During the Bachelor’s in Applied Physics, you explore the fundamental laws behind physical phenomena and how to apply this knowledge to the world around you.
You combine fundamental physics with engineering subjects. This teaches you to think abstractly and conceptually, while also learning how to translate your ideas into working technology. As a result, you develop the skills to understand complex problems and design innovative technological solutions.
During this three-year Bachelor’s programme, you will follow twelve modules: four modules per year. Each module focuses on a specific theme and brings together all the key aspects of your studies: theory and practice, research and designing solutions, individual studying and teamwork.
In the first module, everything revolves around dynamics and relativity. In dynamics, you learn about the relationship between forces and the motion of objects. In the more abstract topic of relativity, you discover that everyday concepts such as ‘distance’ and ‘time’ depend on how fast the observer is moving. Of course, you will also start applying physics in the lab. You will learn how to independently design a scientific experiment and how to present your research findings clearly and systematically. The team project focuses on Sports Physics: working with your team, you will analyse a sporting movement.
Previous students analysed the famous ‘bottle flip’ as part of the Module 1 team project and even wrote a scientific paper about it.
Watch the video about this project.
In Engineering Systems, you learn how engineers analyse, model and improve complex technical systems. Through mathematics, programming, experimentation and data analysis, you develop the tools needed to tackle real-world technological challenges. In the team project, you apply these skills to investigate and optimise an engineering system.
In this second part of the Sports Physics project, you improve your previous work using feedback and the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, while developing essential project management and teamwork skills.
The third module focuses on electricity and magnetism, as well as the phenomenon that connects the two. Naturally, there will also be a fair amount of mathematics involved.
During the project, you will work with a historical experiment that led to the formulation of a key concept in Electricity & Magnetism. Together with students from Applied Mathematics, you will recreate and demonstrate this experiment in a modern, creative and engaging way.
You will also learn how the theory was developed and how mathematicians and physicists approach it from different perspectives. In addition, you will work in the lab to build an optical LED photodiode transmitter-receiver circuit that can be used to transmit a music signal.
You learn how the properties of materials emerge from their atomic-scale structure and how these properties determine the behaviour of light, heat and matter. The module introduces the fundamentals of quantum matter and thermodynamics. During the team project, you explore an energy application of materials using a device that sorts Smarties by colour.
In this module, you will be introduced to the principles of modelling and analysing dynamic systems. For example, you will translate a realistic description of a system into a model that allows for a mathematical description in the form of a set of differential equations.
During the project, you will design, build and test a measuring instrument, applying all your newly acquired knowledge of modelling and signal processing in a final project.
There are also two elective courses: Classical Mechanics and Engineering Solid Mechanics. The first is more fundamental, while the second has a more applied focus.
Light is an electromagnetic wave and is emitted and absorbed as a stream of discrete photons, each with a specific energy and momentum. How do these relate to each other? When do we use one description rather than the other in? These are the questions you will explore during the sixth module.
In addition, the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics will be covered, with a particular focus on the interpretation of the wave function.
This module focuses on solid-state physics, statistical physics and partial differential equations. Solid-state physics describes the properties of bulk materials based on the periodic arrangement of their fundamental building blocks, such as the individual atoms in a crystal.
Many modern fields of research, including nanotechnology, solar energy and spintronics, have their origins in solid-state physics. Several disciplines come together in this multidisciplinary field, including quantum mechanics, statistical physics and electrodynamics.
You will study the statics and dynamics of flowing matter, such as gases and liquids. You will do this using density fields, flow fields and temperature fields.
Fluid physics is a classical field theory and is closely connected to the areas of physics that form the basis for such theories. These include other classical theories, such as electrodynamics.
In mathematics, you will build on your knowledge of partial differential equations: following the analytical approach in Module 7, you will now explore numerical methods.
In the first semester, you have several options:
- Take advanced courses in Applied Physics, or courses from other degree programmes, such as Biomedische Technologie or Technical Computer Science.
- Spend a semester studying at another university in the Netherlands or elsewhere in the world. Alternatively, gain practical experience as a member of one of our multidisciplinary student teams, such as the Solar Team or Green Team.
- Take a Pre-Master’s programme to prepare for another master’s degree, for example another technical master’s programme for which you do not have direct admission, or one of our programmes in the social sciences.
- Do you want to become a physics teacher? Then take the Dutch-taught minor "Leren lesgeven" and obtain a second-degree teaching qualification. This will enable you to work as a teacher at a secondary school.
This module focuses on preparing for your Bachelor’s Assignment, statistics, and a range of electives that allow you to explore different areas of physics and help you decide which direction you would like to pursue after graduation.
You conclude the third year with a research project, which you will defend before a Bachelor’s thesis committee. For this project, you will carry out an independent research project within one of our research groups, at another university or at a research institute.
When choosing your topic, you can already take into account a potential Master’s specialisation or programme. Once you successfully complete the programme, you will be awarded the Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree.
Curious which courses are part of the modules? You can download the course information below
We've sent you the brochure. Check your inbox!
While other specialists – such as computer scientists, mechanical engineers and electrical engineers – focus on the design cycle: designing, testing, building and delivering a market-ready technical solution, you will become an expert in the research cycle. You analyse a question or problem and use your insights, combined with your knowledge of mathematics and physics and skills such as programming, to build a working prototype.
Others will take over the further development of the prototype into a final product, while you move on to a new challenge. During the Bachelor’s in Applied Physics, you will develop all the knowledge and skills you need for this cycle – and for a challenging career as a physics engineer.
As a first-year student, you will face a lot of new experiences. We’d like to explain a few of them to you.
During your three-year bachelor's programme, you will take 12 modules (4 modules per year). Each module, you will address a theme that is hot in society, business or industry. This theme will bring together all the components of your study: theory and practice, research, designing solutions, self-study and teamwork.
A fixed part of every module is the team project, in which you and your teammates apply the knowledge you have acquired to a current challenge and design a workable solution.
This learning method is part of the Twente Education Model (TOM): an innovative approach to studying that you will only find at the University of Twente.
Student workload at Dutch universities is expressed in EC, also named ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), which is widely used throughout the European Union. In the Netherlands, each credit represents 28 hours of work. You need to acquire 60 credits each year.
Your programme assigns fixed numbers of hours to each assignment, project report or exam. In the first year, you need to get at least 45 out of 60 points to be able to continue to the second year.
Our aim is to get you in the right place as soon as possible, which is why we use the principle of a binding recommendation.
You will receive a positive recommendation if you have obtained 45 or more of the 60 EC in the first year and passed 3 out of 4 physics courses and 3 out of 4 mathematics courses. A negative recommendation is binding and means you have to leave the programme.
Under certain circumstances, we may give you a positive recommendation despite a low score. For example, if we are confident that you are in the right place. Do personal circumstances such as illness or problems interfere with your study performance? Our team Student Guidance & Well-being is there to support you.