Master in Theoretical Physics
Stockholm, Sweden
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
15 Jan 2026
EARLIEST START DATE
31 Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
SEK 70,000 / per semester *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* EU/EEA/Swiss citizens are not required to pay fees
Key Summary
Physics is constantly developing and it is the task of the theoretical physicist to use and improve existing theories and models, find new ones to describe recently discovered phenomena, or shed new light on old problems. This MSc program offers you advanced knowledge in theoretical physics in a strong research environment.
This two-year program gives you advanced knowledge and broad qualifications in how to use the mathematical and statistical methods that are applicable to theoretical physics.
Thanks to the flexibility of the program and a combination of mandatory and optional courses, you can create your unique profile by combining courses of your interest. Our optional courses cover areas such as quantum field theory, cosmology, astroparticle physics, condensed matter, and advanced statistical physics. The final component of your studies is a master thesis project where students get to apply their knowledge and plan, carry out and report a research project. This is often performed together with one of our theoretical physics research groups. We offer the possibility to carry out long projects, up to one year.
Knowledge and skills acquired in the program find applications in many areas of industry and research.
The program represents two years of full-time studies (120 credits), out of which 30, 45, or 60 credits are allocated to the master thesis project. Within the program, there is a lot of freedom to choose the courses that best suit your interests and your physics profile. There is also room for you to broaden your competence thanks to a large number of optional courses.
Year 1
1st Semester
- Electrodynamics, 7.5 credits, FK7045
- Mathematical Methods in Physics, 7.5 credits, FK7048
- Programming and Computer Science for Physicists, 7,5 credits, DA7011
- Optional courses*, 7.5 credits
2nd Semester
- Statistical Physics, 7.5 credits, FK7058
- Analytical Mechanics, 7,5 credits, FK7049
- Optional courses*, 15 credits
Year 2
1st Semester
Optional courses*, 15 or 30 credits
2nd Semester
Degree project, 30 or 45 credits
* Optional courses
In order to give you the ability to customize the program to your interests and needs, you have the possibility to choose among a number of optional courses. The optional courses can be chosen freely among all the physics courses proposed at Stockholm University, but we particularly recommend the following courses:
- General Relativity, 7.5 credits, FK8025
- Introduction to Quantum Information and Quantum Computation, 7,5 credits, FK7052
- Cosmology and Particle Astrophysics, 7.5 credits, FK7050
- Quantum Field Theory, 15 credits, FK8027
- Quantum Field Theory for condensed matter, 7.5 credits, FK8018
- Statistical Physics II, 7.5 credits, FK7016
Independent project
The master thesis project usually starts during the second year but may start as soon as you have earned at least 45 credits of advanced courses in physics. The project is usually carried out in one of the research groups of the physics department. The master thesis project may also be carried out at a different university or in a company. During the master thesis project you are given the opportunity to participate to the activity and life of the research group. You work with a research question in a professional research environment where you are in contact with graduate students and researchers. While still a university environment, it provides a unique opportunity to dive deep into a professional environment and develop important soft skills (independence, perseverance, problem-solving, critical thinking, communication, and troubleshooting) before going further to industry or graduate studies.
As a physics student at Stockholm University, you gain experience working in a frontline research environment and an advanced understanding of theoretical physics through analyzing, modeling, and synthesizing complex information. Our program provides an excellent foundation for Ph.D. studies and opens multiple career options outside of the academic field. The ability and training in critical evaluation and analysis of complex new phenomena, often using sophisticated mathematical methods, are useful in various disciplines, such as bio-informatics and applied mathematics.
An internship is a great way to test your skills and gain work experience in a real-world environment. During your master's studies, you can add an internship course and get the chance to experience working life before you graduate. You can choose a course of 7.5 ECTS or 15 ECTS depending on how long you want the internship to be.