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Einstein, Bohr, Feynman, Hawking... Theoretical physics has captured the imagination for many generations. It’s a very challenging and very exciting field, that seeks to answer deeply fundamental questions such as: what is matter made of?, what is the nature of space and time? This requires a high level of conceptual and technical sophistication.

Is Theoretical Physics at the UvA the study for me?

It is, if you:

• are fascinated by physics and the laws of science
• want to understand at a fundamental level why matter is what it is, and how this affects the world around us
• enjoy exploring and developing mathematical models
• have a high ability for abstraction
• are willing to dig deep to find solutions to physics problems
• have a profound knowledge of the special theory of relativity, quantum mechanics, statistical physics, electrodynamics, calculus and linear algebra (and basic knowledge of condensed matter and particle physics is an advantage).

What does Theoretical Physics at the UvA have to offer me?

The UvA Institute for Theoretical Physics is one of Europe's leading theoretical physics institutes. It specialises in:

• quantum matter and complex systems
• particle physics, cosmology and quantum gravity
• history of physics.

The Master's track Theoretical Physics offers you a broad spectrum of advanced courses on these and other current research topics. Its backbone is formed by training in:

• quantum field theory
• statistical physics
• condensed matter theory.

In addition, you can take elective physics and mathematics courses, such as:

• computational methods
• quantum optics
• group theory
• general relativity
• nonlinear dynamics and chaos.

Further seminars and informal meetings give you a taste of the original creative and imaginative spirit of the field, and teach you the craft of explaining things to other (lay) people.