# Materials Physics
**Source**: https://www.dtu.dk/english/education/graduate/msc-programmes/engineering-physics/specialization/materials-physics
**Parent**: https://www.dtu.dk/english/education/graduate/msc-programmes/engineering-physics
## Materials Physics
The specialization in **materials physics** focuses on the understanding and design of materials based on a quantum mechanical or mesoscopic description. The specialization covers experimental and theoretical methods to investigate and change the structural, electrical, magnetic, mechanical, and chemical properties of materials. Topics include neutron- and x-ray scattering experiments at large-scale facilities, electronic quantum components, molecular electronics, spintronics, magnetic materials, surface and nanoparticle reactivity, fuel-cell and hydrogen-storage materials, electronic structure theory, and atomistic simulation of materials.
**Polytechnical foundation courses (10 ECTS)**
As described in the curriculum for the main programmme.
**Programme specific courses**
**A. Innovation competences**
As described in the curriculum for the main programme.
**Programme specific core courses**
**B. Experimental competences**
5 ECTS points among the following courses must be chosen (surplus points count as other programme specific courses or as elective courses):
| | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [10304](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10304?menulanguage=en) | Experimental Surface Physics | 10 | point | Spring F3 (Tues 8-12, Fri 13-17) |
| [47333](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/47333?menulanguage=en) | Electron microscopy for materials science | 5 | point | Autumn E3A (Tues 8-12) |
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**Programme specific core courses**
**C. Digital competences**
5 ECTS points among the following courses must be chosen (surplus points count as other programme specific courses or as elective courses):
| | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [10302](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10302?menulanguage=en) | Electronic Structure Methods in Material Physics, Chemistry and Biology | 10 | point | Spring F5 (Wed 8-17) |
| [10316](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10316?menulanguage=en) | Materials design with machine learning and artificial intelligence | 5 | point | January |
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**Programme specific core courses**
**D. Theoretical competences**
5 ECTS points among the following courses must be chosen (surplus points count as other programme specific courses or as elective courses):
| | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [10112](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10112?menulanguage=en) | Advanced Quantum Mechanics | 10 | point | Autumn E2 (Mon 13-17, Thurs 8-12) |
| [10319](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10319?menulanguage=en) | Advanced solid state physics | 5 | point | Autumn E5B (Wed 13-17) |
\
**Other programme specific courses**
Must add up to at least 50 ECTS together with the programme specific core courses and the Innovation course II.
| | | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [10200](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10200?menulanguage=en) | The structure and dynamics of materials studied with X-rays and neutrons | 5 | point | Autumn E1B (Thurs 13-17) |
| [10255](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10255?menulanguage=en) | Advanced 3D X-ray imaging | 5 | point | Autumn E1A (Mon 8-12) |
| [10306](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10306?menulanguage=en) | Theory of 2D materials and Strong Light-Matter Interaction | 5 | point | June |
| [10314](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10314?menulanguage=en) | Magnetism and Magnetic Materials | 5 | point | Spring F5B (Wed 13-17) |
| [10315](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10315?menulanguage=en) | Magnetism and Magnetic Materials - with project | 10 | point | Spring F5B (Wed 13-17) and Spring F5A (Wed 8-12) |
| [10321](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10321?menulanguage=en) | Nanosystems engineering | 10 | point | Autumn E1 (Mon 8-12, Thurs 13-17) |
| [10325](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10325?menulanguage=en) | Quantum mechanical modelling of nanoelectronics | 5 | point | January |
| [10339](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10339?menulanguage=en) | Concepts in heterogeneous catalysis and applications to energy conversion | 5 | point | Autumn E3B (Fri 13-17) |
| [10346](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10346?menulanguage=en) | Advanced Continuum Physics | 5 | point | Spring F2A (Mon 13-17) |
| [10413](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10413?menulanguage=en) | Defects in solids | 5 | point | June |
| [10521](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10521?menulanguage=en) | Physics and technology of two-dimensional materials | 10 | point | Spring F2 (Mon 13-17, Thurs 8-12) |
| [10871](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10871?menulanguage=en) | Advanced design and simulation of solar cells | 5 | point | June |
