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Nanotechnology

MSc (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Available

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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Nanotechnology is an emerging sector, which covers many areas of both academic science and device design and innovation. Manipulating matter at the nanoscale has already led to new technology in many areas such as electronics, displays, sensors, and green technology. The design, fabrication and control of devices with nanoscale (billionth of a metre) dimensions, is an engine of innovation in almost every sector.
This course is suitable for graduates who wish to apply their degree expertise in the nanoscale science and related sectors. This specialisation is for students excited by the prospect of studying and researching in an interdisciplinary area, where physics, chemistry and engineering all come together.

Download the UCD Science Graduate Taught Courses brochure (pdf)

  • Students help design their own curricula (negotiated structure) in this interdisciplinary programme with access to major technology platforms essential to the conduct of world-class cutting-edge research through the strength of the collaboration of the UCD School of Physics. This process takes both the educational track record and the career trajectory of the student into account. Staff from Intel ireland will come to UCD during the year to speak with and advise students on the programme.
  • Study science and techniques that will contribute to the development of technology and devices such as single photon sources, solar cells, nanoelectronics and  nanomaterials.
  • Highly relevant to the recruitment needs of industrial employers, particularly in the semiconductor, telecommunications and imaging sectors and for further PhD research

About This Course

  • Apply knowledge gained and skills developed to specific fundamental or industrial problems.
  • Draw on a suite of transferrable skills including critical thinking, problem solving, scientific report writing, communication skills, team-work, independent work, professional networking, project management.
  • Engage actively in addressing research topics of current relevance.
  • Our students will be imbued with professional values including scientific integrity and ethical behaviour
  • Our students will become well-grounded in the fundamentals of nanotechnology with an appreciation of more specialised knowledge and the current frontiers of research.
  • Present findings both orally and in written form, to thesis level.
  • Use the underlying physics of the field to find, assess and use up-to-date information in order to guide progress.

There are opportunities to apply for an internship in an academic or industry workplace. The internship comprises a research project, the theme of which is chosen by the student in agreement with the supervisor and MSc Course Director. The project may include experimental research, modelling/simulations research, and/or other research appropriate to the MSc programme theme.

***Placements are secured through a competitive process and are not guaranteed.


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
PHYC41090 Bio-inspired Technologies PHYC Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Students must take one of the following modules:
PHYC40850 Physics Research Project 45 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)  45
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Students must take one of the following modules:
PHYC40860 Physics Research Project 60 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)  60
Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:
Students must take one of the following modules:
PHYC40840 Physics Research Project 30 Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 0 of:
For consideration as optional module - final approval following consultation with programme director.
CHEM30090 Chemistry of Materials Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 0 of:
Optional module for consideration - final approval of module choice following consultation with programme director
CHEM40080 Reactivity and Change Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
CHEM40870 Nanomaterials Chemistry Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
MEEN40600 Medical Device Design Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
MEEN40630 Biomaterials Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40400 Nanooptics and biophotonics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40410 Physics of nanomaterials Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40470 Computational Biophysics and Nanoscale Simulations Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40560 Advanced Atomic Force Microscopy for Bionanoscience Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40930 Ultrafast Soft X-ray Photonics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC41070 Techniques in Biophysics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
IA40470 Entrepreneurship: Application and Mindset Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
IA40310 Creative Thinking & Innovation Autumn&Spring&Summer(separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
CHEN40440 Chem Proc Sust & Ren Energy Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
CHEN40510 Advanced Characterisation Tech Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
COMP41680 Data Science in Python Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40030 Galaxies, Observational Cosmology & the Interstellar Medium Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40110 Medical Physics (Selected Topics) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40210 Applied Optics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 0 of:
The list is just a list of optional modules. Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40430 Nanomechanics - from single molecules to single cells Spring  5

Faculty Profile

Associate Professor James Rice, UCD School of Physics
The research projects in Associate Professor Rice’s group at UCD are in the area of experimental nanoscience. His main scientific contributions are related to understanding optical processes in nanoscale materials, concentrating on semiconducting and metallic nanostructured materials. He contributed to the development of novel nanomaterial designs that possess plasmonic properties and the use of biomaterials as functional conducting nanomaterials.

Nanotechnology (F122) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10200
nonEU    fee per year - € 29100

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please visit International Scholarships.

  • Entrance to this programme requires a degree in physics, chemistry, engineering, material sciences or a related discipline with a significant physics content. An upper second class honours or international equivalent is required.  in special circumstances, students with a strong physics background and lower second class honours degree may be accepted. 
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent. Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/ 
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes


This programme is ideal for any graduate with a background in Physics, Mathematics or a related Natural Science, who is excited by the prospect of studying and researching in an interdisciplinary area, where physics, chemistry and engineering all come together.

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Nanotechnology:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt F122
Nanotechnology
Master of Science
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page