Study tracks and courses

The Master's Programme in Materials Research (MATRES) has six study tracks representing different branches of materials research.

The final syllabus will be published in Sisu and is also available in course search. Please note, that some courses will not be lectured during every academic year.

Ex­per­i­mental materials phys­ics

In Experimental materials physics study track you will study the properties and processing of a wide variety of materials using experimental methods of physics to characterise and process them. In this track the materials range from the thin films used in electronics components, future fusion reactor materials, and energy materials to biological and medical materials. The methods are based on different radiation species, mostly X-rays and ion beams.

Ad­vanced Stud­ies (100-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (45 cr)

MATR301 Introductory course to Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR302 Materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR364 Seminar in Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR350 Master's thesis (30 cr)

MATR399 Maturity test (0 cr)

Personal study plan (included in the Introductory course to Materials Research)

Compulsory advanced courses in Experimental Materials Physics (20 cr)

MATR310 Laboratory exercises (10 cr)

MATR3031 Solid state physics: crystal structure and atomic dynamics (5 cr)

MATR3032 Solid state physics: electronic structure and properties (5 cr)

Optional course packages of advanced courses in Experimental materials physics study track (35-55 cr)

NB! Please note that you do not have to complete the entire package and it is possible to pick individual courses!

Materials physics course package

MATR306 Materials physics (5 cr) or MATR304 Materialfysik (5 cr) (choose one)

MATR305 Nanophysics and nanochemistry (5 cr)

MATR386 Physics of positrons in solids and defects (5 cr)

PAP340 Physics of semiconductor devices (5 cr)

Surface science course package

MATR308 Surface physics  (5 cr)

MATR341 Surface chemistry (5 cr)

Experimental techniques course package

MATR311 Synchrotron light in materials science (5 cr)

MATR385 Ion beam methods for materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR342 Determination of crystal and molecular structures (5 cr)

MATR343 Microscope techniques in materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR344 Vacuum technology (5 cr)

Radiation protection expert course package

MATR309 Radiation protection (5 cr)

MATR315 Radiation Dosimetry (5 cr) (Lectured in Finnish)

MATR316 Nuclear physics (5 cr)

PAP338 Gaseous radiation detectors and scintillators (5 cr) 

MATR319 Medical physics (5 cr) (Lectured in Finnish)

MATR365 Radiation damage in materials (5 cr)

Solid state continuum mechanics course package

MATR307 Solid state continuum mechanics I (5 cr)

MATR318 Solid state continuum mechanics II (5 cr)

Biophysics course package

MATR331 Introduction to Biological Physics (5 cr)

MATR332 Physics of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR333 Modeling of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR382 Methods in Molecular Biophysics (5 cr)

KEM342 Molecular modelling (5 cr)

Personalized course package (0-25 cr)

Courses from other study lines and/or other programmes as agreed in HOPS (personal study plan).

Other stud­ies (0-20 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

Com­pu­ta­tional materials phys­ics

In Computational materials physics study track you will use computer simulations to model the structures, properties and processes of materials, both inorganic materials such as metals and semiconductors, and biological materials such as cell membranes and proteins. You will also study various nanostructures. The methods are mostly atomistic ones where information is obtained with atomic level precision. Supercomputers are often needed for the calculations. Modelling research is closely connected with the experimental work related to the other study lines.

Ad­vanced stud­ies (100-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (45 cr)

MATR301 Introductory course to Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR302 Materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR364 Seminar in Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR350 Master's thesis (30 cr)

MATR399 Maturity test (0 cr)

Personal study plan (included in the Introductory course to Materials Research)

Compulsory advanced courses in Computational Materials Physics (10 cr)

MATR3031 Solid state physics: crystal structure and atomic dynamics (5 cr)

MATR3032 Solid state physics: electronic structure and properties (5 cr)

Optional course packages of advanced courses in Computational materials physics study track (45-65 cr)

NB! Please note that you do not have to complete the entire package and it is possible to pick individual courses!

Programming and numerical methods course package

MATR322 Numerical Methods in Scientific Computing (10 cr)

Simulation methods course package

MATR323 Basics of Monte Carlo simulations (5 cr)

MATR324 Monte Carlo simulations in physics (5 cr)

MATR325 Molecular dynamics simulations (10 cr)

Specialized courses in computational methods course package

MATR326 Tools for high performance computing (5 cr)

PAP334 Statistical Methods (5 cr)

DATA11002 Introduction to Machine Learning (5 cr)

Materials physics course package

MATR306 Materials physics (5 cr) or MATR304 Materialfysik (5 cr) (choose one)

MATR305 Nanophysics and nanochemistry (5 cr)

MATR386 Physics of positrons in solids and defects (5 cr)

PAP340 Physics of semiconductor devices (5 cr)

Surface science course package

MATR308 Surface physics  (5 cr)

MATR341 Surface chemistry (5 cr)

Biophysics course package

MATR331 Introduction to Biological Physics (5 cr)

MATR332 Physics of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR333 Modeling of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR382 Methods in Molecular Biophysics (5 cr)

KEM342 Molecular modelling (5 cr)

Personalized course package (0-25 cr)

Courses from other study lines and/or other programmes as agreed in HOPS (personal study plan).

