Biophysics

Biophysics is a specialisation at the Master of Science Programme (MSc) in Physics.

Modern biological physics or biophysics is a mixture of physics on nano-scale, the physics of complex systems and quantitative biology. The understanding of life and life processes is a key scientific objective as well as a method of developing new disease control tools. In a medical context, physics is used, in particular, for radiation treatments and medical diagnostic imaging. Both areas require in-depth understanding of physics.

Graduates with a specialisation in biophysics have an understanding of the physical characteristics of life's molecular building blocks. You have also learned to develop testable mathematical-physical models of how the individual parts interact to form working feedback systems.

Furthermore, you have built up a solid academic grounding in the border zone between physics and molecular biology, and insight into both biophysical and molecular biological experimental techniques, e.g. single-molecule techniques and super-resolution microscopy.

Study Track

It is a good idea to use your elective and restricted elective courses to design a study track that allows you to study a subject area in depth during the specialisation. You can target your specialisation with the following study track:

However, you can also customise your programme with a mixture of courses and projects which are relevant to you.

Programme structure

The Biophysics specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 45 or 60 ECTS.

Course of study 1 – thesis 45 ECTS:

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Biophysics of Cells and Single Molecules Dynamical Models in Molecular Biology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course

Course of study 2 – thesis 60 ECTS:

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Biophysics of Cells and Single Molecules Dynamical Models in Molecular Biology Restricted elective course Restricted elective course
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block equals nine weeks and 15 ECTS

Restricted elective courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the lists below. Click on each course for a detailed description.

NB: The list is based on the academic year 2020/2021 and is therefore only indicative. The final list of restricted elective courses in the academic year 2021/2022 is ready in spring 2021.