Master of Science - Theoretical Physics

University of Hertfordshire

Theoretical physics addresses foundational questions: What is the universe made of? And how does it work? Throughout this Master's course, students will be exposed to the elegant and unifying mathematical ideas that underpin humanity’s best answers to these questions to date.

Learners will explore the fundamental physical theories which govern the behavior of space, time and matter. From the quantum field theories that allow to compute amplitudes in high-energy particle scattering experiments, to the geometry of black holes and other curved spacetimes, students will gain exposure to the key concepts of the field. This is just the start of their journey. Through project work and research seminars, students will explore the latest research and undertake their own scientific exploration.

The MSc Theoretical Physics students will benefit from being taught by experts within the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Mathematics. Researchers are internationally recognised for their expertise in areas of theoretical physics, including supergravity, strings and generalized geometry; scattering amplitudes in gauge theory; integrability in quantum field theory; and quantum groups and integrable systems.

Unique to this course, learners will also attend a lecture series on Recent Advances designed to expose them to the latest cutting-edge research and the material which is underpinning modern developments in the field. It aims to develop hard skills in conceptualization and critical thinking, mathematical and scientific writing, and also soft skills – in communication, teamwork and presentation– which are highly transferable as well as being vital in academic research.