Why Physics?
Physics aims at the understanding of nature, its structure and its laws. To be a physicist means to walk along the path from ideas to things, among the most refined theories and the hard work in the laboratory. The physical knowledge, however, is also the root of technological innovation in all sectors: environment, nanotechnologies, energy, new materials, medicine, aerospace and many more.
Classes
If you join the Bachelor program in Physics, you will study classical physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism) and modern physics (quantum mechanics, relativity theory). You will also be provided with all the mathematical skills necessary to tackle physics, along with the fundamentals of chemistry, electronics, and programming. You will spend part of the time in the laboratory, where you will experience the scientific method and learn how to use the latest tools for the measurement of physical quantities and data analysis. The third year will complete your education with classes on nuclear and condensed matter physics. You will also have the freedom to choose some additional classes. At the end, you may access the job market or, as most of students do, continue your education with a Master program.
Physicists, at work!
Our courses pave the way to many different career choices, such as teaching, high-tech industry, software development, and scientific research.
The material scientist is at the frontier of innovation.
Our courses are highly interdisciplinary, having some flavour of physics, chemistry, engineering. Alike them, the material scientists works mainly in labs, either experimentally or theoretically, designing and synthetizing new materials.
Thanks to their interdisciplinary training, material scientists are highly requested on the labour market. They are indeed able to create new materials for electronics, to invent new plastics with extraordinary performances, e.g. in heat-absorption, to synthesise novel coatings for the restoration and conservation of historical monuments. Material scientists can also produce new tissues (such as the supertechnologic ones used in sports or in the outer space), develop nano-sized carriers to deliver drugs in the human body or to construct environment-friendly industrial facilities.
Material scientists are also requested in quality control companies for the characterisation and certification of materials.
You won't then be surprised to hear that this bachelor degree guarantees a smooth entry into the job market. All sectors of industry need material scientists. Even universities and public research institutions require this new type of scientist.
For more information visit the website of the bachelor program in Material Science
The 2-year Master program in Physics offers a high degree of specialization in one of these four areas::
Master Thesis
Your master thesis is an original research work. You can choose to carry out your thesis project in one of the laboratories of our Department, under the supervision of a senior researcher, directly in contact with a cutting-edge research environment. You can carry out part of the work in large international research facilities, such as CERN in Geneva or the Synchrotron in Trieste.
Job Market
According to Almalaurea (2013 data), 92.5% of graduate students in Physics find a job within three years after graduation. Here are some of the industrial sectors that routinely recruit physicists: energy, transportation, space and defense, biomedical, information technology, and elecommunications.
The PhD is the highest qualification awarded by academic institutions. The PhD in Physics is accessed via a competitive selection. The PhD program in Italy lasts three years, during which PhD students continue their studies in Physics and work on a research project in collaboration with one of the groups of the Department.
Research opportunities
The PhD is a mandatory path to enter the world of research. As a PhD student you will begin a process of specialisation in one of the research areas of the Department, participate in conferences and international research projects, publish your scientific results on peer-reviewed journals and spend part of your time abroad thanks to our many international collaborations.
Other professional opportunities
The PhD title is very valuable also in the job market. The PhD title is recognised by most industries, where your greater specialisation and professional maturity open the way to jobs with higher responsibility and better salaries.
For more information visit the website of the PhD in Physics