Physics and Astronomy

The Advanced Matter and Energy Physics (AMEP) track gives you a solid understanding of gas phase, soft condensed matter and hard condensed matter physics. Using state-of-the-art equipment and under the supervision of top-ranked physicists, you’ll delve into research topics like:

• Testing fundamental physics theories at the atomic scale; Quantum measurement, simulation and computation with (ultra)cold atoms, molecules and trapped ions; properties of new forms of ultracold atoms and molecules.
• Artificial photosynthesis; bio-fuels; next generation energy materials, such as nanocrystals, 2D materials, nanowires and nanophotonic systems for tomorrow's solar energy conversion.
• Quantum materials; strongly interacting electron systems; topological phases of matter; unconventional superconductors. 
• Emergent phenomena (phase transitions, self-organisation, mechanics) in soft- and bio-materials (polymers, porous media, active systems) and in high-tech designer materials (colloids, metamaterials).

The AMEP track has three study paths: Emergent Materials, Atomic Quantum Physics, and Soft and Complex Matter. Each path comprises compulsory courses, a selection of guided-choice electives and free-choice electives – equipping you to conduct your research project in one of the participating groups. You can also combine study paths. The programme coordinator will help you design a coherent study programme tailored to your own interest and preparing you for your research project. 

A one-month, exploratory lab project and an extensive one-year research project form an essential part of the programme. Usually these projects are conducted at one of the associated research groups, but you can also go to a research laboratory abroad or an industrial lab. The VU Amsterdam research groups are all part of LaserLaB Amsterdam, which is a member of a consortium of 27 leading laboratories in laser-based research throughout Europe.

Are you interested in the birth of planetary systems and stars, the history of the universe, and the origin and nature of extreme physical processes occurring around black holes and neutron stars? And are you eager to explore how the laws of physics play out in the universe? Then Astronomy and Astrophysics (A&A) is the perfect track for you.

This dynamic field is gaining traction worldwide. New generations of instruments – situated on the earth's surface and in space – enable us to study the origin, structure and evolution of planets, stars, star systems and the universe in a more profound way than ever before.

The A&A track provides you with thorough training in both the observational and theoretical aspects of modern astronomy and astrophysics. It focuses on current international research topics, such as X-ray binaries and compact objects, gamma ray bursts and radio transients, advanced instrumentation, and planet and star formation and evolution.

You’ll use a wide range of theoretical and applied tools to define the properties of astrophysical objects, and to identify the fundamental laws that govern their behaviour. These include:

• Supercomputers
• Ground-based telescopes, operating at wavelengths from radio to optical (such as ESOs VLT, ALMA and LOFAR)
• Space observatories (such as Hubble, Chandra, XMM-Newton, JWST, Swift and Fermi)

The study programme is firmly embedded in the Anton Pannekoek Institute for Astronomy, which has a long track record of world-leading research in both observational astronomy and theoretical astrophysics.

If you enjoy working in a multidisciplinary environment where you’re challenged to bridge the gap between fundamental physics and life sciences, then Biophysics and Biophotonics (B&B) is the track for you. You’ll use the language of physics to explore the secrets of life processes. 

Supported by the cutting-edge technologies available in our laboratories and by a series of theoretical classes delivered by our enthusiastic staff members, you’ll dive into the fascinating world of DNA unfolding, protein function, cell mechanics, tissue engineering and organ function. You’ll learn about photonics and its use in the development of new imaging techniques. Alternatively, you can choose to deepen your knowledge in the application of physics in the area of biomedical imaging and therapy. In the Entrepreneurship in Biomedical Physics and Technology course, you’ll learn about innovation in the field.

The B&B track is unique in that it involves leading research groups from the Academic University Medical Centres of UvA and VU, along with several research groups and allied research and medical centres (AMOLF; Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience (NIN) and the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI)). Research institutes involved in the track include:

• Biomedical Engineering & Physics, Amsterdam UMC/UvA
• Institute for Lasers, Life and Biophotonics (LaserLaB), VU
• Department of Radiology and Radiotherapy, Amsterdam UMC/VU

Thanks to this broad network, you’ll get the opportunity to see what it’s like to work in multidisciplinary research teams in which physicists, chemists, biologists, engineers and medical professionals come together to further develop and improve underlying physical principles, theories and methods. Topics include:

• Diagnosis and monitoring, such as optical coherence tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
• Research in molecular and cellular biophysics, such as single-molecule fluorescence, optical tweezers, stimulated emission depletion microscopy and femtosecond spectroscopy

The two-year Master's track General Physics and Astronomy (GPA) is more flexible, and is especially suited for students opting for a major. Restricted-choice elective components can be chosen from the compulsory and the restricted-choice elective courses of the other Physics and Astronomy tracks.

In addition, for students that are interested in computational physics and complex systems it is recommended to choose courses from the Computational Physics of Complex Systems route. This two-year specialisation 'route' within the General Physics and Astronomy track, offers exciting and cutting-edge education which focuses on the physics of complex systems, with topics ranging from the collective dynamics of animal flocking to the mechanics of meta-materials.

This route places substantial emphasis on computational research methods, and offers a unique balance between fundamental, computational and applied sciences. It provides students with a skill-set relevant both for careers in academia as well as in various high-tech/data-based industries.

