In the Specialized Courses module, students deepen their knowledge in selected advanced areas of physics. Students attend a coherent set of advanced lectures forming a specialization, supplemented by further courses from the departments of Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science. Possible areas of focus include quantum physics and condensed matter, particle physics and cosmology, or interdisciplinary combinations. One proseminar must be included within this module. Up to 12 CP may be earned through research internships within this module.

All courses in the Master's program are assessed by course-accompanying examinations, such as active participation, written or oral exams, presentations or protocols. Specific requirements are communicated at the beginning of each course.

If needed, students may discuss the composition of their specialization with the Study Coordination to ensure the selection is academically coherent and aligned with their career goals.

As part of the Specialized Courses module, a proseminar must be completed. In a proseminar, students present a talk where they can choose from a selection of topics, usually in English. Several proseminars covering topics from experimental and theoretical physics, as well as cosmology and particle physics, are offered each semester. Please consult the course directory for details of the current offerings.

The Electives module offers additional freedom for individual interests. Students may attend any courses from departments outside Physics, Mathematics and Computer Science. This module can be seen as an extra-faculty elective area, allowing students to tailor their study profile to their personal interests and professional goals.

The project work is a central component of the Master's program. It should be completed during the first year and provides students with an initial independent research experience. It typically corresponds to 9 weeks of full-time work; if conducted alongside coursework, the duration extends accordingly. The project work is completed with a written report and is graded.

The project work may take different forms: a smaller experimental or theoretical research project, a comprehensive literature study on a current topic, or the development of simulations and data analysis. Students work closely with researchers in the respective group, learning modern methods and techniques, and gaining insight into current scientific questions.

To find supervision, contact a research group directly with a general inquiry or a specific proposal. External project work, for example in other faculties or in companies, is also possible. Before starting, a learning contract (Studienvertrag) must be created online via the Online Services portal between the student and the supervising lecturer.

The Master's Examination is a 45-minute oral examination that must be passed before the Master's thesis may begin. It tests the student's in-depth scientific knowledge within their area of specialization, and requires understanding that goes beyond the content of individual courses - for example through independent literature study, inclusion of topics from the proseminar, or connections to foundational lecture content (in consultation with the examiners).

Students choose their examination topics from a list of courses approved by the Teaching Committee within the Specialized Courses module. The examination is conducted either by the lecturers of two selected courses jointly, or by one lecturer together with a qualified co-examiner holding a doctorate.

To register for the Master's Examination:

• Select two lecture courses and notify the Study Coordination for approval (in collaboration with the Teaching Committee).
• Arrange the date and time of the examination with the examiners.
• Register in person at the Study Coordination office at the latest four weeks before the agreed date.
• Any conditions from the admission to the Master's program must be fulfilled before sitting the examination.

Upon passing, 8 CP are awarded.

The Master's thesis is the centerpiece of the Master's program and students' entry into independent scientific work. It may begin once the project work has been completed and the Master's examination has been passed. The entire process, from initial preparation to the submission of the written thesis, takes nine months.

To register the Master's thesis, students independently contact a research group of their choice. Once the topic and supervision are agreed, both assessors complete a Studienvertrag (learning contract) together with the student (form available on the Phil.-Nat. Faculty website). The first assessor must be habilitated or hold an equivalent qualification; the second assessor must hold at least a doctorate. The signed learning contract must be countersigned by the Chair of the Teaching Committee before work begins and submitted to the Study Secretariat of the Department of Physics.

The thesis is ordinarily carried out in a research group of the Department of Physics, addressing a current scientific question. It is also possible to conduct an external Master’s thesis, for example in an external research group or company, provided that either the first or second assessor holds a professorship at the Department of Physics of the University of Basel, ensuring academic affiliation and compliance with the program's scientific standards.

After completing the experimental or theoretical work, students write a scientific report and present their results in an oral presentation. Both assessors evaluate the thesis and agree on a single grade, which is recorded in the learning contract and submitted to the Study Coordination office.

The final Master's grade is a weighted average of three components:

• Project Work — weight: 1/4
• Master's Examination — weight: 1/4
• Master's Thesis — weight: 1/2

The Master's thesis carries the greatest weight, reflecting its central importance to the scientific qualification.