Physics (Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics)

The objective of nuclear, particle and astrophysics is to understand the world at a subatomic level. In the context of the master 's program, students have the opportunity to acquire the discipline-specific fundamentals as well as essential insights into current research from across the spectrum of nuclear, particle and astrophysics.

Depending on your own interests, you can specialize in one of four subareas:

• Particle and astrophysics deals with topics such as astrophysics, astroparticle physics and high energy neutrino astronomy.
• The central focus of experimental nuclear physics is on topics such as particle detectors, applications in interdisciplinary research and ultrarelativistic heavy-ion collisions.
• Experimental particle physics is devoted to areas such as cosmic and earthbound accelerators, testing the Standard Model, modern detectors as well as data analysis and Monte Carlo methods.
• Theoretical particle physics concentrates on areas such as group theory, quantum field theory or quantum chromodynamics.

For a comprehensive description of the program, please refer to the degree program documentation:

• Degree program documentation for the master's program in Physics (Nuclear, Particle and Astrophyics) (PDF, German)

The master's program in Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics offers a high degree of flexibility when creating your own study and competency profile. The curriculum for the first year of study can be individually designed with the help of a mentor.

The degree concludes with the master’s thesis.

• Overview Degree Program Structure

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient German language skills if you wish to apply for this program. Evidence of your language proficiency has to be submitted before the end of the application deadline. Learn more about recognized certificates and other ways to prove your German language skills.

This evidence of your language proficiency confirms that you comply with the minimum language requirements for admission to the program. Depending on the program and your individual background, it may be necessary for you to keep working on your language skills during your studies. Be sure to take a look at the services of our Language Center.   

Language of instruction:

The language of instruction for this program is German.

As a graduate, you have at your disposal extensive knowledge of the discipline-specific fundamentals of nuclear, particle, and astrophysics. You are also familiar with the current research topics in these areas.

According to your individual specialization, you also possess knowledge of one of the following specialist areas: particle and astrophysics, experimental nuclear physics, experimental particle physics or theoretical particle physics.

Upon successfully concluding the master's program in Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics, a broad spectrum of professional opportunities arise. These range from industry and the service sector to research and development.

Minimum requirements to apply for a Master's program at TUM are a recognized undergraduate degree (e.g. a bachelor’s) and the successful completion of the aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment allows the TUM school or department to which you are applying the opportunity to evaluate your individual talents and motivation for study.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents.

If you receive an offer of admission, you will additionally have to submit individual documents as notarized hardcopies by post to be enrolled.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a bachelor’s) obtained outside of the EU / EEA must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist.

In detail:

• Applying for a master’s program: Application, admission requirements and more 
• Important information about your application from the TUM school or department

• Degree Certificate and Diploma or Subject and Grade Transcript of Studies to Date
• Proof of German Language Proficiency
• Curriculum (e.g. module description)
• Letter of Motivation
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a bachelor's) is obtained outside the EU/EEA

We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents. 

• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Degree Certificate and Diploma (certified copy)
• Student Health Insurance Certificate
• Most Current Photo (as for ID)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin. After accepting an offer of admission in TUMonline, you will receive a list of documents you must submit to TUM in hardcopy for enrollment.

Application period for winter semester: 01.04. – 31.05.
Application period for summer semester: 01.09. – 30.11.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents. Please be aware that we can only process your application if you upload all required documents within the application period.

We will review your application as soon as it is complete. Please check your TUMonline account regularly, to see if we have any queries to your documents or if you have to amend one or more documents.

After receiving admission, you will see in TUMonline which documents you have to submit for enrollment, and in which form. Please note that you always have to send the signed application for enrollment and all notarized hardcopies by post.

We recommend that you submit the documents for enrollment as soon as possible after receiving admission. If individual documents are not available by then, you can submit them up to 5 weeks after the start of the lecture period. You will, however, only be enrolled once we have received all documents.

You can check the status of your application at any time in your TUMonline account.

Selection takes place through an aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school or department determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its master’s degree program.

In the initial stages, the grades you obtained during your bachelor's program, as well as your written documents, will be evaluated using a point system. Depending on the amount of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected or invited to an admissions interview. 

In detail: 

• Aptitude Assessment for Master
• The aptitude assessment procedure for the degree program Physics (Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics) (PDF 278 KB)

The online application process takes place through our application portal TUMonline.