Branch programme/details

Particle physics (high-energy, subnuclear physics) investigates the structure of matter on the level of elementary particles and their fundamental interactions. Nuclear physics studies the structure of atomic nuclei and more generally the behaviour of finite quantum systems of mutually interacting particles. The study is based on comprehensive courses of theoretical and experimental particle and nuclear physics, based on extensive courses of quantum mechanics and quantum field theory. The emphasis is put on mastering the relevant computational techniques and managing the methods of acquisition and evaluation of experimental data, including an efficient use of computing and advanced software tools. With the aid of optional courses and the Master thesis project, the students gain deep knowledge in a selected area and choose orientation to theory or experiment.

**Conditions for Admission**

The goal of the admissions review process is to select from the pool of applicants those individuals who have shown the capability and diligence expected of Charles University students. To apply for our Computer Science, Mathematics or Physics Master's programmes given in English you must
• hold or be working towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma and provide a certified copy thereof;
• have sufficient academic background in the relevant fields;
• have sufficient command of the English language; this can be demonstrated by providing your results in one of the standardized English tests that we recognize (see below for details).

**Bachelor’s or Master’s Diploma**

Each applicant into a Master’s programme must deliver an officially authorized copy of a Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma, or a confirmation of a faculty or university concerning a successful completion of Bachelor’s or Master’s studies. This requirement does not apply to students and graduates of Bachelor’s or Master’s studies at the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics of the Charles University.
The applicants who graduated from a higher education institution abroad, must deliver one of the following documents in order to prove their previous education: a document about a general recognition of foreign higher education in the Czech Republic obtained according to § 89 and 90 of the higher education law of the Czech Republic (so called "nostrification"), or a foreign document about a foreign higher education if it is automatically recognized in the Czech Republic, according to its international agreements, without further official processing (diploma and diploma supplements from Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia), or a foreign document about completing higher education which will be assessed by the faculty itself (no fee is being charged). Detailed information on how the condition of obtaining previous Bachelor’s or Master’s degree should be proven by the alumni of foreign higher education institutions, as well as additional information, may be found on faculty webpages, here: https://www.mff.cuni.cz/en/students/general-rules/assessment-of-university-degrees-and-studies-for-applicants-to-master-s-and-doctoral-studies. The officially authorized documents must be physically sent to the Study Office of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics preferably by June 30, 2022, and by September 30, 2022 at the latest. If you do not deliver the document about a completed education, you will be neither accepted nor enrolled for Master’s studies.

**Academic background**

In this paragraph we summarize the minimum knowledge required for applicants in the various study programmes and study branches offered at our faculty.

**Master’s Degree in Physics**

You must have sufficient academic background in the relevant fields (see below for details); this can be demonstrated by providing transcripts (academic records) of your previous education accompanied by syllabi of the completed courses.

**Common requirements:** a sound background in physics, i.e., in mechanics, molecular physics, electricity and magnetism, electrodynamics, optics, theoretical mechanics, thermodynamics, statistical physics, atomic physics, and quantum theory. Appropriate knowledge of mathematical apparatus is expected.

Study programme **Particle and Nuclear Physics:** Common requirements + basic knowledge of nuclear and particle physics and intermediate knowledge of quantum mechanics.

Nuclear and particle physics: Knowledge on the level of an elementary course of nuclear and particle physics (main features and basic models of atomic nuclei, nuclear decays and reactions, elementary particles and their interactions, principles of modern particle experiments and accelerators).

Quantum mechanics: Knowledge on the level of an intermediate course of non-relativistic quantum mechanics (basic formalism based on the Hilbert space, stationary and nonstationary problems, perturbative approaches, theory of angular momentum, basic scattering theory, systems composed of identical particles and second-quantization formalism).

Study programme **Atmospheric Physics, Meteorology and Climatology:** Common requirements +

Hydrodynamics - ideal and real fluids motion, concepts of flow field, hydrodynamic equations, viscous fluid flow.

Meteorology and Climatology - basic characteristics of meteorological elements and physical interactions in the climate system.

Study programme **Surface and Plasma Physics:** Common requirements + fundamentals of condensed matter physics, kinetic theory of gases, and plasma physics.

Study programme **Physics of Condensed Matter and Materials:** Common requirements + Fundamentals of condensed matter physics - atomic and electronic structure of matter, basics of quantum physics, experimental methods in condensed matter physics.

Study programme **Optics and optoelectronics:** Common requirements + fundamentals of Fourier optics, gaussian beams, radiation detectors and methods of measurements of optical properties of matter.

Study programme **Biophysics and Chemical Physics:** Common requirements +

Quantum theory - formal scheme of quantum theory, angular momentum. approximate methods - variational and perturbation methods, structure of atomic spectral lines, many-body problem. Fundamentals of quantum electrodynamics (non- relativistic theory) and of scattering theory.

