Master of Physics

You will develop a combination of high-level research, analytical and problem-solving skills which are highly valued by industry and government employers.

The Master of Physics can be undertaken in one of the following:

• Astronomy and Astrophysics (astronomy techniques, astro-statistics, galactic dynamics, compact objects, astrophysical shocks, plasma astrophysics, space electrodynamics and high-energy astrophysics)
• Computational Physics (numerical methods, high performance computing, graphics processing unit (GPU) programming and methods of computational physics)
• Experimental Physics (data analysis and methods of experimental physics)
• Medical Physics (commissioning, calibration, safe operation and maintenance of these medical systems that help to diagnose and treat thousands of people every year)
• Theoretical Physics (discipline-specific knowledge at the frontiers of modern physics).
• Quantum Technology and Computing (essential and advanced quantum theories, experimental techniques and applications, as well as computational concepts and programming skills).

Many of our graduates go on to have rewarding research careers or take their advanced analytical and problem-solving skills into leadership roles in business, government or education. Here's what our students have to say about their Master of Physics experience.

Master of Physics (Astronomy and Astrophysics) 

"Studying a Masters in Astronomy and Astrophysics was an excellent experience, as I was able to develop an understanding of the fundamentals of astronomy while also specialising in galaxy evolution through my research project. The environment at UWA was incredibly supportive, with many friendly lecturers encouraging me throughout all aspects of the program. Courses are very thorough covering all aspects of astronomy and include assignments and projects which are good preparation for a career in research. The student community within the astronomy specialisation is also extremely welcoming and collaborative, which gave me the extra support I needed. By taking this masters course it inspired me to continue into a PhD and has given me the skills to succeed."

Jennifer specialised in Astronomy and astrophysics and is now a PhD student at ICRAR, exploring the link between angular momentum and star formation cycle in nearby galaxies.

Master of Physics (Medical) 

“The most enjoyable aspect of studying at UWA was having the opportunity to meet so many excellent and inspirational people, in the Medical Physics research group and through various UWA student associations and events. I was also grateful to benefit from an exceptional level of support and mentoring from the staff and students in the research group. The best advice I could give current students is to not underestimate the importance of having good communication skills – Medical Physicists are required to cooperate with many different people across multiple working groups and specialties. Also, take advantage of networking opportunities to meet Medical Physicists working in academia and industry. This can be incredibly useful for getting a great job in Medical Physics.”

Rikki specialised in Medical Physics and is now the managing medical physicist at Precision Radiation Services.

Master of Physics (Computational Physics) 

“As a Master's student specialising in computational physics, I grew my understanding of quantum theory while developing a multidisciplinary skillset in high-performance computing. I applied this to my research in quantum computing, where I developed software to study near-term quantum algorithms. Quantum computing offers a unique opportunity for student researchers to make foundational contributions to a high impact field while developing highly employable skills. Studying computational physics at UWA allowed me to collaborate with intelligent and creative people in a highly supportive environment. It has opened the door to internship opportunities with which I've developed professional connections in the classical-supercomputing and quantum-accelerated-computing sectors."

Edric specialised in Computational Physics and is now studying a PhD in Quantum Simulation of Many-Body Open Systems with NISQ computers.

Master of Physics (Experimental)

“The Master of Physics with an experimental physics specialisation has been fun and exciting, allowing me to work at the interface of interesting theory and frontier experiment. I have had the opportunity to perform atomic structure calculations using a supercomputer and to collect data using an optical atomic clock. My supervisor has supported me to bolster my research profile through the publication of journal articles, a presentation at an international conference, and collaboration with researchers around the world, all at the pinnacle of emerging research. I now feel well-placed to be involved in the rapidly-growing field of quantum technologies that is set to impact our way of life over the next few decades.” 

Jesse Schelfhout was named Western Australia’s Rhodes Scholar for 2022 and is currently completing a Master of Physics (Experimental).

Master of Physics (Theoretical Physics)

"Undertaking my master’s degree at UWA was a huge decision to make, particularly in choosing a specialisation like theoretical physics! It has been an amazing experience; studying advanced topics such as general relativity and quantum field theory has developed my own scientific education and helped me to pursue research. It is also an opportunity to get to know all the amazing people in the physics department at UWA, both students and staff, and to see and get involved in the research that is going on."