For more information about the study programme of the GPA track, please visit the UvA webpage.

What is dark matter? What is gravity? What are the properties of the Higgs particle? Is there something beyond the Standard Model of particle physics? And what are the origins of cosmic rays? You’ll answer all these questions and more in the Gravitation, Astro- and Particle Physics (GRAPPA) track, which is unique in the Netherlands. 

You’ll investigate particle physics, astroparticle physics and cosmology at the intersection of theory, particle physics and astrophysics. Members of the GRAPPA research field include theorists and experimentalists. This experimental track is carried out at Nikhef, the Dutch National Institute for Subatomic Physics. 

The GRAPPA track spans two years, with the first year dedicated to courses and the second year fully devoted to your research project. The compulsory courses give a solid foundation in cosmology and (astro)particle physics, while the electives are geared to further develop your interests and skills in theory or experimental (astro)particle physics. Your research in the second year could be theoretical or observational research, building and testing new models in particle and astroparticle physics. It could also involve building new detectors or analysing data from experiments at CERN or the underground LNGS laboratory in Italy.

Scientific research in the field of energy and sustainability is crucial to reaching a sustainable society. The Science for Energy and Sustainability (SfES) track is an interdisciplinary track within the Master’s programmes Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy, both joint degrees of VU and UvA. It combines ‘hard’ scientific research with the analysis of societal issues, business models and government regulations. In addition to your scientific involvement in the development of new technological solutions to problems, you’ll be trained to analyse the societal context of global developments in the field.

The programme comprises core compulsory courses, restricted choices, a science project and a research project. The research project may be divided into a major project and a minor project if you prefer. In addition, you’ll learn important academic skills and have a choice of electives. You can build your study programme to suit your own interests – from full physics to a mixture of physics and chemistry courses and/or innovation and policy sciences.

After graduating from the SfES track, you’ll be well equipped to pursue a career as a physicist in academic research groups, or in industry, such as Shell, ECN and energy start-ups. You could also work in advisory, consultancy and policy functions of companies and governments concerning the science, energy and sustainability sectors.

How are space and time formed? What is matter made of? How does physics change in extreme conditions? What are the fundamental forces of nature? What laws of physics can emerge in collections of interacting particles? And can physical principles explain the organisation and dynamics of complex, living systems?

The work of theoretical physicists has captured people's imaginations for many generations – partly due to the fundamental nature of the questions it seeks to answer. In order to address these questions, mathematical descriptions need to be explored and developed. This makes present-day theoretical physics an advanced subject that requires a high level of conceptual and technical sophistication. It’s a challenging but exciting field of study.

The Theoretical Physics track (TP) offers a wide range of advanced courses in all aspects of the field. Extensive training in areas such as quantum field theory, statistical physics and condensed matter theory form the backbone of the Master’s programme. In addition, you can take optional physics and mathematics courses, such as string theory, computational methods, quantum optics, group theory, general relativity and quantum computation. At the same time, seminars and other informal meetings give you a taste of the original, creative, imaginative spirit of the field.

Motivate & inspire students as a teacher in the STEM disciplines - This specialisation is taught in Dutch. 

During the specialisation Secondary Education Teacher Training for STEM Disciplines, you will learn how to transfer your knowledge and motivate and inspire students in your field of study, whether it is Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry or Biology. For computer science, there is another route: the one-year teacher training programme. The courses for this teacher training specialisation are taught in Dutch and your teaching qualification will be valid in the Netherlands.

As a teacher, you make an important contribution to the future of young people, society and education in the Netherlands. In our knowledge economy, specialists in the area of knowledge transfer are indispensable. With an abundance of jobs in secondary education, obtaining a teaching qualification guarantees job security and—flexibility—because in addition to being a teacher, you are also a scientist in your field.

The teacher training programmes at VU Amsterdam are unique because of their modular structure that is built around 20 themes (core practices). You will apply these teaching practices directly in the classroom, as you will be working in a school for more than 50% of your study programme. At VU Amsterdam, personal attention and individual guidance are top priority. You will have a mentor from VU Amsterdam and a workplace supervisor who is an experienced first-degree subject teacher.

With this specialisation, you will obtain a specialist Master's degree in a STEM discipline and a first-degree teaching qualification (eerstegraads lesbevoegdheid).  This means that in two years, you will be qualified to teach both lower and upper secondary vocational education (HAVO/VWO) and pre-university education (VMBO) in the Netherlands. All teachers in the STEM disciplines are also qualified to teach the STEM elective NLT (Nature, Life and Technology). 

The teacher training specialisation in the STEM disciplines starts every academic year in September and February, unless you are following a Master's programme in Ecology, Earth Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, or Biomedical Technology and Physics. Within these Master's programmes, you can only start the specialisation in September.

Second year

What makes you unique as a STEM teacher? We explore your strengths as a teacher while focussing on personal attention, customisation and guidance. You will follow an integrated programme, which includes a practical component (internship) in secondary education and didactic theory at VU Amsterdam. You will be taught general didactics related to core practices as well as specific subject-related didactics for your school subject. The theory is always applied and tested in practice at the school where you conduct your internship. You will start immediately with the practical component. Internships are arranged by VU Amsterdam.

You can find the complete course overview in the study guide.