Northern Lights are the result of the solar wind's interaction with Earth's upper atmosphere and magnetic fields and is part of space weather. Our global society relies on advanced technology vulnerable to space weather disturbances, which can shut down electric power-grids, disrupt satellite communication, and cause GPS positioning errors. This Master's program gives you a broad education in Space and Plasma Physics and teaches how to observe the physical processes in the ionosphere associated with space weather with the EISCAT radars and other research facilities near Tromsø, as well as how to replicate and study them in the Aurolab Plasma Laboratory of The Department of Physics and Tehcnology at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
Ved spørsmål om opptak og søknadsprosess, ta kontakt på epost: opptak@uit.no
Førstekonsulent / Administrasjon
Space Physics is a discipline of the Master's degree programme in physics.
Tromsø is in a unique geographical position to study the Aurora Borealis and the upper Polar atmosphere, and we have long traditions since the early 1900's within this field of research. The Auroral Observatory in Tromsø formed the original basis of the physics studies at UiT The Arctic University of Norway. Today, the activities have been extended to research on the solar corona, the Sun-Earth interaction, and the upper atmosphere. Researchers at the Department of Physics and Technology work with data from the EISCAT (European Incoherent SCATter) radars and other instruments at Ramfjordmoen, Svalbard, and Andøya, with numerical modelling, and with laboratory experiments (Aurolab).
The Northern (and Southern) Lights are manifestations of space weather that has its origin in the variability of the Sun's activity. Most auroras occur as a result of huge solar magnetic explosions (solar mass ejections and solar flares) that enhance the solar wind and solar radiation arriving at the Earth. The scales of the perturbations that follow (geomagnetic storms) vary from the size of the Earth's magnetotail (about 200 Earth radii) to the fine structure of the aurora (tens of meters) at 100-200 km height above the Earth's surface.
As a student on the Master's degree programme in physics, you can choose one-year projects on a range of topics, for example:
Compulsory courses in the Space Physics discipline:
Recommended optional courses approved in the Space Physics discipline:
Other optional courses approved for Space Physics:
Optional courses should be determined in collaboration with your supervisor in connection with choice of research topic in the Master's thesis. Other optional courses may be approved on application or if recommended by your supervisor. An individual special curriculum or project paper may also be part of the degree.
If the Master's thesis involves work in a laboratory, in the field or on a research cruise, it is mandatory to conduct a course in safety education prior to commencing the thesis.
Knowledge - The candidate:
Skills - The candidate:
Competences - The candidate:
The programme leads to exciting career options domestic and abroad within research, industry, administration and teaching, both in private and public sector.
Term | 10 ects | 10 ects | 10 ects | |||
First term (autumn) |
Optional courses (20 ECTS credits) |
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Second term (spring) |
Optional courses (20 ECTS credits) |
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Third term (autumn) |
FYS-3900 Master's thesis in physics |
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Fourth term (spring) |
Admission to the Master's programme in physics requires a Bachelor's degree in physics, or another degree following a programme of study of not less than three years' duration, or similar education approved in accordance with the Norwegian Universities Act section 3-4.
In addition, specialisation in physics worth the equivalent of not less than 80 ECTS credits is required. Normally, an average mark of C or better is required in the Bachelor's degree or similar basis of admission. Students are expected to have skills equivalent to the prerequisites the courses in the study program build upon.
Applicants from Norway or Nordic countries:
The application deadline for Norwegian and other Nordic applicants is
Applicants from outside the Nordic countries:
The application deadline for International applicantsThe courses in the study programme have varied forms of instruction, typically lectures, exercises, laboratory work, computer work, or combinations of these.
Special curricula, project papers and the Master's thesis are supervised on an individual basis by the department's academic staff, possibly in collaboration with external companies or institutions by agreement.
Form of assessment varies, but most examinations are portfolio assessments of a take-home exam, project paper or laboratory report, in combination with a final oral or written exam. In some courses, mandatory assignments have to be approved for access to the exam.
After handing in the Master's thesis, it is assessed, and normally within 6 weeks an oral presentation and examination is held, that may influence on the final mark.
Language of instruction is English and all of the syllabus material is in English. Examination questions will be given in English, but may be answered either in English or in a Scandinavian language.
Also the Master's thesis may be written either in English or in a Scandinavian language.
Completed Master's degree studies qualify for admission to PhD-studies in physics, depending on satisfactory marks in the Master's and Bachelor's degree. PhD-studies in physics are offered at UiT The Arctic University of Norway.
Exchange studies abroad or at the University Centre in Svalbard can be recognised in the Master's degree if recommended by your supervisor, and only if the external courses are validated prior to departure. The period of time for the exchange studies depends on the individual educational plan, and should be planned in collaboration with the student advisor and the students supervisor.
Studiested | Land |
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Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | Tyskland |
Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi | India |
Aberystwyth University | Storbritannia og Nord-Irland |
University of Innsbruck | Østerrike |
University of the Ruhr, Bochum | Tyskland |
University of Bielefeld | Tyskland |
Université Grenoble Alpes | Frankrike |
University of Saskatchewan | Canada |
University Rey Juan Carlos, Mostoles | Spania |
Leiden University | Nederland |
TU Dortmund | Tyskland |
University of Genoa | Italia |
Shanghai Ocean University | Kina |
University of Wroclaw | Polen |
University of West Bohemia, Pilsen | Tsjekkia |