Testimonials
Read what our current and former students say about their study choice and experiences with the programme.
Maria Duma, Student
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
For me, the greatest strength of this programme is the freedom it offers. Apart from a small number of mandatory courses, you have a remarkable amount of control over how you shape your Master's. You can specialise in the areas of physics that fascinate you most, or deliberately broaden your perspective by exploring subjects outside the traditional boundaries of theoretical physics. Whether that means taking courses in mathematics, computer science, machine learning, or even philosophy of science, the programme gives you the flexibility to build an academic path that truly reflects your interests and ambitions. No two students have the same Master's experience, and I think that is what makes this programme so special.
Are there any misconceptions about this programme?
A common misconception is that everyone studying Theoretical Physics wants to become a string theorist or particle physicist. While high-energy physics is certainly an important part of the field, it is far from the whole picture. During the programme, I discovered how diverse theoretical physics really is. There are opportunities to explore areas such as condensed matter, soft matter, and biophysics, each with its own fascinating research questions and applications. The biweekly colloquium talks reinforce this diversity by exposing you to ongoing research across many different fields of physics.
If you had to tell something about the programme you know now, but what you didn't know before you started, what would you tell them?
What surprised me was how much I would grow beyond the academic study itself. The programme encourages you to become increasingly independent. You learn how to make choices that align with your interests, balance different responsibilities, collaborate effectively, and communicate complex ideas clearly. Looking back, the personal and professional development I experienced has been just as valuable as the physics I learned.
What advice would you give prospective students?
Don't feel pressured to follow a predefined route throughout the programme. One of its greatest strengths is its versatility, so make the most of it. Choose courses because they genuinely excite you, talk to people working in different areas, attend the colloquium talks, and explore opportunities beyond the standard curriculum. Whether it is participating in a graduate honours programme, engaging in extracurricular activities, or simply venturing outside your comfort zone academically, these experiences enrich your Master's experience. I think the more you diversify your experience, the more you will grow, not only as a physicist, but also as a person.
Simon Vos, Student
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
You have lots of freedom in which direction you want to go with your studies and how you organize it. There are only two actually mandatory courses, Quantum Field Theory and Statistical Field Theory, after which you can choose courses to your likings. You can focus on the specific physics area you like, or you can broaden your interests as much as possible. Even if you want to do courses outside of the Theoretical Physics programme, you can do courses from the Experimental Physics programme as well, or even from areas totally different from physics. And if you have trouble fitting everything into a tight two-year schedule, there is no shame in delaying a bit so that you can do what you want to do. You choose your direction, path and timespan.
Are there any misconceptions about this programme, can you name them?
I think the stereotype of a theoretical physicist is someone who lock themselves up in their attic room and does calculations all day, but in reality collaboration is very important, in theoretical physics as well. This also extends to the courses in this programme. To achieve the best results and to understand the hardest topics, working together with other students is inevitable. This also really happens in practice during courses. Only together you can find the best answer to the hardest problems.
If you had to tell something about the programme you know now, but what you didn’t know before you started, what would you tell?
When starting your physics Master’s, you have already acquired a lot of knowledge from your Bachelor’s in physics and mathematics, such that you have almost fully filled up the “toolbox” that is used in a physicist’s daily life. That is why at least I have the feeling that the teachers in this programme treat you rather as a colleague than a student, which makes you feel very professional. This is something that I never thought about before I started in this programme, but I do really like. All of this is also reflected within the course material; no lecture goes by without the lecturer casually telling about a related problem in physics that remains to be unsolved, which makes me feel really involved in the ongoing research in Theoretical Physics.
Lucia Righetti, student
"The programme is very diverse. There are biweekly seminars you can attend and courses like 'Open Science,' which help you understand the contemporary landscape of science while developing additional skills."
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
The Theoretical Physics Master’s programme is unique because it places a strong emphasis on research. In the first year, students focus on acquiring the necessary knowledge to tackle advanced topics in theoretical physics, while the second year is almost entirely dedicated to the research project. This structure allows students to apply the skills learned in the first year while also providing deep immersion in research, making the programme highly stimulating for those interested in pursuing an academic career or working in advanced scientific fields.
Are there any misconceptions about this programme, can you name them?
