- Describe the state-of-the-art knowledge and skills in Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
- Apply knowledge gained and skills developed to specific fundamental or industrial problems.
- Use the underlying physics of the field to find, assess and use up-to-date information in order to guide progress.
- Engage actively in addressing research topics of current relevance.
- Draw on a suite of transferable skills including critical thinking, problem-solving, scientific report writing, communication skills, teamwork, independent work, professional networking, and project management. Presenting findings both orally and in written form, to thesis level.
- 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.
This course is available through the following application route(s)
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.
- 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.
About This Course
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.
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.
EU fee per year - € 10460
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.
- 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 EU) applicants: 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.
How to Apply
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics:
ROWCLASS | Apply to |
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showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | F124 Applied Mathematics & Theoretical Physics Master of Science Full-Time Commencing September 2025 Graduate Taught |