Master's Degree Programme in Exact Sciences: Materials Physics
Turku, Finland
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 12,000 / per year **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* The application period is 7 January - 21 January 2026
** free for citizens of EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, for citizens of non-EU/EEA countries €12,000/academic year
Key Summary
About: In the Master's Degree Programme in Exact Sciences: Materials Physics at the University of Turku you'll train in research and development of materials for biomedical and electronic applications. You study materials physics and chemistry from molecules and nanoparticles to metals and semiconducting compounds. You join research groups, use equipment, learn numerical methods and hands-on techniques, and explore biomaterials for drug delivery, semiconductors, spintronics.
Career Outcomes: Graduates work in research, industry and quality management. Typical roles include R&D engineer, biotech researcher, materials scientist, quality manager and PhD researcher. It qualifies you for doctoral studies; PhD positions often include salary or grants.
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Improving lives by making stuff!
In the Master's Degree Programme in Exact Sciences: Materials Physics specialisation track, you will become an expert in the research and development of new materials in biomedical or electronic applications.
The studies of Materials Physics and Materials Chemistry give you an ability to understand and to develop the properties of materials from molecules and nanoparticles via metals and magnetic and semiconducting compounds for pharmaceutical and biomaterial applications. You will work in an active research group together with other students, post-docs and senior researchers on solving problems in e.g. energy efficiency and drug delivery. In addition to the theoretical basis of materials physics, you will also learn to use state-of-the-art research equipment with hands-on courses.
After graduation, you will be familiar with the current methodologies, research equipment and modern numerical methods needed to model properties of materials used in research and technology. You will be able to use the diverse set of experimental, theoretical and numerical techniques to produce and analyse new physical projects.
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Academic Excellence & Experience
The aim of the Master’s education is to support you to become an independent expert who can evaluate information critically, plan and execute research projects to find new knowledge, and solve scientific and technological problems independently and as part of a group.
At the University of Turku, the research and teaching of materials physics have two focal areas: bio- and electronic materials. In biomaterials, you can study e.g. pharmaceutical vectors, nanoporous materials in pharmaceutics and dissociation of DNA molecules under radiation. In electronics materials, possible topics include semiconducting, magnetic and superconducting materials, spintronics and nanocontacts. You will study the physical basis of current and future electronics.
Specialisation Tracks
Materials Physics is one of the six specialisation tracks of the Master’s Degree Programme in Exact Sciences. Other tracks of the programme are:
- Astronomy and Space Physics,
- Chemistry of Drug Development,
- Materials Chemistry,
- Mathematics and Statistics,
- and Theoretical Chemistry.
Program Structure
The structure of the programme is modular and each specialisation track has three obligatory modules that contain the core material of the field. These include the MSc thesis (30 ECTS), lecture and exercise courses, seminars, laboratory work, internship or project work, details of which depend on the specialisation. In addition, there is one thematic module that may be chosen to support your own study plan. The fourth module consists of freely chosen courses and obligatory Finnish language and culture courses (5 ECTS).
In the Materials Physics Track there is one obligatory module of theoretical courses, one obligatory module of methodological courses and one obligatory module containing the Master’s Thesis (30 ECTS) and special courses like internship and project in research.
In the theory module you will learn the theoretical basis of materials physics by attending lectures and doing exercises in courses such as Structural properties of solids, Electrical properties of solids, Magnetism and spintronics, Semiconductors, Organic semiconductors and Surface science.
In the method module, all courses include laboratory work with the state-of-the-art research infrastructure in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. These methods include e.g. X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and electron spin resonance. Furthermore, this module includes courses that give you the expertise to build measurement setups. This includes courses as LabVIEW-based programming and building small equipment using Arduino-based electronics.
You are free to choose the thematic module from those offered in the faculty or take a suitable minor subject, even one offered by other faculties. Thematic modules offered by this programme include Advanced Materials Physics Module. Possible minor subjects are e.g. computer science, mathematics, chemistry, business creation and innovation.
In the other studies module you can choose any courses you want from the entire offering of the university in addition to the obligatory “Finnish for foreigners” courses.
Master's Thesis & Topics
The programme includes a compulsory thesis component (30 ECTS), which corresponds to six months of full-time work. The thesis is to be written up as a report based on a combination of a literature review and an original research project that forms the bulk of the thesis.
The thesis is an independently made research project, but the project will be carried out under the guidance of leading researchers in the field at the University of Turku. It is expected that you will be embedded within an active research group or experimental team so that you will have an ample opportunity to discuss results and exchange ideas in a group setting.
Recent examples of thesis titles in materials physics have been:
- Self-organized artificial pinning structure in small-scale YBCO films grown on an advanced IBAD-MgO-based template
- Fabrication and characterization of resistive memories based on Pr6Ca0.4MnO3
- Photo-luminescence of thermally carbonized and wet-oxidized porous silicon
- Physical and chemical characterization methods for metal powders used for the additive manufacturing process
- Surface properties of GaN- and AlGaN-semiconductors and their modification
- Geometric corrections in computer tomography images
- Mass spectroscopy investigation of fragmentation of uridine and cytidine molecules
Competence Description
The Master of Science degree provides the skills to work in many different kinds of positions within areas such as research and development, education and management, and industry. The Materials Physics specialisation provides especially good opportunities for working in research and development positions in the field of industrial technology.
You will get familiar with materials characterisation methods with hands-on exercises and courses using state-of-the-art research equipment. In addition, you will also train building and programming measurement equipment. Alternatively, you can choose a more theoretical line and specialise in computer modelling of materials. This will prepare you either for a career in research and development in the industry or for a follow-up PhD study.
Job Options
The prospects for employment at relatively senior levels are excellent for those trained in the physical sciences. Thanks to the broad scope of the programme, the skills and knowledge developed as part of this education at the University of Turku provide many employment opportunities in different areas.
Our recent graduates work e.g. as quality managers in large companies, R&D engineers in biotech and materials companies, security engineers at nuclear power plants.
Career in Research
The Master’s degree also provides eligibility for scientific postgraduate degree studies – doctoral and licentiate degrees. The University of Turku Graduate School (UTUGS) has a Doctoral Programme in Exact Sciences that covers the disciplines of this Master’s degree programme.
The doctoral studies incur no tuition fees, and PhD students often receive either a salary or a grant to cover their living expenses.