Other stud­ies (0-20 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

Med­ical phys­ics ja bio­phys­ics

Medical physics is a branch of applied physics encompassing the concepts, principles and methodology of the physical sciences to medicine in clinics. Primarily, medical physics seeks to develop safe and efficient diagnosis and treatment methods for human diseases with the highest quality assurance protocols. In Finland most medical physicists are licensed hospital physicists (PhD or Phil.Lic).

Ad­vanced studies (100-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (45 cr)

MATR301 Introductory course to Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR302 Materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR364 Seminar in Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR350 Master's thesis (30 cr)

MATR399 Maturity test (0 cr)

Personal study plan (included in the Introductory course to Materials Research)



Compulsory advanced courses in Medical Physics and Biophysics (choose one)

Medical Physics (25-30 cr)

MATR310 Laboratory Exercises (10 cr)

MATR309 Radiation Protection (5 cr)

MATR315 Radiation Dosimetry (5 cr) (Lectures in Finnish)

MATR319 Medical Physics (5 cr) (Lectures in Finnish)

Biophysics (0-30 cr)

MATR331 Introduction to Biological Physics (5 cr)

MATR332 Physics of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR333 Modeling of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR382 Methods in Molecular Biophysics (5 cr)

KEM342 Molecular modelling (5 cr)

 

Optional course packages of advanced courses (50-75 cr)

NB! Please note that you do not have to complete the entire package and it is possible to pick individual courses!

Radiation detectors course package

PAP338 Gaseous radiation detectors and scintillators (5 cr)

PAP339 Semiconductor radiation detectors (5 cr)

Computational methods course package

MATR322 Numerical Methods in Scientific Computing (10 cr)

MATR323 Basics of Monte Carlo simulations (5 cr)

MATR324 Monte Carlo simulations in physics (5 cr)

Biophysics course package

MATR331 Introduction to Biological Physics (5 cr)

MATR332 Physics of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR333 Modeling of Biological Systems (5 cr)

MATR382 Methods in Molecular Biophysics (5 cr)

KEM342 Molecular modelling (5 cr)

Personalized course package (0-25 cr)

Courses from other study lines and/or other programmes as agreed in HOPS (personal study plan).

Other stud­ies (0-20 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

Poly­mer materials chemistry

In Polymer materials chemistry study track you will study polymer synthesis and characterisation methods. One of the central questions in polymer chemistry is how the properties of large molecules depend on the chemical structure and on the size and shape of the polymer. The number of applications of synthetic polymers is constantly increasing, due to the development of polymerisation processes as well as to better comprehension of the physical properties of polymers.

Ad­vanced Stud­ies (100-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (45 cr)

MATR301 Introductory course to Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR302 Materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR364 Seminar in Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR350 Master's thesis (30 cr)

MATR399 Maturity test (0 cr)

Personal study plan (included in the Introductory course to Materials Research)

Compulsory advanced courses in Polymer Materials Chemistry (35 cr)

MATR345 Basics of Polymer Chemistry (5 cr) 

MATR346 Polymer Physics (5 cr)

MATR347 Synthesis of Polymers; Polymer Materials  (5cr)

MATR348 Laboratory Practicum (5 cr)

MATR334 Research Project in Polymer Materials Chemistry (15 cr)

Alternative advancced courses in Polymer Materials Chemistry (20-40 cr)

MATR351 Rheology (5 cr) 

MATR352 Light Scattering (5cr)

MATR353 Polymer characterization: Spectroscopy and thermal methods (5cr)

MATR355 Functional Polymers (5cr)

MATR356 Polymers in Medicine (5cr)

MATR384 Polyelectrolytes and Colloids (5cr)

MATR371 Wood Chemistry (5 cr)

MATR380 Optional Research Project in Polymer Materials Chemistry (10 cr)

Personalized course package (0-25 cr)

Courses from other study lines and/or other programmes as agreed in HOPS (personal study plan).