Nowar is studying a Master of Physics (Theoretical Physics)

Program objectives:

Astrophysics is focused on the study of the physical nature of stars and other celestial bodies, and on the application of the laws and theories of physics to the interpretation of astronomical observations.

It uses the whole Universe as its backyard to unveil the physics of the extremes: extreme densities, temperatures, scales, etc. This is achieved by taking advantage of the most complete set of skills available to scientists: physics, instrumentation, signal processing, computing, mathematics, engineering, etc. As a student, you will be able to develop all these skills through hands-on training, exposure to cutting-edge research activities, and ability to solve some of the most outstanding open problems in the field as part of your research dissertation.

With increasing investment in Australian’s Space Sector and the development of the Australian Space Agency, now is an exciting time to specialise in astronomy and astrophysics.

Program description:

Teaching

You will take a series of focussed coursework units covering topics such as Radio Astronomy and the Interstellar Medium, Astro-statistics, Galactic Dynamics, Compact Objects, and High-Energy Astrophysics.

The Master of Physics with a specialisation in Astronomy and Astrophysics is supported by sophisticated optical and radio-astronomy projects using UWA's advanced robotic optical telescopes (SPIRIT) and a 2.3-m robotic radio telescope.

Research

You’ll have the opportunity to connect with world-leading researchers from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy (ICRAR), The ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGav), and the ARC Centre of Excellence for All Sky Astrophysics in 3 Dimensions (ASTRO 3D).

Specific research projects are available across many areas of astronomy (both theoretical and observational), astronomy engineering and high-performance computing including:

• Use precursor telescopes of the Square Kilometre array to understand star formation in galaxies
• Unveil galaxy evolution with ground- and space-based facilities
• Improve our theoretical knowledge of the Universe using the powerful super-computers
• Developing advanced photonic systems for astronomy and space science
• Rapid Gravitational Wave Detection and Multi-Messenger Astronomy.
• Detecting mHz Gravitational Waves in space from Binary Supermassive Black Holes
• Automated rapid follow-up of gamma ray burst (GRB) & Space debris monitoring

Not only is this course an ideal preparation for undertaking a PhD in Astronomy and Astrophysics, but it will also equip you with skills highly sought after in industry and business.

Program objectives

Computational Physics is a rapidly growing and highly interdisciplinary field of study. In this specialisation, you will develop a wide range of knowledge and skills in coding and programming, mathematical and numerical methods, statistical analysis, machine learning techniques, as well as quantum information and computing.

Your ability to use high-performance computing to solve cutting-edge problems will put you in high demand with universities, research institutions, government organisations, as well as technological industries.

Program description:

Teaching

Hands-on learning is an important part of the course. You will get to spend time programming specific physical problems and learn how to harness the power of supercomputers to solve complex physics problems. You will have access to the latest supercomputing hardware and be able to collaborate with leading computational scientists at Pawsey Supercomputing Centre.

A series of focused coursework units will provide students with relevant background knowledge in topics such as numerical methods, high performance computing, GPU programming, and methods of computational physics.

Research

You will undertake a research project on an appropriate computational physics topic that will develop your independent research and analytical abilities.

Specific research expertise and project opportunities include:

Quantum Simulation and Computation

• Computational quantum mechanics
• Quantum algorithms to solve otherwise intractable problems
• Quantum machine learning
• Quantum Finance

Gravitational Wave Detection

• GPU acceleration
• Algorithm design for multi-detector network
• Machine Learning
• Quantum Computing

Spintronics and Magnetisation Dynamics

• Numerical modelling spintronic and magnonic neuromorphic devices and neural networks based on nonlinear wave excitations in condensed matter

Program objectives:

In addition to the fundamental physics courses, you’ll be trained in our world-class laboratories which are developing quantum measurement techniques for precision measurement to probe fundamental questions about our universe, testing theoretical predictions, discovering new phenomena, as well as solving practical technical challenges.

Program description:

Teaching and Research

As well as broadening your experimental skills, you will gain the skills to utilise advanced data analyse techniques and computer modelling. You will also have opportunities to collaborate with leading international researchers.

These outstanding facilities include three national ARC Centres of Excellence: Gravitational Wave Discovery (OzGrav), Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS) and Dark Matter Particle Physics (CDMPP), as well as superb laboratories for cold atoms, TeraHz and Spintronics.

