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Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics

MSc (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Available

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

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The MSc Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics offers broad opportunities for future employment in research, development, predictive modelling and risk assessment, and informatics related industry sectors. At UCD, this MSc programme is developed in close connection with the Simulation Science and Computational Physics specialties, offering students both a robust training in computational methods on top of a solid theoretical and mathematical foundation.
The programme is aimed at students with a strong background in Physics, Mathematics or a related Natural Science, who wish to learn state-of-the-art mathematical models and methods, applied to quantitative analysis of a broad range of physical phenomena.

Download the UCD Science Graduate Taught Courses brochure (pdf)

  • Offers broad opportunities for future employment in research, development, predictive modelling and risk assessment and informatics-related industry sectors. 
  • Developed in close connection with the Simulation Science and Computational Physics specialties, offering students both a robust training in computational methods on top of the solid theoretical and mathematical foundation.

Contact Us

  • EU Enquiries: vladimir.lobaskin@ucd.ie
  • Non-EU Enquiries: internationalenquiries@ucd.ie

About This Course

  • Apply knowledge gained and skills developed to specific fundamental or industrial problems.
  • Describe the state-of-the art knowledge and skills in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
  • Draw on a suite of transferable skills including critical thinking, problem solving, scientific report writing, communication skills, team-work, independent work, professional networking, project management. Presenting findings both orally and in written form, to thesis level.
  • Engage actively in addressing research topics of current relevance.
  • Formulate a mathematical model of a physical phenomenon, execute and report the results of an analytical theory, develop the limiting solutions and compare results critically with experimental or numerical evidence.
  • Use the underlying physics of the field to find, assess and use up-to-date information in order to guide progress.

The programme prepares you for a career in industry or for further PhD research. Career opportunities are broad, including the financial, predictive modelling and risk assessment, telecommunications, data mining and analysis, IT consulting and green technologies industry sectors, both in Ireland and internationally. It is also a stepping stone to PhD research in the areas of theoretical and computational physics, nanotechnology and nanoscience.

Recent and prospective employers include Deloitte, Murex, Intel, Pfizer, MSD, Philips, Tullow Oil, the University of Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and the National Institutes of Health, USA.

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) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
ACM30190 Dynamical Systems Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
ACM40010 Electrodynamics & Gauge Theory Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
ACM40290 Numerical Algorithms Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
ACM40660 Scientific Programming Concepts (ICHEC) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
ACM40750 Gen Relativity & Black Holes Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40020 Applied Quantum Mechanics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40080 High Energy Particle Physics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40120 General Relativity & Cosmology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.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 - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.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 - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
STAT30010 Time Series Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
STAT40400 Monte Carlo Inference Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
ACM40640 High Performance Computing (ICHEC) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40200 Quantum Theory of Condensed Matter Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.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 - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40360 Theoretical Astrophysics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40650 Advanced Statistical Physics Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
PHYC40800 Quantum Field Theory Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 0 of:
Optional modules suggested - final approval of module choices following consultation with Programme Director.Optional modules are not limited to lists provided, and other modules can be added following dialogue with the Programme Director.
STAT40510 Applied Statistical Modelling Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students must take one of the following modules:
PHYC40850 Physics Research Project 45 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)  45
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students must take one of the following modules:
PHYC40860 Physics Research Project 60 2 Trimester duration (Spr-Sum)  60
Stage 1 Options - B)1 of:
Students must take one of the following modules:
PHYC40840 Physics Research Project 30 Summer  30

Faculty Profiles

Professor Adrian Ottewill, UCD School of Mathematics and Statistics & Complex and Adaptive Systems Laboratory (CASL)

Professor Adrian Ottewill’s research interests are in general relativity (gravitational entropy, detection of gravitational radiation) and quantum field theory in curved space-time (Hawking evaporation of black holes, quantum mechanical origin of structure in the universe).

Dr Vladimir Lobaskin, UCD School of Physics & Complex and Adaptive Systems Laboratory (CASL)

Associate Professor Lobaskin’s main scientific contributions are related to structure and interactions in charged colloidal dispersions, colloidal dynamics, mechanics of biomolecules, and flocking of active particles.

Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics (F124) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 10200
nonEU    fee per year - € 29100

MSc Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics (F125) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 5030
nonEU    fee per year - € 14550

***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.

  • This programme is intended for applicants who have a strong background 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 2.2 class honours may be accepted.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language profi ciency 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


Our Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics MSc is aimed at students with a strong background in Physics, Mathematics or a related Natural Science, who wish to learn state-of-the-art mathematical models and methods, applied to quantitative analysis of a broad range of physical phenomena. 

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt F124
Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics
Master of Science
Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt F125
Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics
Master of Science
Part-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September
Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page