Many future applications within electronics, telecommunication, information systems, medicine, and natural or artificial biosystems build upon progress in nanoscale technologies. On the nanoscale, new physical, chemical, and biological properties become important, and research often takes place on the borders between these disciplines. Proficiency in theoretical and practical aspects of these fields will therefore be important both within the industry and the academia. The nanotechnology programme is based on both physics and chemistry and will give you a thorough, yet advanced knowledge of the nanoscale system properties.
Programme description
Besides equipping you with a solid theoretical background in the physics, chemistry and technology of nanoscale systems the programme will also provide you with unique competencies, such as knowledge of the innovative possibilities of nanotechnology and ample hands-on experience in experimental techniques. You will be working in the MC2 cleanroom environment (one of few cleanrooms worldwide to allow Master's level student projects in the facilities) and other modern laboratories for both manufacturing and analysis, already during your first year. You will have the possibility to continue working in the laboratories as part of your Master's thesis.
Science on the nanoscale is typically carried out either in a “bottom-up” approach, where functional nanostructures are formed through molecular interactions, or by nanostructuring in a “top-down” approach. The core curriculum consists of a handful of compulsory courses that create a solid basis for both approaches. The programme also includes several semi-compulsory courses, creating a number of possible tracks within the program, as well as a number of courses that can be chosen to provide you with a deeper knowledge of your choice of area within nanotechnology. The conclusion of the programme consists of a thesis based on a half- or full-year research work carried out with some of the researchers in the area, either within our departments or with industrial partners.
The research conducted comprises three profile areas:
- Nanophysics research, with a top-down perspective, includes studies of engineered nanosystems such as quantum computers, nanoelectronics and spintronics, applications and fundamental science of carbon nanotubes and graphene, nanosensors for bioanalytics and measurement technologies, and nano-optics with applications in, e.g. efficient solar energy production.
- Nanochemistry, with a bottom-up focus, targets the ultimate miniaturization of electronics and photonics, molecular electronics, and the development of molecular methods to create nanodevices.
- The Nanobiophysics activity, which forms a bridge between the other two and focuses on nanofluidics, soft matter nanotechnology, DNA-based self-assembly and biomimetic material science.
As a unique feature of the programme you will become part of this research and have access to our cleanroom and other world-class facilities for labs and group projects.
The Master’s Programme in Nanotechnology is tailored towards students aiming at international careers in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, both in fundamental nanoscience and in the design and creation of components on the nanoscale.
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Entry requirements (academic year 2018/19)
General entry requirementsTo be eligible an applicant must either be a holder of a Bachelor's degree in Science/Engineering/Technology/Architecture or be enrolled in his/her last year of studies leading to such a degree.
General entry requirements in detail
Chalmers Bachelor’s degree
Are you enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree programme at Chalmers now or do you already have a Bachelor’s degree from Chalmers? If so, different application dates and application instructions apply.
Specific entry requirements
Bachelor’s degree (or the equivalent) with a major in: Engineering Physics, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Bioengineering or Electrical Engineering
Prerequisites: Mathematics (at least 30 cr.), Basic quantum physics or Physical chemistry (at least 3 cr.)
Preferable course experience: Experience with software for numerical computation, for example Matlab or Octave.
English Language Proficiency
The most common and important scores that are accepted are
- IELTS (academic training), 6.5 (with no part of the test below 5.5)
- TOEFL (Internet based): 90 (with a minimum of 20 on the written part)
- TOEFL (paper based): 575 (with a minimum of 4.5 on the written part)
Citizens of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)
Chalmers cannot admit applicants with citizenship only of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea due to the European Council Regulation U2017/01157/UH concerning restrictive measures against DPRK. Applicants with double citizenships of which one is of Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the other of another country, the citizenship of the other country has precedence in this respect.
Useful links
Please note that the above schematic view corresponds to the academic year starting in autumn 2015. Minor changes may occur.Programme content in detail
Career opportunities
With a Master’s degree in Nanotechnology you will play a key role in tomorrow’s frontier of nano-innovation in industry or academia. Examples of positions held by graduates:
- head of industrial R&D department
- research engineer
- consultant
- academic positions
Research activity
The programme has a visible connection to frontline research and many course projects are embedded in actual research projects. Nano research at Chalmers has a strong infrastructure with advanced laboratories and cleanroom facilities, which support a broad spectrum of activities involving over 150 researchers. Our industrial collaboration is well established and we have successfully launched several spin-off companies. The connection to one of Chalmers' Areas of Advance, Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, further enables interdisciplinary collaboration within Chalmers and reinforces collaboration with academia, industry and society throughout the world.
Besides the clean room, our research environment includes a number of research groups, involved in research in a wide range of nanoscience areas, such as quantum information processing with superconducting circuits, quantum device fabrication and characterization, oxide electronics, bottom-up studies of DNA and photochromic molecules, atomic-scale materials computations, and transport phenomena in nanostructures. Further, the European Commission has chosen Chalmers to coordinate the Graphene project, one of EU’s first FET flagships.