Graduate School
in Experimental Physics at the University of Zürich
Master's and PhD programs for local students
If you are a student with a Bachelor degree in Physics from a Swiss University, you can enter our Master's program without any further requirements. Please read here for further information. Details about the immatriculation procedure can be found here.In some cases we allow talented students in a Master's course in experimental physics to directly enter our PhD program "fast track". Read below for further information.
If you already have a Master degree in Physics from a Swiss University and wish to do obtain a PhD at our institute, please consult our main Webpage for open PhD positions. You may also contact the group leaders of the individual research groups directly and ask them about open PhD positions. As soon as you start your PhD and after your immatriculation you are automatically enrolled in our Graduate School program (see below). A PhD in experimental physics at the University of Zürich usually takes 3-4 years. The stipend in the first year is approx. 55'000 CHF.
Master's program in experimental physics for international students
To apply for our Master's program, the basic requirement is a 3 year Bachelor's degree in physics. Depending on your record additional exams may be required to enter our Master's program. The Master's program typically lasts 18 months.Applications for Master's studies should include a CV and course grade transcripts, and should be sent to
Physik-Institut der Universität Zürich
Graduate School, J. Schenk
University of Zürich
Winterthurerstrasse 190
CH-8057 Zürich Switzerland
or by Email to schenk@physik.uzh.ch
GRE and TOEFL scores are very useful if available, but not required. Note that some experimental courses are taught in German.
At this level, funding is usually external and you are encouraged to apply to your national or to Swiss agencies (e.g. Erasmus at www.crus.ch). In exceptional cases funding for outstanding applicants may be considered. Approximate minimum costs of living and studying in Zürich are CHF 1000.- to CHF 1500.- per month, not including personal expenses like clothes, travel etc.
PhD program in experimental physics for international students
For an admission to our PhD program you not only have to meet certain criteria concerning your education in Physics (e.g., a 4-5 year Master's degree in experimental physics). It is also essential that you inform yourself in advance about open PhD positions in one of our research groups. These positions are listed on our main Webpage, or you may directly contact the group leaders of the individual research groups and ask them about open PhD positions. Already at this stage you should submit to the group leader of the group in which you wish to conduct your research a CV, a statement of research interests and previous research experience, course grade transcripts and letters of reference. The group leader will then take a decision and inform you about how to proceed further. In some cases he or she will invite you for an interview (with expenses covered). Since you are expected to participate in the education of younger students, a good knowledge of German and/or English is essential. If your candidacy is successful, your papers will be transferred to the faculty administration where it is decided whether or not any additional exams are required.A PhD in experimental physics at the University of Zürich usually takes 3-4 years. The stipend in the first year is approx. 55'000 CHF before taxes, which will easily allow you to cover all local living expenses including all the necessary social and health insurances.
Graduate School
During your PhD work we will offer you a number of opportunities to obtain the required 12 ECTS credit points in our versatile PhD training program. These include: weekly seminars, specialized lectures at our University, at the ETH or at another University, and the participation in summer schools and workshops covering your field of research. A 30 minutes final exam will conclude the defense of your PhD thesis."Fast track"
In some cases we allow talented students in a Master's course in experimental physics to directly enter our PhD program ("fast track"). This means that the student can use his or her research results for the Master's thesis as part of their PhD thesis, and any credit points obtained during the Master course in addition to the minimum of 90 can be transferred to the Graduate School program. The idea of this fast track option is to give to those students, whose talent and career outlook is obvious already at an early stage of the Master's program, a time saving option to enter our PhD program. If you feel that you are qualified for such a "fast track" please contact the supervisor of your Master's thesis.