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Studies & Degrees in Nuclear Physics

Nuclear physics is the branch of physics that studies the atomic nucleus: what it is made of, how it is held together, how nuclei react with each other and how they decay. The Technische Universität München (TUM) sums up the aim of nuclear, particle and astrophysics as understanding the world at a subatomic level.

A programme in the subject combines theory with experiment. The joint Spanish master's degree in nuclear physics, for example, has three compulsory courses: nuclear structure, nuclear reactions and experimental nuclear physics. Its electives show how far the applications reach: environment and materials, energy and biomedical applications, nuclear astrophysics, hadron physics and radiation protection. Students need a strong base in quantum mechanics and mathematics, and they spend much of their time on detectors, data analysis and computing.

Qualifications and levels

Nuclear physics is a specialisation, not a first degree. The usual route is a bachelor's degree in physics, a master's degree and, for research, a doctorate.

  • Bachelor's degree. Students meet nuclear physics as courses inside a physics degree. In Spain an official bachelor's degree (grado) has 240 ECTS credits and master's degrees have 60, 90 or 120.
  • Master's degree in Spain. The Máster Universitario en Física Nuclear is an official degree taught jointly by six Spanish universities: the Universidad de Sevilla, the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universitat de Barcelona, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, the Universidad de Granada and the Universidad de Salamanca. Research centres such as CIEMAT collaborate. It has 60 ECTS credits: six courses of 6 credits each and a 24-credit research thesis. Each course is taught intensively over one week at one of the participating universities, and the degree is issued by the student's home university. The Universidad de Santiago de Compostela takes a different route: its one-year Máster Universitario en Física (60 ECTS credits) has a specialisation in nuclear and particle physics.
  • Master's degree in Germany. TUM offers a Master of Science in Physics (Nuclear, Particle and Astrophysics) of 120 ECTS credits and four semesters in Garching. Experimental nuclear physics is one of its four specialisations.
  • Doctorate. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), physicists typically need a Ph.D. for jobs in research and academia. Santiago de Compostela, for example, has a doctoral programme in nuclear and particle physics linked to its master's degree.
  • Technical training. Operating nuclear facilities is a separate, shorter route. Bismarck State College in the United States offers an online Associate in Applied Science degree and a certificate in Nuclear Power Technology, a programme approved by the Nuclear Energy Institute. It prepares students for non-licensed operator, maintenance and chemistry work in nuclear power plants.

Admission and language

Master's programmes expect a degree in physics or a closely related field. For the Spanish joint master's degree, the Universidad de Sevilla ranks applicants mainly on their academic record, which counts for 80% of the score; language skills and professional experience count for 10% each. Applicants whose first language is not Spanish must show Spanish or English at level B2. In Santiago de Compostela the languages used are Spanish, Galician and English. The TUM master's degree is taught in German and applicants must prove their German. TUM charges international students from third countries tuition fees of €6,000 per semester for this programme.

Where to study

SpainExchange lists 9 active schools for nuclear physics. Five are in Spain: the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, the Universidad de Salamanca, the Universitat de Barcelona and the Universidad de Sevilla. India, the United States, Russia and Germany have one each: the University of Madras, Bismarck State College, Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University and TUM.

Careers

Graduates work in research institutes and universities, in the nuclear power sector, in hospitals and companies that use radiation for diagnosis and treatment, and in radiation protection and environmental monitoring. Training in data analysis and simulation also opens jobs in industry and services; TUM mentions fields ranging from industry and the service sector to research and development.

In the United States, the BLS projects employment of physicists and astronomers to grow 7 percent from 2025 to 2035. Nuclear technicians, who assist physicists and engineers in nuclear power generation, typically need an associate's degree; their employment is projected to grow 1 percent over the same period.

Frequently asked questions

Is nuclear physics the same as nuclear engineering?

No. Nuclear physics is a science that studies the nucleus and its reactions. Nuclear engineering and nuclear power technology apply that knowledge to design and run reactors and other installations.

Can I study nuclear physics as a bachelor's degree?

Normally not. Students take a bachelor's degree in physics and specialise in nuclear physics at master's or doctoral level.

How long is the Spanish master's degree in nuclear physics?

The joint Máster Universitario en Física Nuclear has 60 ECTS credits: 36 in courses and 24 in a research thesis.

Do I need a doctorate to work in nuclear physics?

For research and university posts, usually yes: the BLS states that physicists typically need a Ph.D. for those jobs. Technical work in nuclear power plants is open to people with shorter qualifications such as an associate's degree.