Through this course you will be equipped with knowledge and skills that are highly valued in the scientific institutes, large international research facilities as well as leading industries, with the capability and ingenuity to make your own discoveries and contribute to advancements in new technology.

Program objectives

You’ll develop the knowledge and skills to combine physics principles with engineering methods and techniques in the clinical environment and in research, for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.

The Medical Physics specialisation provides students from physics and engineering backgrounds with the relevant knowledge and problem-solving skills suitable for entry into The Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) Training, Education and Accreditation Program (TEAP) in the fields of Radiation Oncology, Diagnostic Imaging and Nuclear Medicine.

This course is accredited by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM).

Program description:

Teaching

Our course program provides strong background knowledge in the field and prepares you for your future career.

A series of focused coursework units will provide you with relevant background knowledge in topics such as human biology, radiation protection, radiobiology, medical imaging and radiotherapy.

With our strong partnership with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and private centres across Perth, in addition to our international research collaborators, you’ll be taught by leading clinical medical physicists who are operating at the forefront of the profession, so you’ll gain real-world learning on how medical physics problems are handled in the hospital environment.

Research

The program conducts basic and translational research into radiation therapy, radiation biology, tumour modelling, molecular radiotherapy, radiation safety, Monte Carlo simulation, artificial intelligence, clinical medicine and health technologies.

You will undertake a research project on an appropriate medical physics topic that will develop your independent research and analytical abilities and give you experience of current diagnostic and therapeutic technologies used in the medical system.

"Most of the lectures are delivered by clinical medical physicists who are operating at the forefront of the profession with a balance of research and clinical practice. They can provide firsthand information about how medical physics problems are handled in the hospital environment, which is perfect for educational purposes. Practical sessions are held in the clinic after lectures, so that students get familiar with the clinical application of the concepts they learn in the class. Students are gradually immersed in clinical culture and environment at large teaching hospitals."

Dr Pejman Rowshan Farzad - Medical Physics Program Coordinator 

Program objectives:

Quantum technology involves the exploration and manipulation of matter at the fundamental single-particle level, which offers the prospect of harnessing nature at a much deeper level than ever before. It thus provides a wealth of new possibilities for sensing and imaging, information processing, and secure communication.

The Master of Quantum Technology and Computing program offers a variety of courses covering essential and advanced quantum theories, experimental techniques and applications, as well as computational concepts and programming skills. Specific topics include advanced quantum theory, quantum measurement and technology, computational methods for physics, quantum optics, quantum information theory, quantum communication and quantum computing.

Quantum technology and computing is projected to become a multibillion dollar industry and graduates with a unique skillset in this area are highly sought after by quantum technology-based companies; national and international research centres, Universities and quantum educational hubs (e.g. QxQ, IBMQ).

Research

Teaching in the Master of Quantum Technology and Computing is supported by access to world-class facilities and research, including an ARC Centre of Excellence in Engineered Quantum Systems (EQUS)

Program objectives

Theoretical physics and experimental physics are two complementary branches of physics. While experimental physics probes physical phenomena using experimental tools, theoretical physics deals with the formal mathematical construction of physics. It identifies the basic concepts (such as Einstein’s relativity principle) and develops models which explain known phenomena - and attempts to predict new ones - in terms of the fundamental equations. The analysis of these equations, the methods of solving them, and the derivation and interpretation of their physical implications are the primary tasks of Theoretical Physics.

Program description:

Teaching

In the Theoretical Physics specialisation, you will study fundamental physics theories such as Symmetry Principles in Physics, Relativistic Electrodynamics, Statistical Mechanics, General Relativity, and Quantum Field Theory.

You will be taught those mathematical courses that constitute the mathematical toolkit of every theoretical physicist, specifically: Advanced Mathematical Physics, Group Theory, and Differential Geometry.

Our lecture courses will provide you with the fundamental knowledge that is absolutely essential to work in the most important areas of theoretical physics.

You will also be introduced to some of the latest development in theoretical physics, including the gauge/gravity duality, topological states of condensed matter, Dirac fermions in graphene, and the theory of highly entangled quantum systems.

Research

You will work on a challenging research project, where you will attempt to solve an interesting theoretical problem and thus generate new physical knowledge. Possible projects are drawn from all areas of theoretical physics, including Physics Beyond the Standard Model, Quantum Gravity, Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics, and Quantum Information Theory.

Your innovative modelling, data analysis and problem-solving skills will set you up for exciting careers in research leadership or industry.