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Application

Thank you very much for your interest in the Master of Science in Physics course at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences.

In the following you can find information on the application process as well as the required documents. In case you are interested in a full scholarship (two years) for the Master course please apply for the scholarship program of our graduate school.

You can find answers to frequently asked questions here.

Application deadlines

For summer term: January 15
For winter term: July 15

Important: International students are highly recommended to apply for their preliminary review documentation (VPD, see below) before June 1 (winter term) or December 1 (summer term) to ensure that they receive the VPD in time!

Sequence of application

The application for the MSc in Physics course is solely possible via KLIPS 2.0!

  • You hold a Bachelor's degree from the University of Cologne?
    → Please register with you usual account in KLIPS 2.0. In the category "Study Course", you will find a field "Applications". This will start the online application tool.
     
  • You have been awarded your Bachelor's degree by another university?
    → Please start by registering for a new applicant account at KLIPS 2.0

Note: the application period in KLIPS 2.0 for the winter term 26/27 is expected to begin June 1st, 2026!

Requested documents for application

The admission committee requires the following documents in order to decide on your application:

  • School leaving certificate (or an equivalent degree of qualification for access to German universities)
  • Transcript of Records
  • Bachelor of Science in Physics degree (or an equivalent university degree). The degree certificate can be handed in later.

Applicants who have obtained their university degree (e.g. a bachelor’s degree) in a country other than Germany also need

Additionally, please hand-in the following documents:

  • Letter of Motivation
  • CV
  • Filled form Breakdown of previous study contents
  • Proof of English language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages which corresponds to a TOEFL (iBT) score of 72 or an IELTS-Test score of 5.5. A university certificate stating that English is the language of instruction in your Bachelor program is also accepted. In case you have done a German Abitur, the respective assessment of your English language skills (B2) is sufficient.

For the online application, all of these documents have to be uploaded as pdf.

Handing in the Bachelor certificate later is, in general, possible. The admission is then with qualified acceptance. Please hand in the certificate as soon as available - otherwise the admission to the master course will be retracted and the right to inscription ceases.
Please note that all other documents have to be uploaded in KLIPS2.0 by the application deadline!

Note: As of now, the application process is completely online. Please be prepared to submit certified copies for the enrollment procedure or to present the originals upon request.

Important links at a glance

If you have any further questions, please contact the examination office of the physics department or
the course guidance at master-physics[at]uni-koeln[dot]de. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the prerequisites for admission?

A BSc degree (or equivalent) in Physics (or a related field) is required. In particular, we require applicants to have successfully completed the following coursework in their previous degree program:

  • at least 15 credit points in theoretical physics - note that either a course in quantum mechanics or a course in statistical physics is required.
  • at least 15 credit points in mathematics
  • at least 15 credit points in advanced experimental physics
  • at least 12 credit points in experimental/practical training (e.g. laboratory courses, research projects in the course of studies)

What does that mean?

In theoretical physics, the Master's degree program requires prior knowledge of classical mechanics (Langrangian & Hamiltonian mechanics among others), electrodynamics & classical field theory and in particular

  • either quantum mechanics (incl. axioms of quantum mechanics, the Schroedinger equation and its time-independent solution for the harmonic oscillator and the hydrogen atom, the angular momentum algebra, and time-independent perturbation theory)
  • or statistical physics (incl. thermodynamics and the principle of entropy, the canonical ensembles, equilibrium in systems without interactions, phase transitions)

Advanced experimental physics refers to at least introductory classes in atomic, molecular, solid state and nuclear/particle physics.

Regarding the practical training: applicants must have experience in conducting experiments (individually or in small groups) and in writing up the analyses of these experiments.

Please note that the numbers of credit points given here refer to a total number of credits of 180 in the Bachelor program.

My Bachelor's program has fewer/more than 180 credit points - how does this affect the admission criteria?

In this case, we consider the proportion of your courses in the corresponding field in the overall program. The respective ratio should be comparable to the required credit points in a 180 CP program.

I don't have a Bachelor's degree in Physics, but in a related subject. Can I still be admitted?

You will find the admission requirements in the answer to the first question above. As long as you can provide proof of the required courses and knowledge, you can be admitted. We ask for your understanding that we do not check in advance whether interested students fulfil the requirements. 

I am a native speaker, do I still need a language certificate?

No certificate is required for native English speakers. However, the application portal will demand a file upload, so simply use a PDF stating you are a native speaker.

Are German language skills required to be admitted?

No knowledge of German is required for your studies, but a basic understanding of the language and a little vocabulary are very helpful in everyday life.

Uni-assist has not issued me a VPD. Instead, uni-assist refers me to the university for a decision. Can I still apply?

Please do not worry! In the application wizard, upload the document provided by uni-assist instead of the VPD for the application ("Mitteilung.pdf") . 

Just to clarify: the VPD certifies that you meet the formal requirements for any Master's program in Germany. Depending on your academic background, however, such a general statement cannot be made. This is the case, for example, with 3-year Bachelor's degree programs in India. However, it may well be that you fulfil the academic requirements for certain degree programmes, e.g. for an MSc in Physics. For this reason, you will be referred to the university that decides.