The programme for the Master in Physics provides training in the fundamental laws and essential tools of modern physics, with a focus that enables students successfully to enter either the world research (research focus) or the world of teaching (teaching focus), or the medical world (professional focus in medical physics). An opening into the industrial or medical worlds is also possible by doing the dissertation in an industrial or a hospital environment.
This training leads to the acquisition of skills such as ability to analyse a problem in physics, abstraction and modelling, rigour in reasoning and expression, a critical attitude, self-assessment and ability to communicate, including in English.

Students who aim to go on to do research should choose the research focus. The themes for this focus are summarized in the title : From elementary particles to the cosmos : experience and theory, Earth and light. These words define the essence of research done in the Department at the theoretical and experimental level : the search for elementary particles, fundamental interactions in the infinitesimal and the cosmos, changes in the nucleus and its applications, study of the atom, the molecule and properties of light. The internal and external structure of the Earth system is also studied as well as the dynamics of climate.

The professional focus in medical physics is to prepare physicists for the profession of hospital physicist and the radiotherapy qualification. The Master is, however, not enough: an additional year of work placement in a medical environment is necessary, together with some extra courses, to satisfy the legal requirements.  

The teaching focus is a specially adapted programme designed for teachers at higher levels in secondary education.

Whatever focus is chosen, the Master in Mathematics gives direct access to the doctorate in science.

In addition there are two specially adapted advanced training programmes for which diplomas may be awarded :

1)  A year of further study at Mol, after the 120 credit Master, enables students to take the English-speaking inter-university programme entitledMaster in nuclear engineering organized by the BNEN (Belgian Nuclear Higher Education Network). (The intensive courses are given in English by lecturers from different Belgian universities at the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre at Mol).

2) Students who have successfully completed the Master with a professional focus in medical physics may gain the expert qualification in radiotherapy, medical radiophysics or radiology if they undertake a further year of work placement after the 120 credit Master. This work placement will also include some additional courses required by the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (Agence fédérale de contrôle nucléaire). This will cover or provide additional training inthe following subjects (Regulation  article 51.7) :
•  Principles, techniques and quality control in medical imaging
•  Special issues in radioprotection etc.
•  Radiochemistry, radiotoxicology and radiopharmacy
•  Risk assessment for radioactive waste in the environment in both normal and accidental circumstances and emergency plan for nuclear risks.

The course listed in the professional focus may count towards the award of the certificate of further study in radioprotection and application of ionizing radiations for those who wish to obtain a qualification in the monitoring and protection of workers and the population against the danger of ionizing radiations.
Eligibility : doctors, pharmacists, veterinary surgeons, holders of a science degree, civil engineers, agricultural engineers, industrial engineers.
Students must, among other things, take advanced course in nuclear physics and nuclear techniques :

• PHY2236  : Nuclear Detectors and Electronics and Measurement of Ionizing Radiation
• PHY2360 :  Atomic, Nuclear and Radiation Physics

PHY2340 :  Production, Use, Management and Control of Radioelements

For all the focuses, the programme comprises core subjects including the basic courses necessary for the general training and for the different focuses. The basic courses provide training in the theory but also an introduction to experimental methods and requirements. They are more advanced in nature than the introductory courses for the bachelor’s degree.  There are also optional subjects which deal with areas common to several focuses, either theoretical or experimental. The choice of courses should therefore be dictated by the skills that students wish to develop. The basic courses from the core subjects and the optional subjects that students can choose ensure the same high level training for all physics students.

The dissertation and the focus courses reflect different ambitions. At the end of this training, students will be in close contact with research through their dissertation. Working in a team, supervised by researchers and lecturers, they will discover, through the focus courses and activities, the aims of current research and the different objectives of the focuses. This clearly requires individual work, attendance at seminars, contacts with researchers in the field and consultation of reference works.
Students may, if they wish, replace the research focus by an exchange visit abroad under the Erasmus scheme. This is equivalent to 30 credits.
Entry to the doctoral programme is possible, irrespective of the focus.
Advanced teaching in other subjects than physics is possible for students doing the teaching focus.

Students doing the research focus are encouraged to do a placement outside the French Community of Belgium under a Socrates/Erasmus exchange scheme or equivalent (Mercator, Erasmus Belgica), preferably for courses during the second semester of the first year or the first semester of the second year. The placement can either take the form of courses, for a maximum of 30 credits, or preparation for the dissertation. 

Courses on special topics are given by many visiting lecturers from different foreign institutions and some Belgian ones. These courses are usually in English.