| [34032](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/34032?menulanguage=en) | Optical properties of solids | 5 | point | Autumn E1B (Thurs 13-17) |
| [34051](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/34051?menulanguage=en) | Nanophotonics | 10 | point | Spring F1 (Mon 8-12, Thurs 13-17) |
| [34052](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/34052?menulanguage=en) | Nonlinear optics | 10 | point | Autumn E3 (Tues 8-12, Fri 13-17) |
| [34551](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/34551?menulanguage=en) | Thin film photovoltaics | 5 | point | January |
| [47319](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/47319?menulanguage=en) | Functional materials | 5 | point | Spring F1A (Mon 8-12) |
| [47336](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/47336?menulanguage=en) | Applications of X-ray and neutron scattering in biology, chemistry, and physics | 5 | point | August |
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## Recommended study plans with a minimum of programme specific courses
## Start in September
Polytechnical foundation
Programme specific courses
Thesis
1.Semester
[12106](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/12106?menulanguage=en)\
Quantitative methods to assess... Quantitative methods to assess sustainability (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
[10319](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10319?menulanguage=en)\
Advanced solid state physics
5 point
[10316](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10316?menulanguage=en)\
Materials design with machine learning... Materials design with machine learning and artificial intelligence
5 point
2.Semester
[10304](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10304?menulanguage=en)\
Experimental Surface Physics
10 point
[10302](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10302?menulanguage=en)\
Electronic Structure Methods in Material Physics, Chemistry and Biology
10 point
[42501](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/42501?menulanguage=en)\
Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical... Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
3.Semester
[47333](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/47333?menulanguage=en)\
Electron microscopy for materials... Electron microscopy for materials science
5 point
[10200](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10200?menulanguage=en)\
The structure and dynamics of materials... The structure and dynamics of materials studied with X-rays and neutrons
5 point
[10750](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10750?menulanguage=en)\
Innovation Projects at the Physics... Innovation Projects at the Physics Department
5 point
[10871](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10871?menulanguage=en)\
Advanced design and simulation of solar... Advanced design and simulation of solar cells
5 point
4.Semester
MSc. thesis
30 point
\
**30-35 ECTS MSc. thesis**
**Topic must be relevant for the specialisation.**
## Start in February
Polytechnical foundation
Programme specific courses
Thesis
1.Semester
[10304](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10304?menulanguage=en)\
Experimental Surface Physics
10 point
[10314](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10314?menulanguage=en)\
Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
5 point
[12100](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/12100?menulanguage=en)\
Quantitative methods to assess... Quantitative methods to assess sustainability (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
[42501](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/42501?menulanguage=en)\
Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical... Innovation in Engineering (Polytechnical Foundation)
5 point
2.Semester
[10319](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10319?menulanguage=en)\
Advanced solid state physics
5 point
[10200](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10200?menulanguage=en)\
The structure and dynamics of materials... The structure and dynamics of materials studied with X-rays and neutrons
5 point
[10750](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10750?menulanguage=en)\
Innovation Projects at the Physics... Innovation Projects at the Physics Department
5 point
[10316](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10316?menulanguage=en)\
Materials design with machine learning... Materials design with machine learning and artificial intelligence
5 point
3.Semester
[10302](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10302?menulanguage=en)\
Electronic Structure Methods in Material Physics, Chemistry and Biology
10 point
[10339](https://kurser.dtu.dk/course/2025-2026/10339?menulanguage=en)\
Concepts in heterogeneous catalysis and... Concepts in heterogeneous catalysis and applications to energy conversion
5 point
4.Semester
MSc. thesis
30 point
\
**30-35 ECTS MSc. thesis**
**Topic must be relevant for the specialization.**
*Specializations are merely recommended ways of choosing the courses in the curriculum. Applicants are not admitted to a specialization but to the programme and it is possible to choose among all the courses in the curriculum following the directions given. However, if a specialization has been fulfilled the title of the specialization may be added to the diploma.*