General chemistry -Atomic and molecular masses, isotopes, solutions, concentrations, state functions, partial molar quantities, chemical potential, phase and chemical equilibrium.


Academic records demonstrating the necessary background must show the dates of enrolment and the subjects or courses taken, together with the units of credit or time allotted to each subject. These records must also include a complete description of the institution’s grading scale or other standard of evaluation. Unless academic records and diplomas are routinely issued in English by the institution concerned, the official records in their original language must be submitted with an authorized, complete, and exact English translation.

**English Language Proficiency**

An applicant must have an adequate command of English in order to enroll on an English-taught programme at Charles University. Proficiency in English may be demonstrated by one of the standard language tests listed below; any language test results should not be older than two years. Students who have completed at least two years of their previous education with English as the sole language of instruction in Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Malta, New Zealand, UK, Republic of South Africa or USA are exempt from this requirement. Applicants who provide us with comparable qualifications demonstrating proficiency in English also meet our requirements.

The table below lists the various tests of English that we recognize, and gives the minimum score that should be obtained.

**Test: Minimum Score:**
TOEFL: Paper/Computer/Internet based 550/213/80
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS): 6.5
Cambridge B2 First (formerly FCE): Grade A
Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE or CAE): Passed
City&Guilds International ESOL, or City&Guilds International Spoken ESOL: Expert level
TELC English C1: Pass
UNIcert English for Mathematicians: Level C1
MELAB: 77
Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE): Pass
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC): 605
General State Language Examination in English in the Czech Republic: Pass


**You are also welcome to accompany your application by:**

• a statement of purpose in which you describe your reasons for applying to the proposed programme, your study, and possibly also research interests and future career plans;

• letters of recommendation from professors and employers who can comment on your recent professional accomplishments and your qualifications for pursuing a master’s degree in Computer Science, Mathematics or Physics. You should arrange for letters of recommendation to be sent directly by your referees to the email address admission@mff.cuni.cz by May 31, 2022 at latest.

Please ask your referees to state “Recommendation letter for [your name], CS/Math/Physics programme” in the Subject of the email.

Admission to Master's studies is conditioned by completed secondary education confirmed by a school-leaving certificate. Admission to Post-Bachelor studies (Master's programme) is likewise conditioned by completed education in any type of study programme.

Verification method:	other form
Confirmation date (of entrance exam) from:		Until:
Alternative date (of entrance exam):

**Special Admission conditions according to § 8 of the law No. 67/2022 Coll., concerning the measures in the field of education in connection to an armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine caused by an invasion of the Russian Federation army**

Conditions for admission to Master programmes taught in English language

Contacts

Address: *MFF UK – Ke Karlovu 3, 121 16 Praha 2*
Contact Person: *Eliška Zábrodská*
E-mail: *admission@mff.cuni.cz*
Phone: *+420 951 551 217*

**Application deadline and entrance exam dates**

Application submission: *till July 31, 2022*
Regular entrance exam date: *September 12, 2022*
An alternative date of the entrance exam: *September 22, 2022, you can apply for it only for serious reasons.*

*There will be no charge for an application in accordance with the Rector‘s Directive No. 16/2022.*

**Other important dates**

Deadline for the delivery of an officially authorized copy of a Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma: *Till August 31, 2022*
Deadline for a proof of the refugee status in the Czech Republic: *Together with the application, i.e. till July 31,2022*
Deadline for the delivery of English language proficiency proof: *Till August 31, 2022*

**Application Requirements**

**Master’s Programmes in English,**

The goal of the admissions review process is to select from the pool of applicants those individuals who have shown the capability and diligence expected of Charles University students. To apply for our Computer Science, Mathematics or Physics Master's programmes given in English you must

1. hold or be working towards a Bachelor’s or Master’s diploma and provide a certified copy thereof. In cases required by law, a certification of equivalence of education must accompany the application. If the applicant cannot obtain such document due to the external circumstances, it is possible to submit a declaration of honor;
2. have sufficient academic background in the relevant fields;
3. have sufficient command of the English language; this can be demonstrated by providing your results in one of the standardized English tests that we recognize (see below for details).
4. Each applicant must also prove that he/she is a holder of temporary protection in connection with the armed conflict in Ukraine (he/she proves a toleration visa D/VS/U or a temporary protection visa D/DO/xxx); the applicant must prove the fulfillment of this condition by July 31, 2022 in one of the following two ways:
a) The applicant will personally present the stamp of the special visa/temporary protection sticker in the travel document, the Department of Student Affairs will make a copy and note that it matches the original, complete the date of making the copy and will sign it.
b) The applicant shall send a simple copy of the stamp of the special visa/temporary protection sticker in the travel document stating that it corresponds to the original, the date of making the copy and the original handwritten signature (the signature need not be officially verified).
For variants a) and b), the copies must show who was granted temporary protection – i.e. in the case of special visa stamps, it is necessary to attach a page in the travel document with information about the holder of this document.