Other stud­ies (0-20 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

In­or­ganic materials chemistry

Thin films form the most important research topic in inorganic materials chemistry. Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) is the most widely studied deposition method. The ALD research covers virtually all areas related to ALD: precursor synthesis and characterisation, film growth and characterisation, reaction mechanism studies, and the first steps of taking the processes toward applications. The emphasis has been on thin film materials needed in future generation integrated circuits, but applications of ALD in energy technologies, optics, surface engineering and biomaterials are also being studied. Other thin film deposition techniques studied include electrodeposition, SILAR (successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction) and sol-gel. Nanostructured materials are prepared either directly (fibres by electrospinning and porous materials by anodisation) or by combining these or other templates with thin film deposition techniques.

Ad­vanced Stud­ies (100-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (45 cr)

MATR301 Introductory course to Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR302 Materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR364 Seminar in Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR350 Master's thesis (30 cr)

MATR399 Maturity test (0 cr)

Personal study plan (included in the Introductory course to Materials Research)

Compulsory advanced courses in Inorganic Materials Chemistry (5 cr)

MATR358 Inorganic materials chemistry (5 cr)

Alternative advanced courses in Inorganic Materials Chemistry (40-60 cr)

MATR363 Research project in Inorganic Materials Chemistry (15 cr)

MATR344 Vacuum technology (5 cr)

MATR359 Solid state chemistry (5 cr)

MATR361 Thin films (10 cr)

MATR343 Microscope techniques in materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR362 Workshop on X-ray diffraction and thermoanalytical methods (5 cr)

MATR342 Determination of crystal and molecular structures (5 cr)

MATR308 Surface physics  (5 cr)

MATR341 Surface chemistry (5 cr)

MATR372 Nanocatalysis (5 cr)

MATR373 Atomic layer deposition and etching (5 cr)

MATR381 Electrochemistry in materials science (5 cr)

Optional advanced courses in Inorganic Materials Chemistry (10-30 cr)

Materials physics course package

MATR306 Materials physics (5 cr) or MATR304 Materialfysik (5 cr) (choose one)

MATR305 Nanophysics and nanochemistry (5 cr)

MATR386 Physics of positrons in solids and defects (5 cr)

PAP340 Physics of semiconductor devices (5 cr)

MATR3031 Solid state physics: crystal structure and atomic dynamics (5 cr)

MATR3032 Solid state physics: electronic structure and properties (5 cr)

Experimental techniques course package

MATR311 Synchrotron light in materials science (5 cr)

MATR385 Ion beam methods for materials characterization (5 cr)

 

Personalized  course package (0-25 cr)

Courses from other study lines and/or other programmes – especially from the UH Chemistry and Molecular Sciences and from Aalto university, as agreed in HOPS (personal study plan).

Other stud­ies (0-20 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.

Elec­tron­ics and in­dus­trial ap­plic­a­tions

Sound and light are used both to sense and to actuate across a broad spectrum of disciplines employing samples ranging from red hot steel to smooth muscle fibres. Particular interest is in exploiting the link between the structure and mechanics of the samples. The main emphasis is on developing quantitative methods suitable for the needs of industry. To support these goals, research concentrates on several applied physics disciplines, the main areas being ultrasonics, photoacoustics, fibre optics and confocal microscopy.

Ad­vanced Stud­ies (100-120 cr)

Compulsory courses (45 cr)

MATR301 Introductory course to Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR302 Materials characterization (5 cr)

MATR364 Seminar in Materials Research (5 cr)

MATR350 Master's thesis (30 cr)

MATR399 Maturity test (0 cr)

Personal study plan (included in the Introductory course to Materials Research)

Compulsory advanced courses in Experimental Materials Physics (10 cr)

MATR310 Laboratory exercises (10 cr)

 

Optional course packages of advanced courses in Electronics and Industrial Physics (55-75 cr)

NB! Please note that you do not have to complete the entire package and it is possible to pick individual courses!

Electronics course package

MATR335 Electronics II (10 cr)

Ultrasonics course package

MATR338 Ultrasonics (10 cr)

MATR320 Nanoacoustics I (5 cr)

MATR321 Nanoacoustics II (5 cr)

Optics and photonics course package

MATR329 Optics (10 cr)

MATR339 Photonics (10 cr)

MATR340 Label-free Bioimaging (5 cr)

Numerical material testing course package

MATR322 Numerical Methods in Scientific Computing (10 cr)

MATR333 Modeling of biological systems (5 cr)

Solid state continuum mechanics module

MATR307 Solid state continuum mechanics I (5 cr)

MATR318 Solid state continuum mechanics II (5 cr)

Personalized course package (0-25 cr)

Courses from other study lines and/or other programmes as agreed in HOPS (personal study plan).

Other studies (0-20 cr)

Other studies can include study modules or individual courses from other programmes as agreed in personal study plan. Also practical training and language studies can be included.