How to pick the right courses

This page will give you guidance on how to pick the right courses in Lund. We assume that you arrive here as one of the following:

1) Exchange student
2) Master student
3) Free mover

We start by links to all the courses we offer in english. Four departments are involved:

Physics
Theoretical Physics
Astrophysics
MAX IV laboratory

List including Bachelor and engineering physics

We will start by a description on the study program for Swedish students, and then continue with instructions for Masters students and exchange students. Free-movers can usually find their information on theses pages too.
 

Study program for swedish students.

To be able to pick the right courses, you need to know something about the order of studies for Swedish physics students. The first four semesters are usually organised in semester-long, full-time courses:

1) FYSA11, which is a standard beginners course in physics, giving an overview of mechanics, theromdynamics, electrodynamics, optics, wave mechanics, atomic and nuclear physics. The book used is Benson; University Physics.

2) Mathematics 1 alpha and beta - these consists of standard analyses and linear algebra.

3) FYSA21, a course that introduces theoretical, computational and mathematical tools for physicists. Vectoranalyses, Fourier analyses, quantum mechanics, numerical methods and theoretical electromagnetism are among the tools introduced and applied to physics.

3) FYSA31, which gives an overview of atomic, molecular, nuclear, particle and solid state physics.

4) After the first four semesters, the student pick from the list of courses you will find here.

Information for exchange students

The program above implies that you should consider parts of FYSA21 and FYSA31 when selecting your courses. The quantum mechanics (labelled FYSB01) in FYSA21 and the entire FYSA31 is always given in english. Let us go through the different examples:

Quantum mechanics
If you want to study quantum mechanics, you should pick one of the following selections

• Beginners quantum mechanics: FYSB01 Introduction to quantum mechanics, 7.5 ECTS.
• Second course in quantum mechanics: FYSN17, Quantum mechanics, 7.5 ECTS

Statistical mechanics
After the first thermodynamics of FYSA11, which is given in Swedish, the first real statistical physics is part of FYSB02. It corresponds to approximately 3 ECTS.

Atomic Physics
If you want to study atomic physics, you should pick one of the following selections:

• Beginners atomic physics (except for the very basic): FYSB04 atomic physics, 7.5 ECTS, first half of each semester (it is a part of FYSA31).

Nuclear Physics
If you want to study nuclear physics, you should pick one of the following selections:

• Beginners nuclear physics (except for the very basic): FYSB03 nuclear physics, 7.5 ECTS, first half of each semester
• Continued nuclear physics is offered in FYST11, FYST16 and FYST18

Elementary particle physics
If you want to study particle physics, you should pick one of the following selections:

• Beginners particle physics (except for the very basic): FysA31 (individual study plan) particle physics, 6 ECTS, second half of the semester.
• Continued Particle Physics, there are several courses, among them FYST16 and FYST17.

Solid State Physics
If you want to study solid state physics, you should pick one of the following selections:

• Beginners solid state physics (except for the very basic): FysA31 (individual study plan) solid state physics, 7.5 ECTS, second half of each semester
• Continued Solid state you can find in the courses FYST24, FYST27 och FYST25, for example.

Information for Master's students

The prrerquisites for the Master's of Physics is a bachelor with at least 90 ECTS combined in physics and maths, including a course in quantum mechanics. When you sign up for the Master's programme in Lund, you can pick courses quite freeely among the ones we offer, but there are som guidelines:
 

1. If you have not taken courses in quantum physics, including theory and experiment, and covering atomic, nuclear, particle and solid state physics, you start your Masters programme with the course Physics 3, Modern Physics
2. If you have followed courses that corresponds to Phsics 3, and start on an autumn semester, then you are recommended to start with Physics 4.
3. If you have followed courses that corresponds to Physics 3, and start on an autumn semester, you should select courses under the links on the top of the page.

Welcome to Lund - we are looking forward to having you here!