Master of Science in Physics

published: 2017-11-08 09:46:02       hits: 

Physics is the natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through space and time, along with related concepts such as energy and force. It is conducted to disclose the structure of matter, interaction between matters, and the motion laws of matters in order to understand the universe. It results in many significant technologies and products.

The School of Physical Electronics at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China has the primary objective of frontier knowledge of physics and training of qualified manpower to acquire and develop an economy based on high technology. It is also involved in inter-disciplinary research with other branches of science as well as engaging in collaborative work with industry. Five fields, Condensed Matter Physics, Radio physics, Theoretical Physics, Plasma Physics, and Optics, have established their reputation for research excellence. Collaborations in research across national borders and disciplines have been built. The school intends to play a key role in the advancement of China into a high-tech era.

This programme offers excellent opportunities for students to further develop their potential as intellectual leaders for a wide range of career paths. They will not only acquire fundamental and emerging knowledge in physics, but also solve practical problems of relevance for industrial development.

1.    Objectives

Candidates of Master of Science in Physics are expected to have a profound knowledge in fundamental physics and experimental skills. They are also required to have a clear vision of cutting-edge research and emerging trends in physics.

International candidates of Master of Science in Physics are required to achieve an intermediate level of proficiency in Chinese to communicate in Chinese. They must take A Survey of China and Comprehensive Chinese.

2.    Orientations

1)        Condensed Matter Physics                                 2)    Radiophysics

3)    Theoretical Physics                                           4)    Plasma Physics

5)    Optics

3.    Duration

The duration set for master candidates is two years full-time. An extension can be applied for by those who cannot finish their courses in time owing to objective causes, yet altogether four years is the last due.

4.    Progression and Requirements

The minimum sum total credits for international students of master candidates are 26. Master candidates should complete the course work of no less than a total of 24 credits (out of which at least 15 credits should be acquired from degree courses), compulsory sections of no less than 2 credits, complete the thesis independently, and pass the degree thesis defense.

The supervisor responsibility mechanism is adopted in the education for international master candidates. The supervisor is responsible for the student’s making of personal study plan, the choice of courses, and the completion of the research report or the degree thesis. The personal study plan cannot be changed without permission of the supervisor.

During the course work, according to specifications by the discipline, the student is to pass examinations held for the degree courses and examinations or assessments held for the other optional courses. Of all the degree courses, common core courses are compulsory; at least one in core courses should be taken. Master candidates are allowed to choose 1~2 inter-disciplinary core courses as their degree courses under supervisors’ guidance. Degree courses can be taken to substitute non-degree courses, but not vice versa. International students of Chinese language abilities can apply to take courses given in Chinese to local full-time graduate students and acquire corresponding credits if pass.

Those who fail to meet the requirements as described above can fill up the gap by repetition or make-up in the limit of one year. Those who fail to meet the credit requirements even till the end of the due time are to be terminated.

5.    Curriculum

Course Categories		Course Number	Course Name	Class Hours	Credits	Semester	Notes
Degree  Courses	Common Core Courses	611302	Comprehensive Chinese△	60	2	1	Compulsory
		611305	A Survey of China△	40	2	2
	Core Courses	611001	Stochastic Processes and Applications	60	3	1	At least 1 from 3
		611003	Numerical Analysis	60	3	2
		611004	Optimization Methods and Applications	50	2.5	2
	Disciplinary Core Courses	620201	Advanced Electromagnetics Field Theory△	50	2.5	1
		620401	Advanced Quantum Mechanics△	60	3	2
		04076004	Quantum Field Theory I△	50	2.5	1
Non-degree Optional Courses	DisciplinaryOptional Courses	630401	Nano Optics△	40	2	2
		630206	Radar Theory	30	1.5	2
		04027006	Silicon-Based RF Integrated Circuits Design △	40	2	2
		04027008	Numerical methods in optical imaging △	40	2	1
		04076005	Quantum Field Theory II△	60	3	2
		20007001	Pattern Recognizition△	40	2	2
	Other Optional Courses	641302	Chinese Reading & Writing△	60	2	2
			Inter-disciplinary Optional Courses
Compulsory Sections		650003	Academic Activities (no less than 5 times)		1	1/2
		65XX0X	Elective Quality Education Courses	20	1	1/2

Directions: 1.All courses, except for the Chinese ones specified by the requirements, are totally given in English.2. △ means which can be selected by both Masters and Ph.Ds.

6.    Compulsory Sections

The compulsory sections for international students of master candidates include two parts, a candidate is required to complete the following aspects:

1) Elective Competence Development Courses: through introducing the academic cutting edge knowledge, culture and arts, etc, such courses are given to improve the master candidates’ comprehensive competence. A candidate should take at least one course and get one credit after assessment.

2) Academic Activities: to enliven academic atmosphere and to further and broaden master candidates’ scope of knowledge, one should attend at least five academic lectures within and out of UESTC, and fill in the Academic Activities Registration Form and get the official stamp upon attendance. One credit can be granted to the candidate when he/she succeeds in completing the above procedures.

7.    Degree Thesis

1) General requirements

The degree thesis or research report should be of theoretical or practical values to some extent, which indicates the author has a grasp of the fundamental theories and specialized knowledge in his/her discipline and is capable of further scientific researches and empowered with the ability to apply his/her theories and knowledge comprehensively into practical problems.

 2) Degree thesis job

To fulfill graduation requirements, a student working for master degree should write a thesis on a research topic selected under the guidance of his/her academic supervisor.

A. Research proposal

a. Schedule. Research proposal presentation should be scheduled no later than the end of the third semester. Topic of the proposal should be carefully chosen on the basis of a comprehensive literature review.

b. Form. The proposal should be presented in public at a meeting of the research team with an attendance of a panel of at least three associate professors in the field of study or in the related field of study, who are obliged to evaluate the proposal.

c. Submission. Contents of the proposal are specified in the “Proposal Form”. The student should fill in the form immediately after the proposal presentation meeting and submit it to the graduate office of his/her school for conservation and later inspection.

d. If the first version of a proposal is not qualified, the student should write a new version and submit it three months later. If the second version is still unqualified, the student should quit from the master program.

e. If the student needs to change the topic of his/her thesis with justified reasons, he/she should present and submit a new proposal in accordance with the above requirements.

f. In principle, the student cannot apply for graduation thesis defense until one year after his/her submission of a qualified proposal on his/her thesis.

B. Thesis writing

The thesis can be written in either Chinese or English. The abstracts (about 800 words long) should be written in both languages. For detailed requirements, please refer to UESTC Format and Specification Manual for Postgraduate Thesis Writing.

3) As for problems regarding the degree thesis defense, from its application, evaluation and holding to the final award of the degree, all shall refer to UESTC Regulations for Postgraduate Degree Conferring.