Physics MSc, or related, in Europe (in English)

Schaeler2013

I am trying to discover the names of any universities in Europe which offer Physics MSc (or related subject eg Nuclear Engineering MEng/MSc, Materials Science MSc etc) where the course is taught in English, and also where the course is 1 - 1.5 years in length.

Or possibly something mathematics-related. Though not Mathematics MSc, as I do not have a Mathematics BSc.

Excluding such courses in Ireland or the UK.

From what I have seen all such MSc courses in Europe appear to be 2 years in length, as opposed to the 1 year in Ireland or the UK. Why is this?

ZorbaTehZ

This is a historic thing, that has its origins in the old Diplôme. Typically undergraduate degrees on the mainland are 3 years and a masters is 2 years. But this is changing, the Bologna process being responsible - for some reason it was decided on that the Irish/English system was superior and all the others have to change to ours.

When I was looking at masters on the mainland, most German and Swiss universities taught their courses in English. The French as a rule of thumb do not, preserving the language and all that. I recall hearing that there are a number of places in Hungary that now teach post-grads in English, and some of the newer places in Moscow as-well.

By the way, as part of the Bologna process, some universities will let you do the 2-year masters in 1-year if you have a 4-year undergraduate degree, so it is worth enquiring to see.

Schaeler2013

That's interesting, I hadn't known that Zorba.

random_guy

Something like these:

http://www.msc.physics.uni-stuttgart.de/

http://www.msc.commas.uni-stuttgart.de/

Schaeler2013

random_guy wrote: »

Something like these:

http://www.msc.physics.uni-stuttgart.de/

http://www.msc.commas.uni-stuttgart.de/

That appears to be 2 years according to this link.

http://www.msc.commas.uni-stuttgart.de/program/degreeinformation/index.html

Which is the length of virtually all European MSc course it would appear.

random_guy

Correct,

I'm not aware of any masters courses in Germany that are less than 2 years.
I stand to be corrected though.

That said, the time tends to zip by pretty fast.

Schaeler2013

I might have considered it if there was something available which was one year in length.

Since there are several MSc's I can do in Ireland (or UK) which last 1 year, I may as well stay here.

random_guy

True enough.

Or you could go (not that far) out of your way to tick off some boxes on the life experience list.

Pay cheap registration fees (€117 per semester), no tuituon fees, cheap living costs are possible, cheap rent is possible depending on the city you're in, a great standard of living.

End up with a very good degree and after 2 years you could in theory be more or less fluent in German opening up about 4 more countries to look for jobs in, not to mention that Germany is always looking for immigrants to fill positions.

Pros and cons with everything.
If you found at the end of two years and wanted to go back to Ireland then what have you lost out on really? A year is not so much.

It's really not worth dismissing just because it's two years long.

Schaeler2013

random_guy wrote: »

Pay cheap registration fees (€117 per semester), no tuituon fees,

Is that in Germany?

The fees are €117 x 4 = €468 for an MSc?

random_guy

Yes.

My experience:

Semester 1: I paid €115 Registration, €500 Tuition,
Semester 2: I found out that there was a rule that if you've more than 1 sibling that has already gone through/is going through 3rd level, (anywhere worldwide) the tuition fees are waived so €116 the second semester. That €1 extra nearly killed me.
Semester 3: Government changes the rules again, Tuition fees for internationals are waived.
Semester 4: ditto
Semester 5 (I had to hang around to finish my thesis and I wanted the student card for the public transport): ditto

This was 2010 to 2012, I'll presume it hasn't changed but it's always worth double checking.

Schaeler2013

Well I might have a better look into that then.

I know the MSc courses are often conducted in English.

Though did you speak German before going (I don't), or did you take any German language classes there?

random_guy

Nope,
I had done it in school many years perviously but all had been forgotten so I started at the basics again.

Normally the semster will start in Oktober but internationals will be over in September for a months intensive German Course which is normally (depending on the course) kept up once or twice a week during the semester.
The weekly courses all depends on if getting to a certain level of German is a requirement of your degree. For some courses it is, for some it isn't. But it's always recommended anyway.

Schaeler2013

Many thanks. I'll have a think about that!

random_guy

It's well worth looking into.
Can very well open a whole new set of opportunities.

A quick google will show you how many Physics intitutes are working out of Germany, Austria & Switzerland.

Shouldn't be dismissed so quickly.

Schaeler2013

Since the MSc in Germany is quite low-cost, did you find that either the tuition or the lecture notes provided were lower in quality than you experienced in Ireland when doing your BSc. Assuming you did your BSc in Ireland.

Also, when studying in Germany for 2 years for an MSc, were you able to apply to anywhere for maintenance loans/grants? If so, to where?

random_guy

No not really.

The standard notes on projector and put up online afterwards. In fairness for my course we didn't do much in the line of tutorials but that said the help was always there when needed.

As for grants etc DAAD are the main provider however, there are private organisations that can be applied for. It's worth an email to the various departments/Unis to find info on these.

In my own case I didn't actually get any. There was some I didn't qualify for and others I was too late applying for.

random_guy

Schaeler2013 wrote: »

I am trying to discover the names of any universities in Europe which offer Physics MSc (or related subject eg Nuclear Engineering MEng/MSc, Materials Science MSc etc) where the course is taught in English, and also where the course is 1 - 1.5 years in length.

Or possibly something mathematics-related. Though not Mathematics MSc, as I do not have a Mathematics BSc.

Excluding such courses in Ireland or the UK.

From what I have seen all such MSc courses in Europe appear to be 2 years in length, as opposed to the 1 year in Ireland or the UK. Why is this?

Did you ever end op moving somewhere for the masters?
I'm being a bit nosey.