Please note that all required documents must be physically delivered to the Department of Student Affairs of the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics before the respective deadlines. If you do not deliver them as required, you will be neither accepted nor enrolled for Master's studies.

Part of the admission procedure is also the verification of the professional and language skills of the applicants.

1. Study competencies shall be verified by an entrance examination.

2. Demonstration of language skills - applicants must prove sufficient knowledge of the English language

To submit your scores electronically, please use the following Institution codes:
TOEFL 3184
SAT 7249
ACT 6790

**Conditions for admission with waiver of the entrance examination**

For all study programs, the entrance examination for the master's study is waived according to the conditions listed below.

The waiver of the entrance examination must be requested at the same time as the application is submitted, i.e. no later than July 31, 2022. The application must be sent to the faculty by post, including attachments.

Applicants will provide documents proving the content of their previous studies, i.e. especially documents on their previous studies in the form of a list of study obligations completed at a foreign university, as well as any other materials certifying the applicant's readiness to study the master's program. If, for objective reasons, the applicant is unable to submit these documents, they may be replaced by a declaration of honor. A signed and documented application (including the identification number of the application assigned to the applicant by the study information system when submitting the application) for waiver of the entrance examination must be submitted at the same time as the application. When assessing applications for waiver of the entrance examination, the decisive criterion will be the professional assessment of the compatibility of the previous study with the study program to which the applicant is applying. If the application is not submitted and documented by July 31, 2022, or if this application is not approved by the Vice-Dean for Student Affairs , the candidate will be invited to the entrance examination. Applications submitted after this deadline will not be considered. The application with documentation must be sent to the Department of Student Affairs of the MFF UK in paper form. The decision to waive the entrance examination will be sent by the faculty after the closing date for applications, i.e. in August, as soon as possible.

**Entrance examination**

*Description of the entrance exam and evaluation criteria*

The entrance examination takes place in the form of a discussion with the applicant on the issues of the study programme to which the applicant is applying. In doing so, the Commission will ask candidates three questions relating to the main areas of the programme to which they apply. For the answers, the commission assesses in particular the factual accuracy, knowledge of the field, and the overall readiness of the applicant for the master's degree. The commission evaluates each answer in the range of 0-30 points, i.e. maximum of 90 points in total. The candidate will pass the exam if he/she obtains at least 45 points.

**English Language Proficiency**

An applicant must have an adequate command of English in order to enroll on an English-taught programme at Charles University. Proficiency in English may be demonstrated by one of the standard language tests listed below; any language test results should not be older than two years. Applicants who provide us with comparable qualifications demonstrating proficiency in English also meet our requirements.

The table below lists the various tests of English that we recognize, and gives the minimum score that should be obtained.

*Test Minimum Score*
TOEFL iBT 85
TOEFL Essentials 9 Pass
TOEIC Listening and Reading 750
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 6.5
Cambridge B2 First (formerly FCE) 180 (Grade A)
Cambridge C1 Advanced (formerly CAE) Pass
Cambridge C2 Proficiency (formerly CPE) Pass
The European Language Certificates (TELC) English C1 Pass
UNIcert English for Mathematicians Level C1 Pass
Duolingo 105
Michigan English Test (MET) 64
Examination for the Certificate of Proficiency in English (ECPE) Pass
General State Language Examination in English in the Czech Republic Pass

**Information on the Admission Procedure**

How to apply:

1. Take the language tests (IELTS, TOEFL, …) and submit your scores. We strongly recommend that applicants complete their tests in time.

2. Collect all required documents and information, including personal details (name, date and place of birth, citizenship, permanent address, correspondence address, email address, passport number and related documents, standardized test scores.

3. Fill in the electronic application form.

4. Submit the application online. If you have any questions regarding your application, please write to admission@mff.cuni.cz. Please make sure to upload with your application all required documents as specified above. For TOEFL, you should have your test scores sent directly to Charles University, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics. Our institution code for TOEFL is 3184.

*Please note that an application cannot be processed without the required documents having been received.*

The graduates have advanced knowledge of particle and nuclear physics, in both experimental and theoretical domains. They comprehend quantum theory, understand basic approaches to the description of microworld and manage experimental techniques of its study. They find employment mainly in fundamental experimental and theoretical research, but also in relevant applied research, e.g., in detector physics, nuclear medicine etc. The graduates are prepared to creatively develop the field of their scientific focus and to join international research teams. Experience in application of advanced software tools opens possibilities for employment e.g. in information technologies.