I can imagine that many people might expect a Theoretical Physics Master’s to focus entirely on courses and exams. In reality, the programme is very diverse. There are biweekly seminars you can attend, which expose you to current scientific discussions, and courses like 'Open Science,' which help you understand the contemporary landscape of science while developing additional skills such as scientific communication and data sharing. This makes the programme more dynamic and better prepares you for the modern world of research and science.
What is the biggest challenge of this programme?
A significant portion of the work consists of weekly exercise sessions that require a lot of independent effort. So active participation is essential, as the workload is continuous, and it can be difficult to catch up if you fall behind. While this approach can be challenging, especially for those not used to such an intensive system, it also helps develop strong discipline and time management skills.
And thinking ahead… to PhD or not to PhD? What would you say?
This programme is heavily research-focused, so I’m definitely inclined toward pursuing a PhD. However, it’s a highly competitive environment, so there’s no guarantee that it will be possible to get a PhD position, but it’s something I’m very interested in. This year, I’ll be focusing on my thesis, which will be crucial to truly understand whether I want to pursue an academic career or not.
What is the future you? What would be your ideal LinkedIn profile in a few years?
As I said, my main goal would be to pursue a PhD, especially given the interest I’ve developed in research during this Master’s programme. However, I’m also aware that after completing this programme, there are many other alternative career paths. The university offers a lot of support in this regard, with various career events where you can connect with companies and research institutes, as well as "Alumni Talks," where former students share their experiences outside of academia.
Simone van der Wijck, student
"With the fast pace of the programme, you develop so quickly, academically as well and personally, and that might lead you to new interests and paths."
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
This programme is unique as it covers a lot of different research fields within physics. Unlike some programmes, where going in you already need to decide which field within physics you want to continue in, this programme gives you the opportunity to still figure out where your interests lie within the first year due to the vast array of courses you can choose from. Moreover, the opportunity to follow courses that are in collaboration with Leiden university and UvA means you still get a feel for what the other universities are like, while studying at UU.
Are there any misconceptions about this programme, can you name them?
Even though this is the theoretical physics programme, you still have the opportunity to follow courses from other natural science Master’s programmes as well. There is a lot of room to shape the programme to your liking.
What is your favourite subject of this programme? Could be a course, a project, an assignment, the thing you like most?
My favourite course I took so far, probably is Advanced Quantum Field Theory. I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect going into it, besides it being a continuation of the compulsory Quantum Field Theory course. I ended up really enjoying the course; the contents connected well to the knowledge we had already acquired as well as to other courses you could follow alongside this one (such as Field Theory in Particle Physics). It also provided more information on how to connect what we had learned so far to research being done.
And on the contrary: what is the biggest challenge of this programme?
The first semester can take some getting used to. You follow multiple courses alongside each other, all at a fast pace with weekly exercises to maintain and usually with additional assignments to hand in as well. It can be overwhelming to stay on top of everything, however it can also band you together with your fellow classmates. You quickly learn the importance of working together and asking for help, which are also valuable skills to develop.
Anything else you would like to share with prospective students?
Come into the programme with an open mind. You might already have your mind set on a specific direction for the courses you want to follow and type of research you want to do but be open to deviating from that path. With the fast pace of the programme, you develop so quickly, academically as well and personally, and that might lead you to new interests and paths.
Carlotta Casi, Student
What makes this programme unique in your eyes?
This programme gives you the possibility to tailor your studies according to what you like the most. You can stay up to date with the current research topics thanks to the many conferences and events organized weekly by the department. All while living in a stimulating and international environment, with professors and students coming from many different countries all over the world.
If you had to tell something about the programme you know now, but what you didn’t know before you started, what would you tell?
The courses you can choose and the possibilities you have inside the university are much more than I expected. There are a lot of side-jobs you can do at the University and a lot of occasions for getting in touch with other Dutch universities, from joint courses to the possibility of choosing electives outside the UU or from different study programs at the UU. The choice is so broad!
And thinking ahead… to PhD or not to PhD?
My intention is without doubt to do a PhD, but it is not the only thing you can choose. I like that the programme also offers Career Events, during which people working for companies present their work and open us up many other possibilities we have as Theoretical physics students apart from the one of research, which seems the most expected.
What advise would you give prospective students?
It’s good to have an idea of which topics/areas you like to focus on during the Master’s but it is also important to leave yourself free to explore all that is possible within the programme! It’s incredible how a student can change, academically and personally, in just a short amount of time.