Program Overview

The Interuniversity Master's Degree in Nuclear Physics is an official postgraduate program jointly offered by 6 Spanish universities, in collaboration with leading national research centers:

  • Participating Universities: University of Seville (US), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), University of Barcelona (UB), Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), University of Granada (UGR), and University of Salamanca (USAL).
  • Collaborating Institutions:

    • Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) via the Institute of Structure of Matter (IEM, Madrid) and the Institute for Corpuscular Physics (IFIC, Valencia).
    • Center for Energy, Environmental and Technological Research (CIEMAT, Madrid).

History and Objectives

The Master's program adapts postgraduate education to current official academic frameworks, continuing the legacy of the former Interuniversity PhD Program in Nuclear Physics. Its origins trace back to specialized courses organized since 1998 by the Nuclear Physics Division (GEFN) of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics.

Core Objectives:

  • Provide comprehensive and advanced training covering both fundamental concepts and practical applications of Nuclear Physics.
  • Strengthen postgraduate studies in Nuclear Physics across Spain.
  • Foster scientific exchange and academic mobility among postgraduate students, faculty, and researchers.

Teaching Methodology (4-Phase Structure)

Each course is structured into four coordinated phases to ensure thorough academic preparation and personalized mentoring:

  1. 📖 Preparatory Phase (Self-Study & Mentoring - 10 h): Students receive syllabus details and reading materials in advance. Guided by a local tutor at their home university (~10 hours of in-person orientation), students prepare foundational knowledge before classes begin.
  2. 👨‍🏫 Theoretical Phase (On-Campus - ~30 h): Intensive lectures and/or laboratory work delivered over a dedicated course week.
  3. ✏️ Practical Phase (On-Campus - 4 to 10 h): In-person tutorial sessions during the course week dedicated to problem-solving, practical case studies, and assignment briefs.
  4. 📝 Final Phase (Assessment & Independent Work - 10 h): Independent completion of assignments, reports, and problem sets back at the student's home university. Supported by local tutoring (~10 hours) and direct email contact with course instructors, culminating in project submissions and optional final exams.
Note: For experimental courses, hands-on laboratory work is fully integrated into the theoretical phase.