensed Matter Physics.
The aim is also to provide each doctoral student with experience of working in a research group and interacting with professional physicists from Portugal and abroad.
The challenge is therefore to develop high-quality research work that can be presented at international conferences and/or published in high-impact international journals in the field of the study cycle.
The most common career paths are fundamental and applied research, university teaching, development and improvement of new products and instruments, as well as management, banking and consultancy.
Course Coordinator
Orlando Olavo Aragão Aleixo e Neves de Oliveira | orlando@uc.pt