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Studies & Degrees in Applied Physics

Applied physics uses the laws of physics to solve practical problems and to build new technology. It sits between physics, which looks for the fundamental principles, and engineering, which designs products and systems. An applied physicist needs the same core knowledge as any physicist and puts it to work on devices, materials and measurement methods.

University departments show where the field is active today. The Department of Applied Physics at Yale University focuses on condensed matter physics, optics and quantum information. The Applied Physics Department at Stanford University lists research in accelerator and ultrafast physics, biophysics and neuroscience, photonics, quantum materials, and quantum sensing, simulation and computation.

Students start with mathematics, mechanics, electromagnetism, thermodynamics, quantum mechanics and programming. Laboratory work takes a large share of the timetable. Later they choose a specialisation such as photonics, semiconductors and materials, energy, medical physics or quantum technology, and most programmes end with a research project.

Qualifications and levels

  • Bachelor's degree. Some universities offer a named degree. The Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics at the University of Limerick, in Ireland, lasts four years, balances fundamental and applied physics and includes a cooperative work placement. At Yale the applied physics major has core courses in electromagnetic waves and devices, statistical thermodynamics and quantum mechanics, plus two terms of independent research.
  • Master's degree. Many students specialise at this level after a physics or engineering degree. Chalmers Tekniska Högskola in Gothenburg, Sweden, teaches a two-year Physics MSc of 120 credits in English, with specialisations in quantum technology, materials science and photonics, and radiation science and nuclear technology, among others. Stanford offers an MS and a coterminal MS in Applied and Engineering Physics of 45 units for its own undergraduates.
  • PhD. Research careers usually need a doctorate. Stanford's Applied Physics Department has no undergraduate major and concentrates on graduate study. Its PhD requires basic graduate courses in advanced mechanics, statistical physics, electrodynamics and quantum mechanics, an advanced laboratory course and a minimum of 135 units.

In Spain, official degrees have a fixed structure: a bachelor's degree (grado) of 240 ECTS credits, master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, and the doctorate. Applied physics (Física Aplicada) is above all the name of a university knowledge area and of departments that teach physics in science and engineering degrees. The Universidad de Navarra, for example, has a Departamento de Física y Matemática Aplicada in its Faculty of Sciences, and the physics department of the Universitat Jaume I in Castellón de la Plana covers the areas of optics and applied physics. Students in Spain normally reach the field through a grado in physics or engineering, followed by a specialised master's degree.

Where to study it

SpainExchange lists 34 active schools for applied physics. The United States has 14 and Spain has eight, followed by India with two. There is one school each in Australia, Sweden, Nepal, Ireland, Finland, Eswatini, Mexico, Argentina and Ukraine.

The schools in Spain include the Universidad de Cádiz, the Universidad de Extremadura, the Universidad de Huelva, the Universidad de León, the Universidad de Navarra and the Universitat Jaume I. They teach mainly in Spanish. Schools in the United States, Ireland and Australia teach in English, and master's programmes in Sweden such as the one at Chalmers are also taught in English.

When comparing programmes, check these points:

  • whether the degree is a physics degree with applied options or an engineering physics degree
  • the specialisations on offer and the research groups behind them
  • laboratory time, industry placements and the final project
  • whether the bachelor's degree gives access to the master's or PhD you have in mind

Careers

Graduates work in research and development, in the semiconductor, photonics, energy and medical technology industries, in data analysis and in teaching. Chalmers names advanced materials, semiconductors and photonics, energy, quantum technology and data analysis as sectors for its physics graduates, and adds consultancy and finance as neighbouring fields.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of physicists and astronomers in the United States will grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. Physicists held about 23,200 jobs in 2025, and the largest employer was scientific research and development services, with 38 percent. The bureau notes that a PhD is typically needed for jobs in research and academia. Many graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree work under other job titles, such as engineer or data analyst, and are not counted in these figures.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between physics and applied physics?

The core subjects are the same. Applied physics puts more weight on technology, devices and laboratory work, and Yale describes its major as a combination of physics and engineering.

Do I need a PhD to work as an applied physicist?

For research and academic posts, usually yes: the US Bureau of Labor Statistics states that physicists typically need a PhD for those jobs. Industry also hires graduates with a bachelor's or master's degree for technical roles.

Can I study applied physics in Spain?

Yes, usually through a grado in physics or engineering of 240 ECTS credits and a master's degree of 60 to 120 ECTS credits. Applied physics departments at Spanish universities teach within those degrees, so check the study plan of each one.

Is applied physics taught in English?

In the United States, Ireland and Australia, yes. In Sweden, the Physics MSc at Chalmers is taught in English. In Spain most teaching is in Spanish.