Master of Science in Physics
PLAN OF STUDY:
The Plan of Study includes the following coursework:
General courses: include the main fields of Classical Mechanics, Classical Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. The student must take three of these subjects on a compulsory basis.
Elective subjects: are designed to understand the major topics in Physics developed in the Program: Condensed Matter, Quantum Optics, High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Mathematical Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, and Materials Science. The student must select (at least) one of these subjects.
Topics: they are intended to complement the student's education within their field of specialization. The student must take two of these subjects on a compulsory basis.
Thesis: consists of the following subjects - Pre-proyect Thesis, Thesis I and Thesis II. The idea of the Pre-proyect Thesis subject is to decide on a thesis research topic for the student to work on. The selected topic must be approved by the Pre-proyect Thesis Commitee, designated by the Program Committee. The Pre-proyect Thesis contributes to the further development of the dissertation in Thesis I and Thesis II.
DEGREE THESIS:
Thesis (Thesis I and Thesis II subjects) will be developed under the supervision of a Thesis Director, who must be approved by the Master's Program Committee, and who will assume the role of tutor. Thesis must be developed autonomously by the student.
EXAM OVERVIEW:
The Thesis Director will present the final version of student’s thesis and a letter addressed to the Director of the Program with suggested members for the Thesis Commission.
- At least two professors must belong to the Academic body of the Master's Program.
- At least one professor from outside of the University of Santiago de Chile.
- Thesis Director.
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:
To qualify for the Master's degree, the student must fulfill the following requirements:
- Have passed the compulsory subjects with a final grade-point average equal or greater than 5.0.
- Have made at least one oral presentation at national or international conferences (or department seminar of a higher education institution) during their studies, which was certified by the Program Committee.
- Have approved the Degree Thesis, the Private Exam and the Degree Exam.
GRADUATE PROFILE:
Graduates of the Master of Science program with a major in Physics will:
a) Master the general knowledge of Physics at an advanced level.
b) Apply the gained knowledge of the chosen research area and required advanced research techniques, and be able to collaborate in generating new knowledge in the area.
c) Collaborate in formulating, designing and implementing research projects in a precise way, to generate new knowledge in Physics, which will contribute to the advancement of scientific knowledge.
d) Communicate the results derived from the investigation truthfully and honestly, through national and international scientific means of dissemination.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
To enter the Master's Program, the candidate must hold a Bachelor's degree in Physics or a Professional Title (content of studies equivalent to the Bachelor's degree). The Program Committee will evaluate such cases.
Additionally, it is expected the succesful applicant will have (at least) a basic command of the English language.
APPLICATIONS
Applications to the Master of Science Program with a major in Physics are open all year round. Each year, at the end of July and at the end of November, the Master’s Program Committee collects, respectively, the applications for the second semester of the current year and for the first semester of the following year. The exact dates are published in due course.
Applicants must fill out and attach the documentation requested in the single one application form for postgraduate programs at the University of Santiago de Chile. At the beginning of the application form, they must indicate whether they are applying for the second semester of the current year or the first semester of the following year.
- Bachelor of Physics degree certificate or equivalent professional title
- Academic transcript of undergraduate grades
- Curriculum vitae
- Certificate of ranking
- Photography
- Passport or identity card
- Two letters of recommendation from academics that endorse the application to the Program (requested directly by the platform)
- Language certificate
Also, attach (as other documents):
- A letter of intent, addressed to the Director of the Program, which explains your motivation for applying.
- Birth Certificate
Important: Foreign applicants are required to have their documents apostilled.
FEES AND FUNDING:
The detailed expenses of the Master's studies are the following:
- Enrollment
- Annual tuition fees
- Others
Students can apply for scholarships from the following organizations:
- ANID national scholarship (fees and maintenance). More information here
- Internal scholarship for fees and/or maintenance from the University of Santiago de Chile. More information here
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES:
The general objective of the Program is to contribute to the initial training of researchers in Physics, providing the students theoretical and methodological tools, necessary for the scientific development of the country.
The specific objectives of the Program are:
a) To train high-level graduates, capable of collaborating on forefront of Physics and its applications, which will contribute to the development of the discipline.
b) To contribute to the development of the discipline in the areas of specialization of the Program: Condensed Matter, Quantum Optics, High Energy Physics, Gravitation and Mathematical Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, and Materials Science.
