Master of Science in Engineering Physics
Ghent University is the only university in Flanders to offer a Master of Science in Engineering Physics. Our alumni have a solid physical know-how and the necessary skills to play a leading role in groundbreaking physics research.
EUR-ACE® Master (EURopean ACcredited Engineering Master)
The EUR-ACE label was accredited to this programme by the Commission des titres d’ingénieur (CTI), under the auspices of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE).
EUR-ACE® is a framework and accreditation system that provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad.
EUR-ACE® Master (EURopean ACcredited Engineering Master)
The EUR-ACE label was accredited to this programme by the Commission des titres d’ingénieur (CTI), under the auspices of the European Network for Accreditation of Engineering Education (ENAEE).
EUR-ACE® is a framework and accreditation system that provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad.
What
Ghent University is the only university in Flanders to offer a Master of Science in Engineering Physics. Our alumni have a solid physical know-how and the necessary skills to take up a leading role in groundbreaking physics research. At the same time, they have the engineering skills that make them sought-after innovators and developers in industry, at research institutes, and universities. The curriculum’s engineering component develops skills such as analysis, design and optimisation of existing and new systems, products, machines, and materials. This involves approximating physical reality by system descriptions ranging from simple rules of thumb to expert systems. The physics component follows a reductionist approach where experiment and mathematical modelling aim at understanding and breaking down physics to its basics, and deriving its governing equations. Despite the more philosophical approach, a rigorous attitude remains essential and all physical theory has to withstand experimental validation.
Remarks
The Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (FEA) offers most of its Engineering programmes at Master’s level in English. This underlines the international ambition of the faculty, as well as the importance of an international education and multiple language skills for students.
For whom
The admission requirements vary. Depending on your prior education, you are either able to enrol directly, or there are additional requirements.
Structure
The regular programme leading to a Master’s degree in Engineering Physics starts with a three-year Bachelor’s programme, followed by a two-year Master’s programme. Admission into our programme from several other (both domestic and foreign) Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes is possible. The two-year Master’s curriculum contains a number of mandatory course units offering a strong basis in the major fields of engineering physics.
Through a selected number of elective course unit, our students can then acquire an attractive skillset in more advanced topics in engineering physics, ranging from quantum mechanical modelling to the physics of photonic and electronic components. In the first year, students need to carry out a physics project with an industrial purpose and a focus on sustainability and intellectual property. A research-oriented Master’s dissertation completes the programme in the second year.
Labour Market
The Master of Science in Engineering Physics prepares students to tackle engineering challenges with a broad skill set in physics. By means of programme’s broad scope and its eight advanced elective course units we make sure that our alumni are ready to do innovate work in a broad range of companies and research centre in all areas where physics is required or essential. Graduated physics engineers excel in multidisciplinary research due to their broad expertise and inquiring attitude. Graduates find their way to companies working in photonics, nanoscale sciences, nuclear physics and technology, electronics, materials or biomedical engineering. Some of our alumni work in consultancy or at government institutes. After a few years they can be found in management functions or as leading researchers and professors.
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Multiperspectivism: We teach our students the necessary skills to work in a creative and problem-solving manner. A critical mindset, exchange of perspectives and an open-mindedness towards deviating points of view take centre stage.
- Talent development: Our students can to a certain extent shape their curriculum according to their own interests.
- Research based education: Our students come into contact with major Ghent University research in the field of engineering physics by means of specific course units and Master’s dissertations in which the application of recent engineering physics research is emphasized. Our students to gain insight into various research competencies and are introduced to innovative thinking. This is useful both in an industrial research and development environment, and in a possible future doctoral trajectory.
- Knowledge creation: We strongly value gradual knowledge-building. We encourage our students constantly to engage in critical self-reflection. Our graduates are versatile and highly employable engineers.
- Versatile competency profile: Engineering Physics graduates have a versatile competency profile, which makes them qualified for a wide range of career opportunities.
Strengths
- Dedicated team of lecturers: Our programme boasts a dedicated team of lecturers from various disciplines, who combine their research expertise with a passion for teaching and a continued enthusiasm for the quality of their lectures.
- Assessment: Our students appreciate the fact that they are well informed about the form and content of the assessments. It gives them a clear view of what to expect while studying.
- Approachability: We are a small study programme and focus on immediate and intensive personal contact between our lecturers and students throughout the curriculum.
- Research competences: We strongly invest in the development of research competences throughout the entire curriculum. We ensure this by monitoring the quality of the project learning pathway, which is a main theme in our curriculum.
- Alumni feedback: We invite our students and graduates to reflect critically on the programme and the options after graduation to ensure that transition to the job market happens in the most optimal circumstances.
Challenges
- Diverse student population: Despite the fact that we focus on diversity, we do not seem to succeed in attracting female and international students. We want to enhance diversity further by introducing students to role models.
- Internationalisation: Our programme stimulates study abroad initiatives (inside and outside of Europe), but students tend not to make use of the existing possibilities. By means of better contacts and agreements with prominent international education institutions we want to stimulate internationalization further.
- Profile: In the light of our university’s growing range of study programmes, we must communicate our programme’s quality and relevance better to prospective students as well as to the business world.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 14/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.